The 66 Greatest Works of Romance Literature
In some literary traditions a romance is a novel, plain and simple. Or it's a kind of novel about a fabulous adventure in an historical context.
But for this Greatest Romance Literature list we're adopting the common modern sense of a love story. The romantic relationship has to be at the heart—so to speak—of what the work is all about. So War and Peace, which includes amorous affairs as subplots, does not qualify for this list, while his Anna Karenina, centred on a love affair, does.
The selection of romance literature is based on the continuing research carried out for The Greatest Literature of All Time list, as well as additional views of readers, writers, critics and scholars in this genre.
This list focuses on major creative works—such as novels, novellas and plays—although some shorter works of literary significance may also be considered.
Latest update: December 6, 2024
c.50
Chaereas and Callirhoe
Chariton, Greece
Novel, also known as
Callirhoe
c.100
An Ephesian Tale of Anthia and Habrocomes
Xenophon of Ephesus, Greece
Novel, also known as
An Ephesian Tale or
Ephesiaka
c.120
The Adventures of Leucippe and Clitophon
Achilles Tatius, Greece
Novel, also known as
Leucippe and Clitophon
c.150
Daphnis and Chloe
Longus, Greece
1559
Diana
Jorge de Montemayor, Portugal
Novel, also known as
The Seven Books of the Diana
c.1596
Romeo and Juliet
Play
Possibly Shakespeare's best-known play. Everyone knows the story of star-crossed lovers who defied their families—the feuding Capulets and Montagues—and ended their lives tragically. Romeo and Juliet is a play with.... Critique • Quotes • Buy
1740
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded
Samuel Richardson, England
1782
Cecilia
Fanny Burney, England
1811
Sense and Sensibility
Novel
In the dichotomy suggested in the title, Jane Austen in her first published work comes down conclusively on the side of sense over sensibility. It's supposed to be a study of two marriageable sisters with the eldest.... Critique • Quotes • At the movies • Buy
1813
Pride and Prejudice
Novel
Pride and Prejudice has one of the most skilful beginnings in literature. It opens of course with that famous "truth universally acknowledged" about single men and fortunes—and its equally delicious corollary.... Critique • Quotes • Text • At the movies • Buy
1815
Emma
Novel
If you're not a Jane Austen admirer, Emma could be her novel you most despise. But if you are a fan, Emma is likely the one you most think shows how adept a writer she was. Austen set out in the last of the works.... Critique • Quotes • At the movies • Buy
1847
Jane Eyre
Novel
Charlotte Brontë's narrator and protagonist, like many a youthful Dickens protagonist, is the epitome of spunk. But Jane Eyre is also female, a young girl to begin with and a young woman for much of the novel.... Critique • Quotes • Text • At the movies • Buy
Wuthering Heights
Novel
I'm somewhat stumped by Wuthering Heights. It's solidly ensconced in the literary canon and inflicted on classes of students. And plenty of people—readers and writers alike—seem to love it. But three readings.... Critique • Quotes • Text • At the movies • Buy
1874
Anna Karenina
Leo Tolstoy, Russia
1928
Lady Chatterley's Lover
D.H. Lawrence, England
1932
Invitation to the Waltz
Rosamond Lehmann, England
1935
The Regency Buck
Georgette Heyer, England
1936
Gone with the Wind
Margaret Mitchell, United States
The Weather in the Streets
Rosamond Lehmann, England
1937
An Infamous Army
Georgette Heyer, England
1938
Rebecca
Daphne du Maurier, England
1941
Frenchman's Creek
Daphne du Maurier, England
1944
Friday's Child
Georgette Heyer, England
1945
Ross Poldark
Winston Graham, England
1950
The Grand Sophy
Georgette Heyer, England
1955
Lord of Scoundrels
Loretta Chase, United States
1957
Doctor Zhivago
Boris Pasternak, Russia
1963
The Graduate
Charles Webb, United States
1966
Black Sheep
Georgette Heyer, England
1969
The French Lieutenant's Woman
by John Fowles, England
Novel
Sometimes it seems the English-speaking world spent the entire twentieth century trying to shake off the repressions of the Victorian era. The rebellious 1960s, for example, may have prided themselves on rejecting.... Critique • Quotes • At the movies • Buy
1975
Forever...
Judy Blume, United States
The Thorn Birds
Colleen McCullough, Australia
1977
Delta of Venus
Anaïs Nin, France
1978
The Emerald Peacock
Katharine Gordon, Scotland
1985
Whitney, My Love
Judith McNaught, United States
1991
Outlander
Diana Gabaldon, United States
1992
Heartbeat
Danielle Steele, United States
The Bridges of Madison County
Robert James Waller, United States
1993
Birdsong
Sebastian Faulks, England
1996
Indigo
Beverly Jenkins, United States
Kiss an Angel
Susan Elizabeth Phillips, United States
The Notebook
Nicholas Sparks, United States
1999
Jewels of the Sun
Nora Roberts, United States
2000
The Duke and I
Julia Quinn, United States
2003
The Time Traveler's Wife
Audrey Niffenegger, United States
2005
Twilight
Stephenie Meyer, United States
2006
The Night Watch
Sarah Waters, Wales
2007
Call Me By Your Name
André Aciman, United States
2009
Vision in White
Nora Roberts, United States
2010
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake
Sarah MacLean, United States
2011
A Discovery of Witches
Deborah Harkness, United States
Fifty Shades of Grey
E.L. James (Erika Mitchell), England
2012
The Fault in Our Stars
John Green, United States
Me Before You
Jojo Moyes, England
2013
Crazy Rich Asians
Kevin Kwan, United States
2014
To All The Boys I've Loved Before
Jenny Han, United States
2016
It Ends with Us
Colleen Hoover, United States
2017
An Extraordinary Union
Alyssa Cole, United States
2018
The Wedding Date
Jasmine Guillory, United States
The Kiss Quotient
Helen Hoang, United States
Normal People
Sally Rooney, Ireland
2019
Get a Life, Chloe Brown
Talia Hibbert, England
Red, White & Royal Blue
Casey McQuistom, United States
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
Ocean Vuong, United States
2020
Boyfriend Material
Alexis Hall, England
