Five great romance books you might not think of

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

A stunning tale of the depths masked by the famed oh-so-stiff British upper lip. Stevens, an old-style British butler, is on a road trip around England and takes the time to reflect on his career and devotion to it. Among the stops he makes (amid many other plot points) is a brief pause to try to convince a former colleague, Mrs. Kendon, to return to her former position as housekeeper at the great house where Stevens remains employed. The encounter and flashbacks to others between the two, heartbreakingly portrays the cost of paths not taken, of moments not seized.

The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro, $29, Amazon and Indigo.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Sure, if you’re a teenager (or just into YA), you’ve likely heard of this, but it bears saying anyway: This is a fantastic love story, and read it now, before the movie version hits the big screens in June. Don’t say we didn’t warn you, though: You’ll need a box of tissues!

While reluctantly attending the cancer support group her mother insists on, Hazel Grace Lancaster encounters super-hot Augustus Waters, who’s there at the request of a friend. Augustus and Grace hit it off right away, but Grace, doomed by a terminal diagnosis, is reluctant to put Augustus through what she knows will be a unhappy ending — but what she doesn’t count on is his undying determination.

The Fault in Our Stars, John Green, $18, Amazon and Indigo.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

The set-up to this novel doesn’t appear to scream romance: A group of seemingly ragtag terrorists take over the home of a South American vice president during birthday celebrations for a powerful Japanese businessman. The businessman, Mr. Hosokawa, is a huge fan of famous opera singer Roxanne Coss, who has been hired to perform for him. In the days that follow, as the hostages struggle to come to grips with the situation, careful friendships form — one tentative, touching love between a captive and captor, another that begins to blossom between the singer and her admirer, two people whose only common language is that of music. Incredibly subtle, admirable writing from Patchett.

Bel Canto, Ann Patchett, $20, Amazon and Indigo.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Major Pettigrew has just had devastating news: His brother has died. But the lovely Mrs. Ali offers consolation. She’s the woman who has been selling the major tea for years at a local shop, but the two have never exchanged more than pleasantries. That’s all about to change with Mrs. Ali’s kindness in the face of loss. The two love to read, bond over Kipling, and discover that, surprisingly, they have more in common with each other than they do with their own families. A charming, smart tale of unexpected love (and, really, isn’t all love unexpected in some ways?).

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, Helen Simonson, $18, Amazon and Indigo.

Possession by A.S. Byatt

Two love stories in one! Present-day academic Roland Mitchell finds a letter written long ago in a library book and, intrigued, begins an exploration into what turns out to be the secret, passionate love affair between famed Victorian poet — and married man — Randolph Ash and the mysterious “fairy poetess” Christabel La Motte. Along the way Roland joins forces with beautiful scholar Maud Bailey and a new  love story — and cracking good adventure involving deception, betrayal and even gravedigging! — also begins.

Possession, A.S. Byatt, $22, Amazon and Indigo.