The current reader requires a modernized version of that classical romance we are use to seeing. The importance of romance is that the reader has to connect with it. As a creator you need to explore pop culture. Many things don't change from generation to generation, but the style and theme does so investigate. By no means is today's market as simple as "boy meets girl". You should explore current issues and culture for ideas.Romance is about relationships. This is a great opportunity to create diverse and intricate characters. Explore personality traits and work on interesting dialogue. Remember that your main conflict should be a relationship problem. Remember that you might find yourself replacing a lot of fist fights with kissing and crying. Become familiar with emotional responses to situations.
Understand your age group and audience. If you are writing to a younger reader keep the situation very simple. Your story will be more about friendships, holding hands and maybe a first kiss. When you deal with a much more mature audience you can dive into more complex topics like adultery, passion, polygamy, and raunchiness. Learn your distributor's guidelines so you can property label your book. Something to keep in mind: fashion can play a significant role in attracting readers to your book. The art should contain modern styles if appropriate. What I mean is if the story is set in a modern day high school use popular clothes on the characters. It adds a layer of realism that helps the reader submerge into your story. Of course if its in a Victorian age please don't give the characters jeans and tank tops.
Easy tip: You can always try short comics (10 pages or less) to get a feel for your audience and develop your story telling style. Get feed back.