How late is too late?

So I'll admit that I'm a newbie to writing romance, and I really just wanted some opinions on this. How late in a novel is two late for the FMC and MMC to meet? Most novels I've read have them meet if not on the first page then in the first chapter. But how long is too late?

the last chapter.

I'd say try to get them to meet before the halfway point if possible. Although I think it depends how closely you're adhereing to the confines of romance as a genre as to how late you can push it. Think about how you would want your book published/ the kind of book you want to write. I believe the expectation in strict romance is that they meet fairly quickly. A non romance publisher might still sell it as a romance due to it's subject matter, even if it doesn't necessarily fill the Harlequin-type guidelines. Alternatively, a book with a strong romantic element that is not strictly a romance can probably get away with introducing the pair as late as you like. (Although, yes, before the last chapter, if possible.)

Category romance publishers might have some strict guidelines on how soon the characters have to meet or at least be mentioned. Since the whole point of the romance is the conflict between the two, you don't want to wait too long.

In mainstream stories it's possible to have them meet for the first time in the last chapter, but then that's a mainstream story.

If they meet in ways other than in person early, their actual meeting can occur a bit later. If they are at least exchanging emails in the first chapter, it might be okay if their first meeting is five chapters later, as long as there has been plenty of conflict between them in the meantime. (You're going to take my mother's farm! That's what you think buster. Wait till you read this email. SEND!)

The tension between them has to start soon enough to grab the reader. Exactly when they actually meet, is not a precise science, but you are wanting the reader to get hooked as soon as possible.

Or they will put the book down and grab another one.

The reader is looking for the romantic conflict, that's why they are reading the book in the first place. Like if they are reading a medical novel, something is going to be medically wrong with someone very early in the book, not five chapters into it.

Start the meeting (conflict) as soon as possible, not as late as possible, so the reader will want to continue reading to find out what happens.

"Taking my mother's farm, huh?" Slap

"Hold on, sweetie, that's not the way to change my mind."

"Then what?"

He grinned.

"Never!" She slapped him again and walked off.

Now you have the reader interested in the first few lines.

With any story, the best place to start is the point of no return... that moment when the characters are set on a path that can't lead anywhere but the ending.

In a romance, the main plot is the relationship. Whatever happens before that relationship begins is backstory, not story. This means the interaction should begin early. The sooner the better. They need some chemistry, to spark some reaction in each other. You can't have much of a romance if they don't know each other, right?

One thing to note: I said the interaction should start early, not the romance. They don't have to like each other or even be in the same room. They just need to be able to interact through some medium so they can start rubbing each other the right or wrong way.

As for how long is too long? Personally, if they don't know each other by the end of the first chapter, I'm likely to put the book down and move on.