February can be a tough month. Between the Valentine’s Day pressure and lingering winter weather, everything can start to feel grey, which makes it the perfect time to dive into romance novels that’ll have you kicking your feet and giggling until 2 a.m. Here are five lighthearted romance reads I couldn’t put down.
- Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
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Looking for a second-chance, childhood-friends-to-lovers story? This one follows Macy Sorenson and Elliot Petropoulos through an alternating timeline. Once inseparable best friends who fell in love over shared books, favorite words, and summers together, they’ve been estranged for eleven years after a traumatic New Year’s Day. When they unexpectedly reunite at a coffee shop, they’re finally forced to confront their past. I was glued to every page, trying to piece together what went wrong.
- Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter
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This was an easy five-star read I come back to when I need something lighthearted, fun, and a little cheesy, in the best way. Think “You Belong With Me” energy. The story follows Liz Buxbaum, a rom-com-obsessed teen determined to win over her longtime crush, Michael, when he returns to town. To get closer to him, she teams up with her neighbor, Wes Bennet, and starts to wonder if her happily ever after has been in front of her all along. This book had me smiling the entire time. It’s the perfect feel-good February read that just might make you believe in love again.
- The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther
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If you’re craving a summer escape from this freezing February we’re having, this book transports you to Martha’s Vineyard. Meredith Fox returns to the island following her sister’s death and a recent breakup, trying to hold it together during her cousin’s wedding weekend. Luckily, she has her family’s annual game of Assassin to distract her. Her target just so happens to be the cute groomsman, Stephen “Wit” Witry. The two quickly form an alliance, but as the game intensifies, so do their feelings for each other. Is Meredith willing to risk her heart and the game for love? This five-star read had me hooked from beginning to end.Â
- Funny Story by Emily Henry
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Emily Henry is an automatic-buy author for me; her banter is simply unmatched. Picking only one of her books for this list was nearly impossible, but I must say “Funny Story” may be my personal favorite. In this story, Daphne moves to Michigan for her dream job, only to be left by her fiancĂ©, Peter, for his childhood best friend, Petra. She ends up rooming with Miles, a local of Waning Bay and the ex of Petra, still with me? They’re an unlikely duo, where Miles is easy-going, and Daphne is practical and polished. When they receive an invitation to Peter and Petra’s wedding, the two form a plan to get back at their exes.Â
I cannot wait for the movie adaptation of this book to come out. This is your sign to read it before it hits the screen!
- Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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If you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers, this is a must-read. Rowan Roth and Neil McNair have spent high school trying to outdo each other. After Neil wins valedictorian, Rowan is determined to beat him one last time in their school’s 24-hour scavenger hunt. After discovering their classmates are targeting them, they reluctantly form an alliance. Along the way, secrets and vulnerable truths are revealed. As they get to know each other, they begin to realize that perhaps winning isn’t everything when it comes to love. Fast-paced, fun, and surprisingly heartfelt, this book touches on the realistic anxieties that come with growing up, the perfect escape from the February blues.Â
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