Top Ten Tuesday used to be a weekly post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, but was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl. “It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.” This is definitely something I can understand and want to participate in.
I’ve come a long way with being open to books about romance, but I’m still not a mainly romance reader. Sometimes it pops up in other books, usually fantasy or cozy mystery, so I don’t mind seeing romance in books, and I don’t mind it spicy. However, picking a topic for this week was tough for me since I don’t read a lot of romance, and certainly not to make a top ten list. I’m also not a fan of Ultimately, I ended up going with a great topic no matter what genre I favor, and that’s my favorite couples to read about. Here’s what I came up with in as many genres as I can come up with:
- Shane and Phillip (Shillip) from The Nihyrist series by Cait Marie. I shipped this couple so hard throughout the series, and the lengths that they go to be with each other as well as how adorably sweet they were to each other as a healthy couple. (Fantasy)
- Emily and Wendell from the Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett. This might just be the sweetest couple ever—each fills in the gaps the others left, and it was really cool to see how romance changes both of their lives for the better. (Fantasy)
- Lindsey and Rory from the Beacon Bakeshop series by Darci Hannah. I’ve watched these two grow from neighbors who required baked goods for interactions to a fantastic couple. Even though I just read a book featuring them in the last couple of months, I am always ready to read a new one in this series. (Cozy mystery)
- Kembrell and Rika from the Echo Archives series by Melissa Caruso. These two kind of went from lovers to enemies to lovers, and I really enjoyed seeing these two women grow to be able to rely on each other whether they were lovers or enemies. (Fantasy)
- John and Garrett from The Black Hunger by Nicholas Pullen. Another adorable couple, and these two had to hide their sexuality as a friendship even as they grew ever closer. Horror isn’t typically what I think of as a book where I’m going to find a romance, but Pullen really surprised me and pulled it off. (Horror)
- Veronica and Stoker from the Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn. The romance between these two develops slowly, and I really liked seeing them learn how to accommodate each other for their eccentricities. (Historical mystery)
- Katniss and Peeta from the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. While I started out on team Gale, I had to change based on how he acted in the series. But Peeta is just such a sweet and wholesomely good person in the books that it was nearly impossible not to ship him with Katniss. (Sci-fi, dystopian)
- Elspeth and Ravyn from the Shepherd King by Rachel Gillig. What’s a gothic fantasy novel without a little romance to it? This intense and brilliant couple had me loving the series. (Romantasy)
- Claire and Jamie from the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Although I really liked how the relationship develops between these two and learning about actual historical events, the thing that I liked most was how they last the test of time as a couple (no pun intended). (Historical fiction)
- Will and Sara from the Will Trent series by Karin Slaughter. I think this might be my all-time favorite couple. Set against the backdrop of gory crimes, these two come together professionally until it turns into something more, which sounds weird but makes complete sense if you get to know them. (Thriller)
Who are some of your favorite couples in books?
Categories: Top Ten Tuesday
Leah's Books 
Spotlighting our favorite book couples is fun! And something I haven’t done in a LONG time. Seeing your list is reminding me that I absolutely *need* to create a new list like this. Now I just need to figure out the couples who should be on my list. 🙂
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When you make that list, please tag me! I want to check out some of the books that you recommend and love a book featuring a fantastic couple.
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There are some interesting books here, I’ve never read any Karin Slaughter but I need to try some new thrillers!
I don’t read much romance either, and if I do I rarely find it particularly romantic. I enjoy relationships that build over time with mutual respect and good communication – actions not words for me!
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That’s exactly the kind of relationship between Will and Sara, but they also aren’t saccharine sweet. It’s a nice foil to how gory the crimes are. If you can handle the ick, I really hope you give them a try, because they’re so so good and completely different from the TV show.
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I go through phases of reading Romance. I am still mainly Mystery 🤣 I loved Encyclopaedia of Faeries.
Have a great week!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
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That’s me too – I mostly read fantasy, so most of my romance comes as romantasy. But it’s funny you say that about phases – I go through genre phases pretty often, and I had my first nonfiction phase and read like 3 in a row.
Enjoy your week!
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☺️ I’ve not had a non fiction phase before 😂
Enjoy your week too 😊
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Me neither, this was my first! And I’m really glad that 2 of them were by and about Black people, during Black History Month.
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That’s good. I like to read “seasonally” if you know what I am trying to say!
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I do the same! If there’s a heritage month or holiday or something celebrating a culture I’m not familiar with, it makes a great opportunity to check them out. And my library often has a selection of good books to choose for the “season.”
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It does. I do like it when libraries do that too! I think that my library could do it more though as they tend to focus on the children’s section rather than the adults.
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Luckily, the libraries near me always do a full display for the adult and YA sections as well as children’s. Over the winter, they even make a tree out of seasonal books!
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Wow! There is a notice board that the kids can colour bits in and they get put up 😂
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Hahahahaha luckily, our library is well-funded. They offer cool activities for kids of all ages throughout the month, and also offer take-home activities!
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😂 our library does try to do bits. It’s the lack of staff. But then I suppose that is due to lack of funds. It is a depressing time.
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It really is – it makes me sad to see underfunded libraries and the consequences that can have on the people and communities they serve.
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It is sad. I worry that the library will close but it is getting redecorated and there always seems to be people in there when I go in so hopefully 🤞🏻
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I’m so happy to see libraries updating to reflect the times – I grew up using the library religiously, so seeing all the monthly programming they offer to patrons of all ages, from little kids to older people. My library has a huge bus come every year or so, and it’s fitted out to do cardiovascular and other health screenings at low-cost. They discovered a heart condition in our neighbor that she didn’t know about, and she’s in her 80s!
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It is good and there are up to date displays.
They do try to appeal to all groups. Our library has also been a polling station for half of the village for the last two elections.
Wow! That’s something. My granddad used to refuse to go to the Drs because he said once they got hold of you that was it. To be fair he was right 😂 these days though they can’t wait to be rid of you. It is terrible. That is a whole other conversation 😂
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Oh, wow, that sounds like a really great library! And if you’re there often, you’re probably encouraging your little ones to be reading too.
And that line of thinking was a lot more common in the older generation.
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I would like to go in more than I do. I used to go in a lot with my first son, with my second it’s harder because of school collecting times and nap times 😂
😂 When appointments were available…
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Awww, hopefully that phase passes quickly!
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Fingers crossed 🤞🏼
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I love a book with a dynamic relationship between characters. In many ways, I feel it helps the book be better and more believeable.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/favorite-romances-read-in-2024/
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Yes! That’s also what gets me really invested in the relationship and the story.
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Great topic! I love seeing Veronica Speedwell on any list! ❤
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Thank you! I couldn’t resist having Veronica Speedwell on this list, because I love how the two of them interact.
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Definitely with you on Jamie and Clare – they are couple goals!
One of my fav couples are Falco and Helena from the Marcus Didius Falco mysteries – also not a romance series, but they are perfect for each other! 🙂
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I love seeing awesome couples in genres other than romance. I’ll have to check that out, I love a good mystery series.
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I also love Will and Sara. Too bad she isn’t in the TV series.
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I know! There’s so many differences between the books and the show, but I miss Sara. I think they messed up not having her.
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Who knows if she will show up eventually? 🤷♀️
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Oooooh, I had given up on seeing her in the show, but now I have hope again! Fingers crossed, because I love her and she’s such a great partner to Will.
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Emily and Wendell are so so so good ❤
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They’re such a perfect couple! I was so happy when they finally realized it too.
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I need to read that Darci Hannah series! My TTT
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I really hope you do! It’s such a fun series.
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I agree about the Emily Wilde series, and Jamie and Claire are one of my favorite literary couples. I haven’t read most of these others. Thanks and happy TTT!
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Thank you, and happy belated TTT to you! This week is such a great one for blog hopping because I love seeing what everyone comes up with for their freebies – both prompts and the lists.
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The Black Hunger looks really good.
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I think so! Hopefully you give it a shot – it seems like the kind of book you’d really like.
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I’ve only read The Hunger Games off your list, but I agree. My opinion definitely changed from the first book to the last.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
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Isn’t it funny how drastically our perception of a person changes while reading a book like that one? Usually it takes a lot to change my opinion about a book character.
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Such a cute topic!!
I have a huge book boyfriend crush on Jamie Fraser. Sigh. And Wendell! Lol. That cozy mystery also looks adorable.
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I love an adorable cozy mystery, so I definitely recommend this one. And thank you! I had to get creative because I’m not super into romance.
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I like how you have couples from different genre’s. That’s fun! Veronica and Stoker sounds like the kind of book couple I enjoy.
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Thank you! I really wanted to make sure that I included a good range of genres, since I’m not a big reader of romance but I like seeing romances in other genres, if that makes sense?
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It does! I like romantic suspense but I do prefer the suspense to be slightly above the romance. I mean, if someone is trying to kill you, priorities…right?
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🤣🤣 I totally get what you’ve mean. I know that I have shouted at no less than five books about them really needing to be able to delay gratification to survive!
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I loved Elspeth and Ravyn & John and Garrett was a beautiful romance, even if it killed me at the end. Great list, Leah.
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Thank you, Becky! How can you not love Elspeth and Ravyn?? It felt really weird saying that I loved a couple featured in such a creepy and grotesque horror novel, but I loved seeing them love each other through the different periods of their lives.
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Totally get that!
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