I would recommend 'The Immortals of Meluha' by Amish Tripathi. Although it's mainly a fantasy novel set in ancient India, there are sub - plots of one - sided love. Shiva's relationship with Sati has moments where his love seems unrequited as she is bound by her duties and traditions. Another good one is 'Half Girlfriend' by Chetan Bhagat. Here, the male protagonist has a one - sided love for a long time which is relatable and shows the modern Indian youth's take on love.
Definitely 'The Room on the Roof' by Ruskin Bond. It subtly shows one - sided love of the protagonist for a girl. The simplicity of the story and the way Bond writes about young love is very charming. Another is 'Train to Pakistan' by Khushwant Singh. Amid the backdrop of partition, there are love stories that are unrequited and it shows the harsh reality of that time.
I think 'Persuasion' is a great one - sided love novel. Anne Elliot was persuaded to reject Captain Wentworth in the past. However, Wentworth still has deep feelings for her, and Anne also realizes her mistake and still has love for him. Their relationship is full of unspoken feelings and miscommunications. 'Villette' is also a good choice. Lucy Snowe has unrequited feelings for Dr. John, but she has to keep it to herself while dealing with her own struggles in a foreign place. 'The Fault in Our Stars' can be considered too. Hazel has feelings for Augustus, and while their relationship develops, there are aspects of one - sided love as they both deal with their terminal illnesses and the different ways they view life and love.
Well, in the best one - sided love story novels, there's often intense emotion. The character in love usually has very deep feelings that they can't easily control or hide. For example, in 'The Great Gatsby', Gatsby's love for Daisy is all - consuming. Another characteristic is sacrifice. The one in love might be willing to sacrifice a lot, like their own reputation or well - being. Also, there's usually a sense of longing and unfulfillment. The love isn't easily attained, which creates a lot of tension in the story.
I would recommend 'Pride and Prejudice' as having elements of one - sided love. Mr. Darcy has strong feelings for Elizabeth Bennett early on, but she misjudges him and doesn't return his love initially. Also, 'Atonement' by Ian McEwan has a one - sided love aspect. Robbie's love for Cecilia is so pure, but the false accusation tears them apart. Then there's 'Lolita' which is a controversial one, but Humbert Humbert's love for Lolita is definitely one - sided in a very complex and disturbing way.
The novel 'Doctor Zhivago' can be considered. Lara's love for Yuri is complex and has elements of one - sidedness. 'Rebecca' is also a great example. The second Mrs. de Winter's love for Maxim seems one - sided as she is constantly in the shadow of the first Mrs. de Winter. 'Silas Marner' has one - sided love too. Eppie's love for Silas is a form of pure affection that at first seems one - sided in the context of his hermit - like life.
In the top 10 one - sided love novels, 'Atonement' is quite remarkable. Briony's false accusation creates a situation where Robbie's love for Cecilia becomes extremely one - sided in a cruel way. 'The Notebook' is a well - known one. Noah's love for Allie seems one - sided at times, especially when Allie is engaged to someone else. 'Persuasion' also has elements of one - sided love. Anne Elliot's long - held feelings for Captain Wentworth seem unrequited for a significant part of the story.
Well, 'Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda' has some elements of one - sided love. Simon is gay and has a secret online relationship. His feelings for the other boy are strong, and at times it feels like a one - sided situation as he waits for the other person to fully reciprocate. 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' also fits. Lara Jean writes love letters to boys she has crushes on, and in the case of some of those boys, her love was initially one - sided until things start to develop in the story.
Common elements? Firstly, there's the unequal distribution of emotions. One person's heart is full of love while the other's is indifferent or focused elsewhere. Secondly, there are often acts of self - sacrifice from the loving person. They might give up their own time, resources, or opportunities in the hope of winning the other's heart. And lastly, there's a sense of isolation for the one in love. They are in their own world of emotions that the other person doesn't share, which makes it a very lonely experience.
Often, it is depicted as a source of great emotional turmoil. The character experiencing one - sided love may go through a range of emotions such as sadness, jealousy, and hope. This is vividly portrayed in Urdu novels through detailed descriptions of their inner thoughts and feelings, making the readers empathize with their plight.