: This is often the most critical. It involves a character's own baggage—fear of commitment, past trauma, or conflicting personal goals—that prevents them from accepting love.

Conflict is the engine of the story. Without it, you have a situation, not a plot.

: Societal pressures, "forbidden love" tropes, or physical distance provide the outward hurdles the couple must clear.

: Put the relationship through trials to prove its worth. Hurdles show the reader that the bond is worth rooting for.

A romance succeeds when readers understand why two characters are uniquely suited for each other beyond physical attraction.