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Love is in the air! As Valentine’s Day draws near, not everyone is going to be able to celebrate as usual. Maybe you and your special someone are separated by lockdowns, or maybe you’re happily single. Whatever your circumstances, there’s no reason you can’t fall head-over-heels with some swoon-worthy romance novels. Personally, I love spending V-Day, or any day for that matter, lighting some scented candles, making a cup of tea, and getting lost in a literary romance for the ages. Here are five options that are perfect to add to your list this month.
- Beach Read by Emily Henry
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A pair of old college rivals turned writing rivals, January — a romance novelist whose belief in love has recently been shattered — and Gus — a perpetually cynical writer of literary fiction — end up as neighbours for the summer. They’re both faced with insurmountable writer’s block, so, naturally, they resort to desperate measures to help each other out. They swap genres and attempt to write a novel in the other’s wheelhouse.
January and Gus spend the summer taking each other on field trips in the name of research, and along the way realise that their rivalry might be giving way to something else. This is a beautiful, heart-wrenching novel whose central relationship unfolds in a way that feels totally organic and palpably real throughout. You’ll fall in love with the characters and, just like the characters, you’ll find yourself re-examining what love means.
Bookshop.org, $15; shop now
- You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle
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Engaged couple Nicholas and Naomi have a perfect love story on paper, but as their wedding day draws nearer, Naomi grows more and more certain she’s completely done with him. But whoever calls the wedding off will have to foot the staggering nonrefundable wedding bill, so they engage in serious sabotage and escalating pranks in their desperation to force the other to call things off.
Of course, things don’t go as planned, and it seems they might not want to push each other away after all. This book is laugh-out-loud hilarious and knee-weakeningly romantic. It celebrates both the messy imperfections of relationships and the things that make them worth fighting for.
Bookshop.org, $15; shop now
- Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
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Alex Clairmont-Diaz is the son of the first Female President of the United States. His counterpart across the Atlantic is Henry, Prince of England and Alex’s longtime nemesis. When the boys’ ongoing spat culminates in an embarrassing public confrontation, they’re forced to stage an equally public fake friendship in order to avoid an international incident. Alex is vehemently opposed to the idea, but he soon discovers that faking a friendship won’t be nearly as hard as faking that that’s all there is between him and the Prince. This is such a jubilant, hopeful, overwhelmingly romantic novel that renews your faith in politics, representation and, of course, love.
Bookshop.org, $16; shop now
- The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
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Josh and Lucy are longtime workplace rivals at the same publishing house. When they discover they’re both up for the same coveted promotion, their feud escalates into all-out warfare as they engage in a no-holds-barred competition for the same role. But as their competition gets fiercer, it’s clear that the line between love and hate is a precariously thin one. It’s one they’re both in danger of crossing at any time. This is such a fun, sexy, wickedly entertaining book that’ll grab and keep ahold of your attention right through the arc of the central love story.
Bookshop.org, $15; shop now
- From Lukov With Love by Mariana Zapata
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This book is perfect for fans of Dancing on Ice, those who have some serious Olympics withdrawals, and for the ones looking for some seriously steamy romance. Jasmine Santos is frustrated that she only has a few years left of competitive figure skating ahead of her since her career has never reached the heights she knows she’s capable of.
An opportunity arises in the chance to partner with Ivan Lukov, a star in the figure skating world, her best friend’s brother, and a man she utterly loathes. This is a charged and passionate enemies-to-lovers tale, but it’s slow-burning enough that the core dynamic is wonderfully fleshed out. Their relationship is so well-developed that it’s impossible not to fall in love with. Add to that the adrenaline and rush of Olympic figure skating, and it’s pure magic.
Bookshop.org, $19; shop now
So whatever else you have planned for the season of love, clear some room in your calendar for a hot date with some of these romantic reads. They’re guaranteed to show you a good time!