Ship Time: Top 5 Book Couples
Updated: Sep 19, 2020
Well we've reached another commercialized day of overpriced candy and obligatory displays of affection. Happy Valentines, lovelies. I'd insert some sappy comment about how much I love you all, but I know you're just here to see if your OTP makes the list, so I'll skip it. And whether you're enjoying today with someone special or are curled up on your couch with Netflix pretending this holiday doesn't exist, I think all of us here can agree that fictional couples are a far more interesting topic of conversation for Valentine's Day than anything else. Because we're all fangirls here, right?
So enjoy my Top 5 Book Couples
Please note - this post is meant entirely for fun. My opinions are just opinions, and I can't guarantee they won't change as my bookish interests grow and shift. Don't see a couple you love? Let me know in a comment--I might not have read their book!
5. Danica Shardae and Zane Cobriana - Hawksong, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
"The question is, then, how much are you willing to give?"
I thought about all the battlefields, all the dead men and women I had seen, all the dying children and fathers and mothers I had held and sung to.
And I answered, "Anything."
A breath later, Zane echoed my response with, "Everything."
I first read Hawksong, along with its sequels, in middle school, and while I enjoyed the whole series Hawksong remains one of my favorite books. In a thrilling world of shapeshifters, Hawksong follows the story of Danica, heir to the Avian throne, as she at first reluctantly works with Serpiente prince Zane to end a long-time war between their people. The slow build of the relationship between Danica and Zane, who go from fearing one another to falling in love, is beautifully done and kept me hooked (along with the action!) right up until the ending.
4. Adora and Fenix - The Pirate's Stowaway Bride, Anne Stryker
I pull away from the spyglass just in time to see my ribbon flutter from his grasp and rest upon the water. His eyes flick over me--my free hair, the pants--assessing. Then he smiles. "My, my, look at the glorious mess you've become."
The Pirate's Stowaway Bride can be found on its own in ebook form or in the printed anthology Escapism, and is a short and amazingly fun read full of adventure, excitement, and breathtaking romance. When Adora stows away on a ship to escape a forced marriage she doesn't expect to end up on a pirate crew led by charming Captain Fenix--or to fall for him. Give me a good, romanticized pirate any day of the week and I'm happy, but Fenix is my favorite. His instant acceptance of all the things about Adora that her family tried to bury and his role in helping her learn who she is and what she wants are endlessly sweet. Their relationship is swoon-worthy for sure.
3. Feyre and Rhysand - A Court of Thorns and Roses, Sarah J Maas
He said softly, "I love it when you look at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like my power isn't something to run from. Like you see me.”
Okay, if you don't know this book series, we need to talk. It's been the craze of the fantasy book world for a while now, and yes, I'm one of those people. But it's worth it. What starts out as a Beauty and the Beast retelling gets a completely unexpected twist in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series when huntress Feyre kills a wolf and finds herself imprisoned by a High Fae Lord as punishment--only to discover a world of beauty, magic, and danger that she plays a vital role in. Around the tale of a brewing war Feyre and Rhysand develop an amazingly deep and intimate relationship as they help each other through their respective traumas. Another swoon-worthy relationship for sure, with plenty of heart behind it.
2. Wylan Van Eck and Jesper Fahey - Six of Crows, Leigh Bardugo
“I told you, I like your stupid face.”
Honestly, can you get any better than a pair of criminally-inclined boys who can't stop flirting with each other? It'd been a long time since I shipped two characters as quickly as I shipped Wylan and Jesper. The most recent of my reads on this list, Six of Crows follows the illegal adventures of six young oucasts hired to pull off possibly the greatest and most impossible heist in history, and I binged my way straight through the series. Jesper and Wylan's chemistry is irresistible from the beginning and the way their relationship grows and they bounce off each other is equal parts hilarious and heartwarming.
1. Max and Fang - Maximum Ride, James Patterson
“If you're in the room, I want to be next to you. If you're gone, I think about you. You're who I want to talk to. In a fight, I want you at my back. When we're together the sun is shining. When we're apart, everything is in
shades of gray.”
Another book series I got hooked on forever ago and has stayed near the top of my list since. While Maximum Ride is really an epic action/adventure following a group of mutant bird-kids fighting against the scientists who created them (and yes, it is as awesome as that sounds), one of the reigning subplots is the relationship between "flock" leader Max and her unofficial second-in-command Fang. As lifelong friends their relationship is close to begin with, and the way they struggle with their growing feelings for each other while dealing with the ceaseless parade of weird they're faced with is incredibly real and cute. (Not to mention their banter is on point, guys.)
Honorable Mentions and Other Readers' Favorites:
Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase - Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Rick Riordan
Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger - Harry Potter, JK Rowling
Cassia Reyes and Ky Markham - Matched, Ally Condie
Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood - The Mortal Instruments, Cassandra Clare
Tris and Four - Divergent, Veronica Roth
Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark - The Hunger Games, Susanne Collins
Nico di Angelo and Will Solace - Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Rick Riordan
Kaz Brekker and Inej Ghafa - Six of Crows, Leigh Bardugo
Aragorn and Arwen - Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
Nicholas Ambrosius Gautier and Nekoda Kennedy - The Chronicles of Nick, Sherrilyn Kenyon
Abbey Browning and Caspian Vander - The Hollow, Jessica Verday
Did your favorite couple make the list? Who should be added, and what books do I need to read to find more good ships?