Book Boyfriends!

I've often wondered if I'm destined to pine after only men who don't actually exist.  Most of the men I read about are so much better than the men I meet out in the real world (no offense, real men).  I'm sure that, in a lot of ways, book men have ruined my expectations so much that real men stand no chance.  Oh well.  Perhaps I'll be a cat lady...assuming that I start liking cats at some point.

Is "the crazy book lady" a thing?  Because if not, I get to set the precedent.

Anyway, this morning I was wandering around on Twitter, finding blogs to read and generally wasting some time.  I came across this: mtgreviews: top ten tuesday.  OMG.  Granted, I didn't know all of her book boyfriends... but I certainly relate to the idea of creating a list of these.  I was also able to relate to it not being difficult AT ALL to come up with this list.  Soooo here we go:

1.  Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy – Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

Bookish people can be united in thinking he’s top man.  I really can’t think of a man I’d rather have… he’s snarky and arrogant in the right ways…and he’s a gentleman…and he has that certain something that makes him irresistible.  (It’s also true that I’m unable to read the book without picturing Colin Firth…bonus!)

2.  Four/Tobias – Divergent, Veronica Roth

What can I say?  He's a badass...he's smart, funny, talented, and kind of dangerous.  

3.  Roar – Under the Never Sky, Veronica Rossi

He’s pure love, cloaked in pure badass… I know I was supposed to be falling in love with Perry, but that was impossible when Roar is just…so much more interesting.

4.  Peeta Mellark – The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

Another man who demonstrates pure love, but also a ton of bravery and loyalty...with a sweet side.  I like the love against the odds aspect of his character.

5.  Marco – The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern

The way that he demonstrated his love was absolute perfection.  He was a creator.  Everything about him and his story was beautiful.

6.  Will Herondale – The Infernal Devices, Cassandra Clare

I sort of like the asshole guys who refuse to fall in love…the dark, mysterious ones who you KNOW are totally in love, but who won’t for anything in the world admit it.  Will is good at this…but when he does finally admit it, and things go terribly wrong, he’s a total gentleman about it.

7.  Ash – The Iron Fey, Julie Kagawa

The one and only faery-boy I’ll admit to loving.  He has the dark, mysterious thing going for him… but the story fits with some Shakespeare and The Neverending Story, so he had plenty of opportunity to show himself as both interesting and determined in his pursuit of love.

8.  Lucas – Shadow Falls, C.C. Hunter

Werewolf with baggage… another of those dark, mysterious guys.  Are we sensing a theme here?  Yes?

9.  Patch – Hush Hush, Becca Fitzpatrick

Bad/good guy?  I’m still on the fence about WHY I like him… I just know that I do.

10.  Jared Ryel – Providence, Jamie McGuire

A protector and a vicious killer…fine by me.

Bonus Boyfriends (everyone should have some)!

Sirius Black – Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling  (yeah, I had some Misery-esque fantasies after his death)

Ponyboy Curtis – The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton

Stephan – Shades of London, Maureen Johnson

So, it's established that I like the very young, dark, mysterious bad boys... and don't really mind if they're killers, so long as they maintain impeccable taste and possess quick wit and charm in equal measures.  I also like the super-protective types.  Oh, and in most cases, the men I like aren't entirely human. 

The worst thing about this list is that I know I'm forgetting a few... and I'm going to remember and feel like a total jerk for forgetting.  Even though these are fictional men who will never know that they were slighted.  

Wait, no... the worst thing about this list is that they're fictional.  FML.