What do happily ever after and happy for now mean in romance fiction?

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In the context of romance novels, these terms define the expected emotional resolution for the central characters:

Happily Ever After (HEA): This signifies a permanent, secure, and lasting romantic commitment between the protagonists at the conclusion of the story.1
Happy For Now (HFN): This indicates that the characters have reached a positive, romantic resolution at the end of the narrative, though the long-term permanence of the relationship is left open-ended or implied to be continuing beyond the final page.1

These endings are foundational expectations within the genre, providing readers with a sense of emotional satisfaction as the protagonists navigate their plots and character development.1