7 Romance Classics to Fall in Love with the New Year 2026

1. Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare

“My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite.”

Speaking of classic romance, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare simply has to be on this list. January 2026 could be the month you revisit the intense and dramatic tale of two star-crossed lovers who find each other against all odds. It shows us what it truly means to choose love—to stand by the one you love, even when the world seems determined to pull you apart.

Buy here: Romeo and Juliet

2. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

“Child, it's a very bad thing for a woman to face the worst that can happen to her, because after she's faced the worst she can't ever really fear anything again....Scarlett, always save something to fear— even as you save something to love...”

If historical romance and love triangles are your thing, what better way to start the year than with Gone with the Wind? The story follows the strong-willed Scarlett O’Hara as she navigates war, heartbreak, and a changing world. Caught between Ashley Wilkes and the ever-charming Rhett Butler, this classic delivers plenty of love, longing, and drama—perfect for readers who like their romance complicated and their cuppa strong.

Also read: Who Was Margaret Mitchell? Biography, Books, and the Story Behind Gone with the Wind

3. Atmâ: A Romance by Caroline Augusta Frazer

“It is sad that we forget joys; it is sadder to forget sorrows.”

There’s a different kind of charm to classic love stories born from the heart of Punjab, and if that’s the kind of warmth you’re craving this January, Atmâ: A Romance is well worth picking up.

Atmâ Singh, a young Sikh carrying the weight of his lineage and the unrest of his times, whose life changes when he meets Moti, a spirited, compassionate young woman. Their love takes shape against the backdrop of loss, conflict, and history, and this is only a glimpse of how their story unfolds. Grab yours this January and let this love story blossom romance through pages in 2026.

Buy here: Atmâ: A Romance

4. The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery

“I love you with all there is of me to love. Heart, soul, brain. Every fibre of body and spirit thrilling to the sweetness of you. There's nobody in the world for me but you, Valancy.”

The Blue Castle is a feel-good romantic classic that might just restore your faith in romance, self-discovery, and independence in 2026. As you follow Valancy Stirling, you experience what it means to believe time is limited—and how breaking free from family restrictions to live on your own terms can lead to an unexpected, slow-burning love. Gentle, hopeful, and deeply comforting, this one is perfect for cosy winter reading and soft-hearted romantics.

5. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

“It is not time or opportunity that is to determine intimacy;—it is disposition alone. Seven years would be insufficient to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven days are more than enough for others.”

Jane Austen has given us no shortage of romance classics. We’ve picked this one for the list because it beautifully shows how love can be both sensible and deeply felt—and how true happiness often lives somewhere in between. It follows two sisters as they navigate romance, heartbreak, and social expectations, learning hard lessons about love, disappointment, and maturity—so you don’t have to repeat them. So, if you like your January lighthearted yet emotionally rich, this is a lovely way to begin 2026 on a romantic note.

Buy here: Sense and Sensibility

6. A Room With a View by EM Forster

“It isn't possible to love and part. You will wish that it was. You can transmute love, ignore it, muddle it, but you can never pull it out of you. I know by experience that the poets are right: love is eternal.”

How do you love when rigid social conventions leave a scar on the way you love? That’s pretty much the premise of A Room With a View by EM Forster. It follows the life of Lucy Honeychurch, a young Englishwoman, whose chance encounter in Italy with the unconventional George Emerson challenges everything she has been taught about love, class, and how a woman ought to behave. A perfect read for 2026 if you choose authenticity over convention and love over propriety.

Buy here: A Room With a View

7. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

“He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”

If this dark season sparks the mood for dark romance, you can trust Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë for that. At its heart is the doomed love between Heathcliff—a wild, brooding outsider—and Catherine Earnshaw, whose restless spirit is torn between rigid social expectations and her fierce, untamed devotion to him. Steeped in Gothic intensity, love and romance feel raw here, and power and class play a role in making it emotionally intense.

Buy here: Wuthering Heights

Start Your Romance Early in 2026

As the year unfolds and winter lingers a little longer, there’s no better time to lean into stories that make you feel deeply, tenderly, and unapologetically. These romance classics remind us that love has many forms: gentle and sensible, wild and consuming, quiet and rebellious.

Whether you’re craving comfort, longing, or a touch of drama, each of these stories offers a reason to fall in love with reading—and perhaps with love itself—all over again. So start your romance early in 2026, turn the page, and let these timeless love stories keep you warm through the season and beyond.

Your next read: 10 Classic Quotes to Start 2026 With Calm, Clarity, and Purpose