My Favourite Book Couples

As a single person on the most commercialised and loved up day of the year, I spend Valentine’s Day living vicariously through other people. That’s why, instead of the mushy lovey-dovey posts some people will be posting today, I thought I’d post a roundup of (some of) my favourite book couples (inspired by this post).

Lara Jean Song Covey & Peter Kavinsky from the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy by Jenny Han

Yes I know this is a lot of people’s response – and I’m going to amp up the levels of cliche by saying I will be watching the final movie as soon as I can – but they are a good couple, in my opinion.

It’s super cliche in the fact that Lara Jean isn’t a popular girl and Peter is the most popular boy in high school, but I’m a sucker for a fake relationship plot and the fact that they – spoiler alert – not only carry it off but also make it the real deal is just perfect. There are a few questionable moments for the couple, and bits where I thought they should just break up, but I think it’s realistic of the roadblocks high school couples might face.

Claire Danvers and Shane Collins from the Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine

I think I put Claire and Shane in here because they battle both the everyday problems that couples face and vampires, which is pretty cool if you ask me.

Again, this is kind of cliche as Claire is pretty quiet and quite nerdy whilst Shane is hot heated, popular and a bit of a troublemaker. Saying that, though, they balance each other out perfectly and instead of needing-a-person-to-save-you in the Manic Pixie Dream Girl sense, Claire and Shane come to each other’s rescue literally so many times in the series which – I think – makes their love stronger.

Blue and Simon from Simon vs The Homosapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

I read this a while back and figured it deserved a spot on this list.

This pairing isn’t as cliche as others on the list and their in-person meeting doesn’t actually happen until the very end of the book but I loved reading how their relationship developed over email. They have their problems but I think they overcome them in a positive way.

Rosie Dunne and Alex Stewart from Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern

I had to include this one considering the fact that watching the film version, Love Rosie, has become an (unofficial) Valentine’s Day ritual for me.

I think – like Simon and Blue – it’s interesting how their communication and relationship begins because of emails and letters instead of the traditional meet-cute or other scenarios romance books gravitate towards. This couple definitely hit some roadblocks but I think this is an example of slow burn romance done very well – even if it is pretty frustrating having them (spoiler alert) actually get together by the end of the book, when they’re well into their lives.

Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Of course I had to include a classic couple in here and, me being me, it just had to be the couple I wrote some of my 8,000 word undergrad dissertation on.

This pairing is not unusual for the time but it is made unusual both by Jane’s defiance and by the massive red flag that is Rochester’s first wife living in the attic. As a couple, they’re all kinds of wrong but they’re one of my favourites because being part of this pairing changes Jane’s character and I think her character is the thing that makes this book an all-time favourite for so many people.

Jo March and Laurie from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Another classic for you, I spoke too soon! Ok, ok, so these two aren’t really a couple. At all.

I had to include this pairing – even though it isn’t canon – because I love their relationship. It is playful, it is menacing and I think it has all the components that (if it was written in modern day) would make these two endgame. Plus, the casting for the movie – and their dynamic – was just absolutely chef’s kiss perfect.

Luc O’Donnell and Oliver Blackwood from Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

I’m currently listening to this one as an audiobook and – though I might not be finished – I have a feeling Luc and Oliver will be on this list.

This is another fake dating plot but – for me, at least – it is absolutely chef’s kiss perfect. They’ve hit a few roadblocks but the humour and heart behind their relationship makes this addictive reading (or listening, for me).

Eve Rosser and Michael Glass from the Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine

It wouldn’t be fair to include one couple from this series and not the other plus, honestly, I love these two as well.

Eve is edgy and alternative whilst Michael is the calming influence on a lot of people in the novel but, somehow, they gel extremely well. They go through their fair share of trials and tribulations- the most notable one being the fact that Michael is half-ghost half-vampire – but they still remain strong throughout.

Birdy and James from The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent

Of course I had to include a recent favourite of mine in this list.

I think Birdy could’ve got through the novel without this romance but it’s so wholesome and gorgeous to watch unfold. It was a quick to unfold romance but I think it brings out the best in Birdy, a character who is finding herself.

Nina Dean and literally every male interaction she has from Ghosts by Dolly Alderton

I’ve sung the praises of this book a lot but I’m not sorry for it 😂. I think this book is spot on about life and love.

Nina’s dating app interactions – and analysis on the people and process – is absolutely true. I think a lot of romance novels glamorise the best bits of finding someone and slowly but surely falling in love with them but this one shows a more real, often quite funny, side to dating which I really appreciate.

📚 📚

So that’s it. 10 of my favourite book couples. At first I thought how am I going to get to 10 and then, as I was writing, I found myself wondering how I was going to limit the post to 10! Who are your favourite book couples, let me know.

For more things books, baking and everything in between, you can find me on:

• WordPress
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Goodreads
• Pinterest