Top Ten Book Romances That Would Make it in the Real World

Today's Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) is in honor of their founder, Jamie, getting married on August 17th. Congrats to Jamie! I'm also excited because my anniversary happens to be on the 17th as well, so I'm in the mood for a romantic post myself. :)

1. Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen -- I know this is a cliche, but I really think they would work out, because they had to overcome some obstacles to be together. They had to get over their preconceived notions of what they wanted in relationships and what they thought about each other initially, so now that they have already battled those illusions, I think they are ready for a good life together.
2. Anne Elliott and Frederick Wentworth from Persuasion by Jane Austen -- I promise these won't all be Jane Austen characters, but I think these two would also be happy together due to the reasons listed for Elizabeth and Darcy. They haven't had it easy, they've had to overcome some obstacles, but now that they have I think they will be able to enjoy their lives together.
3. Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe from the Anne of Green Gables books by L.M. Montgomery -- Again -- Anne and Gilbert don't just experience insta-love. They go through some things and several near misses before they are able to be together. I also love that we get to follow them into middle age and see some of the obstacles they go through in their marriage and the way it brings them closer together.
4. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling -- If I'm being perfectly honest, I seriously wish that Harry and Hermione had ended up together (dodges tomatoes). But I do think that the opposites-attract theory for Ron and Hermione works out. I also think there is something to learning how to fight with each other -- I don't think bickering means a relationship is failed, as long as you know how to make your arguments productive. I think the hardest thing for my husband and I when we first got married was learning to understand how each other dealt with conflict. Once we had that figured out, we certainly still have plenty of disagreements, but now we know how to work with each other through them. I think Ron and Hermione most likely figured that out very early on in their relationship. :)
5. Liesel and Rudy from The Book Thief by Markus Zusak -- I can't say much about this one without spoiling the ending, so I won't. But I think they were so perfect together and so sweet. I'm a sucker for childhood sweethearts stories.
6. Father Tim and Cynthia Coppersmith in the Mitford books by Jan Karon -- I love these books -- they epitomize comfort reads for me. Their quirky, mismatched relationship is why I think they are both so satisfied in it -- they are different enough from each other to keep each other interested, but have the same values, which keeps them compatible.
7. Anna and Etienne from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins -- They had a rocky start, but seeing the glimpses of them in Lola and the Boy Next Door makes me sure that this is a couple that will spend their lives together. I freaking love it.
8. Peeta and Katniss from The Hunger Games books by Suzanne Collins -- Okay, so their relationship is kind of messed up and slightly darkened from all the memory wipe-age and post-traumatic stress disorder. But after everything they went through together, I think they would last forever. I guess in the real world, they wouldn't go through everything they had, so maybe my premise is all messed up. But I'm having trouble thinking of people at this point, so they stay.
9. Seth Moreno and Julia from The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker -- Guys, have you read this book? While it ends sadly, I think this couple is the most adorable one I've ever read about. Again, the childhood sweethearts theme. And again, I think they would last forever, given the chance.
10. Lyra and Will from His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman -- These two are perfectly matched soulmates. No arguments, guys. If they were just two normal people meeting in this normal world, even if they didn't go through any of the crazy adventures they go through, they would still end up together, in my opinion.