Star-Crossed Love in YA Fiction

Submitted by Mer L. on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 11:43am

Love by ShanissinhaProbably one of the most famous star-crossed couples in literary history is Romeo and Juliet; the relationship obviously didn’t end very well and we pretty much knew from the beginning that, whatever their feelings, outside forces were going to keep them apart.  Although Romeo and Juliet are probably the number 1 model for a typical star-crossed couple, there are many star-crossed couples throughout young adult fiction.  A couple might be kept apart because of outside forces (parents, family, friends, society, circumstance, ancient supernatural curse, etc.) or they might even be keeping themselves apart (“we’re so different, I don’t think this could ever work!” – even if we know it could).  Below I’ve listed some of my favorite star-crossed lovers in YA fiction; some of their relationships work out and others don’t; some are swoon-worthy and others heart-breaking.  Who are your favorite star-crossed lovers?

Mer’s Star-Crossed Lovers Picks:

crazy beautiful bookjacket

  • chime bookjacketwrapped bookjacketyou against me bookjacketjekel loves hyde bookjacket
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beautiful creatures bookjacketluxe bookjacketunearthly bookjacketthe secret year bookjacketblood and chocolate bookjacket

 

 

 

 

 

Son of the Mob bookjacketketurah and lord death bookjacketjane bookjacketash bookjacket

  • wicked lovely bookjacket
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forest of hands and teeth bookjacketstargirl bookjacketshiver bookjacket

  • beatle meets destiny bookjacketsweethearts bookjacket
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Flickr CC: Love Photo by: Shanissinha

Comments

Submitted by Kimberly C on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 1:20pm.

I must have a weakness for

I must have a weakness for star-crossed lovers because I have read a number of these and had most of the others on my TBR list for ages. I somehow never made the connection. My favorites are Wrapped, The Luxe series (until the last book) and The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

Great list!

Submitted by Mer L. on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 1:24pm.

Thanks, Kimberly!  I'm pretty

Thanks, Kimberly!  I'm pretty much a sucker for the star-crossed lovers, too, although I have to say I prefer the "I hate you!' "No, I hate you!" "Oh, wait...maybe I don't" sort of stories to the Romeo and Juliet, head-over-heels, doomed to fail kind of tales.

"You think your pains and heartbreaks are unprecendented in the history of the world, but then you read." - James Baldwin