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Unforgettable romance novels of all time
13
items “There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart.” Said Jane Austen once.
When I’m down, I pick up a romance and the world is restored. Whether you’re craving a sweeping classic or a modern love story that sizzles, these ten romance novels are the on...
Sections
3
Classics
Contemporary
Honorary mentions
Classics
The original love stories that shaped literature bringing us earnestness, tenderness, tragedy and unforgettable passion.
Is there a romance novel list without this entry. From the minute Austen published the characters of Mr Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet, the genre of romance was changed forever. Their witty sparring and slow-burn attraction make this one of the most...
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Searing, slow-burn, passionate and doomed. There is no pair like Heathcliff and Catherine when it comes to haunting tragic love. It’s a story of passion, revenge, and obsession that still grips readers nearly two centuries later.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
This is one of literature’s greatest love stories. Anna’s affair with Count Vronsky is passionate, complicated, and ultimately tragic. Set against the backdrop of Russian high society, it explores desire, duty, and heartbreak with unforgettable depth...
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Rhett Butler was the original rake and made my teenage heart skip several beats. Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler’s fiery push-and-pull plays out against the backdrop of the Civil War. Bold, flawed characters and sweeping history make this more than ...
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Another personal favorite, this one is called the Australian Gone with the wind. It’s an epic saga of forbidden love between Meggie Cleary and Father Ralph de Bricassart. If you love sweeping, tragic stories that span generations, this is your kind o...
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
Contemporary
These favorites of today redefined romance for readers. They bring a ton of boldness and heart.
Who doesn’t love time travel and that too of epic proportions like what Diana Gabaldon created. This book series is the sweeping saga of Claire, a WWII nurse who’s pulled back into 18th-century Scotland. Her love story with Jamie Fraser blends histor...
Outlander Books by Diana Gaboldon
Yes it was a book before a movie. Nicholas Sparks shot to glory with this modern staple in romantic fiction. It’s tender, emotional, and tear-jerking.
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Hazelwood always charms with humor, STEM academia vibes, and with this one, she brings us a swoony fake-dating romance. When Olive fakes a relationship with a grumpy professor, the chemistry sparks into something real. If your style leans towards con...
The Love Hypothesis - Hazelwood, Ali
Friends-to-lovers done beautifully. Emily Henry is considered one of the defining voices of modern romance. Poppy and Alex are opposites who reunite on one last trip, testing whether friendship can turn into something more. It’s warm, witty, and idea...
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
A heartbreaking but deeply romantic novel about love, choice, and transformation. A moving story about Louisa, a quirky young woman, and Will, a man whose life has been upended after an accident. It became very popular and was adapted into a film.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Honorary mentions
I’m not done yet. There is so much more but to fit a list, I’ll just add three more.
If you are looking for a light, witty heartfelt romance set in modern India, Chauhan blends humor, cultural detail, and sparkling chemistry with the Zoya Factor. An ad executive becomes a cricket team’s lucky charm, its both romantic and laugh-out-lo...
The Zoya Factor by Anuja Chauhan
One of the best-selling romances of the 20th century, this tale of Oliver and Jenny is simple, tender and emotional. It captures the intensity of young love and the heartbreak of loss. Sometimes the most straightforward stories hit the hardest.
Love Story by Erich Segal
A quiet, devastatingly beautiful love story between a lonely farm wife and a traveling photographer. Their brief but intense romance asks what it means to choose between passion and responsibility. It’s a short read, has been made into a movie and it...
The Bridges Of Madison County