Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week’s theme is:
February 12: Favorite Couples In Books
For this week’s theme I’m picking out a few of my favourite romances, rather than couples, because I love the way some narratives get the build up to confession just right, but the characters don’t always end up together.
Monty and Percy // Monty’s unrequited feelings for Percy are narrated in such a heartfelt manner that you can’t help but root for him, even though he makes very poor decisions 110% of the time. I wanted them to be together so badly that I found myself yelling JUST TELL HIM MONTY for most of the book. It was worth it for that ending though.
Ben and Arthur // Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera: we’re writing a book together!
Me: please take my heart and stamp all over it.
And so they did.
Tanner and Sebastian // Possibly one of my favourite blossoming romances ever. Sebastian’s acknowledgement of his feelings, while figuring out how they fit in with his religious beliefs was so moving and honest.
Austen and Sunati // Always Human has one of the best slow-burn romances I’ve ever come across in a web comic and I just can’t get over how realistic and wonderfully complex the relationships are in it.
Dimple and Rishi // This romance is one of the funniest and most likable because in the beginning Dimple doesn’t like Rishi at all. Her parents want to set her up in an arranged marriage with him, and she’s having none of it. But as she begins to see who he truly is and they work together on their project, feelings start to form.
Kaz and Inej // Hi, I would die for my stabby dregs’ romance, thanks for coming to my Ted talk. Kaz and Inej just have such a fascinating, ‘I-would-destroy-Ketterdam-for-you-but-I-won’t-tell-you-that’ relationship and I was shipping them hard from the beginning of the book.
Rhy and Alucard // Ah my sweet Red London cinnamon rolls. This romance just gave me heart eyes. They start at odds with each other and there’s clearly a history there (cue my brain screaming: TELL US WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN THEM) but before long, Rhy gradually warms up to Alucard again, and his reaction when he finds out what happened to Alucard in the past broke my heart a little bit.
Lila and Kell // It’s not a TTT from me without mentioning two of my ultimate faves. This one hit me RIGHT IN THE FEELS. After all the adventuring through London(s), saving the world, and almost dying for each other (be still my beating heart), their growing romantic feelings made me hit the stratosphere. The way the narrative builds up their romance was just perfect.
Simon and Blue // The mystery of who Blue is in this romance made it one of the more intriguing and unique relationships I’ve read in a while. I was guessing and second-guessing myself for most of the novel and when Blue’s identity was finally revealed at the end, I was so happy and emotional that I had to put the book down and compose myself.
Calixte and Tzara // This burgeoning f/f romance was one of the highlights of Muse for me. Calixte’s personality made their interactions so witty and flirty that I found myself looking forward to every scene they were in together.
What are some of your favourite blossoming romances? Are there any couples that you didn’t want to get together?
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Great list! I love Simon and Blue and with the mention of that f/f romance you have me inspired to go back to that Strange the Dreamer and carry on with the series. Haha you sum up Kaz and Inej’s relationship perfectly – I ADORE them so much it hurts a little? I love those kind of couples where the only people who don’t realise they’re in love are those two people. The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue made my list this week, too!
Thanks Jess! Aww I’m so happy I could motivate you to continue with Strange! They’re quite big books, but they’re just amazing. The F/F romance isn’t the main romance in Muse but it’s certainly present and there are some great scenes between those two characters and two other gay characters! Hahaha yes, I honestly would die for Kaz and Inej, they’re just everything ❤ Yes, I'm totally with you on the 'we didn't know we liked each other' trope, it's so much fun to see how authors play around with it. Ah nice, I'll definitely check out your list! 😀
great choices!! tanner & sebastian are amazing together. like u said, i love how sebastian’s struggles are handled in the book.
Thanks Anna! Yeah, I just love them together, the way their relationship developed felt so natural to me 🙂
I LOVE YOU AND HOW THE MAJORITY OF THIS LIST IS QUEER AF. Also, my baes, Kaz / Inej and Lila / Kell. Ma gurl.
Yesssss, some of my favourite romances are queer 🙂 Part of me wants to read Calixte and Tzara’s chapters of Muse again for F/F Feb, I just love them! 😛
I could read about Sebastian and Tanner for the rest of my life tbh haha!
Honestly same, can we just have another 8 books all about them? 😛
Yes to the Shades of Magic couples. They’re just so brilliant together and I love how natural the progression of their relationships were, especially with Rhy and Luc. Rhy needed time to heal old wounds before trusting Alucard again and I love that we got to explore that.
Kaz and Inej will forever own my heart!! Those two deserve their happy ending.
They’re just my fave four ❤ Yeah, I definitely think the timeframes of their relationships were realistic – there was no instalove, which was great. The moment Rhy realises Alucard didn't abandon him just GETS me every time. And when Kell's like 'wait a sec I think I love Lila' I was SCREAMING. Kaz and Inej are just everything ❤
Some of these books are definitely on my to-read list on Goodreads! Lovely blog post, Kate! 😊
Xoxo
Shirley | https://shirleycuypers.blogspot.com
That’s exciting to hear 🙂 Thanks Shirley!
Great choices, Kate! I really love Inej and Kaz so, SO much and I agree with Ben and Arthur, they were ADORABLE. ❤
Thanks Marie! I love Kaz and Inej too, they’re just so good together. ❤ Ben and Arthur had such a realistic relationship, but I'd kind of hoped the end of the book would be slightly different!
I get that, I feel like a lot of people felt this way. I personally liked that ending haha, but I think I might be one of the rare people feeling this way 😂
Honestly I just wanted a little more closure on their potential future together; everything was left pretty open! It’s fine to be in the minority though! I know I definitely am with my opinions on some books 😂
Some of my absolute faves on this list!
Ah yay! Who’s your favourite in particular?
How can I choose between Simon & Blue and Tanner & Sebastian???
Wow, I actually haven’t read any of these. A few are on my TBR though. Great list.
Thanks Ashlea! Which ones are on your TBR? 😃
I love Dimple and Rishi as well. The whole progression of their relationship is so sweet and I just loved every second of it. And Simon and Blue! How can you not love those two. Great list!
Yeah, I really enjoyed the fact that they went from one-sided enemies-to-lovers! I’ve only ever seen it written where both characters dislike each other, so it was fun to read a different take where only one character dislikes the other. Totally agree – it’s hard not to love Simon and Blue! Thanks Alicia 🙂