A really good one is 'Second Chance Summer' by Morgan Matson. The main characters were friends when they were young, and as they return to their hometown for one last summer, their relationship takes a romantic turn. 'A Walk to Remember' is also a classic in this regard. Landon and Jamie had known each other since childhood, and their story of falling in love is very touching. Additionally, 'The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight' has a bit of a childhood connection in the backstory of the two main characters that leads to their love story.
Well, 'My Girl' is a lovely novel that features a childhood friends - turned - lovers story. The characters grow up together, sharing many experiences, and gradually their friendship blossoms into love. Then there's 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' by Jenny Han. Lara Jean and Peter were sort of childhood friends in a sense, and their relationship evolves into a romantic one throughout the story. And 'Fangirl' by Rainbow Rowell has some aspects of it too, with Cath and Levi having a connection that starts from their early days at college which is somewhat like a childhood - like beginning in that new environment and turns into love.
Well, 'Anne of Green Gables' has some undertones of this. Gilbert and Anne were childhood acquaintances and as they grew up, their relationship developed into a deep and abiding love. Also, 'Second Chance Summer' by Morgan Matson. It's about a girl who returns to her hometown and reconnects with a childhood friend, leading to a beautiful romantic story. And 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' trilogy by Jenny Han is also about a girl and her relationship with two brothers who were her childhood friends, which has a lot of sweet and angsty romantic moments.
A wonderful 'friends turned lovers' romance novel is 'Roomies' by Christina Lauren. It's about a girl who needs to get married quickly for visa reasons and her friend who offers to marry her. As they go through the process, their friendship transforms into love. 'The Kiss Quotient' by Helen Hoang also has some elements of this. The main character hires a male escort, who becomes her friend first and then they fall in love. Additionally, 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen can be considered in this category. Elizabeth and Darcy start off as not really liking each other but they have a sort of underlying connection due to their social circles, and over time their relationship changes from a rather antagonistic one to a loving one which started from a form of friendship.
Often, there's the theme of growth. They grow up together, and as they change over the years, their relationship also evolves. There's also the idea of loyalty. Their long - standing friendship means there's a certain loyalty that can translate into a strong romantic bond. In books like 'Pride and Prejudice', Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship develops as they both grow and their loyalty to their initial impressions slowly changes. And there's usually a moment of realization, where they suddenly see their childhood friend in a new, romantic light.
One popular one is 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' by Jenny Han. It beautifully portrays the transition from childhood friendship to a deeper romantic relationship set against the backdrop of beach summers.
One common theme is the slow - burn. Since they start as friends, the transition to lovers doesn't happen overnight. There's often a lot of hesitation and 'will they or won't they' moments. Another theme is the discovery of new aspects of the friend. When the relationship shifts, they start to see each other in a different light, like noticing physical or emotional qualities they overlooked before. And there's also the theme of the fear of ruining the friendship. They worry that if the romantic relationship doesn't work out, they'll lose the precious friendship they had.
One great 'best friends turned lovers' romance novel is 'The Kiss Quotient' by Helen Hoang. It has a unique take on the trope. Stella, a woman on the autism spectrum, hires Michael, her friend, to be her sex tutor, and their relationship evolves from there into something more. It's a sweet and steamy read.
One common theme is the deep - rooted familiarity. Since they've known each other for a long time, they have a shared history, like inside jokes and memories. Another is the growth and change. They often grow up and see each other in new lights. For example, a once - scrawny childhood friend might become very attractive as they get older. Also, there's usually some sort of conflict that comes from their long - standing relationship, like family expectations getting in the way of their new - found romantic feelings.
There's 'Outlander' by Diana Gabaldon. Claire and Jamie start off on a rather difficult footing. Claire is a time - traveler from the 20th century and Jamie is a Scottish Highlander in the 18th century. Their different backgrounds and initial misunderstandings create a sense of enmity, but soon enough, a passionate love story unfolds.
They're appealing because of the built - in history. The characters already know each other deeply, which adds a layer of authenticity. For example, in 'The Summer I Turned Pretty', Belly has known the boys her whole life, so when feelings change, it's not just a surface - level attraction.
It often involves a slow - burn. They don't just jump into love. In many novels like 'Well Met' by Jen DeLuca, the characters gradually realize their feelings over time. This slow realization of love while already having a friendship base makes for a very satisfying read. It's like watching a flower bloom slowly, and the anticipation builds up the tension in the story.