The Reading Lounge: Love Stories
17 of my favorite bittersweet, forbidden, lost love, true love prevails stories
Admittedly, I'm a picky love story mood reader. I tend to (mostly) enjoy reading a mix of complicated love stories, with either bittersweet elements, forbidden love, and/or something deeper that drives the characters together-or apart. I don’t tend to read light and fluffy love stories, or those involving tropes of enemies or friends to lovers. It doesn’t matter to me how open door the story is…sometimes it’s fun to read a steamy love story and I’m including a couple of my favorites. Looking over my favorites I think that, while there may not be stellar writing in a couple of them, they were still absolute binge reads for me and sometimes that’s all I care about when I’m reading about love. Pull me in, make me invested in the characters journey, and then compel me to keep reading- often late into the night! All of these books delivered on that for me.
In the interest of time- we all have so much to read and consume daily right?!- I’m just going to list the books and provide a sentence or two about why I loved it. These are all books I rated 5 ⭐️. The links will take you directly to Bookshop.org where you can read the full synopsis.
Favorite Love Stories
The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamali - a bittersweet love story set over decades. One of my very favorites.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - I’m all about star crossed lovers so really this was a perfect book for me and the circus setting and time period just helped to enhance the story. The suspense was often palpable and I would definitely put this book in the unputdownable, page turning category. There’s a little bit of everything in this story…drama, thrills, suspense, heartbreak, and mystery
Field Notes On Love by Jennifer E Smith - Hugo and Mae are recent high school graduates who meet in a rather unconventional way and decide to travel together by train from New York to California. There’s adventure, laughs, romance, and tears along the way and I was here for every last moment
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee - So much steam, but also so much substance! I binged this in one day, I literally couldn’t put it down. There are SO many themes explored in this book....love of course, ageism, sexism, the downside of fame, our society's obsession with celebrities, women & aging, double standards, and more .
Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens - I am a sucker for a drama filled love triangle. Throw in a nice guy boyfriend and a sexy rock star and I’ll be reading well past my bedtime which is what happened with this story. This is one of those stories that had me so frustrated at times with the main female character, but I still had to know who she would end up with- that element of who will she (or he) choose gets me every time.
One Day by David Nicholls - This is one of my top love stories of all time- I binged it in 2011 and still think about it. I also still search for a comp for it and turns out- this is one of THE hardest books to find a comp for- it’s truly in a class by itself…that being said if you have a comp for this please leave it in the comments:)
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Quite possibly THE epic love triangle! What a fantastic dilemma TJR set up in this story. It created plenty of tension and a stay up all night binge read to find out how it all would end
Leaving by Roxana Robinson - This is a new release I’ve recently finished and haven’t been able to stop thinking about. Talk about characters pushing my buttons and making me FEEL, this story did that and then some. File this in the lost love, unrequited love, love in later life, forbidden love category.
Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge - A castaway love story that pulled me in from the first page. There's a little bit of everything in this story: drama, heartbreak, suspense, action, humor, sadness, surprises and so much love and hope. One I will definitely re-read someday
Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah - A love story that started off a bit slow for me, but once I got through their younger years I was all in. This is a complex story that begs to be discussed with others. The author brilliantly explores motherhood, marriage, and the power of love and sacrifice. And she does so with surprises along the way
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara - The love story that broke me when I read it in 2015 and I still haven’t recovered. THE most traumatic story I’ve ever read, but it’s also much more than that. I thought it was a testament to friendship love, as well as unexpected love, and the fact that sometimes love is an amazing light in our lives, but sometimes it can also destroy us. This book continues to hold the record for my longest sob fest
Thirst for Salt by Madeline Lucas - A what might have been story that had me riveted as to what went wrong. Told from a time 13 years in the future as the narrator looks back on the great love of her life. I love this type of structure and the melancholic, mysterious atmosphere the author created with her writing
Bet Me by Jennifer Cruise - One of the only romances I’ve enjoyed that starts off based on a “game” - a bet to be more specific. I thought this was a fun, smart romance with great banter and characters I liked. I still remember reading this poolside on a summer’s day and it was the perfect way to read this story
Like a House on Fire by Lauren McBrayer - A thought provoking what would YOU do love story that has the forbidden love element. Propulsive writing and great characters with a big surprise along the way made this debut a big winner for me.
The Unbreakables by Lisa Barr - Set in the South of France, this was a gem. This is ultimately a story of rediscovery and redesigning your life on your own terms. It’s a story filled with wisdom, laughs, and even some tears. If I were doing a romance book flight, I’d pair it with The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
The Forbidden by Jodi Ellen Malpas - The title says it all! This one is in the erotica category so fyi the steam factor is high:) I binged this one because it felt a bit like watching a potential car crash. I had to suspend disbelief during the ending but I didn’t mind
Forever is the Worst Long Time by Camille Pagan - This was another couldn't-put-it-down love story! And another one of my favorite types of love stories….a love triangle. The story is narrated by James from a time in the future which I thought was a perfect way to not only get to know (and like) him, but to also get to know the other characters, Lou and Rob, through his eyes. James and Rob had been friends since they were kids and I loved how Pagan incorporated the sentimentality of that type of friendship along with growing up in a small town. If you're James, what do you DO when you've fallen in love with your best friend's fiancé? Have tissues handy for this one!
Let’s share the love - drop your favorite love stories in the comments❤️
Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson (free on Audible and rated 4.3 with like 4000 ratings) is a love story of the older generation. Is that a nice way to say about old people? It is refreshing to read the love story about the older generation starting over, and the story is told with plenty of British humor about love and family and aging. One Day as you know is also on my all-time favorite love story list. I have another favorite and perhaps you can help me with the title of the book. I am drawing a blank. It is the story about an elderly couple that keep each other company at night. The man that lives next-door to the elderly woman comes over and stays overnight with her so she doesn’t have to sleep alone. They develop a relationship, and are torn apart by their children. I don’t think this is the title of that but it could be one day in December? I do not read much romance, or love stories. At least they’re not the central theme of the books that I do read. Most of the books that are categorize as general fiction. Generally do have a love story in them, but it is not the central theme of the story.
I'm also not a romance reader but I think our tastes are similar here! I actually own Castle of Water on audio and haven't listened to it! Leaving is a 2024 priority for me, and Forever is the Worst Long Time has been on my list for years. I have to get to these! Another one I loved was Evvie Drake Starts Over. I adored that book. One to Watch was a very surprising win for me too.