Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Love Stories
I'm still on a bit of a love hangover from Valentine's Day, so I am quite enthusiastic about this week's Top Ten Tuesday meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. (Yes, I know it's not Tuesday; I'm just a rebel like that.) The topic this week is "favorite love stories in books," so here -- in no particular order -- is my highly subjective list. Beware spoilers!
1. Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)
Oh, come on, you knew this was coming. Enough said. :)
2. Cecily and Little John (The Outlaws of Sherwood)
I've mentioned before how much I love this book by Robin McKinley. Now's the time for me to admit that a big part of my devotion comes from this romance, which is not even the main focus of the story. The characters' mutual attraction is obvious, but neither one is willing to act on his or her feelings. The scene where they finally do confess their love is basically perfect.
3. Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe (Anne of Green Gables and sequels)
I do enjoy a good friends-to-lovers story, and this is one of the best. Anne makes a lot of mistakes in the area of romance, but she eventually comes back to the boy who was right for her all along. Admit it, girls, you were all in love with Gilbert when you were ten.
4. Marguerite and Percy Blakeney (The Scarlet Pimpernel)
Another interesting romantic convention is to have two characters fall in love after they're already married, and this novel does it so well. Marguerite and Percy have to overcome a colossal misunderstanding before they can reveal just how much they love each other. The scene between them after Lord Grenville's ball, where they argue about what drove them apart, is wonderfully romantic.
5. Lucy Honeychurch and George Emerson (A Room with a View)
I'm beginning to feel like I'm just listing all my favorite books! I do love the relationship between Lucy and George, though. Lucy is naive at the beginning of the novel, and it takes her a while to realize how she feels. Meanwhile, George tries to be patient but can't seem to stop kissing her...it's completely adorable.
6. Sophy Stanton-Lacy and Charles Rivenhall (The Grand Sophy)
Ah, Georgette Heyer, no one does Regency romance like you! These two are so perfect for each other -- Charles is tightly wound and has a terrible temper, and Sophy delights in antagonizing him. They argue all the time and love every minute of it, and they're constantly challenging each other to change for the better.
7. Jenny Heger and Jonathan Ferrier (Testimony of Two Men)
I don't know how well-known this book (by Taylor Caldwell) might be, but I really like it. Jenny and Jon have an extremely tempestuous relationship, mostly stemming from the fact that he believes she's his brother's mistress. Needless to say, the truth is more complicated. Their romance has some dark chapters, but everything works out in the end.
8. Kit Tyler and Nat Eaton (The Witch of Blackbird Pond)
Loved this book as a kid, still love it today! It's really a triple threat, because there are three romances in this book, and they're all great -- not only Kit and Nat, but Judith & William and John & Mercy too! You have to love that boy who's always teasing you in a lighthearted, mischievous way.
9. Sorcha and Red (Daughter of the Forest)
This is Juliet Marillier at the top of her game. The love story is tender, beautifully written, and amazingly romantic -- even though Sorcha can't talk through its entire development! It's an incredibly difficult feat to pull off, but this book manages it with grace.
10. Beatrice and Benedick (Much Ado About Nothing)
Can you believe I almost forgot about Shakespeare?! I could have also named Viola and Orsino (Twelfth Night) or Celia and Oliver (As You Like It), but this couple from Much Ado is my absolute favorite. And it's not just because of the Kenneth Branagh movie adaptation...it's not, I tell you!
1. Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)
Oh, come on, you knew this was coming. Enough said. :)
2. Cecily and Little John (The Outlaws of Sherwood)
I've mentioned before how much I love this book by Robin McKinley. Now's the time for me to admit that a big part of my devotion comes from this romance, which is not even the main focus of the story. The characters' mutual attraction is obvious, but neither one is willing to act on his or her feelings. The scene where they finally do confess their love is basically perfect.
3. Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe (Anne of Green Gables and sequels)
I do enjoy a good friends-to-lovers story, and this is one of the best. Anne makes a lot of mistakes in the area of romance, but she eventually comes back to the boy who was right for her all along. Admit it, girls, you were all in love with Gilbert when you were ten.
4. Marguerite and Percy Blakeney (The Scarlet Pimpernel)
Another interesting romantic convention is to have two characters fall in love after they're already married, and this novel does it so well. Marguerite and Percy have to overcome a colossal misunderstanding before they can reveal just how much they love each other. The scene between them after Lord Grenville's ball, where they argue about what drove them apart, is wonderfully romantic.
5. Lucy Honeychurch and George Emerson (A Room with a View)
I'm beginning to feel like I'm just listing all my favorite books! I do love the relationship between Lucy and George, though. Lucy is naive at the beginning of the novel, and it takes her a while to realize how she feels. Meanwhile, George tries to be patient but can't seem to stop kissing her...it's completely adorable.
6. Sophy Stanton-Lacy and Charles Rivenhall (The Grand Sophy)
Ah, Georgette Heyer, no one does Regency romance like you! These two are so perfect for each other -- Charles is tightly wound and has a terrible temper, and Sophy delights in antagonizing him. They argue all the time and love every minute of it, and they're constantly challenging each other to change for the better.
7. Jenny Heger and Jonathan Ferrier (Testimony of Two Men)
I don't know how well-known this book (by Taylor Caldwell) might be, but I really like it. Jenny and Jon have an extremely tempestuous relationship, mostly stemming from the fact that he believes she's his brother's mistress. Needless to say, the truth is more complicated. Their romance has some dark chapters, but everything works out in the end.
8. Kit Tyler and Nat Eaton (The Witch of Blackbird Pond)
Loved this book as a kid, still love it today! It's really a triple threat, because there are three romances in this book, and they're all great -- not only Kit and Nat, but Judith & William and John & Mercy too! You have to love that boy who's always teasing you in a lighthearted, mischievous way.
9. Sorcha and Red (Daughter of the Forest)
This is Juliet Marillier at the top of her game. The love story is tender, beautifully written, and amazingly romantic -- even though Sorcha can't talk through its entire development! It's an incredibly difficult feat to pull off, but this book manages it with grace.
10. Beatrice and Benedick (Much Ado About Nothing)
Can you believe I almost forgot about Shakespeare?! I could have also named Viola and Orsino (Twelfth Night) or Celia and Oliver (As You Like It), but this couple from Much Ado is my absolute favorite. And it's not just because of the Kenneth Branagh movie adaptation...it's not, I tell you!