The effects of literature throughout history have been innumerable, but they never seem more significant than when they resound in one's own life. Reading is a personal experience for every individual; its influence is impossible to measure, but it offers me an opportunity to form opinions and vicariously experience relationships in a way that will prepare me for future situations. My own life has been inspired in infinite ways by the relationships created within fiction. Although the plots and storylines guide characters through struggles and triumphs, the relationships between the characters teach the readers the most about life. By studying the interactions between characters, it is possible to understand and appreciate the roles that others can play in one's life. Through this study a deeper comprehension of people and human dynamics is possible. To support this idea, I have analyzed the three most influential writers in my life, Jane Austen, J.K. Rowling, and C.S. Lewis, examining the relationships formed by these authors' characters and investigating the impact these fictional relationships have had in my life.