With the advent of boy bands, teen heart throbs, and movie bigger than life superheros, do any young girls-commonly called TWEENS- read nowadays? Other than the Twilight series, I mean? I remember vividly, long summer days spent on my bed or on a blanket at the beach, reading book after book. Summer was my favorite time as a tween because it meant no reading list from school. I could read what I wanted, when I wanted. I binged read Nancy Drew Mysteries like people binge watch on-demand television shows these days.
My first ever fictional school girl crush was Brian Beldon from the Trixie Beldon books. Trixie, a pre teen like me, had two brothers, the oldest of who was Brian. Jet black hair and a winning grin, Brian wanted to be a **sigh** doctor. He was frequently the voice of almost-grown-up reason when Trixie got caught in her hair-brained snooping mysteries and I just thought he was “it” for me. I had no real-life boyfriends until I graduated from college, ( I know: late bloomer!) so I had to live vicariously through my fictional one.
And of course, this got me to thinking: Who are some of the most popular and beloved boyfriends in fiction. This could potentially be a hot button issue because true fans are devoted to the boys they feel are the absolute best, so here goes. In no best-to-least-best order
- Gilbert Blythe, Anne of Green Gables.
- Ron Weasley, Harry Potter series
- Joe Morelli, Stephanie Plum books
- Mr Knightley, Emma
- Ned Nickerson, Nancy Drew Mysteries
- Augustus Waters, The Fault is in our Stars
- Edward Cullen, Twilight series
- Jacob Black, Twilight series
- Fitzwilliam Darcy, Pride and Prejudice
- Ian McNab, In Death Series ( and my personal favorite!)
All these boyfriends are good guys, do-gooders, love their girls, and treat them well. They love their girls so much they put up with mood shifts, dangerous jobs, evil warlocks and vampires, societal restrictions, financial setbacks, and even terminal cancer.
But through all the foibles and follies of dating, the end result is they simply love, support, and respect their girls.
What more could you ask for from a boyfriend?
So. Who was your first fictional crush?
Peggy Jaeger, Author 