One thing about me is that I am completely and unashamedly a hopeless romantic. I love love and everything that comes with it. I love reading a book and being so invested in the blossoming relationships between the characters. There is truly nothing better than sitting down after a long day, or taking the night off, and reading a good old romance book. If you are looking for books that will have you giggling and kicking your feet and twirling your hair, then look no further.
- From Lukov With Love by Mariana Zapata
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The story follows ex-figure skater Jasmine Santos as she is offered the deal of a lifetime, and an opportunity to redeem herself. The only problem is that she will have to deal with the insufferable Ivan Lukov, who she shares a rocky past with.
For all my sports romance readers, this one is for you, and it is an incredible slow burn. I promise that you will be on the edge of your seat until the very end, but you will also have the biggest smile on your face the entire time. The characters are so multifaceted and it’s hard not to root for them.
- The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
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Olive has exceptionally bad luck, especially compared to her twin sister Ami. Ami manages to finance her entire wedding by winning a series of contests, and Olive has the unfortunate luck of being a member of the wedding party, where she has to deal with her enemy Ethan, who just so happens to be the best man. But then the entire wedding party gets food poisoning, expect for Olive and Ethan, and they have an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii sitting in the palm of their hands. They decide to tolerate each others existence, and plan on completely ignore one another for the entire trip. But then Olive runs into her new boss, and the small lie she tells manages to spiral, so much so that Olive and Ethan must pretend to be blissful newlyweds. As time passes, Olive realizes that maybe she doesn’t mind pretending.
The Unhoneymooners is such an easy read, but it also captures your attention from the first page. It’s perfect to read during the summer while lounging on the beach or even in the dark winter months when you wish you were somewhere else. The book is so bright and lighthearted and is a must read.
- Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
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Liz Buxbaum is what every hopeless romantic thinks they are. When her longtime crush Michael moves back to town after years away, Liz is determined to make him finally see her, and maybe even get him as a prom date, even if it means befriending her evil next door neighbor Wes Bennet. Wes has terrorized Liz with pranks since they were kids, but when Wes and Micheal hit it off, Liz realizes that Wes is possibly her only chance of getting Michael. As Liz and Wes plot for Michael to finally notice Liz, she realizes that she might just like being around Wes, which makes her challenge everything that she thought she knew about love.
This book is technically labeled as YA, but it is one of my favorite books of all time. In its essence, it is a rom-com about rom-coms. The characters have so much to love about them, and the story in its entirety is so wholesome and lighthearted. I can absolutely promise you that you will be swooning until the very last page.
- Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman
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Choni Horowitz is hired to write a profile of moviestar Gabe Parker aka her celebrity crush and Hollywood heartthrob. She expects it to boost her writing career, as well as create buzz for Gabe’s upcoming movie. What she doesn’t expect is for her weekend interviewing Gabe to turn into a complete whirlwind that has everyone talking. Ten years later, after several setbacks, Choni is back in LA, and when she is asked to reunite with Gabe for a second interview, she wants to say no, but can’t help but remember the weekend that she spent with him. As the story alternates between the past and present, Choni and Gabe try to rebuild their friendship, and maybe other feelings that they had not so long ago.
I loved this book and it’s a must read for everyone. It manages to stay light, while also getting deep and personal with the characters. It’s funny and endearing and really digs deep on identity and who we are as people.
- Normal People by Sally Rooney
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Connell and Marianne pretend not to know one another in school. Connell is popular and a star soccer player while Marianne is proud but private. But when Connell comes to pick up his mother from her housekeeping job at Marianne’s, something changes between the two, almost like a spark has been ignited, but one that they hide from everyone, including themselves. A year later, the two attend the same college, and the roles are reversed. Marianne has found her place while Connell finds himself on the outskirts with nowhere to really fit in. Throughout their college years, Marianne and Connell explore the possibilities of being with other people, but they are somehow always drawn back to each other. As the two are affected by other relationships, the outside world, and everything that comes with it, they must confront one another and finally figure out where they stand.
This book will in fact cause emotional damage, but it is still beautiful none the less. It tackles how complicated love and relationships truly are, and how love may not always be enough. The two characters are extremely complex, and also infuriating at times, but you want them to be together. You want everything to work out.
For all the other hopeless romantics out there, I see you. I hear you. Don’t stop reading and dreaming. Give some of these books a read, and you may just find your new favorite book boyfriend.