Best Romance Novels You Should Read In Your Lifetime

The following article is entirely the opinion of Kim McLendon and does not reflect the views of the Inquisitr. How to Love is a must-read romance novel. The characters in this story find love in difficult times. Katie Williams struggles to accept and forgive her father for his actions in the war and her mother for her own transgressions, but the story is based on reality, too. The story is actually based on real life. Dan, the heroin How to Love, never wanted to become a soldier in the Vietnam war. His motivations were much different than those of his father. His father enlisted to get out of the slums in which he lived and enjoy the privileges of wealth.

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

One of the most well-known romance novels of all time, The Notebook tells the story of Noah, an old man, and Allie, a young girl. For over twenty years of their lives, the two have been living in a small Florida town without speaking a word. Allie is brought back into Noah’s life when her older brother and Noah’s brother are both in a car crash, and she stays to look after their loved ones. It’s a tale of love, loss, and redemption that many have fallen in love with. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead When You Reach Me is a young adult novel, narrated in the third person and written by a teenage girl named Grace, who lives in Brooklyn.

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

No. 1 bestselling adult romance novel “I fell in love with E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey almost immediately, [when I saw] the trailer for the movie trailer for it I thought, ‘Oh, my god.’ And then I saw the movie trailer and it was just – everything about it. It was just my kind of movie,” Wendy says. She adds that the book is extremely “deeply erotic,” and is also about “different kinds of love.” Watch the trailer here: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen No. 6 bestselling book “Sense and Sensibility is my favorite Jane Austen book,” Wendy says. “I know that sounds so archaic and so old-fashioned, but I feel like it’s a really romantic book.” She adds that it’s a story about a woman who falls in love and is taken in by two completely different families.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

This crime novel is the story of a young couple torn apart by a traumatic act. David Prescott is a brilliant but disturbed lawyer who has been accused of his wife, Nicky’s murder. The story of the affair, the discovery of Nicky’s diary, and the trial that followed are riveting but not without the occasional cringe-worthy writing. The structure of the book is the reason for its award and for good reason. It reads like a page-turner but has moments where you’ll be stuck in the middle of a paragraph. Flynn uses her writing to great effect and the novel is a satisfying read. While not as intense as Flynn’s previous novel, Sharp Objects, it’s worth picking up just for the small twists and turns. This Means War by Emma McLaughlin & Caitlin Murray Forgets about your usual romantic comedy.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

This is a classic novel that introduced the meaning of love. The narrative follows the story of Anna who marries a Russian general who is having an affair with the wife of his best friend. The relationship between Anna and the general becomes incredibly intense as they succumb to each other’s passions. The life of Anna and her husband falls apart due to the affair of the general. A work of art that every lover must read at least once in their lifetime. Villette by Charlotte Bronte Set against the background of the industrial revolution, Villette is about Lucy Snowe who is a relation of the wealthy Mrs. Kilworth. Just Friends by Nora Roberts Unable to bear to be parted from her fiancé, Samantha Kingston finds herself staying with her grandparents until they move. This is one of my favorite sad romance books.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This book won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. This book has been optioned as a movie, and I cannot wait to watch it!

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Banned Books Week – a chance to reflect on our books and our relationships with them. So as a bookworm I am so grateful for those wonderful stories, those books that made me feel connected to other people and loved. And while I won’t deny To Kill a Mockingbird is part of my own emotional and literary DNA, it was this celebration of the First Amendment that inspired the art installation “The Freedom to Read” that I have been working on for the past few years. When I was working on my novel “True Wines Of Heaven,” I was terrified by the thought of censorship. I thought, am I willing to go to jail over this book? What does this look like? Am I willing to go through this? When I was a kid, my dad used to read me “The Adventures of Captain Underpants” every night.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This one was for one reason and one reason only. Colin Firth. Although, the print version of this book looks much worse than the movie, the fact that it was written by Austen herself is simply a fact that cannot be dismissed. 50 Shades Of Grey by E L James This is the most controversial book that I have ever come across. The hype surrounding it has really created a buzz around it. Apparently, it is supposed to be all about lust and love. And, it might be. But, also, it’s a degrading, sexual book. The Apple Tree by Lewis Nordan This is a favorite of mine. I read it when I was about 11 or 12. A fictionalized account of what happened at the death of Jesus. There is nothing graphic in it and it’s definitely suitable for a 12-year-old.