My Favorite Romances, or, Even More Reason for Me to Loathe Instalove

Ever since I was very little, as a reader, I have preferred a certain sort of pattern to romance plot lines. Basically, I don't want them to see each other and fall in eternal love; more like I want them to fall into loathing, and then come to love each other in spite of themselves. Screw couples immediately in love, beset by all of the universe keeping them apart. I like when all that's keeping them from getting together is their own stubbornness based on a false first impression. I ascribe my love for this particular romance plot arc to two bits of pop culture.

#1) Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
In considering the import of the two, this had to come first, because I grew up watching the movie version with Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh. Then, when I was old enough to parse Shakespeare, I would read the plays aloud by myself or with help. Benedick and Beatrice are, perhaps, my OTP, and I just love watching them bicker. That's one thing about people who obviously dig one another but won't admit it: they typically have fantastic banter. Seriously, to make this style of romance work, these books/plays/movies generally have the very best dialog.

Benedick: I will live a bachelor.
Beatrice: A dear happiness to all women.

#2) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
You all knew this was coming. I am a completely Austen-obsessed girl, and, though Darcy is not my favorite Austen hero, there's is my favorite relationship by far. Because of this book, whenever anyone in a book or movie declares "that's the last person I could ever date" and then falls for them, I am filled with giddy glee. I love seeing the natural progression of their relationship from mutual disdain to awkward, unrequited affection to what I see as an enduring love, though some would argue with me on that point.

There's so much satisfaction to witnessing these couples coming together because they worked so hard for it. Romance should not come too easily, because that doesn't tend to be what things are real life. Plus, I really doubt that everything in your life is usually bent on trying to keep a couple apart. You know what probably threatens the most relationships? The people in those relationships.

It's not that I don't also enjoy other romances, like ones where they meet adorably and fall in love slowly and naturally. However, I do confess that my little heart always goes pitter patter the hardest for one that follows this formula. Of course, this has also resulted in my having some incredibly stupid crushes in my past, but let's not talk about that.

Also, you just know that when these crazy kids do finally figure out their feelings and come together that they are going to have an amazingly passionate relationship. They will fight. They will make up. Plus, I can't see these sorts of couples ever becoming disgustingly sappy, at least in company; they will undoubtedly continue to bicker and snark.

Examples:
I don't want to leave you hanging, so here are some books where the main characters can't stand each other (or pretend they can't) at first, and I ship it so hard. Unsurprisingly, I gave all of these high ratings.

Alright, guys, now I want to hear from you. Do you know of more books with romances like this that I need to be reading? What do you like to see in a romance? What makes your heart beat faster and gives you all the vicarious butterflies?