What is the age gap romance trope?

Age-gap romance explores what experience and perspective each partner brings. In paranormal fiction it's often extreme — a centuries-old vampire and a mortal — which raises its own questions about power and equality.

Common variations

  • Immortal and mortal
  • Older mentor figure
  • Widowed lead

What to watch out for

  • Power imbalance treated as romantic in itself

Classic examples

  • Emma by Jane Austen — free to read
  • Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë — free to read