Romance is one of the most popular fiction genres, but the genre itself has many distinct subgenres, making its readership very diverse.
of course, there are romantic comedies, historical romances, erotic romances and many others. But when it comes to timeless love stories both on paper and on screen, romantic dramas provide the perfect blend of laughter, tears, and love.
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10 romantic drama books you should read
here are 10 gripping romantic drama novels that blend themes of tragedy, loss, and drama with romance to create some of the most enduring love stories.
1. break us up by colleen hoover
lila worked hard to achieve the life she wanted, graduating from college, moving to boston and starting her own business. When she strikes a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, her life seems too good to be true.
Even though Lily becomes the exception to Ryle’s “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him so reluctant to commit in the first place.
Just as she’s overwhelmed with questions about her new relationship, her first love suddenly reappears, his presence threatening to upend everything Lily has built with Ryle. To see similar romantic dramas, she checks out more works by Colleen Hoover.
2. the fault in our stars by john green
A medical miracle that shrinks the tumor has given her a few more years, but Hazel remains terminal and her fate is sealed by a damning diagnosis.
But when she meets Augustus Waters at a support group for children with cancer, Hazel’s story is completely rewritten, exploring the funny, exciting and tragic subject of life, love and death.
3. the time traveler’s wife by audrey niffenegger
henry detamble is a handsome and adventurous librarian who suffers from a genetic disorder that causes him to travel through time unpredictably. clare abshire is an artist whose life follows a natural sequential course.
Despite being caught in an impossible trap, their passionate yet unconventional love story endures across the seas of time.
4. nicholas sparks notebook
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In this beloved romantic drama, 31-year-old Noah Calhoun is haunted by memories of the girl he lost 14 years ago.
Meanwhile, 29-year-old Allie Nelson is about to marry a wealthy lawyer, but she can’t stop thinking about the boy who stole her heart as a teenager. When she unexpectedly returns to see Noah again, her love story turns into something with much more at stake.
if you like sparks’ work, check out our list of other talented romance authors like nicholas sparks.
5. me before you by jojo moyesn
louisa clark is an ordinary girl living an extremely ordinary life. she has a steady boyfriend, a close family and has barely ventured beyond her small town.
She then takes a much-needed job taking care of the successful and wealthy Will Traynor, who is now in a wheelchair.
Depressed about his condition, Will is moody and bossy, but Lou is determined to change that. Soon, his happiness becomes his priority, and when he discovers Will’s shocking plans, he sets out to show her that life is still worth living.
6. water for elephants by sara gruen
During the Great Depression, veterinary student Jacob Janowski is in charge of caring for the circus menagerie.
There he meets Marlena, a beautiful equestrian star married to Augusto, the charismatic but brutal trainer of Anima. Then there’s also Rosie, an elephant who seemed impossible to train, until Jacob found a way to reach her.
As Jacob and Marlena’s love grows, they will face incredible challenges in a world where even love seems like a luxury.
7. hello (from here) by chandler baker and wesley king
In this pandemic-era romantic drama, Maxine and Jonah find themselves in the canned goods aisle just as California goes into lockdown.
As they get to know each other through face-to-face dates and socially distanced gatherings, they form a bond that helps them endure the shenanigans, humanity, and heartaches that surround them, navigating pressing matters far bigger than a teenage crush. .
8. after i do by taylor jenkins reid
When their marriage comes to a head, Lauren and Ryan devise an unconventional plan in hopes of saving it: They agree to spend a year apart, with the only rule being no contact with each other. During the year of separation from her, Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, absorbing the influences of her friends and family, dealing with the challenges of living apart from Ryan, and trying to heal.
This romantic drama examines what happens when love fades through one couple’s unique search for a new path to the happy ending.
9. in five years by rebecca serle
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Manhattan attorney Dannie Kohan lives by numbers and plans meticulously down to the last detail. when she is asked in a job interview where she sees herself in five years, she is ready with a perfectly crafted answer.
Later that night, she accepts her boyfriend’s marriage proposal and goes to sleep knowing she’s on track with her five-year plan.
but dannie wakes up to a very different reality, in a different apartment, with a different ring on her finger and a very different man by her side. the television news informs him that it is 2025, five years in the future.
After an hour of revelations, Dannie wakes up again, back in 2020. She tries to forget the strange experience, until four and a half years later, she meets the same man from her dream.
10. i dropped you for sara downing
After sustaining a horrific head injury, art teacher Eve Chapman finds herself trapped in a coma. no matter how hard she tries, she can’t get her family and her friends to see or hear her.
but then she meets luca diaz, a handsome lawyer who is also in a coma and who can actually see her. He takes Eve under her wing and teaches her how to use her newfound abilities to help the living.
as the weeks go by, eve struggles to return to her body and to nathan, the man she loves. But the more time she spends with Luca, the more he wonders if it’s worth going back to his old life.
dramatic romance
Perhaps one of the reasons romantic dramas are so successful in both books and movies is that these stories emulate more of the trials and tribulations of real-life love than some of their counterparts.
Whether it’s unexpected tragedy or love beginning to fade, true love is rarely a walk in the park for long. romantic dramas explore these challenges and make us root for the main characters, even if in the end, we have to settle for happily-for-now instead of happily-ever-after.
Do you have a favorite romantic drama book? Tell us about it in the comments below!
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