Bucket List: Must Read Romantic Novels!
- Kayli Liebenberg
- 8 hours ago
- 2 min read
6 classic love stories
GONE WITH THE WIND: MARGARET MITCHELL (1936)
Scarlett O’Hara is a beautiful and smart Southern belle who always gets what she wants… that is, until her beloved Ashley Wilkes marries someone else. When dashing Rhett Butler arrives on the scene, he falls for Scarlett, admiring her strength and ambition. Though they marry, Scarlett’s continued obsession with Ashley undermines their chance of happiness.
REBECCA: DAPHNE DU MAURIER (1938)
A young, unnamed narrator embarks on a whirlwind romance with Maxim de Winter, a wealthy widower – they marry in Monte Carlo before moving to Manderley, his grand Cornish estate. There, she finds herself overshadowed by the lingering presence of his first wife, Rebecca, and she begins to realise that some pieces of the past refuse to stay buried.
JANE EYRE: CHARLOTTE BRONTË (1847)
Jane, an orphan who suffered from constant mistreatment in her childhood, grows into a strong and independent young woman. She becomes the governess at Thornfield Hall, where she falls in love with her mysterious boss, Mr Rochester. When he reveals the shocking truth about his past, Jane must choose between following her heart or her principles.
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY: JANE AUSTEN (1811)
Elinor and Marianna Dashwood are two sisters who could not be more different: one is ruled by her head, and the other by her heart. After their family fortune passes to their brother, the sisters, confined by society’s expectations, must find financially viable husbands. Marianne’s romantic approach stands in her way and, surprisingly, so does Elinor’s cautiousness.
LITTLE WOMEN: LOUISA MAY ALCOT (1868)
Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, the March sisters, grow up in New England with big dreams and even bigger hearts. They each want different things out of life: Meg seeks the domestic ideal, Jo wants independence, Beth hopes to never leave the family home, and Amy pursues status and security. Each sisters’ wish is fulfilled though in very unexpected ways.
WUTHERING HEIGHTS: EMILY BRONTË (1847)
Growing up together, Catherine Earnshaw and the orphaned Heathcliff form a deep, passionate bond – they run wild on the Yorkshire moors, share secrets and understand each other completely. When Catherine breaks up with Heathcliff, and marries Edgar Linton for his money, Heathcliff is consumed by bitterness and sets out to wreak his revenge.
