Looking for the best classic romance novels? These 12 amazing love stories are sure to give you your classic romance fix. From iconic couples like Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, to classic tales of tragic love like Romeo and Juliet, to tales with some sweet romance elements (even if they’re not strictly a romance), to modern classics with delightful love stories, this list will help you find the perfect classic and clean romantic read to enjoy!
1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
When you’re looking for the best classic romantic novels to read, you can’t go wrong with Pride and Prejudice. This book is utterly delightful and a classic for a reason!
The Bennet family has five unmarried daughters, so of course Mrs. Bennet must make sure they are all married and happily settled. Luckily, a rich young man has just decided to rent the house nearby…and of course, every rich young man must be in want of a wife!
Thus sets off a tale filled with excitement, scandal, a great deal of pride and prejudice and human folly…and, yes ultimately love as well. This is definitely one of the most famous love stories in literature, and we’re all grateful to Austen for giving one of the most beloved couples of all time—Elizabeth and Darcy. When you’re looking for a popular romance story to enjoy, this is the perfect one to choose!
Buy Pride and Prejudice now on Bookshop or Amazon!
2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Another of the best classic romance books that you’d be remiss not to read is Jane Eyre. When you’re looking for a classic romance, this is the perfect book to pick up if you haven’t read it yet!
The tale follows a young orphaned Jane as she grows from childhood into adulthood, and ultimately as she arrives to be a governess at Thornfield Hall—home of the brooding Edward Rochester! She finds herself drawn to him, but soon she discovers that there are alarming secrets here at Thornfield Hall…
This highly influential classic is worth a read, although I have to admit I’ve never been a big fan of this book…mostly relating to never getting over my dislike of Mr. Rochester due to some of his actions (but I won’t spoil the book by telling what he did that made me so angry!). However, I know tons of people who absolutely adore this book and the romance, and regardless of my own personal dislike of the male protagonist, it is a classic for a reason and a phenomenal read!
Buy Jane Eyre now on Bookshop or Amazon!
3. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Old romance novels don’t get much more classic than the story of Romeo and Juliet, as told by William Shakespeare. While the play wasn’t entirely his invention and he borrowed from tales that came before, he also expanded it and turned it into his own and into the well-known tale that we admire today.
This tale of star-crossed lovers is one of the most famous books about forbidden love affairs, so if you’re in the mood for a tragic love story then this is definitely the classic to read. With star-crossed lovers, feuding families, and (spoiler alert!) the deaths of the two young lovers, what more could you possibly want from tragic romance literature?
This play was one of the most popular during Shakespeare’s lifetime, and is also one of the most popular today…with tons of stage, film, musical, opera, and other adaptions including a multitude of modern retellings. But there’s nothing quite like Shakespeare’s version, so be sure to grab a copy to enjoy!
Buy Romeo and Juliet now on Bookshop or Amazon!
4. Emma by Jane Austen
One of the most popular romantic novels and a delightful read, Emma is another romance you won’t want to miss. Austen is a master and you are sure to enjoy this witty read!
This tale follows the charming but a little spoiled Emma Woodhouse. She’s beautiful, rich, and of course clever as well…and she’s just found her calling—matchmaking! There’s nothing she loves quite as well as interfering in the lives of others, so she ignores the advice of her friend Mr. Knightley and tries to find a match for a young woman named Harriet Smith. But soon things start to go awry…and Emma may just learn she doesn’t know as much as she thought she did!
This is another thoroughly charming story from one of the best classic romance authors, so you definitely need this book in your life! It’s definitely up there with the best romance books ever written, so you won’t regret reading it.
Buy Emma now on Bookshop or Amazon!
5. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
When looking for famous romance books, Wuthering Heights is a novel you’ll find frequently mentioned. However, it tends to get mixed responses. Some believe it to be one of the best literary love stories of all time, while others don’t even consider it to be a love story at all. So you’ll have to pick it up and decide for yourself!
Heathcliff and Catherine were raised together on the Yorkshire moors, and as they grow older they begin to love each other madly. Their destinies seem intertwined. But Catherine ends up marrying a wealthy man for his social status…and now Heathcliff wants revenge!
This tale feels gothic in nature as a dark romance of sorts, although I personally find it to be more about revenge and destruction and a variety of social issues. But many consider it one of the greatest love stories of all time, so if you’re looking for literary love stories to read you should definitely give this one a go and see if you like it!
Buy Wuthering Heights now on Bookshop or Amazon!
6. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
Another of my favorite romantic classic novels is North and South, an enjoyable read with a captivating TV series adaption as well!
This story starts when Margaret Hale’s father has a crisis of conscience and leaves the Church, forcing his family to move from their cozy vicarage to the factory-driven world of the north of England. As Margaret adjusts to her new life, she soon discovers the depths of poverty in this part of England and is concerned over the suffering of the local mill workers. With justice for the mill workers on her mind, she soon finds herself in conflict with local mill-owner John Thornton. But is he truly the evil overlord Margaret believes him to be?
This is a delightful tale and one of the best literary romances, while also delving into differences of social classes and an overall social concern that makes this a fascinating read. When you’re looking for great romance stories, you can’t go wrong with reading this one!
Buy North and South now on Bookshop or Amazon!
7. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
If you’re look for classic books to read with a sweet love story, then Anne of Green Gables is the way to go! Although the romance actually plays out over several books in the series (and there’s more romance in the later books than in the first), this is a charming read from start to finish.
Anne Shirley is an orphan…and after hoping upon hope to have a family, she’s finally been adopted. The only problem—the Cuthberts thought they were adopting a boy! Will they allow this girl with romantic dreams to stay? And can she make new friends out of the children who live nearby, like Diana and the teasing Gilbert Blythe?
If you’re looking for great romance stories that will make you sigh, look no further than this adorable series. You’ll love following along as Anne grows up and falls in love!
Buy Anne of Green Gables now on Bookshop or Amazon!
Looking for more classic children’s books to read? Check out this list of the best children’s classics!
8. The Princess Bride by William Goldman
While old classics are fun, there are also some classic love stories in books that could be considered modern classics too. One such story is The Princess Bride, which you are sure to adore!
Goldman claims his dad used to read him a classic named The Princess Bride by S. Morgenstern while he was growing up. Imagine his surprise when, as an adult, he finds out that the book is actually filled with boring parts that his dad left out when reading to him! Now, he’s decided to abridge Morgenstern’s writing so it’s only filled with the “good parts.”
What are these good parts about? Well, Buttercup lives on a farm in Florin with her family and a farm hand Westley, who she calls Farm Boy. One day, Buttercup and Westley fall in love and he leaves to seek his fortune so they can marry…but he’s attacked at sea and dies! Poor Buttercup is in despair, but now Prince Humperdinck, the heir to the throne of Florin, wants to marry her and she reluctantly agrees…
But when Buttercup is kidnapped before her wedding to Humperdinck, this sets off a chain of events that lead to exciting fights, revenge, and of course true love! Although there isn’t really any “original Morgenstern version” of this book, Goldman uses this narrative framing to weave a compelling and amusing tale that you are sure to enjoy.
Buy The Princess Bride now on Bookshop or Amazon!
9. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Any list of romantic novels wouldn’t be complete without including the classic Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.
When their father goes off to war, the March sisters Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy are left at home and in charge of maintaining the household. As the girls grow from childhood into adulthood, they learn more about themselves and the love they share as a family while they strive to find their own places in the world.
While this novel focuses on sisterhood throughout, it also explores themes of growing up, life and death, falling in love, and more. It will take you on an emotional and exciting journey through the lives of the March sisters as you explore the world through their eyes!
Buy Little Women now on Bookshop or Amazon!
10. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Honestly, if you’re looking for famous romance novels, I should just say go read all the Jane Austen books! But for the sake of this list, I’ll go ahead and just recommend one more must-read: Sense and Sensibility.
Elinor and Marianne Dashwood are about as different as two sisters can be. Marianne is impulsive, Elinor is always prudent…but now both sisters have fallen in love, and it looks like both cases might end in disappointment!
Filled with the struggle to find happiness, some very unsuitable men (as well as, thank goodness, some suitable men too), romantic rivals, and more, this story tells of the sisters’ parallel adventures in falling in love…and hopefully finding their happily ever afters!
This is one of Austen’s more famous romantic novels, and is a delight to read and enjoy. And the element of family and sisterhood also lends some extra enjoyment to the tale!
Buy Sense and Sensibility now on Bookshop or Amazon!
11. A Room with a View by E.M. Forster
When looking for romantic classics to read, another novel you might like to add to your list is A Room with a View. This book is both a romance and a critique of English society at the time, and is a fascinating read.
Charming young Lucy visits Florence with her conventional and uptight cousin Charlotte, and while she longs to see the sights and experience the freedom of Italy she soon finds her world upended when she witnesses a murder and then faints into the arms of an Englishman named George Emerson. But George is entirely unsuitable, for many reasons, and soon Charlotte forces Lucy to flee to Rome to escape.
But now she’s home and engaged to a young, boring, and proper man named Cecil…will she truly give up the vibrancy of life she found in Italy to spend the rest of her life with him?
This novel is filled with unusual and sometimes eccentric characters, whom you may or may not like at all (in fact, it’s my personal opinion that you can’t really like any of the characters in this story). Yet it’s an amusing social critique with a sweet if somewhat odd love story that will have you starting to feel for the plight of Lucy and George. If you’re looking for a classic to read, this is a great one to give a try!
Buy A Room with a View now on Bookshop or Amazon!
12. Arabella by Georgette Heyer
If you’re looking for other fun classic-style love stories, then the works of Georgette Heyer are a good place to look. Heyer wrote 24 regency romances in all, but Arabella is a good one to start with if it’s your first Heyer read.
Arabella is the eldest daughter of a penniless clergyman, so when she’s invited to stay with her godmother in London she is beyond ecstatic! And all her mother hopes is that Arabella will snare a rich husband while she’s there for her London season…
But when Arabella’s carriage breaks down outside the hunting lodge of wealthy Robert Beaumaris, Arabella overhears him remarking that she’s a schemer hoping to marry him for his wealth. So with her pride stinging, impetuous Arabella immediately claims to be an heiress! Amused but not fooled, Beaumaris decides to launch her into high society as an “heiress” and soon she’s subjected to fortune hunters and more…but in the end, will she be able to find true love?
This novel is an amusing read, and with Heyer sometimes compared to Jane Austen (although who really can truly compare?), you know that it is going to be a great time. And you’ll have plenty of other Heyer reads to pick up next!
Buy Arabella now on Bookshop or Amazon!
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