I’m a bookworm. This might conjure up images of a girl with bangs and thick glasses, and there are plenty of bookworms that fit the stereotype! Yet, there’s nothing wrong with being a book lover or fitting that mold. Books are amazing. They’re a great way to experience new feelings through the growth of characters. You get to put yourself in the shoes of every complex individual. Love feels and is represented in different ways for different people.
This Valentine’s Day, try to give yourself some perspective. Read romantic books from diverse genres: it’ll help you understand all the ways in which people experience love. As a bonus, reading these books will have you feeling excited and as if you literally have butterflies in your stomach.
- The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon
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Genre: Young/New Adult, Contemporary
Length: 384 pages
The daily lives of many people in the United States of America are often subject to turmoil and uncertainty. This loved-by-all page-turner does an amazing job of representing a heartbreaking, infuriating, and lovable story. Join Jamaican-born Natasha and Korean American Daniel as they fall in love even though there’s not much time left for them. I’m not going to lie to you. Though this story is beautiful, it’s heartbreaking. It’s so worthwhile because it’s chock-full of all the romantic feels.
Find out more on Goodreads!
- Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Arbertalli
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Genre: Young Adult
Length: 303 pages
You’ve all heard and/or seen the amazing movie Love, Simon, right? The book is even better. The novel crafted by Arbertalli makes you itch for all the answers. Like Simon, you’ll want to know who the mysterious Blue is. Simon has been exchanging emails with him for a while now but still no clues to his identity. Follow Simon as he tries to figure out who it might be while also struggling to keep his queer identity under wraps. You’ll feel your heart clench when Simon gets outed (without his consent!). It’s basically a coming of age story and the struggles that come with accepting who you are (especially if you’re LGBTQIIA+) with a dose of romance thrown in the mix.
Find out more on Goodreads!
- Heartless by Marissa Meyer
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Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy Fiction
Length: 453 pages
This is a heartbreaking book and you’ll probably find yourself crying at 3:00 a.m. while reading it. This Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland prequel or retelling (however you want to categorize it) is one of the best romances I’ve ever read. It’ll, for sure, have you turning the pages frantically. You’ll feel a mix of excitement, dread, and expectation. It’s basically the story of how Catherine, the Red Queen, becomes the Evil Queen we associate with today’s classic children’s book. After love, hurt, loss and betrayal she’s done with being kind.
Find out more on Goodreads!
- Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
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Genre: Romance, Fantasy Fiction
Length: 495 pages
This book has my absolute favorite literary and romance trope: enemies to lovers. It’s about a witch and a witch hunter falling in love. Yes, of course, despite hating each other at the beginning. I read this book back in October and, actually went through it in one day and a half. It’s that good. I mean, just read the official prompt, “Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned”. Who wouldn’t want to read this novel? Plus, it has a great message about accepting people’s differences and beliefs. Check out Blood and Honey, the sequel, when you’re done with this one.
Find out more on Goodreads!
- A Court of Thorns and Roses Trilogy by Sarah J. Maas
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Genre: New Adult
Length: 419, 626 & 699 for a grand total of 1,744 pages
These are some of my favorite books ever. They deal with themes of love and self-love, abuse, courage, fear, trauma, confidence, sex and more. The best way to describe the first one is as a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The second book, however, is best described as a retelling of Hades and Persephone’s story. In the beautiful world crafted by Maas, fairies are stronger, faster and better, yet a human girl searches for survival but ends up falling in love. There’s so much more like the irresistible Rhys and the wondrous Prythian.
Find out more on Goodreads!
- Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones
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Genre: Fantasia, Young Adult
Length: 436 pages
I’ve never actually read this one but my friend recommended it to me. She told me that it has a really intense romance that absolutely makes your stomach drop with excitement. It’s about a Goblin King that’s looking for a bride and ends up taking the protagonist’s sister. So, of course, she ends up going after them. The official synopsis is as follows, “The last night of the year. Now the days of winter begin and the Goblin King rides abroad, searching for his bride…
All her life, Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, dangerous Goblin King. They’ve enraptured her mind, her spirit, and inspired her musical compositions. Now, eighteen and helping to run her family’s inn, Liesl can’t help but feel that her musical dreams and childhood fantasies are slipping away.
But when her own sister is taken by the Goblin King, Liesl has no choice but to journey to the Underground to save her. Drawn to the strange, captivating world she finds―and the mysterious man who rules it―she soon faces an impossible decision. With time and the old laws working against her, Liesl must discover who she truly is before her fate is sealed.”
Find out more on Goodreads!
Read to your heart’s desire. You’ll find your fair share of heartbreak, but you’ll also have many warm feelings. I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day Week reading all these amazing books. Happy reading!