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

Tuesday, August 14, 2012



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.

32 comments:

  1. You're reading Daughter of the Forest?! I absolutely adore that series. Have you read them before? I have always loved your thoughts on books, so I'm excited to see what you have to say about these. Isn't it thrilling when you find others who know and read the same books you do?

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    1. I just finished it! It was so good. I've never read them before but I absolutely loved that first one. And yes, for sure -- that is why I love blogging!

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  2. Great list! I'm familiar with about half that you mentioned and didn't even think to include Seth & Julia from The Age of Miracles. I just finished that book and they had such a sweet friendship and relationship. :)

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    1. I loved them. I would have loved to have had a relationship like that when I was growing up. :)

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  3. I totally agree with you, for Darcy and Liz. What I like about their love is it's not love at the first sight sort-of, but it's a love built by knowledge about each other's personality and respect towards each other. One of the best romance indeed.

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    1. There's definitely a reason that it is one of the most popular romances of all time. :)

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  4. We have the Potter and Hunger Games couples in common :-)
    Katja @ YA's the Word

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  5. I love your list (Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth got an honorable mention in mine and Anne and Capt. Wentworth were number one)!

    My TTT

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    1. Jane Austen definitely created some power couples!

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  6. NO EDWARD AND BELLA?!?!?!? Jk Lorren, when I saw the title of your post, the first thing I thought was, "Well, I know who WON'T be on her list!" And the first people I thought of were Anne and Gilbert. I love this list, cute idea!

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    1. Haha they ARE the best couple, I don't know what I was thinking. It would actually be interesting to see how dysfunctional they were in real life. Anne and Gilbert are seriously my role models.

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  7. Anna and St Clair are on my list too! I love them and they would last forever. Great picks.

    Come check out my top ten!

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    1. I wish they were real people -- I think they would be so fun to hang out with them.

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  8. We chose quite a few of the same couples, including Lyra and Will. I'm glad to find another fan of His Dark Materials. :D

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  9. Awww too true about Ron & Hermione. And damn I wish I hadn't forgotten Anna & Etienne for my list! They're so perfect for each other.

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    1. At times I wish that Harry had ended up with Hermione, but I do think that Ron and Hermione are really well-matched. :)

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  10. Oh my gosh, I almost added Will and Lyra to my list, but I kept thinking about them being in different worlds. But you are so right, if they were just two normal people, in our world, they would definitely be together. Great list!

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    1. I think Will and Lyra living in different worlds is the hugest literary injustice. They just kill me.

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  11. Great list. I've Katniss and Peeta on my list also. They just understand each other so well, they're bound to last. Plus they so deserved their happy ending.

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    1. I know -- after everything they went through, they definitely deserve some happiness.

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  12. Awesome choices! Katniss and Peeta are perfect for each other. :)

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    1. Definitely a case of opposites attracting and doing well together!

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  13. Nice picks! I've only read 2 of the books on your list, but I agree. I really need to read Anna and the French Kiss. I've been seeing that on a lot of lists and now I feel obligated to read it! There's also a few books on here that I own, so hopefully I'll get to reading it very soon!

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    1. Anna and the French Kiss is a fun read that I definitely recommend!

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  14. I love your list. I love Ron/Hermione and Liesle/Rudy. I almost included Liesle/Rudy on my list but I decided against it because I consider The Book Thief a version of the real world but I think that in a kinder world they would've worked out.

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    1. That's true -- it is real life. I think for me the "real world" meant life beyond the book, plus barring anything that kept them apart.

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  15. classics! I picked many of the same

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    1. It's fun to think about all these different couples.

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  16. Your first five would be on my list as well. I love the love between Captain Wentworth and Anne, she is so constant even if a trifle downtrodden. I'm in the middle of The Book Thief right now and I'm worried for Rudy and Liesel. They are so sweet, except for all the Zowminches and Zowkels. :) And I died for Lyra and Will. I cried when they were separated. Why couldn't the blasted angels tell them where a natural flow was?!

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    1. Oh my goodness -- have fun with the rest of the Book Thief. That is one book I really wish I could read for the first time again. And seriously about the angels -- they should have helped them out a bit.

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