Do you have a favorite fictional couple? One that changed your outlook on love or inspired you want something that you didn't know you wanted/needed? We have a hard time choosing just one!
Below we compiled a dozen of our favorite fictional couples -- from witty romantic duos to passionate pairs. All of them are uniquely wonderful and make us want to curl under a blanket and root for fictional couples as if they existed IRL... totally normal... right? Right.
Note: We tried our best to avoid any spoilers, but if you're concerned -- this is your warning. :) We do write a brief blurb about the couples while avoiding specific details!!
1. Nora Stephens & Charlie Lastra - Book Lovers
“I think,” I whisper, “you’re one of the least disappointing people I’ve ever met.”
Witty banter? Check. Will-they-won't-they storyline? Check. But what makes this pair one of our favorites is the mutual support -- particularly when it comes to their careers--even when it's hard. Plus, it's hard not to be obsessed with a couple with a shared obsession with reading and local libraries. Read Book Lovers by Emily Henry.
2. Elizabeth Bennet & Mr. Dary - Pride & Prejudice
“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
It's not love at first sight between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. There's struggle and disappointment, and that's what makes their relationship so impactful. They're a beautiful example of two people steadfastly pursuing what they want in spite of conflict. The result? One of the most famous love stories to ever be written. Read Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen.
3. Allie Hamilton & Noah Calhoun - The Notebook
"If you're a bird, I'm a bird."
There are so, so many reasons we love Noah and Allie together... the fierce passion, the wraparound porch, the unwavering commitment, the images of them holding each other as if no one else in the world exists. (Insert: Sobs.) Read The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (and watch the movie, obvi).
4. Jasmine Santos & Ivan Lukov - From Lukov with Love
"Love to me was honesty. Being real. Knowing someone's best and worst. Love was a push that said someone believed in you when you didn't."
Much like Book Lovers, the relationship between the pair is so palpable because of their supportive (and playful!) partnership. They push each other to do their best while still accepting each other when things get difficult and don't go according to plan. Read From Lukov With Love by Mariana Zapata.
5. Danika Brown & Zaf Ansari - Take a Hint, Dani Brown
“The world wasn’t split into unhappy endings and happily ever afters. There were blessings everywhere and a thousand shades of joy all around him.”
Fake dating is one of our favorite tropes -- and this book made us love it even more than we already did. Dani and Zaf are a beautiful example of the power that comes from good communication. It doesn't matter what they're talking about (grief, anxiety, mental health), they bring directness and empathy to each conversation that makes their relationship strengthen and soften (in the best kind of way). Read Take A Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert.
6. Katie Daniels & Cassidy Price - When Katie Met Cassidy
“The time for pretending to be someone she wasn’t – someone supposedly better and more refined – was over.”
A partner who makes you more yourself than you ever knew was possible? That is #RelationshipGoals. Katie and Cassidy's captures a love story that's raw and real and continuously evolving, as relationships IRL do. We love the patience and honesty between Katie and Cassidy and how they never try to change each other, but rather, help each other discover new parts of themselves. Read When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri.
7. Nik Paterson & Carlos Ibarra - The Proposal
“Once I learned to trust myself, my instincts, and my emotions, trusting other people was a lot easier.”
A bad ending that is actually a happy beginning is the premise behind this swoon-worthy romance novel by Jasmine Guillory. One of our favorite parts of their connection is how they each maintain their individuality over the course of their relationship. They enhance and complement each other instead of "completing" each other, which is #CoupleGoals at its best. Read The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory.
8. Hazel Lancaster & Augustus Waters - The Fault In Our Stars
“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”
This list wouldn't be complete without Hazel and Augustus. We love that their relationship starts as friendship that gradually becomes one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful romances of all time. (Just writing this makes us feel the need to grab tissues...) Read The Fault In Our Stars by John Green.
9. Olive Smith & Adam Carlsen- The Love Hypothesis
“I wish you could see yourself the way I see you."
Slow, steady, and sexy, this relationship is one that gets better with every page. We love how the different layers of each character develop over time and the way Olive Smith and Adam Carlsen bring out new sides of each other, sometimes parts they didn't even know they had. Read The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood.
10. January Andrews & Gus Everett - Beach Read
“When I watch you sleep," he said shakily, "I feel overwhelmed that you exist.”
Yes, this is the second book by Emily Henry on this list. With all the wit, attraction, and ridiculously likable qualities this pair brings to the table, we couldn't resist including them. There's so much to love about January and Gus, but one of our favorite parts is their mutual respect and understanding of each other. As writers, they can put themselves in each other's shoes while pushing the other to keep going. Read Beach Read by Emily Henry.
11. Sonja & Ove Lindahl - A Man Called Ove
“People said Ove saw the world in black and white. But she was color. All the color he had.”
The beauty of opposites attracting each other is captured in the relationship between Sonja and Ove. Their connection is tender, subtle, and the kind of love that makes finding a life partner feel like the greatest, most life-changing gift in the world. Read A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.
12. Prince Henry & Alex - Red, White & Royal Blue
“Dear Thisbe, I wish there wasn’t a wall. Love, Pyramus”
The fake bromance to actual romance storyline plus hilarious banter and insightful political commentary makes this couple one of THE most memorable love stories (soon to be a movie!). Their chemistry is undeniable and it's impossible not to love this story as they each pursue their individual goals and celebrate their identities. Read Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston.