Although I have no problem with romance in the books I read, it is not a genre that I reach for very often. It’s actually a bit weird, because I tend to enjoy love stories when I do read them, as long as they are written well. Like most people, I tend not to like insta-love or unnecessary love triangles, but I do like a well-developed love story. While looking through my list to pick out my favourites, I noticed a definite trend toward enjoying adult romances more than YA romances. I think it’s because in most YA books, the love story tends to be quite rushed. It was actually easier than I thought to find 5 romances that I really enjoyed.
Top 5 Wednesday is a meme created by Gingerreadslainey on Youtube, and is now hosted by Sam at ThoughtsOnTomes. The official GoodReads group with the weekly topics can be found here.
1) Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
This was the first classic romance I ever read, and it is still a favourite. It was never assigned to me in school, but I first read it when I was in high school and then again once I started university. The first time I read it, I’d chosen it for an assignment and kind of rushed it a bit, although I still really liked it. The second time, when I took my time on it, I loved it even more! Part of why I love this book so much is because of the social commentary that goes along with the romance. Elizabeth Bennett is one of my favourite protagonists, and her relationship with Mr. Darcy was completely fascinating. I also loved how this classic felt a lot more accessible than others, and especially the snarky humour! Like Elizabeth, I thought Mr. Darcy was so arrogant in the beginning, but he won me over too. There’s a good reason he’s one of literature’s most famous romantic characters.
2) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
This is another favourite classic that I first read while in university, as part of my decision to try to read more of the classics that I’d always wanted to try. The relationship that develops between Jane and Mr. Rochester has always been one of my favourites, especially because of the banter between them! It was so easy to see the chemistry between the two of them. I think it says a lot about the strength of the characters and their relationship that so many people can overlook the issues from Mr. Rochester’s past and still want him to be with Jane. I also loved how this book was so realistic about it, with Jane struggling to come to terms with what she learns about him before finally making her choice. This is definitely a book that I’m due to re-read!
3) The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
This is another book that I’d love to re-read sometime! I know a lot of people take issue with the relationship between Henry and Clare, but I loved the way it developed! The book is about a man named Henry who can travel through time to important moments in the past and future of his own life. When he first meets Clare, he is 36, and she is only 6. Their relationship develops when Clare becomes an adult, and they try to live normal lives despite Henry’s sudden disappearances each time he time travels. I absolutely adored the relationship between the two of them, and it was such a powerful story. I thought the concept was so unique and Audrey Niffenegger is such a talented author. It was so easy for me to get absorbed into the story and so difficult to put it down!
4) The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
I am such a sucker for unconventional love stories, and I think this one can definitely qualify. For those who don’t know, this book is about a Sheldon Cooper-esque genetics professor named Don Tillman who decides that it is time for him to get married. He develops something called The Wife Project, through which he attempts to scientifically find himself his ideal match based on specific qualities that he is looking for. In the process, he meets a woman named Rosie who is looking for her biological father, and wants Don’s help as a genetics expert. Even though Rosie is none of the things that Don is looking for, they develop a surprisingly strong connection. I absolutely devoured this book when I read it because I loved the characters so much. I thought the dynamics between Don and Rosie were so interesting to read, and the relationship that develops between them is so well-done. This is definitely one of my all-time favourite books.
5) The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
I feel like I’ve been talking about this book a lot lately, but it seemed like such a good fit for this week’s topic. This is a hate-to-love story about Lucy and Joshua, co-workers who are competing for the same promotion at their publishing company. This book was completely predictable, but so much fun to read! I think what made this book work so well was how interesting the characters’ interactions were. They had so much chemistry and it was so fun to watch their relationship unfold. It was a book that I really expected very little from, and I was surprised by how much I loved it! It quickly became one of my favourites of last year, and single-handedly convinced me to be a bit more open-minded about trying some of the books from genres that I don’t read too often.
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