Now before I get into this list, please note that this is not based on everyone’s opinions, but my own personal preferences.
This list is based on a couple’s chemistry, how they work as individuals and a couple, and how their relationship has made an impact on fans.
WARNING! For those of you who have not read these books and are unfamiliar with the characters, expect some spoilers while reading this list.
- Michael Hosea & Angel/Sarah – (Redeeming Love)
This couple goes out to all you Christ believers out there, but for others who aren’t or in the process, trust me when I say you’re going to fall in love with this perfectly imperfect pair. Redeeming Love is a Christian fiction novel written by Francine Rivers and is a retelling of the Book of Hosea. This story centers on Angel/Sarah, who’s lived a life of darkness forced to grow up in prostitution, and Michael Hosea, a faith led farmer living in light of the simple life. How these two met and connected wasn’t by cupid’s arrow, but through the voice of God who told Michael to marry a prostitute. These two Definitely didn’t hit it off at first with Sarah being constantly cynical and bitter towards Michael’s kind heart and high beliefs. During their marriage they’ve faced struggle after struggle, like Michael’s frustration towards Sarah’s refusal to be open with him and Sarah running away from Michael multiple times and having an affair with his brother in law. Marriage is no bed of roses as the two learned, but they’ve eventually grown to understand and truly love each other, with Michael knowing how to help Sarah break free from the pain of her past and Sarah finally believing that redemption is possible and believing that true love is neither bondange nor has any limits. Like our Holy Father, their love is unconditional.
- Beatrice “Tris” Prior & Tobias “Four” Eaton – (Divergent)
Who loves a good battle couple? Anyone? Because I sure do, and mainly this divergent couple. For Beatrice “Tris” Prior and Tobias “Four” Eaton, it was not love at first sight, but more like love at first scowl. Tris is a shy, but observant girl who’s trying to find her place in her society, and Tobias is a strong, but guarded guy who seeks a safe haven from a faction that failed him. Both of them being hard headed wasn’t easy on either side of the relationship, either as they have opposing views on their faction’s dysfunctional system. However, the two grew closer in Tris’s time during Dauntless initiation as they learned about each other’s fears and recognized each other’s strengths that brought them to common ground. By working together as a team, they were able to uncover sinister plots from their corrupted government, and helped each other to overcome the demons that plagued their personal lives. Though they didn’t get the happy ending like the other couples on this list, (due to Tris’s sacrifice), they’ve learned from one another in their time together. Tris finally knew the importance of sacrificing for the greater good, and Tobias learned that though pain and loss are inevitable, he can be mended and move beyond it. There’s a reason why shippers call them “FourTris,” because as individuals they’re strong enough to take care of themselves and protect the people they love, but as a couple they’re unbreakable.
- Kaz Brekker & Inej Ghafa – (Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom)
Didn’t think many readers could root for a couple of thieves, let alone a thieving couple, but low and behold they do! Kaz “Dirtyhands” Brekker is a man of business and willing to do anything to get the big score. Inej ‘The Wraith” Ghafa is a woman of faith and can easily strike her enemies with the swiftness of her knives. Although they run in the same thieving circle, these two couldn’t be more different, with Kaz’s goals of power and revenge on the people who betrayed him, and Inej pursuing justice and freedom in an unfair world after surviving the life of a sex trafficking victim. Despite their opposing views and beliefs, these two care deeply for one another, Inej believes in the good behind Kaz’s vengeful armor, and Kaz doing everything in his power to give her the freedom she deserves. While most shippers are debating between “Darklina” (Darkling and Alina) and “Malina” (Mal and Alina), the one couple in the Grishaverse they should root for more is these Bad-Ass Bandits, “Kanej.”
- Katniss Everdeen & Peeta Mellark – (The Hunger Games)
These two “star-crossed” lovers of District 12 couldn’t be any more different. Katniss Everdeen is a sharp shooting, focused hunter trying to make sure her family survives. Peeta Mellark is a selfless gentle-natured baker who’s trying to get by while mooning over his longtime crush on the Girl on Fire. Whether fighting to survive in The Games or putting on a happy facade for the cameras, “Everlark” (as the fans call them) are always there for each other. Katniss continuously saves Peeta from weapon wielding maniacs, and Peeta protects Katniss from the nightmares that haunted her from The Games. As Katniss stated, “It’s what you and I do, we protect each other,” and indeed they do. After facing so many losses, and Peeta’s recovery from the Tracker Jacker mental hijack, they’ve finally found the peace they longed for. Sorry Not sorry Team Gale!
- Edward Cullen & Bella Swan – (The Twilight Saga)
I know I’m going to get an unpopular opinion on this couple, but please hear me out. Edward Cullen (brooding as he may be) is a devoted and considerate gentleman, and Bella Swan is a stubborn and good-hearted girl who knows what she wants out of life. While they aren’t the perfect couple, it’s more the reason why fans root for them. Both of them struggle with their own worth with Bella thinking she’s not good enough for him because of his vampirism, beauty and immortality, and Edward who believed he can’t be with Bella because of his struggles controlling the bloodsucking monster within. But both see each other’s values and flaws and love each other unconditionally and because of that love it grew into a partnership, marriage, and a family.
- Rosie Thorne & Vance Reigns – (Bookish & the Beast)
I’m crazy about fairytale retellings, especially when it comes to Beauty and the Beast, and this book is no exception. Rosie Thorne is a fierce, beautiful book-loving nerd and Vance Reigns is a troublemaking pretty boy with issues. Now that sounds like a recipe for a good ole rom-com right? Well be as it may, it’s deeper than that. Both protagonists struggle with their personal troubles, as Rosie is still grieving over the loss of her mother and Vance is dealing with the consequences of his reckless actions in Hollywood, followed by a disdain towards his family. After a lot of bickering, they slowly start to see each other for who they really are and not what others perceive them to be. As their friendship grew they came to respect and care deeply about each other’s concerns and passion, especially Rosie sharing her passion for books with Vance who never liked reading at first! From their bond, both were able to overcome their own personal issues and build a healthy relationship based on trust, compassion, and honesty. Is this an OTP (one true pair) or what?!
- Nightlight “Jack Frost” & Katherine “Mother Goose” – (Guardians of Childhood)
This is a magical pair to root for. Those who are familiar with Jack Frost’s character may remember him from Dreamworks Rise of the Guardians, however I too learned that Jack and the rest of the characters from the famous fantasy flick were actually based on characters from the Guardians of Childhood series by William Joyce. Before he was the mischievous bad boy, Jack Frost was once Nightlight, a friendly and loyal former guard to the Man in the Moon. Katherine, an original character that didn’t get adapted into the film version, is the compassionate and brave Guardian of Storytelling (aka Mother Goose) who’d do anything to protect the people she loves. Since childhood, they had an instant connection. Like any childhood friendships, they enjoyed playing together, and as Guardians, both of them are willing to put their lives on the line to save children from the darkness of Pitch Black. Their bond grew stronger and stronger as they reached young-adulthood. The most compelling thing about their relationship is their willingness to do anything for each other, like Nightlight giving up his immortality to save Katherine from an eternal nightmarish slumber, and Katherine helping a rebirthed Jack Frost to rediscover his past and guide him towards his future. No matter what trouble comes their way, these two are endgame.
- Bathsheba Everdene & Gabriel Oak – (Far From the Madding Crowd)
Now I’m not always big on Victorian era fiction, but for this book, and this couple, I can make an exception. Bathsheba Everdene, like many women in Victorian literature, is a strong-willed and independent woman who works to earn her own way in the world. Gabriel Oak is a simple hardworking farmer, whose loyalty to those he believes deserves it is unquestionable. These two didn’t have the best start after Bathsheba refused Gabriel’s proposal, but after being separated for a while, and then later finding each other again under unlikely circumstances, they started to reconnect. Though Gabriel still pined for Bathsheba, he respected her wishes and offered his services and a hand of friendship with no strings attached. As for Bathsheba, though she’d made some questionable choices in her time as head of the farming community, she still tries her best to set a better example and would set her pride aside to ask people for help, particularly Gabriel’s. This couple was able to overcome harsh weather, bloated sheep, and intolerable suitors. These two set a prime example of what an equal partnership in business and relationships should be today.
- Ruby Daly & Liam Stewart – (The Darkest Minds)
“Rubiam”, as shippers call them, are wonderful together, and like peanut butter and jelly their relationship is both sweet and salty, as both sides would do anything to protect each other while at the same time struggling with how to do it. Ruby Daly and Liam Stewart were infected with a disease that gave them Psi abilities according to color. Ruby is an orange, meaning she can control and manipulate minds and Liam is a blue, which gives him telekinetic abilities (he can move things with his mind). These two fell for each other hard when they first met, but unfortunately, Ruby’s difficulty to control her powers, the Clancy incident, erasing herself from Liam’s mind, and their own opposing views on safety and freedom for the rest of the powered kids nearly broke them apart. At the end of the day, they both know what needs to be done in order to fight for the future for all of the human race, and they do it by the only way they know how—together.
- Wanderer/Wanda & Ian O’ Shea – (The Host)
Everyone has a favorite human-alien couple right? Well you’re going to love Wanda and Ian, or as shippers call them, “O’ Wanda.” Wanderer/Wanda is a kind-hearted, one inch glowing alien species called a “Soul”, and like her kind, they live by taking over a person’s body, striving for peace and harmony. Ian is a level-headed rebel fighting alongside the resistance to save the remaining human race. Like the beginning of every potential couple, these two got off on the wrong foot, mainly due to Ian nearly killing Wanda the first time they met. After spending some time together, these two developed a close bond and started to no longer see each other as enemies. Wanda knows now that her species can no longer force unwilling hosts to bring peace, and Ian sees that Souls aren’t the monsters he first thought them to be and that they’re as human as he is. The two grew closer with Ian being drawn to Wanda’s kind nature and compassion for others, and Wanda being drawn to Ian’s strong sense of loyalty and protective nature for the people he loves. This couple had been nearly pulled apart by other people’s prejudices and Wanda inhabiting a body that loves another. Eventually, these two finally made the relationship work by not only giving Wanda a new body that she gave life instead of taking, but they’ve managed to come together to bring unity to both of their species and build a better future. Fans adored how loving and trusting Wanda and Ian are together, and I agree as they’re both out of this world adorable!
I know some people get tired of romance, but let’s be real here. At some point in our lives, we love a good love story to come back to, especially reading about a strong power couple. Do you like the couples on this list? If these couples ain’t your otp that’s coolio, who’s your favorite book couple?