It’s not long past now since Valentine’s Day and it doesn’t matter if you’re the romantic type or not, there was no ignoring it. If romance novels don’t get your heart racing, then this collection might not be your thing. If you like a bit of slushy prose then look no further for the ten mushiest love stories to get you in the mood for a bit of canoodling, chosen by you old romantics over on the Reading Addicts Facebook page this Valentine’s Day.
You’ll find some good old favourites in our list… yes! those classics really do stand the test of time! And who wouldn’t want a fictional, historical squeeze with so many to classic heart-throbs choose from?
Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte (14 votes)
Wuthering Heights (US)
Wuthering Heights (UK)
Probably the most brooding, powerful love story of all, Wuthering Heights pulled in the lion’s share of the votes. So many of you thought that Cathy and Heathcliff made this the best love story for St Valentine’s Day.
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen (12 votes)
Pride and Prejudice (US)
Pride and Prejudice (UK)
Mr Darcy as the perfect literary Valentine? Who could disagree? Not many of you, that’s for sure!
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte (9 votes)
In the top three of this list, it’s classics, classics, classics. Another from the Bronte sisters; Jane Eyre got nine of your votes this Valentine’s Day.
Outlander Series – Diana Gabaldon (6 votes)
Who would have guessed? It’s won many accolades in the past but I would never have classified this in the romance genre. According to you, this has one of the most epic love stories ever. Who am I to argue?
The Notebook – Nicholas Sparks (6 votes)
The Notebook (US)
The Notebook (UK)
Now, why wasn’t a Nicholas Sparks novel right at the top of this list? In my opinion, he’s one of the top contemporary romance writers.
Well, there you have it… a great selection in our top five if you’re up for a bit of romance this weekend. If you’re looking for something different, here’s a few more for your “To Read” list, all chosen by you:
The Time Traveller’s Wife – Audrey Niffeneger (4 votes)
50 Shades of Grey – E. L James (4 votes)
Bridget Jones Diary – Helen Fielding (4 votes)
Love in the Time of Cholera – Gabriel García Márquez (4 votes)
The Fault in our Stars – John Green (3 votes)
And if you have a stony heart and a chill in your soul, then why not curl up with Stephen King instead? And that’s all right by us, because, so long as you’re reading, we love you!
Captain Corellis Mandolin is beautifully romantic. Reduces me to tears every time I read it.
I agree completely-and so much better than the awful film adaptation
“Maurice” by E.M Forster . “Eleanor and Park” by Rainbow Rowell. “Persuasion” by Jane Austen
Eleanor and Park is so great!!
Like Water for Chocolate!
Yes!! Oh my goodness both the book and film are brilliant and SO underrated!!
Oh yes this is my number one film adaptation and I think it’s because it’s so faithful to the beautiful book. Everytime I read it I’m in tears.
a crack in forever by jeannie brewer
Me
Me before you jojo moyes
Water for Elephants is, although an unconventional love story, absolutely beautiful. A Fault in our Stars is gorgeous and tragic and Paper Towns is really good as well. The stuff the main character goes through to find the girl he loves after she disappears is both great breaking and funny.
Heart breaking rather. Sorry.
Dr. Zhivago
“Mara, that’s the life I want to give you. That’s what I’m offering you. I want to fill your life with color and warmth. I want to fill it with light. Give me a chance”
― Francine Rivers, Redeeming Love
A thousand times, yes!!
Astonishing that people still consider 50 Shades a romance! My favourite is The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons.
I have that book to read very, very soon, it looks so good!!! And I so agree about 50 Shades (shudder), sorry people who like it. I actually was very angry at the end of Me Before You, as someone who is disabled myself, (I have three autoimmune diseases with more and more serious and puzzling complications every year, along with pain and severe fatigue), who sees how my husband struggles with being the only one earning a paycheck, let alone his care for me and our autistic teenage son and our house, I still know that he treasures our 25 years of marriage and needs me as much as I need him, heart and soul. You don’t get to make that choice for someone, sorry. He was not being kind.
Bridges at Madison county
Elizabeth Smart’s By Grand Central Station I Sat Down And Wept.
Anita Shreve’s “The Last Time They Met”
Favs include: The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern – Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin, The Outlander Saga by Diana Gabaldon, The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffennigger.