Whether you care to admit it or not, the appeal of a good ol’ love story is difficult to deny. In an age where being “connected” means following someone on Twitter or Snapchatting your every move, romance in stories offer a deep physical and emotional connection between the story’s characters and the reader. With winter nights getting longer and colder, cuddle up beside a cosy fire or with a warm cup of cocoa with one of these 10 romantic gems.
1 Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
This tale follows a love affair that begins in 1962 on the Italian Coast and ends years later under the flashing bulbs of Hollywood.
2 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
The story of how Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett fall in love is widely regarded as one of the great literary romances of all time.
3 Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
With a film adaptation already on circuit, this story brings together two vastly different characters who find solace and comfort in one another.
4 Hot Head by Damon Suede
A true bromance if ever there was one, read how two Brooklyn firefighters who also happen to be best friends find themselves falling in love.
5 Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
If you loved Fifty Shades of Grey and are not averse to romances based on bets, this book will be right up your alley.
6 Birdsong by Sebastien Faulks
A novel of love and war, Sebastien Faulks’ Birdsong is written as though from personal experience, transporting the reader to a different time and place.
7 Fifty Shades Darker by EL James
The sequel to the erotic romance novel Fifty Shades of Grey needs no further embellishment.
8 The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin
Set for a film adaptation starring Idris Elba, this is the tale of two strangers who are forced to depend on each other after their charter plane crashes in the wilderness.
9 Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
If you’ve ever been in a long-distance relationship, this story of two young Nigerians who end up on different continents will strike a chord.
10 The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E Smith
A sweet and entertaining young adult (YA) novel told from the point of view of its heroine whose life changes in four minutes after a chance meeting with a cute stranger.
For even more book lists you’ll love, head to our Book Club section.
