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I think Adam and Ronan are such a good fictional couple because they had the perfect amount of build up and waiting. Even without romance being a main focus for Adam and Ronan in the first novel, their platonic relationship is frequently mentioned. Stiefvater offhandedly throws in details about Ronan and Adam’s interactons that set the foundation for their romantic relationship later in the series. The gangsey’s first meeting mentions Adam and Ronan pulling each other around on a dolly and being scraped up from it. Adam pressing charges against his father is an important part of the series, and while Ronan’s part in Adam’s decision to finally leave is explicitly stated, there are so many other things going on that the audience is not allowed to linger on the significance of Adam pressing charges to protect Ronan from being expelled or Ronan studying so Adam didn’t do it for nothing. Later it is mentioned that it is Ronan who helps Adam move into his apartment.

The Dream Thieves is interesting because Adam is still technically portrayed as Blue’s love interest, yet his interactions with Ronan are all meant to set up the reveal at the end of the novel that Ronan has feelings for Adam. Ronan’s second secret being Adam is not truly a plot twist because the novel has been building up to it. However, Ronan’s feelings being explicitly stated reframes the way the audience sees all Ronan and Adam’s previous interactions. One of Adam and Ronan’s last solo interactions in the Dream Thieves includes Adam mentioning that he knows Ronan is the reason his rent is changed, showing that even if he does not currently return Ronan’s feelings he pays attention to Ronan. The Dream Thieves also ends with Adam and Blue’s “break-up” which leaves the rest of the series open to further explore Ronan and Adam’s relationship.

Blue Lily, Lily Blue is when Stiefvater begins to truly emphasize Ronan and Adam’s relationship. Even though it is still platonic, this is the book when Ronan and Adam’s interactions are no longer strictly offhand. Ronan visits Adam at work, they team up to take down Greenmantle, there’s a whole chapter of them shopping together, Ronan takes Adam to the barns. This book sets up them becoming a couple, because while Adam still does not return Ronan’s feelings, it shows that they function as a pair outside of the entire group. Even without emotions being clearly stated, the affection they have towards each other (platonic or romantic) is obvious. Stiefvater also continues to include the offhanded lines that build up to Ronan and Adam getting together (Ronan looks at place in Adam’s apartment, Gansey does not, Ronan looks put together for Adam’s court hearing). 

All of this means that Ronan and Adam have a relationship that is truly shown not told. Them getting together makes sense to the audience because the groundwork has been laid. Couples like Blue and Gansey are great because the audience has been rooting for them and anticipating their relationship from the beginning. However, couples like Adam and Ronan work so well because it isn’t always obvious. Their relationship grows throughout the series and seems entirely natural. Going back and rereading the series you pick up on all the parts of their dynamic you missed originally, and that is why Maggie Stiefvater is a genius.