1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Need I say more? OK, I will anyway. It's Darcy and Lizzy. Two of the greatest literary characters ever, combined in the romance to end all romances. Or the romance to start all romances, rather, given the thousands of remakes, rejigs and rip-offs.
2. Persuasion by Jane Austen. Another Jane Austen, I know. But if Pride and Prejudice is the Greatest Romance of All Time (which it is), then Persuasion is a very close second. The tale of Captain Wentworth and Anne Eliot's reconnection is bittersweet and beautiful. Don't even get me started on the letter.
3. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I adore how passionate and strong Rochester and Jane's love is, and the way they respect each other and value one another as equals.
4. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. Thornton and Margaret's love reminds me a little of Darcy and Lizzy, in that they can't stand each other at first but eventually see each other in a new light. Their story is filled with a lot more heartbreak than Austen's novel, but that just makes the happier moments all the more meaningful.
5. The Anne of Green Gables series by L. M. Montgomery. Anne is my hero, and I worship her almost as much as Gilbert does. The only downside of their romance is that in the later books Anne goes all wifey and motherly and forgets her own creative dreams and ambitions, which might be historically accurate but is disappointing nonetheless.
6. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. An American girl falls in love with an English boy at a school in Paris. Oh, how I love everything about this book.
7. The Princess Bride by William Goldman. "This is True Love. You think that happens every day?" No, Westley, no it doesn't. Which is what makes this book so special.
8. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. Set in the Soviet Union during World War II, there's only one word to describe Tatiana and Alexander's love story: Epic.
9. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. This book made me ugly cry for a good half an hour after I finished it. Now that is a strong romance.
10. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. This one is extremely cheesy but totally addictive. I devoured it and was left wanting so much more. Pure, trashtastic fun.
What are your fave romances?
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
I love that you added Perfect Chemistry to your list. I agree that it was cheesy and yet somehow I couldn't put it down.
ReplyDeleteHaha it's kinda embarrassing but I loved it.
DeleteYour top two are probably my top two.lol Jane Austen does romance right!
ReplyDeleteAwesome list!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the PB but have never read it. I must change that.
You should definitely read it :)
DeleteI'm totally with you on 6 & 10.
ReplyDeleteSuch fun reads :)
DeleteI really need to read the Princess' Bride and The Time Traveler's Wife !! Also, I'm ashamed to admit I've mostly forgotten what Persuasion was about. Haven't read it since I was 15... and.. I HATED the relationship in Jayne Eyre. Wanted to sock that guy, what with his insecurities and so forth. Ug... But !! I quite agree that it was so disappointing to have Anne never quite fulfill her writing dreams. Sigh.. I can only hope that doesn't happen to the rest of us! hehe ;)
ReplyDeleteI can see why people get annoyed with Jane Eyre... but I just love it so much. Persuasion is definitely worth a reread!
DeleteI can't say much about Austen's romances since I haven't read them (gasp!) but you are SO right about The Princess Bride. That definitely makes my top ten. Other noteworthy mentions: Beatrice & Benedick (Much Ado About Nothing), Katniss & Peeta (Hunger Games) and R & Julie (Warm Bodies).
ReplyDeleteGasp alright! Read some Austen, lady!
DeleteI haven't read Warm Bodies but the movie was fun.
Gah I am so in love with Wesley. And the whole book. AND the movie especially. Wanna know what really grinds my gears? The fact that Stephanie Meyer dared to compare Bella/Edward to Wesley/Buttercup. She said that PB was so weak, and that her romance wasn't true love - unlike Bella's true love with Edward, because Bella is a strong woman who knows what she wants from life.
ReplyDelete*deep breathing*
Grrr.
Oh no she di-int! That really angers me.
DeleteI loved Perfect Chemistry. Alex Fuentes was pure Mexican eye candy on a stick. I haven't read The Time Traveler's Wife, but I really want to because I loved the movie. I need to pick Anna and the French Kiss back up again. I put it down and before I realized it was due at the library.
ReplyDeleteThe TTW book is better than the movie, so you'd probably like it!
DeleteI have only read two of these (or at least I think so, I may have read P&P - I can never remember). Anyhoo, I agree with Anna and the French Kiss and I had a giggle at Perfect Chemistry (those books are so cheesy but were fun, too!)
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely due for a reread of P&P if you can't remember it ;)
DeleteThe Persuasion letter! *flails* I love that book so much.. I'm also thinking I need to do an Anne of GG reread eventually, or watch the films agains. Love this list!
ReplyDeleteThanks Rey! The Anne movies are so perfect. Except the third one, I refuse to watch it.
DeleteI LOVE GILBERT AND ANNE.
ReplyDeleteAnd Rochy & Jane are my favourite. Seriously <3
I really love Mackee and Jo too. Realistic and full of swoon.
Um. I mean Tara. TARA*.
*No, I totally mean Jo. ;)
Bahaha I was like... I don't remember a Jo character... OH RIGHT. Derr.
DeleteOur lists are so similar in some ways. We both seem to be a fan of the classics :)
ReplyDeleteI've seen Anna and the French Kiss on quite a few lists. Perhaps it's time I picked it up myself...
~Andrea @ Beauty but a Funny Girl
I do love the classics, even though I don't read enough of them :)
Deleteoh my gosh YES to alexander and tatiana. hotness.
ReplyDeletealso, anne and gil forever <3
They are the perfect couple :)
DeleteXD ok, before I die of laughter, what, please, did you mean by "ugly cry"? The images created by my brain alone are cracking me up! XD your blog is pretty awesome, by the way! ;)
ReplyDeleteYou know, where you cry so hard you pull a really hideous face.
DeletePS thank you :)