Everyone loves a good love story – a tale about two people falling in love and starting a life together. There are many variations of this story available to readers. In this month’s “Writers Who Read,” we are taking a look at favorite romance novels and the good news is that all of these books have been turned into movies. After finishing the stories, plan a Rom-Com movie night with your significant other or best friends and enjoy the novels once more (of course, with a few edits).
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Nicholas Sparks is almost synonymous with love stories and The Notebook provides just that. Readers are introduced to Allie and Noah, two star-crossed lovers from different worlds. Published in 1996, The Notebook is set during the 1930s and ‘40s in South Carolina where Noah Calhoun is a mill worker and Allie Nelson is your typical rich girl. After a romantic summer and Allie’s parents’ disapproval of Noah, the two are forced to maintain their relationship miles apart. Time passes and World War II hits the United States. Noah gives up on Allie ever returning his letters and decides to enlist. However, upon his return home, his life takes a different route when he notices Allie is getting married. To help ease the situation, Noah restores an old farmhouse, which eventually catches Allie’s eye and the rest is history. The love story of the two is told through the perspective of a man reading to a woman with Alzheimer’s. Readers soon discover the connection this couple has to Noah and Allie. The Notebook is a can’t miss Nicholas Sparks book.
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
Before the world was introduced to Mia Thermopolis, Princess of Genovia, on the small screen, readers met the young heir to the throne in 2000 through author Meg Cabot’s book series. The first novel, titled The Princess Diaries, tells the story of teenager, Amelia “Mia” and her everyday life until her lost-long grandmother reveals to her that she is the princess of a small European country, Genovia. Throughout the pages, readers share in Mia’s struggles of her newly discovered fate, as well as her struggles navigating teenage romance, heartbreak, and life. The series consists of 11 books and are written as Mia’s on-going journal. Readers young and old will fall in love with a story that was brought to theaters.
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
We all enjoy the romance stories of lovers whose tales are set in different time periods from today. Yet, what if a person in that romance traveled throughout time? The Time Traveler’s Wife is about Clare Abshire and Henry De Tamble. Clare is an art student who first met Henry, a librarian, at the age of 20. As for Henry, he was 28 when they met. The two fell in love and got married when Clare was 23 and Henry was 31. Henry has Chrono-Displacement Disorder, which causes a person’s genetic clock to reset under stress and displaces them in ages and time. Henry and Clare navigate this unique time travel twist and their relationship, attempts at normal lives, jobs, children, and more. However, they are aware that in a moment’s notice, everything could be threatened by time and Henry’s disappearance. Readers will “fall in love” with Clare and Henry.
Whether they are classics or new reads, romance novels are loved throughout the entire year. Just make sure you add these three to your must-read list.
