The two central characters of Emily Bronte’s masterpiece, Wuthering Heights, were pretty much doomed from the start when you sit down and really think about it. This tale of spiteful marriages, emotional torture, and creepy hauntings from beyond the grave is a bold and brash exploration of just how toxic a loving but unhealthy relationship can get! $4.95 at amazon.com

The secretive pairing that is at the centre of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic The Scarlet Letter is definitely toxic, one that is filled with secrets. From self-flagellation to public scorn to abandoning a family and eventually dying of literal shame, this was a union that was never going to end happily given the context and setting of the much read and widely regarded novel! $4.63 at amazon.com