Author Tamara Ireland Stone knows a little about time-challenged couples, so she shared with us some of her favorites.

Stone’s debut novel, The Time Between Us, focuses on a time-challenged couple that keeps pushing the limits of fate.

Guest post by author Tamara Ireland Stone

I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of time travel, but I tend to prefer my science fiction on the lighter side. Which is probably why I’m such a big fan of the time travel/love story combo. I’m a sucker for tales about two people who want to be together and would be—should be—if it weren’t for that pesky time thing constantly getting in the way and messing things up.

That idea was the inspiration behind my novels, Time Between Us and Time After Time, companion books about an intense romance between Bennett, a teen time traveler from present day, and Anna, the girl he meets back in 1995.

Relationships are tough enough without putting seventeen years between two people, but Anna and Bennett are determined to make it work, despite the challenges of time and space. Luckily, they’re in good company.

I can’t help but root for time-challenged couples. Here are my five favorites:

1. Penny and Desmond, LOST
I was addicted to everything about LOST, but my favorite storyline centered on Penny and Desmond. They meet. They break up. Desmond gets stuck on the island. But when he unexplainably starts traveling between two points in time, he realizes that his whole future hinges on reconnecting with Penny, his “constant.” Cue chills.

2. Richard and Elise, Somewhere in Time
When I was a teenager, my mom and I used to watch this movie on rainy Sundays and cry buckets. Yeah, it’s cheezy, but in the best way. Richard is convinced that he’s supposed to know Elise, even though he’s from 1980 and she’s an early 20^th century actress. Through hypnotism, he brings himself back to 1912 so the two of them can meet, and when they do… Well, let’s just say that Richard doesn’t want to go back home. Remember the epic scene when Richard spots Elise having her photograph taken? Here’s what the director had to say about it:

3. Clare and Henry, The Time Traveler’s Wife
This is a brilliant novel, and one of my favorites. Poor Henry. Always getting bounced around against his will, landing somewhere on the timeline, confused and naked and trying to survive. Clare’s known him all her life, but she has no idea how to make him stay in one place. All the two of them want is a nice, normal life together, but when one of you is a time traveler, relationships just aren’t that simple.

4. Joel & Clementine, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Talk about mind-bending what-if’s! What if you could undo an entire relationship? I loved this movie about two people who were great together… until they weren’t, and the lengths they’ll go to so they don’t have to feel the pain of losing each other. It’s not technically time travel, but it’s a story about a major, life-changing do-over. Close enough for me.

5. Hiro and Charlie, Heroes
Oh, Hiro Nakamura… This adorable time traveler can teleport, time travel, and stop the clock. And like Bennett, he can take people along with him. Of all the Heroes, he has the most fun learning how to use his gift. I liked that. Charlie came along when he wasn’t expecting her and changed everything. I liked that too.

About Tamara Ireland Stone

Tamara Ireland Stone is blissfully married and the occasional superhero in the eyes of two remarkable small people. Animal lover. Avid reader. Gadget freak. Music addict. Dreadful cook. Happily stuck in the mid-’90s. She writes young adult fiction about fun stuff like travel, music, romance, and normal people with extraordinary talents.

Her debut novel, Time Between Us, is published in more than twenty countries and has been optioned for film. The companion novel, Time After Time, will be available from Hyperion on October 8, 2013.