recommendations for novels? Reading for inspiration to write

[Pantages]

Iv always found the best way to start writing a novel is by reading novels similar to the idea I had in mind. Besides, I want to see what other writers are doing with the style, what's been done, what hasn't been done. But, I can't seem to find the books so I was wondering if anyone could recommend in these two types of stories:

One, love stories. Any good ones out there? I'm not looking for romances for only female audiences. Im looking for something along the lines of any hopeless romantic out there. I wasn't going to write a romance, but a love story. Anyone know of any?

And second, stories about friends and friendships. Stuff like a bunch of friends on a road trip, or on a night out, doing booze, drugs, and having a frenzy of a night out. You know? Something like "Swingers" or "Made".

Can anyone make any recommendations? Thanks.

[Nicholas S.H.J.M Woodhouse]

best romance i ever read was Adair's Love and Death on Long Island.

not really a conventional love story but incredible stuff, or at least it was back then

[henriette]

love stories? i'd look to the classics. here's a quick list of my favourites- most have a darker tone than your average "romance":

"madame bovary" by gustave flaubert
"moods" by l.m. alcott
"leone leoni" by george sand
"the age of innocence" by edith wharton
"confessions of a child of the century" by alfred de musset
"good morning, midnight" by jean rhys
"wuthering heights" by emily bronte

as for 'friends on a road trip', is there any other than "on the road" by jack kerouac? :)

[paprikapink]

I found "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole to be deeply inspiring. It's not exactly a romance. Or a buddy book. But it has elements of both those types of tales.

[Pantages]

Thank you for your recommendations, they'll come in handy.

[Old Hack]

"After you'd Gone" by Maggie O'Farrell is one of the loveliest love stories I've read in a long time. Well worth reading. Then there's "Earth and Heaven" by Sue Gee, another wonderful love story. Have a look.

[KTC]

I LOVED LOVED LOVED Confederacy of Dunces. I cannot say enough about that book and how much it has pushed me to write a better story. I love it.

How about HIGH FIDELITY by NICK HORNSBY for a quirky romance?

As far as classics go, I'd go right for the jugular...CHARLES DICKENS GREAT EXPECTATIONS. Now that's a love story!

[zarch]

Estella of GREAT EXPECTATIONS is one of my favorite female characters. I want to slap Pip.

[maestrowork]

Dr. Zhivago.

[scarletpeaches]

I Know This Much Is True, Wally Lamb