Alexa at Not Enough Bookshelves is running her annual
Couples Christmas Challenge. For it, bloggers choose their top three couples in the books they've read for the year and post about why these couples are the best they've met. The couples can be romantic ones or friends. Either way, these are the pairings that felt strong and real and maybe even made you a little weepy. Any come to mind?
The first one I thought of was Bianca and Wesley from Kody Keplinger's
The DUFF. Even though Wesley is the person who names Bianca as the "DUFF" (Designated Fat Ugly Friend), their rocky relationship felt powerful to me. I grew to love Wesley, even though I started the book with just as much hatred and venom for him as Bianca had. By the end of the book, he had me convinced. He's the real deal.
Another book with a great couple is Mindi Scott's
Freefall. I loved Seth. By the end of the book, I felt as though he was an actual person. He had this brooding presence, but was totally interesting and his emotions were so well drawn. So, when he starts to fall for Rosetta, I couldn't help but follow. It's not a perfect relationship, but it felt real. I respected both Seth and Rosetta, and wanted them to find each other. Neither character was perfect, but they were pretty perfect for each other.
And, for a non-romantic, but equally realistic and moving pair: Bo and Levi from Dana Reinhardt's
The Things a Brother Knows. Bo and Levi are brothers. Bo has just returned from Afghanistan and is not the same. Levi has been stuck in his brother's shadow and resents the way that everyone tiptoes around Bo's needs and outbursts. When Bo starts to go a little crazy and leaves for a final mission--this time by walking hundreds of miles to Washington DC, Levi knows that he cannot let his brother go alone. This relationship is not brotherly at the start, but grows throughout the novel. I loved these boys.
I'd don't know if this is allowed, but I'm doing it anyway. I'm going to give an honorable mention to John Green and Devid Levithan's
Will Grayson, Will Grayson. The main couple in this book are connected by a first and last name, and a yearning for love. I loved this book and love these writers! Each Will Grayson has a love interest, but the relationship between one of the Wills and his friend Tiny is one that I'll never forget. Outstanding read!
Okay, I'll stop there. Feel free to join me in posting for this challenge--You can win three books from
Alexa if you're chosen as the winner. And, it's just fun to think about the couples (romantic and otherwise) who made an impression on you this year.
