The best game plot I can think of right now is Persona 3. (Portable and otherwise)
It's fairly long, and has some curveballs in it. You can have romance if you play as female protagonist, I suppose.

"The Gone Away World" is a book you might want to read, too. It's a bit waffly, but I reckon it's worth it for the one moment of revelation which made me put the book down, jaw agape. It's the only book that's done that before. Some romance, but not a central thing.

If you're into SF novels, Peter F. Hamilton's "Night's Dawn" trilogy might be a good idea - space travel that seems achievable, with action, space battles and lasers and spoon. Beware, each one of the trilogy has at least 800 pages, I think. Perhaps closer to the 1K mark. Also, features romance.

I'll keep thinking about it, and get back to you on this one.