The 18 Best Love Stories and Books of 2021

YOU ARE READING: The 18 Best Love Stories and Books of 2021 AT PhebinhvanhocEN

This list has been selected by our book editor based on the books you have read or tried, and the books that have excellent reviews of good reads.

It’s that time of year when we all think about love a little more than normal. As Valentine’s Day approaches, no matter your relationship status, you may want a story about love. but not just any love story, a great one.

You are reading: Epic love stories books

We’ve rounded up some of the greatest love stories of all time, from both classic and modern literature.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, but we think they are wonderful; many have even been made into movies or shows. these are love stories with that timeless quality. they are the ones that make us want to read again and leave a lasting impression.

1. foreigner by diana gabaldón

A favorite of our editorial team, this historical fiction series features one of the most memorable couples, made increasingly popular by the hit Starz show. Follows Claire, a former combat nurse in 1945, who walks through a standing stone in Scotland and finds herself on the other side in 1743. It is there that she meets James Fraser, a young Scottish warrior, and a whole second life unfolds. . her chemistry is #onfire.

2. nicholas sparks notebook

If you’re familiar with this book, or the movie adaptation, then you’re also familiar with hacking your way through an entire box of tissues. there is no denying that this is a story of tears, but it is also undeniable that it is one of the best love stories. Noah and Allie’s post-World War II story, set in the beautiful North Carolina countryside, unfolds like a Russian doll, and is one that has scarred our hearts forever.

3. the princess bride by william goldman

You may have seen the classic book within an ’80s fantasy movie, but have you read the book it was adapted from? While the main love story between Princess Ranunculus and farmer-turned-pirate Wesley is largely the same, there are a few differences from page to page, including much more in Inigo Montoya’s story. Either way, we’ll be saying “whatever you want” for the rest of our lives.

4. the time traveler’s wife by audrey niffenegger

If you love time travel narratives and love stories that span the boundaries of time, then this is a must read. Clare and Henry have known each other since they were 6 and 36 years old respectively… and then married when Clare was 23 and Henry was 31. Henry has chronodisplacement disorder (periodically he finds himself suddenly out of place in time). this imaginative story captured our hearts a long time ago, but we’re still thinking about it 10 years later.

5. pride and prejudice by jane austen

The fact that there have been 17 film adaptations of this book tells us that it is an all-time favorite for a reason. maybe it’s because we all long for that latest “happily ever after” rom-com and the “opposites attract” trope never gets old. Mr. darcy is madly in love, elizabeth can’t stand it, and watching their individual characters develop as they finally fall in love is quite satisfying. we believe this story will continue to be enjoyed for centuries to come.

6. beren and lúthien by j.r.r. tolkien

Any Tolkien fan will tell you that the ultimate love story is none other than Beren and Lúthien, one of the great tales of Middle Earth. First published as a chapter in the Silmarillion, the story has since been published in a separate volume with annotations by Tolkien’s son Christopher, with illustrations by Alan Lee.

7. Eleanor & park by rainbow rowell

Eleanor is the new girl in town struggling to fit in. park is a boy he meets in the back of the bus (the only free seat). blending in is his specialty, but eventually, his awkward silence turns into conversations about comics and mixed tapes.

eleanor and park are well-realized characters with voices that are fun to follow and a story with an unpredictable ending. It’s a classic high school first love story that will live on in all those who are ’80s kids at heart. (We also recommend Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl).

8. A Court of Thrones and Roses by Sarah J. dough

This series has many followers. if you like high fantasy with a lot of steamy romance between beautiful female warriors, this is your jam. Some people love to hate these books, but we can’t get enough of the characters, especially Feyra and Rysand. we can never say “wingspan” again without laughing at ourselves.

The first book is loosely based on Beauty and the Beast, but the series comes into its own. we admit that we are in the camp of those who have reserved the fourth installment, a court of silver flames, which will hit stores on February 16.

9. to all the boys i’ve loved before by jenny han

this book is so loved it was made into a netflix movie. this is the story of lara jean, who has written a letter to all the boys she has a crush on, but it ends up in a box under her bed, which she should never have sent. One day, she discovers that everyone has been mailed and everyone she likes starts confronting her, including her sister’s ex-boyfriend, Josh. (#yikes) but this is a teenage love story that really gives us that warm and fuzzy feeling. you will be left wanting more; luckily, it’s a series.

10. trisha ashley books

That’s right, we’re including an author’s full work, not just a title for this entry. trisha ashley is simply one of our favorite quality romance writers who delivers the best cozy rom-coms year after year.

If you fancy an absolutely heartwarming read that completely immerses you in a beautiful setting with well-drawn characters and heartfelt romance, check out some of our favorites: The Holiday Invitation, Little Tea Shop of the Lost, and finally found the garden of forgotten desires.

11. The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

If you’ve seen the movie, then you know. this is one of those stories that just hits you in the stomach and makes you laugh and cry and then cry again. It is also a perfect book for lovers of books about books. It is the story of the island of Guernsey during the German occupation in the late 1940s.

juliet is looking for a subject for her next book and finds it in a random letter from a man she never met on the island. He is part of a secret literary club that she begins exchanging letters with and eventually travels to Geurnsey and is forever changed.

12. me before you by jojo moyes

In another book-turned-movie (are we seeing a trend here?), Louisa is an ordinary girl who has barely left her town, when she takes a job for the former Master of the Universe, Will. when will becomes a wheelchair user after an accident, everything changes.

He’s moody, bossy, and pretty much the opposite of Louisa, but they find something in each other that turns into a heartbreaking romance. Have a box of tissues ready.

13. much ado about nothing by william shakespeare

you were probably expecting to see romeo & juliet on this list (and it’s a true classic), but let’s go out on a limb and say that much ado about nothing is an even better love story.

contains a lot more humor, for one thing, and portrays perhaps some more relatable relationships. Furthermore, Beatrice is one of the first strong female characters to appear in Shakespeare’s play; in the words of one reviewer, she is “intelligent, sardonic, and fierce”. something we can get behind.

14. meet me in mumbai by jenny ashcroft

This book just came out on January 19th, but consider us enthralled. It begins on New Year’s Eve in Bombay, 1913, and after moving there, Maddy misses England. her at midnight she meets luke, who opens her eyes to the wonders of bombay. Shortly after falling in love, World War I separates them, but they keep a promise that they will meet again in Bombay… only Luke loses his memory of her, and first, he must remember who she is.

15. miss the dreamer by laini taylor

It’s definitely one of our favorite fantasy books of the last few years (it’s also nearly 5-star best reads with over 90,000 ratings), but the relationship between lazlo and sarai is truly epic and literally transcends the books. kingdoms.

They are *not* your typical couple, but their attraction is undeniable and will feature prominently in literature throughout the ages. you’ll get sucked into this heroic tale of lost cities, found family, and harrowing battles, and want more…luckily there’s a sequel, muse of nightmares, that’s just as satisfying as the first book.

16. jane austen sanditon

This book is one of Jane Austen’s lesser-known works because it was left unfinished by the time she died. Still, we’re in love with the Charlotte and Sidney love story that Austen crafted over the 11 chapters.

In 2019, this witty and riveting story was adapted into a PBS drama series masterpiece that was canceled after the first season. Fans of the show have been begging for a conclusion to Jane Austen’s latest, unfinished story, and there may yet be hope. though it’s up in the air as to whether the writers will wrap it up perfectly in a truly stark way.

17. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

In contrast to clean-as-a-bow austen endings, Tolstoy drew his stories with a little more shadows surrounding his characters. This classic is one of doomed love, and for generations, readers have been fascinated by the (unhappily married) heroine that is Anna and her catastrophic affair with the surprising Count Vronsky.

Not only are the characters unforgettable, but the book explores deep questions about what it means to live a full life.

18. his dark materials by philip pullman

This isn’t known as a “romance” series, but hear us out: not all great love stories are romantic. And while there is some romance in this series, there are plenty of other displays of great love in this epic story.

the relationships between people and their demons (such as lyra and pan), fierce friendships (even between humans and armored bears), self-love, religious love, and family found with ties that span worlds. Besides, these books are just a wonderful time. If you haven’t read them yet, we suggest you do so before enjoying the HBO drama series inspired by them.

naomi farr is a book editor and copyeditor at greatist. she loves to focus on all things books, beauty, wellness and mental health. she is also a fantasy writer and a book writer. you can find her (and her cat hers) @avioletlife.

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