Kiss a Ginger Day: Romances with Redheads
Image by Mohamed Chermiti from Pixabay
In literature, authors love to create flame-headed heroines, using this beautiful shade to suggest characters who are independent, different, fierce, and firey. From Pippi Longstocking to Ariel from The Little Mermaid, redheads in children's books are spunky and free-spirited, but in more adult fiction, red hair usually comes with a side helping of passion (because of course, anyone with flame-colored tresses must be afire with emotion, too!).
So for Kiss A Ginger Day, an annual celebration that sees redheads the world over celebrated (and dodging any unwanted smooches!), we’ve pulled together some of the best redheads in romance…whether you are looking for a YA love triangle with a supernatural twist, some superhero adventures, or a classic tale of star crossed lovers.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
In Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander, it’s not the heroine who is the redhead, but the hero! This is significantly rarer in fictional worlds, and fans of the time-traveling romance absolutely love it. The redhead in question is the hunky Highlander Jamie Fraser, a tartan-clad Jacobite who ends up marrying an English lass transported accidentally two hundred years back in time. The entire series takes them in and out of various times, wars, and countries, but the love story is at the heart of it all.
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Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
Geekerella by Ashley Poston
Ahsley Poston’s modern and nerdy twist on the Cinderella story puts redheaded Elle in the spotlight, as she struggles to cope with the loss of her father through their shared love of a sci-fi series, and the convention he started. There’s a pumpkin-themed food truck, an unwilling and misunderstood Prince, and a cosplay ball for Ella to attend…if her stepsister doesn’t destroy her dress, of course! Geekerella is a fun and unashamedly geeky take on a classic.
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Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
Anne Shirley may be one of literature’s most famous redheads – and her hair colors is a constantly referenced frustration throughout the entire series of books. While romance might not seem front and center for the original Anne of Green Gables (as Anne-with-an-E spends much of it as a spirited and thoroughly delightful child) but the end of the book and the larger series make it clear – this is a love story. It’s the story of Anne falling in love with her new home and Marilla and Matthew learning to lover her, but most of all, it is the story of Anne and Gilbert, and their happily ever after.
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Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
M. J. Watson from Marvel Comics
While books can make a point of discussing a character’s hair color, it doesn’t have quite the same impact as the visual medium of comics, and that’s where Marvel’s Spider-Man comes in with his redheaded lady love, Mary Jane Watson. While M. J. has appeared in the films, of course, the sheer volume of comics allow for more depth (and much brighter hair), as she and Peter marry, love, struggle, and deal with some other issues that are pretty specific to a comic book world!
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Cassandra Clare’s series is so popular that it has been adapted to screen twice since 2010! A new kind of supernatual YA series, the six-book collection (The Mortal Instruments) sees redhead Clary Fray discover the world of Shadownhunters: demon killers, with a whole dark world to explore under her own city. There are the usual battles, dark forces, and mystical moments, but of course, it’s the love triangle that Clary finds herself in that really tugs at the heartstrings.
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Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson
This beautiful romance takes place in two times, tied together by love, pirates, and embroidery. If that seems like a strange combination, trust that this novel brings them together beautifully, with the story of a young Cornish girl in the 1600s, captured by pirates and saved by her sewing needle, and Julia, a modern woman dealing with a difficult romance. The two weave in and out as Julia uncovers Cat’s story, and learns to fall in love again.
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Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
What are your favorite romances with redheads? Tweet @quirkbooks and let us know!
