Books
Did These 11 Beloved Book Couples Stay Together? A Few Theories
We all have those beloved book couples that we think about, talk about and obsess about long after the final page is turned. These are the literary duos that are not only pop culture icons, but the ones that make our hearts thump every time we read their stories or watch their on-screen adaptations. But, as we know, Happily Ever After isn't always the end. I love to romanticize classic couples and YA partners, but when all is said and done, my favs might not have ended up together after all. It's hard to admit, for sure, but the reality is that life can get in the way or romance, especially when two people start out super different, or meet super young, or just have opposing ideas about relationships and marriage.
While all of my favorite romantic books have picture perfect endings, it's fun to consider what might happen if reality got in the way. Would disaster prone Rebecca Bloomwood and responsible, straight-laced Luke Brandon really be able to stick it out? And would the brilliant Hermione Granger be able to out up with the sweet but admittedly goofy Ron Weasley 'til death do them part? Below are 11 of the most beloved and oft-discussed couples in literature, along with non-canonical speculation on the outcomes of their happily ever afters. Did they stay together? Keep reading to find out.
1Elizabeth Bennett And Fitzwilliam Darcy From 'Pride and Prejudice'
Did They Stay Together?: Yes... but only because divorce wasn't an option
Let's start off with a super controversial one, shall we? While Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are the holy grail of couples in literature, it is certainly plausible that they would not have wanted to stay together. Elizabeth was an strong-willed independent thinker. She refused to be tied to any of the norms of her society, most of all the idea that she had to be a wife to live a life of meaning. Yes, she loved Darcy, but were her convictions just going to change the moment they got together? Probably not. And with Darcy being such a traditionalist, he might not have been able to contend with Elizabeth's fiery spirit when it came down to the societal expectations of home, marriage and children during their time. Now, would a modern day version of Elizabeth and Darcy (like the cuties on The Lizzie Bennet Diaries) be able to make it work forever? Hell, yes.
2Hermione Granger And Ron Weasley From 'Harry Potter'
Did They Stay Together?: Yes
A lot of fans, and even J.K. Rowling herself, have expressed post-series doubt on whether Hermione and Ron were a couple that could make it work. For RonMione shippers these questions have always been ridiculous, because these two were obviously killin' it in the relationship department. For one, they were best friends first, knew everything about each other, and had gone through both the trials and tribulations of puberty, as well as fighting a resurgence of The Dark Lord, together. For another, they encouraged each other to be their best. Who could forget Ron worrying about the safety of the House Elves during The Battle of Hogwarts? Or Hermione disregarding her own stringent rules to help her friends time and again? These two are endgame, obviously.
3Anna Oliphant And Etienne St. Clair From 'Anna And The French Kiss'
Did They Stay Together?: Yes
Of course, if you've read the entire Anna, Lola, Isla trilogy you know that (SPOILER!) Anna and Etienne get engaged just about a year after they met. Usually teen marriage would not inspire this many feels in most people but as Joshua Wasserstein himself said, Anna and Etienne are different. Their dramatic friendship turned love story was so intensely sweet and undeniably romantic. Etienne taught Anna so much about letting go of her anxieties, looking at the world as an adventure and not something to hide from. Anna helped Etienne look past his history and let go of the self-imposed ties and responsibilities that held him back. If anyone could make teen wedded bliss work, it's these two. They definitely stayed together and probably eventually had a couple of adorably Parisian named bébés, of course.
4Katniss Everdeen And Peeta Mellark From 'The Hunger Games'
Did They Stay Together?: No
The last thing that Katniss ever wanted was to have a family, as she expressed multiple times throughout the three novels. The horrors of losing her father, having an absentee mother, and living in a cruel world in which children come of age only to murder each other for entertainment was not exactly conducive to familial emotions. So, what happened at the end of the last book? She married Peeta and had kids. Peeta, who she also spent three books sort of falling for but also sort of not? Um, what? Katniss was not the domestic type and it's not hard to imagine her abandoning that life for one in which she could roam free and overcome her trauma her own way in her own time.
5Emma Woodhouse And George Knightley From 'Emma'
Did They Stay Together?: Yes
OK, so we all know that Emma Wodehouse had her issues. She was intrusive and tempestuous and focused solely on making her own wants and needs come true even at the expense of others. But her journey throughout the novel (not to mention the must-watch modern retelling Emma Approved) was a genuine one, thanks in large part to her relationship with Mr. Knightley. The level-headed one, he wasn't afraid to tell Emma like it was and she needed someone who would even out her more extravagant tendencies. Emma, on the other hand, showed Mr. Knightley that life could be more than just routine and that it was okay to do more than just what people expected of you. They're a match made in Austen heaven.
6Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe From 'Anne Of Green Gables'
Did They Stay Together?: Yes
I refuse to believe that there is any universe so bad that Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe could not stick together 'til the end. Anne Shirley is the daydreaming optimist who saw Gilbert as nothing more than the boy who once called her Carrots. He did not represent the men from her romance novels and wildest dreams, those perfect idealized version of love that would offer her sunbursts and marble halls. But she soon came to discover that her deep, true friendship with the handsome Gilbert was more than enough to make her happy. And we all know that Gilbert's life would not have been nearly as fun and full or romantic without Anne Shirley in it. Set this ship to sail forever and always.
7Bella Swan And Edward Cullen from 'Twilight'
Did They Stay Together?: Yes
Let's be honest, here. Whether you find them problematic or not, these two were insufferably obsessed with each other for four books. Plus, Bella got what she wanted by the end of the series, and became as equally immortal as her eternally 18-year-old beau. Who else was going to deal with them for all eternity? No one, that's who. Bella and Edward were more than made for each other; equally melodramatic and super soul-mate oriented as the other. They definitely went on to spend many, many lifetimes together with the rest of the Cullens...playing board games and having sex? Who even knows, honestly.
8Rebecca Bloomwood and Luke Brandon From 'Confessions Of A Shopaholic'
Did They Stay Together?: Maybe
Rebecca Bloomwood was, frankly, a total mess when she met businessman Luke Brandon. A scatterbrained shopaholic, she got herself into more hilarious messes than she could handle, all stemming from her obsessive need to spend money. And though she seemingly works through her issues in the first book, fans will know that she continues to re-learn her lesson throughout a long series of mishaps and disasters that include (SPOILER!) marriage and a baby. One thing that doesn't change, though, is Luke. He is still the buttoned-up, academic who is so practically perfect in every way that it almost makes you sick. Would Luke really be able to live his entire life knowing that his wife was on the verge of getting herself into still more ridiculous trouble? Maybe. They do say love conquers all, right? But the jury is still out on this one.
9Cath and Levi from 'Fangirl'
Did They Stay Together?: Yes
Oh, Cath and Levi. The personal growth that Cath goes through in this novel is astounding, and so much of it has to do with Levi. First, socially awkward Cath allows Levi, an older boy (gasp!) into her small circle of people which is already a massive deal for her. Then she allows herself, with his patience and kindness, to feel more for him, taking his help when he offers it, getting out of her comfort zone with everything from silly trips to the bowling alley to working through more serious issues of abandonment and loneliness. Of course Levi is a precious latte bringing, Carhartt wearing, super helpful stud from the get-go, but Cath makes him laugh, and believes in him even when he doesn't. If they can't make it work after Cath read the entirety of The Outsiders to him in one night for an assignment, no one can, I tell you. No one.
10Sam And Charlie From 'The Perks Of Being A Wallflower'
Did They Stay Together?: No
While Sam has a huge part in helping Charlie come to terms with his past trauma and open himself up to new experiences. And Charlie was there for Sam through her own ups and downs, reminding her that she was worthy and deserving of only the realest and best kind of love. He broke her out of her cool girl mold and let her be honest and soft. But with their age difference, experience difference, and everything that Charlie was inevitably going to be recovering from for a long time to come, any romantic relationship between these two just wouldn't have been feasible at the time. But here's hoping they remained friends, because their connection was undeniable.
11Belle And The Prince From 'Beauty And The Beast'
Did They Stay Together?: Maybe
It's no secret that a lot of people have issues with Belle and The Prince ending up together. For one, he held her captive. Yeah, not a great start to any relationship to be sure. But as is obvious by the end of the story, the Prince has learned that he could not force Belle to do anything she did not want, and he let her go back to her father and her village. While Belle, on the other hand, saw that the Prince was obviously in less than stellar circumstances and chose, of her own free will, to return to the castle. Belle brought out the best in the Prince, while he offered her a world of adventure and ease. If they could both get over their rocky start, it's likely that they could rule together in love and harmony. Plus, girlfriend was not going to let anyone else get their hands on that library, trust.
