Top 6 Most Poetic Unrequited Love Stories in Nguyễn Nhật Ánh's Novels

This love story isn't about humans, but about animals. Love isn't exclusive to people – even animals experience it. The tale follows Mèo Gấu, a charming cat who has fallen for Áo Hoa, a beautiful calico cat. Gấu does everything he can to express his affection for her, from sitting by the window waiting for her, to writing poems for her and posting pictures in the hope that Áo Hoa will see them. Gấu's feelings are deep and sincere, so much so that he confides in a little mouse named Tí Hon, who has a limp. The two share their secrets, discussing love between cats and mice, and Tí Hon offers advice to Gấu. Eventually, Áo Hoa meets Gấu, but Gấu spots another male cat beside her. As they walk away together, Gấu, heartbroken, falls ill. What is love? It's two cats sitting by the window, one sitting still and the other constantly shifting.

Thiều is an extroverted and mischievous boy who often tricks his younger brother, Tường, into taking the blame for his pranks. Despite his selfishness, Thiều deeply cares for his brother, and his sense of loyalty and affection is undeniable. Mận, a beautiful and innocent girl who is a year older than Thiều, is the object of his affections. She faces great struggles, including caring for her sick father, whom her mother keeps locked away. This secret is known only to Thiều and Tường, who protect Mận from a man named Sơn. When Mận’s house catches fire, Thiều’s family takes her in. During their time together, Thiều starts to realize his feelings for Mận, but he becomes jealous as he sees her grow closer to Tường. The tension between the brothers escalates as Thiều’s envy deepens. But when Mận leaves to search for her father, Thiều learns from Tường that Mận had feelings for him all along. However, she was too afraid to act on them, especially since Tường seemed like a kinder, more approachable person. Mận had always hoped to have the same closeness with Thiều as she had with Tường. It is only after Mận leaves that Thiều and Tường regret the lost time and opportunities.

Vinh is more than just an ordinary man; he is the most selfless and trustworthy of all the male characters in Nguyễn Nhật Ánh's stories. He falls in love at a young age, a time when the concept of love is still vague and unclear. As the years pass, his feelings only grow stronger, more intense, and deeper, to the point where he is willing to sacrifice himself to keep that love alive. Phúc and Miền once swore to be together, but misunderstandings pulled them apart. Fate, however, never intended for Phúc and Miền to be together, and despite Phúc's return and Miền's feelings for him, Vinh remains Miền's husband and the father of her child. Vinh's loyalty and devotion are so moving; he loves Miền and her son as his own, and is patient enough to be a good husband and father, even though the child is not his biological son. He takes on the role of a loving father to little Su, protecting the child from harm, ensuring that Miền and her son are safe, and shielding them from gossip. Vinh's sacrifices all stem from his deep love for Miền, a love that time cannot fade and that nothing can shake. This unwavering love is what allows Vinh and Miền to stay together.

Chương is a young man from the town who, during the summer break, visits his family's rural hometown. Here, he enjoys playing with his cousins, two young girls from his aunt’s family. It is in this village that he meets Út Thêm, and falls in love with her gentle nature. He wants nothing more than to see her every day. However, Út's family is too poor to afford schooling, and despite Chương’s attempts to write letters to her, Út cannot read them. Determined to express his affection, Chương begins teaching Út and her sister how to read and write, initially out of a desire to help Út. On the day he must return to the city, Chương is ready to confess his feelings to Út, only to receive a shocking revelation: Út is older than him by a year and is about to marry someone Chương holds dear. On one occasion, Út asks Chương why he visits so often, to which he shyly replies, 'I like the grass here.' When he leaves, Út gifts him a sprig of wild grass. But little does she know, the grass symbolizes his love for her, as it grows along the path to her home. Chương’s heart aches as he recalls how the grass clung to his pants during his visits, and he realizes that his love for Út will always linger like the grass that pricks his heart.

"Blue Eyes" is a story filled with a lingering sorrow that stretches throughout the narrative, centered around Ngạn’s unrequited love for Hà Lan. From their childhood, Ngạn and Hà Lan were close friends, but Ngạn’s feelings gradually transformed from friendship to a silent, one-sided love for Hà Lan. As they grew up, they both left their hometowns, each heading in different directions. Hà Lan succumbed to the temptations of life, while Ngạn remained steadfast in his affection for her, always longing for her and their village. Hà Lan fell in love with a man named Dũng, who abandoned her once she became pregnant. Despite witnessing the choices Hà Lan made and the life she led, Ngạn continued to love her. He poured his love and care into her child, Trà Long, who grew up to become a beloved teacher in their village. Trà Long admired Ngạn deeply, but he could never return her feelings. His heart belonged entirely to Hà Lan, and Trà Long seemed to him like a reflection of her mother. Eventually, Ngạn chose to leave, unable to stay any longer in a place where his love would never be returned. In the end, the beautiful blue eyes of Hà Lan, which had once captivated him, faded from his life, and Ngạn spent his life quietly grieving, sacrificing his youth for a love that would never be returned.

Thục is a brilliant student with a gentle personality and a compassionate heart, which attracts the affection of the handsome class president, Hoàng Hà. One day, she finds a letter in her desk, which turns out to be a proposal to get to know her better, signed by Phong Khê. Thục, along with her friends, starts exchanging letters with the mysterious Phong Khê, and they ask Phán, the humble farmer boy with a poetic soul, to help them respond to his poetry. As the letters continue, Thục becomes increasingly fascinated by Phong Khê and begins to wonder about his true identity. She and her friends speculate wildly, even suspecting that Phong Khê might be her class president, Hoàng Hà. Eventually, the truth is revealed, leaving everyone stunned. Phong Khê is none other than Phán, the quiet and humble farmer boy who has secretly admired Thục for a long time but lacked the courage to approach her. Because of his rural background and awkwardness, Phán never felt he was worthy of Thục's attention. Communicating with her through secret notes in her desk was his only dream. When Thục finally learns the truth about Phán’s sincere feelings for her, it is too late. Phán has already left school to care for his sick mother, abandoning his dreams of higher education for a life of hard work on the farm.