Happy Monday, all! We hope you've been enjoying our romance-themed February content, which we're continuing today with our favorite OTPs! Er, starting with mine, because we're incapable of keeping our fangirl to a minimum.
Percabeth [Percy Jackson]
I have a huge soft spot for power couples, and Percy and Annabeth are definitely that. Beyond their ability to work together in a scrape, the way they listen to and care for each other is just the sweetest. Neither feels like they're in the other's league, they would do anything for each other, and they wholeheartedly support and believe in one another. Their relationship is mature beyond their years, and I adore every couple scene—whether they're fighting side-by-side, teasing, or simply talking about their future.
“We're staying together. You're not getting away from me. Never again."
"As long as we're together.”
Kazej [Six of Crows]
I'm not normally one for dysfunctional relationships, but Kaz and Inej's makes sense. Their issues stem from real, potent trauma that will never just "go away." Kaz is not a perfect person (still debating about Inej—I mean, she's pretty kickass) and neither knows how to handle affection or relationships.
Which is what makes theirs so impactful. They both have to heal—separately and together—but they're determined to make it work, even if they're both battered and messed up.
“I would have come for you. And if I couldn't walk, I'd crawl to you, and no matter how broken we were, we'd fight our way out together—knives drawn, pistols blazing. Because that's what we do. We never stop fighting.” - Crooked Kingdom
Willow + Alex (Willex? Alexow?) [Angel Burn]
A lesser-known series I'm not sure has a fandom, the Angel trilogy by L.A. Weatherly features one of my favorite book couples: Willow and Alex.
Alex is an angel killer while Willow is (at first unbeknownst to her) a half-angel whom Alex is sent to kill. Thanks to Alex's good conscience and BS radar, he goes against this order because something doesn't seem right. Though he's not the kindest to Willow in their first few days of escaping together, it quickly melts away to be replaced by friendship, then something more as he gets to know her.
I adore how sweet and tentative their relationship starts out and how it evolves into something of a semi-power-couple later on. Like Percy and Annabeth, they become wholly dedicated to one another and can't imagine a life where they didn't meet.
"I could feel your essence."
"What did it feel like?" he asked in a low voice.
"Like . . . coming home."
Emma + Brendan (Bremma?) [Spellbound]
Another of my lonely fandoms with no fanart, Spellbound is a paranormal romance that centers around the budding relationship between Emma and Brendan. Emma is an oddball trying to escape her past, and she feels wholly out of place at the New York prep school her great aunt sends her to. Brendan is apparently the richest and hottest guy around, which is precisely why Emma decides to stay away.
I enjoy how this couple turns tropes on their heads. Despite Emma's tragic past (dead twin brother, deceased mother, and a careless alcoholic father), she's not mopey or angry at the world. She uses her quirky sense of humor to cope and believes in holding tight to those she loves, because she never knows when they'll be gone. Brendan, despite being the seemingly stereotypical "unattainable guy," is actually as quirky as Emma, which makes her the perfect person to bring out his goofy side.
I longed to know what it felt like to have one person eclipse everything bad in your life—be a pure place of joy.
Rowaelin [Throne of Glass]
Though it's not at the top of the post, Rowaelin is definitely in my top three literary couples purely due to the amount of crap they go through to stay together. Their relationship evolves from being at odds, to realizing they're both broken people who can help each other heal, to building a solid friendship they both rely on, then finally to becoming one of the most badass power couples.
I adore how selfless and open each becomes in this relationship. There are no secrets, no wounds they hide from one another, and nothing they wouldn't do to put the other first. It's refreshing to find this type of relationship in YA—one not contaminated by unnecessary secrets or pretenses. They can be completely themselves around each other.
“I love you. There is no limit to what I can give to you, no time I need. Even when this world is forgotten whisper of dust between the stars, I will love you.” - Empire of Storms
Kaider / Wincin / Cresswell [The Lunar Chronicles]
Okay, I couldn't choose my favorite Lunar Chronicles couple. How could I? They're all so stinking adorable! The only one I didn't include is Scarlet and Wolf, simply because it took me awhile to warm up to Scarlet.
Kai and Cinder are perfection. The best part is the slight role reversal that makes Kai the (still very capable) prince in distress, whilst Cinder is the kickass rogue figure Kai idolizes.
“I don't want to tell you how to be a prince, but shouldn't you have some bodyguards or something?"
"Bodyguards? Who would want to harm a charming guy like me?” - Cinder
Meanwhile, Cress is a darling cinnamon roll while Carswell is a charming, roguish spaceship captain (Han Solo vibes, anyone?) who completely gives up flirting and his dubious lifestyle when he meets said cinnamon roll.
“I promise, I will not let you die without being kissed.” - Cress
Winter and Jacin go through so much to be and stay together, so they're high on my favorite couples list. Winter sacrifices her sanity so her power cannot hurt anyone, but Jacin loves her all the same—probably more for that sacrifice. Her insanity doesn't faze him; he simply holds her through the screams, the visions, and knows one day she'll come back to him because she's the strongest person he knows.
“You’re perfect,” he said, finishing his thought as if she hadn’t interrupted. “I don’t care if you see dead wolves and turn into a living ice sculpture when you’re having a bad day. I don’t care if I have an imprint of your teeth on my shoulder. I don’t care if you’re . . . fixed.” He spat the word like it tasted bad. “I want you to be safe and happy. That’s all.” - Winter
Thanks for catching up with our favorite book couples and stay tuned for Kori's list of top OTPs! Did any of these make your OTP list? What about some I didn't mention? Drop those ships in the comments so we can fan over them!