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⋆˚romantic classic books to read✧
16
items Love is sometimes better portrayed in romance or rom-com novels set in a classical period. With all the slow-burn, intense, and unconditional love, somehow, we just want to feed and satisfy our hopeless romantic selves.
+++ dark romance included!
Sections
4
Romance
Romantic Comedy
Dark Romance
Not a Traditional Romance
Romance
serious, mature love, slower-burn
a city divided by industry. A woman caught between tradition and change. Sparks fly, hearts collide—can love bridge the gap?
synopsis:
Margaret Hale moves from the rural South of England to the industrial town of Milton in the North, where she wit...
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
she’s independent, they’re all hopelessly in love… and chaos ensues. if you were Bathsheba, would you follow your heart—or your head?
synopsis:
Bathsheba Everdene, a strong-willed and independent woman, inherits a farm in rural England. Her beauty...
Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
caught between duty and desire… which would you choose? step into New York’s high society and decide whether to follow your heart or play by the rules.
synopsis:
Set in the rigid high society of 1870s New York, The Age of Innocence follows Newland...
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
if you believe in second chances and love that stands the test of time with a touch of lost love, regret, and hope then Persuasion is for you.
synopsis:
At 27, Anne Elliot is unmarried and considered past her prime. Years earlier, she was persuade...
Persuasion by Jane Austen
she’s quiet, clever, and often overlooked… but don’t underestimate Fanny Price. she may seem shy, but her heart is stronger than anyone else’s in Mansfield Park. synopsis: Fanny Price, a poor but intelligent young woman, is sent to live with her weal...
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Romantic Comedy
light-hearted romance
if you’re obsessed with a meddler who thinks she knows it all but secretly just wants love, then dive into this classic matchmaking tale!
synopsis:
Emma Woodhouse is clever, wealthy, and perfectly content with her single life—or so she believes. C...
Emma by Jane Austen
which sister are you—practical Elinor or hopelessly romantic Marianne? dive into this novel and decide for yourself: will sense win, or will sensibility take over?
synopsis:
The Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, face love, heartbreak, and fin...
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
1
for those who love a headstrong heroine and a brooding gentleman, with banter, tension, and a romance worth the wait—this novel delivers it all.
synopsis:
Elizabeth Bennet is witty, independent, and determined not to marry without love. When she m...
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Dark Romance
brooding, gothic, intense, or tragic love stories
if you’re a sucker for a yearner lover with a love that will conquer even death, then this one’s for you! (and me) who doesn’t want a Heathcliff anyways :)) synopsis: On the wild Yorkshire moors, the passionate bond between Heathcliff, a brooding orp...
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
if you’re drawn to dark romance, hidden genius, and a love that haunts the shadows, then this one is for you!
synopsis:
Beneath the grand Paris Opera House lurks a mysterious figure known only as the Phantom—a musical genius who lives in the shado...
Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
want to read about a brave, fiery girl who won’t settle for anything less than true love? then dive into this romance!
synopsis:
Orphaned as a child, Jane Eyre grows up facing cruelty and hardship, yet remains strong, principled, and independent. ...
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
a girl alone in a foreign city. a heart full of courage. secrets, love, and self-discovery await. friendships tested, mysteries unraveled, and unexpected passions ignite—what more could happen?
synopsis:
Lucy Snowe, an Englishwoman, travels to the...
Villette by Charlotte Brontë
a grand estate, a mysterious first wife, and secrets lurking in every shadow… if you were the new Mrs. de Winter, would you uncover the truth or let the past stay buried?
synopsis:
A young, inexperienced woman marries the wealthy widower Maxim de ...
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
a mysterious woman moves into wildfell hall… but what is she running from?
would you uncover her secrets, or let her past stay hidden? step inside this bold tale of love, scandal, and courage!
synopsis:
Helen Graham arrives at Wildfell Hall, a sec...
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte
Not a Traditional Romance
more on social intrigue, manipulation, or mystery with romance as a secondary element
she’s witty, charming, and maybe a little scandalous…if you were in her social circle, would you fall for her schemes—or try to resist? (not really a traditional romance)
synopsis:
Lady Susan Vernon is a beautiful, witty, and manipulative widow wh...
Lady Susan by Jane Austen
a charming lady with a perfect smile… but what is she hiding? if you were caught in Lady Audley’s web, would you uncover her secret—or stay in the dark? dive into this thrilling tale of mystery, deception, and dark romance! (but romance is not its fo...
Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon