Seven love stories, from classic literature to modern bestsellers, worth picking up when daily life feels flat.
When nothing much is happening and the days start to blur together, borrowing someone else's love story for a while isn't a bad way to spend an evening. Following a character's hesitation and longing has a way of waking up feelings you'd forgotten you had.
This list spans classic literature and more recent bestsellers, each set in a different time and place. Since the mood of each book differs quite a bit, pick whichever matches how you're feeling that day.
Norwegian Wood
Pride and Prejudice
The Great Gatsby
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas
First Love
Call Me by Your Name
Me Before You
Frequently asked questions
Which novel is a good starting point for someone new to romance fiction?
Pride and Prejudice works well as an entry point — the plot and character dynamics are clear enough to follow easily.
Are any of these bittersweet or sad endings?
Yes — I Want to Eat Your Pancreas and The Great Gatsby both deal with loss. If you want a lighter ending, start with Pride and Prejudice or Me Before You.
Have any of these been adapted into film or TV?
Norwegian Wood, Call Me by Your Name, and Me Before You all have screen adaptations, so it can be fun to compare them with the source novel.
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