Here is a post from Book Bub: 24 Readers Share the Most Romantic Books They’ve Ever Read
I’ve even read a few of those, though I don’t believe I’d have thought of any of them right off as “most romantic books ever.” But then, I don’t often go out of my way to read books that are heavy in the romance department, though I do read some romances, of course. I also enjoy a romance in an SFF novel, if it’s not too angsty and emotionally overwrought, and if it’s embedded in a good story with good worldbuilding.
In the order in which I happened to think of them: SFF Romances —
- Miles and Ekaterin
- Come to think of it, also Cordelia and Aral. Good heavens, what a terrible cover Shards of Honor has now. I mean, seriously.
- Dag and Fawn
- Tier and Seraph in the Raven duology by Patricia Briggs
- Oh! Don’t know why I didn’t think of them first, but of course Koaren and Cassandra in the Touchstone trilogy.
- I’m currently rereading The Emperor’s Edge series by Lindsay Buroker, so Amaranth and Sicarius.
- New to my favorite-romance list, Elsa and Kit from From All False Doctrine.
- Wen and Jasper from Fortune and Fate
- Zoe and Darien from Troubled Waters.
- Your Choice Here
Who leaps to mind for you all? Who would you put in the tenth spot?
Please Feel Free to Share:
Bujold certainly has her share. Paladin of Souls is a good choice, too. And for “meet cute” it has to be Ivan and Rish.
I should have thought of Ivan and … I think it’s Tej, not Rish, but absolutely priceless wedding scene.
“Unhand Lady Vorpatril!”
Dianora and Brandin from Tigana. Jennifer, Arthur and Lancelot from the Fionavar trilogy. Sofy and Jared from Joel Shepherd’s Petrodor series— even though they are not the main characters, what a romance!!
Of course it’s Tej. I mixed them up because I just finished a big trove of Byerly/Rish fanfic, and Rish was at my fingertips.
It’s perhaps the best ff I’ve ever read (by a_t_rain at ao3.)
Oh, I have a real soft spot for Paul and Jaelle. I love the subtlety of that relationship.
I need to look up that By and Rish fic!
Start with this chapter (from her only novel-length story–alas, the story lags in a later plot line.)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/4168539/chapters/10030922
Or this short story
https://archiveofourown.org/works/3720625
But nearly all of them are good.
Cat and Andevai in the Spiritwalker trilogy. Caz and Betriz in Curse of Chalion.
I love a couple of classics:
Harry and Corlath in The Blue Sword
Morgon and Raederle in the Riddle-Master of Hed trilogy
Howl and Sophie from Howl’s Moving Castle and sequels.
Brishen an Ildiko from Radiance and Eidolon by Grace Draven.
Hetta and Wyn from Stariel by A.J. Lancaster.
I also love Tehre and Geraint, Taudde and Leilis, Karah and the prince, and Cerfei and Areane. All of your romances are wonderfully done.
Also Innisth and Kehera.
Oh, thank you, Alison and Maria!
I love Gen and Irene from the Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner – also Sophos and Helen.
Oressa and Gajdosik are my favorites from your novels.
Of course Howl and Sophie!
For epic romances, I’d say Beren and Luthien, and their descendants Aragorn and Arwen.
On a smaller scale, Cimorene and Mendanbar of the Enchanted Forest.
When I started on this comment I didn’t think I had so many favorite couples, but apparently . . .
Thank you, Pete! I read the novel-length fic yesterday and really enjoyed it. She captured By and Rish perfectly. I’m re-reading a few scenes from Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance now.
Glad you liked it. The sequel, “On a Cold Planet” is good, too. It’s a revisitation of Borders of Infinty with By as the hero. I do like how she takes original plot points and plays with them, like “Go undercover helpless for hostage rescue”, or “beat fast penta with Shakespeare. ”
I also am amused by Vorprzhevalsky, who is of course, totally horse mad.
Pete, I’ve liked all the stories of hers I’ve read, which is most of them. I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t get “Vorprzhevalsky” until your comment. I just skimmed across the name without noticing it. NOW I’m amused by it!