Fiction to Fall in Love With

Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy, Romeo and Juliet, Catherine and Heathcliffe - some of the greatest romance fictions and literary lovers have found a way from the pages of books into our hearts. As February 14th fast approaches, we’ve been rekindling our love for romantic narratives and swooning over tales of romance and heartbreak.

Whilst it’s difficult to find your dream match when it comes to love stories, we have selected our top picks of romantic fiction to cosy up to this Valentine’s Day.

ANNA KARENINA BY LEO TOLSTOY

When you think of literary romances, Anna Karenina isn’t necessarily the first book that springs to mind. For us, however, Tolstoy’s endearing narrative has always set off butterflies in our stomachs. The tenderness of Levin and Kitty’s journey contrasted with the intense and irrational desires of Anna and Vronsky demonstrates the many courses love can run. Tolstoy indulges readers with the joys of romance, as well as suffering and displacement of love for a fiction that both warms the heart and breaks it.

THE GREAT GATSBY BY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD

After Fitzgerald’s brazen flirts of lavish vocabulary, we have fallen for the narrative's golden yet tragic pursuit of passion. Gatsby devotes his entire life to his sweetheart, Daisy Buchanan, wooing her with intoxicating parties and riches. We are besotted with the fictional heartthrob (not just because he’s played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2013 film version). Whilst there are many different romances in The Great Gatsby, Jay and Daisy certainly take centre stage.  

JANE EYRE BY CHARLOTTE BRONTË

Brontë’s entire bildungsroman is a quest for love. We grow our own relationship with Jane and feel the pains and pleasures that come with falling in love alongside her. Passion is imprinted into the development of Jane’s character as she meets the traditional, romantic hero, Mr Rochester. Intensified by Victorian society, Jane Eyre is a romantic novel that’s a favourite not only on our bookshelves, but in our hearts.

ROMEO AND JULIET BY SHAKESPEARE

Deny it all you want, but we love cliché romances and Shakespeare’s play is as classic as it gets. The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet sets the foundations of many literary love stories. Our star-crossed lovers have been romantic muses for many works of fantasy literature, a love so intense it would be wrong not to include it on our list.

Everyone has different tastes and whilst we’ve fallen head over heels for this romantic selection, why not find your match in our  vintage romance section for some truly heartwarming classics.