Romance is one of the oldest forms of storytelling, and for good reason. Something is just so fascinating about witnessing two strangers slowly become the most important people in each other’s lives. Movies can obviously tell great love stories, but books have always been the genre’s natural home. They allow readers to experience every little moment that leads up to the central characters’ happily ever after.
Not every romance book gets it right, though, because many of them mistake grand gestures for chemistry or rely on familiar tropes without giving readers a reason to care. Not the ones on this list, though, because they create relationships that feel so authentic that readers can’t help but become emotionally invested in every high and low along the way. Here are the romance books that are perfect from the first page to the last.
‘Pride and Prejudice’ (1813)
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No one does romance like Jane Austen, and Pride and Prejudice is the holy grail of the genre. In fact, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy practically invented enemies-to-lovers before every Netflix movie was doing it, and are still one of literature’s greatest pairings thanks to their compelling dynamic. The novel primarily follows the intelligent and fiercely independent Elizabeth Bennet, whose life changes when the wealthy yet notoriously reserved Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy enters her social circle. Both characters instantly dislike one another. However, as their misunderstandings unravel, the two are forced to confront their own flaws and true feelings.
This constant tension between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is what makes the novel irresistible. Austen fills every conversation between Elizabeth and Darcy with tension, wit, and emotional subtext, which gives weight to even their smallest interactions. At the same time, Pride and Prejudice doubles as a sharp satire of class, marriage, and social expectations in Regency England, which gives the novel a lot more depth than a typical love story. That’s also why Pride and Prejudice remains an important part of cultural conversations today, with countless books, films, and TV shows borrowing from its characters and tropes. Safe to say, this book is as close to a perfect romance novel as the genre has ever seen.
‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ (2003)
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Audrey Niffenegger‘s The Time Traveler’s Wife is a science fiction romance that leaves the readers heartbroken. The story follows librarian Henry DeTamble, who has a rare genetic condition that causes him to involuntarily travel through time, and Clare Abshire, the woman who loves him despite never knowing when he will suddenly disappear or reappear. The most interesting part of the story is how Henry experiences his relationship with Clare out of order. The two meet at completely different stages of their lives, which means Clare has to build a future with someone whose past she already knows.
The novel constantly jumps between timelines, and while that might sound complex, the storytelling feels effortless to follow. The novel never uses time travel as a gimmick but uses it as a tool to explore how true love can survive uncertainty and absence. Every reunion between the central characters carries the weight of an inevitable goodbye, and this balance of hope and tragedy is what makes readers stick with The Time Traveler’s Wife till the very end. More than twenty years after its release, it still stands as one of the most original and emotionally devastating romances ever written.
‘The Unhoneymooners’ (2019)
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Christina Lauren‘s The Unhoneymooners is another enemies-to-lovers story but with a more contemporary narrative. The story follows Olive Torres, who unexpectedly wins a free honeymoon to Hawaii after every guest at her twin sister’s wedding comes down with severe food poisoning. The problem is that the only other person who can claim the trip is Ethan Thomas, the groom’s brother and the one person Olive can’t stand. The catch is that the resort, excursions, and other bookings all expect the newlywed couple to show up. However, to avoid losing the trip and to keep things simple, Olive and Ethan pretend to be a couple.
Of course, this leads to a comedy of errors where their lie becomes increasingly complicated with time, especially when they run into acquaintances and are forced to keep up the charade. The book is a rom-com at its best, andthe longer Olive and Ethan pretend to be married, the closer they get to one another. Lauren balances the story’s lighthearted moments with genuine emotional growth so that the romance never feels rushed despite all the chaos that surrounds it. The Unhoneymooners isn’t the most intense gut-wrenching love story out there but it’s definitely one of the most entertaining and sweet romance novels in recent times.
‘Eleanor &&’Park’ (2012)
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‘The Flatshare’ (2019)
‘Jane Eyre’ (1847)
‘Call Me By Your Name’ (2007)
