11 of Our Favorite Literary Couples

Hollywood starlets in the 1950s fall in storied, complicated, decades-long love in this beautiful novel told in flashbacks as aging movie star Evelyn Hugo recounts the loves of her life to a young journalist. It’s impossible not to fall a little bit in love alongside them.

—Rachel Brittain

In this iconic series, Katniss and Peeta are the couple to follow throughout the dystopian Hunger Games series. Whether they had to compete together, come against each other at times, or find their way back to each other, we found ourselves rooting for the couple, even after some questionable and tough situations. Nevertheless, Katniss Everdeen was certainly a strong character to follow as she navigated some tough moments in the competitions. And, even with her romantic confusion with her guy friend, Gale, we all felt like a cozy blanket was pulled over us in loving protection when she found her happy ending with Peeta after all, after everything she survived in the classic teen series.

—Aurora Lydia Dominguez

I’m a grown man who has read Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl twice and owns two different editions. As an introvert who grew up quite often awkward, shy, and insecure (I, too, was in my first semester of college when I read it for the first time and I, too, could relate to living off power bars because the idea of navigating the cafeteria was too stressful), Cath’s journey in the book will always mean a lot to me — as well as her relationship with Levi, a boy she meets at school. A lot of other Fangirl fans I’ve met love the couple simply because she reads to him, which is definitely adorable, but I just love how he takes the time to see her: all of her. Introverts — and surely queer people — grow up feeling uncomfortable taking up too much space in life, either because it makes us ridiculously anxious or because we’ve spent so much of our young lives being told by bullies that we don’t deserve to take up space. Or both! So just the concept of Levi wanting to take the time to get to know Cath and all of her existential anxieties always makes my heart melt. He also reminds me somewhat of Jess Mariano from Gilmore Girls, who lives eternally rent free in my mind. If you need me, I’ll be in social isolation praying for a real-life man like Levi or Jess to soon enter my own life.

—Jeffrey Davies

I was stunned when the slow burn of this couple rooted itself in me and became a pairing I still think about, despite reading the book several years ago now. How these two eventually come to depend on each other and overcome their differences just makes me soft, as did Genly’s burgeoning feelings for his travel companion as they navigate not only the wintery wilderness of the alien planet but the complexities of sexuality and gender. You want “character A breaks character B out of prison” scenes, or “oops we’re huddled together to escape the cold” scenes? Look no further! And the angst! Oh, the angst…

—Zoe Robertson

The House in the Cerulean Sea is by no means a romance novel, but it has managed to introduce me to one of the loveliest couples I’ve read recently. The story centers on Linus Baker, a casework for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, who visits an orphanage with six rare magical children and ends up finding a lot more than he bargained for. Through his investigation, he develops a friendship with the master of the orphanage, Albert Parnassus. As Linus learns about the truth of the department he works for and Albert’s past, he becomes conflicted and questions the rules and regulations he’s relied on up to that point. With their developing relationship and Linus’s growing affection for each of the children, there is a lot of love in this book. Towards the end, I had a hard time putting it down. It had adventure, wonder, hope, and two characters that see each other for who they truly are. How could I not fall in love?

—Gianessa Refermat

I enjoy reading about Severin and Laila’s relationship since their bond is both dynamic and complicated. Laila is the maternal figure among the group of five, and also has a deep secret that only Severin knows. They share a deep passion for one another, yet are very unsure to reveal it. Many events (both joyful and traumatic) happen to this couple, leaving me hoping for the ultimate resolution. Their love story extends into future installments of this series, and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

—Cathleen Perez Brenycz

I think that I read this book in a single day, and I reread it about a year later and it was just as engrossing and delightful as before. I’m not usually a reader of romance-focused books, but a friend got this for me and it was the LGBTQ+ romcom novel of my dreams. Alex Claremont-Diaz is the son of President Ellen Claremont, the first female president of the United States. He has an intense chip on his shoulder toward England’s Prince Henry, but that begins to shift when the two men are forced to fake-bond in order to smooth over some bad publicity. Turns out that Prince Henry isn’t just a stick-up-the-butt snob, but actually just massively awkward with longing. The trope of enemies-to-lovers is done perfectly here, as their bickering turns to banter and resentment turns to respect. Want to spend some time with a fluffy, hopeful, dream of a book? Here it is!

—Rachel Rosenberg