Romance is the bestselling genre in the world of literature. And it isn’t hard to see why. A good love story has drama, intrigue, joy and agony. It makes us laugh and cry at the same time, but mostly it envelopes us in a warm blanket of love. Nothing puts us in a romantic mood quite like an unforgettable love story. It’s a comforting experience to dive deep into a book about head-over-heels kind of love. Some of these books bring to life the hopeless romantic in you, some help you feel like you’re not alone in your heartbreak, and others question the meaning of love itself.
Life may be a far cry from these near-perfect romantic tales, yet, time and again we find ourselves going back to our favourite books on love and romance.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the number of great romance novels out there, look no further. From time-traveling modern-day heroes and passionate love affairs in exotic locations to historical romances, we have curated a list of the best romance novels for the hopeless romantic in you.
The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
When you see librarian Henry de Tamble and artist Clare Abshire run into one another at the local library, it feels like a typical scene out of a romance story. Except, it’s not. As it turns out, Henry is a time traveller and Clare is his future wife. A rare genetic condition causes Henry to bounce back and forth from one moment in time to another. They decide to give their love a shot after what seems their ‘first meeting’ but despite their deep and passionate love for one another, they face numerous challenges and grief along the way. Niffenegger’s touching novel will surely pull at your heartstrings, as her story shows how desire and destiny come together in choosing who we love.
Call Me By Your Name, by Andre Aciman
André Aciman’s modern classic of LGBT literature is a coming-of-age story about self-discovery and the thrill of first love portrayed wonderfully in a pleasant seaside town on the Italian coast. The book follows the romance that blossoms between a hopeless romantic Oliver and his summer guest Elio. Earnest and passionate, Elio and Oliver’s love affair begins awkwardly and slowly, before building to extraordinary heights of emotions as the summer comes to an end. This tale about the exploration of first love and sexual awakening is vividly depicted and is astonishingly honest.
Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell
Eleanor & Park is an overwhelming love story about two teen misfits and one life-changing year at school. The year is 1986 when Eleanor, an intelligent but often disparaged girl from a poor, broken family, arrives in her new town. She takes a seat on the school bus and finds herself next to the quiet and understated Park, a half-Korean boy from a happy family. Slowly and steadily through light conversations about comics and indie music, Eleanor and Park develop a profound and abiding friendship, which soon blossoms into love. It’s the pure, unforgettable and heartbreaking kind of first love you possibly experience when you’re young. This story will surely melt your heart and bring to life the hopeless romantic in you.
The Notebook, by Nicholas Sparks
This one needs no introduction. Told from the point of view of Noah to the love of his life Allie, this is a classic love story in every sense. The story of Noah and Allie is captured in three time periods that include their teens, their early thirties and their old age. The universe appears to have conspired to keep these childhood sweethearts apart. With so many obstacles before them, will they ever find love together? This book will make you laugh and cry, but the enduring love story is worth the emotional roller coaster. The Notebook proves that love is everlasting and has the power to create miracles.
Wuthering Heights, by Emily Brontë
Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights explores the anguish and heartbreak of ill-fated romance. This book on love revolves around the passionate yet tormenting story about Catherine Earnshaw and her destructive love triangle. To meet the expectations of her class, she relinquishes her intense love for Heathcliff, choosing to marry the well-bred Edgar Linton instead. An epic tale of intense passion, betrayal and vengeance, we can’t think of a love story that better explores the double-edged sword of being in love.
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