Love stories?

What are some good (GOOD. i.e. well written) love stories?

The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon.
They are a historical type romance with a lot of action and drama.

The Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine
This one is a three way love triangle type that goes back in time. Really involved storyline. Great read.

maybe it's just that i don't like love stories but i find it hard to find good romance novels. I did like some of Nicholas Sparks' novels but after a while, they got cliched and boring. It seems like all his books follow a formulaic pattern. If you can get past that however, The Notebook is pretty good.

Well, I'd say "Pride and Prejudice" comes to mind first.

How strange. It never occurred to me to actually try reading that. haha... Time to go to the bookstore!

Wuthering Heights. It's not a happy romance and the two characters who are in love, Cathy and Heathcliff, are absolutely vile human beings, but their passion saturates every page. It's definitely a different sort of book, and not your typical romance.

Anything by Jane Austen is bound to be good, though my favorite by her is Pride and Prejudice. If you start her, don't read Emma first. Emma is okay-- the character Emma is definitely memorable, but the plot is a bit thin and drags at times.

I find it funny that you say that about Emma because it was the first Jane Austen novel I tried to read- and just as you said, the plot dragged on and I couldn't get into it. Ever since I've been slightly turned off Austen... time to try again!

Coffee Spoons wrote:

I find it funny that you say that about Emma because it was the first Jane Austen novel I tried to read- and just as you said, the plot dragged on and I couldn't get into it. Ever since I've been slightly turned off Austen... time to try again!

Yes, well, Emma's character is well developed, but the story isn't as fast paced as Austen's other novels are. It's probably my least favorite of Austen's work.

Another good romance is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It's a sweet story. Another one I've heard is good is Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell, though I myself have never read it.

Being an avid Gone with the Wind fan, I must suggest it. Though, I must admit romance is not the key thought in Scarlett's head and it is not the key point in the story because it's about Scarlett, who thinks of nothing but herself. The main thing the reader is thinking about is the romance, however, making it a love story. There's enough of the other action and goings-on to keep you distracted from the romance at times, but it's always there, hidden. Scarlett never cares much for other human beings till the last few chapters, making it quite a ride for the reader. You read for nearly a thousand pages waiting for it to dawn on her, and well, you'll see.
I love it.

I second The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon.

Actually, that's sort of the only recommendation I have. I don't tolerate love stories well. I've never been able to get into Jane Austen's work, for example. Of course it's been years since I read it and I might be able to now, but.. I liked The Outlanders for all it had going on as well as the romance. I still don't think I can read romance. This is probably because as far as love goes, I'm wildly skeptic. One of my friends is still stunned at how horrified I was when she asked if I ever wished love was like the movie- well, I can't remember what it was called, but it involved a Disney Princess scenario coming to life in New York City. I thought it was funny but not something I would see again, she watched it sixteen times and wanted to know if I wanted 'true love' like that.

(I don't think she quite got it when I exclaimed I'd rather be the knight, the dragon or the evil wizard rather than the princess. Especially the knight, he gets to Adventure).

But, I'm rambling. I would definitely suggest Diana Gabaldon, seeing as they're the only romance I've ever actually liked.

If you like Jane Eyre try The Professer by Charlotte Bronte too.

I am reading novels by Mike Gayle, he writes from a guys view and makes me laugh out loud!

I also liked Lady Chatterley's Lover by D H Lawrence.

I'm not really a big fan of romance myself, but romance novels don't get much better as far as writing goes, than Jane Austin's novels. I've read Emma and am currently going through Pride and Prejudice. I've enjoyed both for its character development as well as its other pros, and recommend them to anyone who likes romance. Good luck. They are both filled with interesting, life like characters, wit, and other entertaining qualities. They have earned their status as classics.

Hmmm. Perhaps this might just be a little too classic-based (though I admire classic literature). Anyway, I allow myself to add some "lighter" chicklit to the list:

- Niamh Greene, Secret Diary of a Demented Housewife
- Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones' Diary
- Sophie Kinsella, Undomestic Goddess
- Jane Heller, Cha Cha Cha

My favorite is Jane Eyre. It is the most vivid, intriguing and complicated love story I have read, with more than enough obstacles to overcome. The couple at a first glance is so dissimilar, but so well matched at the same time, while it often challenges our view of what is considered romantic. Part of its great strength is the combination of romantic love and sexuality and the its ability to create feelings so strong that overcome even the reader's logic and morality.