It would be fair to say 2020 was a year many of us will be remembering for all the wrong reasons. The pandemic has placed unprecedented restrictions on society, especially if you’re single and your usual socializing outlets have remained padlocked. A lot of people have signed up to a dating site, where flirting has continued unabated! If you’ve connected with someone via a matching service, you’ll truly capture their heart by sending a meaningful gift – a romance novel. Here are top five recommendations from relationship advisors of this website that would be a perfect gift to your loved ones.
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen:
Consistently voted one of the top romance novels of all time, Jane Austen’s tale of manners and manipulation in early 19th-century middle-class England overflows with intrugue and passion. In this fragile society, the hopes of the Bennet family hinge on marrying their daughters off to suitably well-connected – and well-off – suitors. At the core of this turbulent world is the one/off relationship between feisty Elizabeth, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, an aristocratic landowner. Will their relationship survive the misunderstandings and loss of face that can sometimes eclipse genuine feelings? Along the way, there are also sub-plots concerning Elizabeth’s sisters and their attempts to grapple with the pride and prejudice that stand as huge hurdles in the course of true love.
Outlander, Diana Gabaldon:
First published in 1991, and now the basis of a thrilling TV series, Outlander is a captivating book series suitable for a gift for your partner. Claire is a married combat nurse during World War Two, whose world is turned upside-down when she is transported back to the year 1743. During this time, the Scottish Highlands are in armed insurrection against colonial British rule, and Claire finds herself on the rebel side after falling in love with a rugged but dashing Highland warrior, Jamie Fraser. An added twist is introduced when she also encounters a villain, a ruthless British officer, who is an ancestor of her husband from her present.
The Wedding Date, Jasmine Guillory:
This romantic tale commences with a fake date. A wedding guest, Drew Nichols bumps into a woman in an elevator, Alexa Monroe. He explains he requires a ‘plus one,’ and despite being invited to the occasion by a stranger, the adventurous streak within Alexa prompts her to agree. This is a familiar trope for romance, the notion that ‘pretend’ love might eventually blossom into the real thing (think of movies like ‘Pretty Woman,’ or ‘The Wedding Date’). But that doesn’t make the storyline any less enthralling. This is another novel that your partner will adore if you present it as an unexpected gift.
An Extraordinary Union, Alyssa Cole:
Another historical romance, this time the action takes place during the most turbulent period in American history. The Civil War was precipitated in the 1860s when the Federal Government abolished slavery, a move bitterly opposed by 11 Southern states who seceded from the USA to form the Confederate States of America. So this is a romantic tale where the protagonist, Ella, a free black woman, is operating against the backdrop of the racial intolerance that drove the Confederacy to send armies to invade the USA. If your partner adores plots containing equal measures of history and passion, this is perfect.
The Fault In Our Stars, John Green:
This wonderful novel is narrated by Hazel, a 16-year-old suffering from thyroid cancer, who meets a former basketball player and amputee, Augustus at a support group. Expect a rollercoaster of emotions, covering every base from sadness to joy, but especially the enduring power of love. This is the ideal novel for a meaningful present.
