In Need Of A Good Love Story? 10 Great Love Stories

It is human nature to want to give love and be loved. Whether it be romantic love, friendly love, or love for your family, love can add an immense amount of value to your life.

While most love stories focus on romantic love, they can bring people a lot of joy, regardless of the reader's relationship status. These ten love stories will show you the power of love and that no two love stories are alike.

10 great love stories

Paris And Helen Of Troy

Helen of Troy is a staple of Greek mythology, as is her beauty, said to have "launched a thousand ships." According to mythology, Helen was the mortal Queen Leda's daughter and the god Zeus, making her half-human, half-divine. Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, even proclaimed her the most beautiful woman in the world.

It is no surprise that Paris, the prince of Troy, fell in love with Helen the first time he saw her. Although she was married to someone else, Paris and Helen ran off together, setting the epic Trojan War in motion. Had the pair not fallen in love, the epic tale would have been very different.

Romeo And Juliet

Arguably the most famous love story of all time, Romeo and Juliet is the original "star-crossed lovers." Despite the conflicts between their families, Romeo and Juliet cannot stay away from one another. Although this story does have a tragic ending, it demonstrates the power of love and how it can be all-consuming.

The Romeo and Juliet story arc has been retold often, such as in the famous play West Side Story. The tale of forbidden love and the characters' inability to resist it is one that audiences never seem to tire of.

Abigail And John Adams

This couple is said to have had "a historical romance." During their courtship, the pair exchanged over one thousand letters. Their discussions were full of romance and other pressing topics like government and politics, which continued during John Adams' tenure as the second president of the United States. The letters show the pair's deep devotion to one another beyond their intellectual discussions; they often wrote of their love and how they felt "bound" to each other.

Richard Burton And Elizabeth Taylor

Burton and Taylor met while filming Cleopatra in 1962. Taylor was married to another man at the time of their meeting and made a concerted effort not to fall for Burton. But, their chemistry was undeniable. The couple's beginning is quite fitting for what came to be known as "one of the most turbulent love stories of all time."

Their ensuing marriage and life together were not without its challenges. The couple divorced before getting remarried and ultimately divorcing again. They often fought and butt heads and could not seem to make their relationship stick. Yet, they kept coming back to each other. Their intense chemistry never faded.

Even on her deathbed, Taylor reportedly said that Richard was the only of her multiple husbands that she ever truly loved and still cared about until the end of her life. And in the book Furious Love written about the pair, Taylor said that from the moment the couple met, they "were always madly in love and powerfully in love."

Paul Newman And Joanne Woodward

This pair is considered by many to be the ultimate "Hollywood golden couple," and for a good reason. Newman and Woodward were married for over 50 years before Newman's death in 2003, an impressive feat for any couple, especially in Hollywood.

The pair met on the set of a Broadway play, in which Newman was staring, and Woodward was an understudy. Though Newman was instantly attracted to Woodward, it took her a while to warm up to him. But, once she did, she never looked back.

The pair settled into a Connecticut farmhouse where they lived out their days together. They became involved in many charitable organizations, including Newman's Own, founded by Newman himself.

While the couple admitted that their marriage was not perfect all the time, they got through the hard times and made it last. Newman attributed their successful marriage to "some combination of lust and respect and patience. And determination."

Jack And Rose

The love story of Jack and Rose, portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in the iconic movie  Titanic, impacted the millions of people who have seen the film over the years. Although fabricated for the movie based on the real-life Titanic disaster, Jack and Rose's love was a memorable highlight in contrast to the sinking ship's tragedy.

Despite Rose's pre-existing relationship and family wealth, she fell for Jack, a boy of humble working-class origins. Their love persisted through the terror of the sinking ship, with the two helping each other through their scary final moments. While this story did not have a happy ending, it showed how love could happen in an instant, despite outside forces trying to tear you apart.

Landon Carter And Jamie Sullivan

Nicholas Sparks has a knack for love stories, and A Walk to Remember is certainly no exception. The story focuses on Landon and Jamie, two teens living in North Carolina. The two students were very different- Landon was the popular student body president, while Jamie is the town minister's quiet daughter. They end up forming an unexpected friendship, which ultimately blossoms into love.

However, upon Landon confessing his love for Jamie, she reveals that she has a terminal leukemia case. As her conditions worsen, Landon never leaves her side. One night, he asks Jamie to marry him, fulfilling her wish to get married in the church before her passing.

What makes this story even more romantic is that it is based on the real story of Nicholas Sparks' sister, Danielle. She had been unpopular in school and was sick with cancer. Despite knowing of her terminal illness, her husband proposed and married her, surprising everyone who knew her and thought she would never have the chance to marry.

Gertrude Stein And Alice Toklas

Author Gertrude Stein met her partner Alice Toklas on Toklas' first day living as an American ex-pat in Paris. The two had an instant connection and were together for the next 39 years until Stein's death in 1946. In the first half of the twentieth century, same-sex relationships were far from accepted. But Stein and Toklas were too in love to care. They loved one another deeply, regardless of gender. Although same-sex marriage was not legal during their lifetimes, the two were life partners, and both detailed in various works of writing how much they cared for the other.

Diego Rivera And Frida Kahlo

Kahlo and Rivera's relationship started as a professional one. As a young art student, Kahlo visited Rivera's apartment to ask the famed painter for career advice. Although he was married when they met and twenty years her senior, the two fell in love and ultimately married.

The relationship was very tumultuous, complete with divorce before getting remarried. Despite their problems, the two were undeniably connected and felt a strong pull to one another. 

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher

Kunis and Kutcher met while starring on the sitcom That 70s Show, playing two characters in an on-and-off relationship. But, neither claim that sparks flew right away. Kunis was only 14 years old when she was cast for the show, and Kutcher was married to another actress. The show filmed for eight seasons, and the two were simply friends. Kunis jokes that she did not even find Kutcher attractive during that time.

The pair casually stayed in touch for the years following the show until reconnecting years later. Shortly after, Kunis had gotten out of a long-term relationship, and Kutcher was recently divorced. Neither planned on ever getting married (or remarrying, in Kutcher's case) and just wanted to have fun. But, a year later, Kunis says they both were certain they wanted to marry each other.

Kunis and Kutcher are still going strong and are a perfect example of a successful "friends first" relationship. It also shows that just because you do not feel sparks fly immediately does not mean you and your partner cannot work. These two knew each other for many years without feeling any romantic attraction, and now they are very happily married. You need to keep your mind open and not deny yourself any unexpected feelings of love that may come your way.

Your love story

As you can see, all love stories are different. If you are in the process of building or looking for your own love story, try to let go of any preconceived notion of "the perfect love story" that you have and let it follow its path.

If you are looking for love in your life but struggling to find it, consider talking to a therapist. Therapy can help you learn more about yourself and what you are truly looking for in a potential partner and help you overcome any lingering barriers you have surrounding love and relationships. If you have struggled with familial relationships or friendship in your life, therapy can be a huge help with that, too.

Takeaway

There is no telling how your love story will unfold, but remember to trust your gut and your feelings. Fiction or reality, all of the love stories mentioned above are different. Yours will be different, too. When it is time for your love story, let it take its unique shape. All love stories are good stories.