Valentine’s Day Book Recommendations

Updated Published

Anna Burns Student Contributor, University of South Florida - St. Petersburg

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at USFSP chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Valentine’s Day. A time of roses, chocolate, and love. It is a great day to show affection towards your loved ones, whether they’re your partner, friends, or family.

It’s also a great time to take special care of yourself. Currently, my plans for Valentine’s Day include eating a ton of chocolate while I put on a face mask.

But another great form of self-care is reading! Personally, reading a book in bed makes me feel way better than scrolling through Instagram in bed. So, here’s some lovey-dovey book recommendations for Valentine’s Day. Some of them are traditional romances, but others are about platonic love, which is, of course, just as important. Also, please check the trigger warnings for all of these books!

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

This is a book that has been talked about a bunch online, and because of this, I was initially hesitant to pick this up. Some of the books that I’ve read because of TikTok haven’t lived up to the hype for me. But Divine Rivals knocked my socks off. It is a romance set in the middle of a fantastical war, where two rival reporters unknowingly begin writing letters to each other. It’s beautifully written and completely engrossing.

Like Real People Do by E. L. Massey

If you’ve ever heard of Icebreaker (a hockey player x ice skater romance) and thought “huh, I wish this was gay,” do I have the book for you. Like Real People Do is a sweet, sporty romance with a service dog who is the absolute GOAT. And yes, Hozier is referenced multiple times.

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

An epistolary sci-fi romance, this is definitely the most unique book on this list. It took me a chapter or so to understand the world-building, but once I got it, I was hooked. This is How You Lose the Time War follows two “agents” on opposing sides of an intergalactic war who begin writing each other taunts, which quickly turn into love letters. The ending is glorious and heart-stopping, and even I, a person who isn’t a huge fan of sci-fi, adore this book. Even if you think you don’t like this genre, give it a shot anyways.

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

Not in Love is the only book on this list I have never read. It was recommended to me by a friend who I trust completely with book recommendations. It’s a forbidden love romance that has the STEM focus Ali Hazelwood is known for. It’s also apparently very spicy, so if that’s your thing, I’d absolutely check it out!

Beach Read by Emily Henry

This was one of the first romance books I loved with all my heart. It follows two writers trying to overcome creative block in neighboring beach houses, and then they fall in love. Beach Read is funny and charming while also covering heavy topics thoughtfully and sensitively. It made me swoon and tear up in equal measure.

The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman

I am a musician, and I love reading and writing about music. The Second Ending was one of my favorite books of last year because it is a novel that truly loves music. Written by a pianist, it is the story of two piano prodigies who have, for one reason or another, lost their spark. But when a piano competition relights their passion, they have to figure out how to reshape their futures. It’s also very funny. Just read it, please.

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

This is the only nonfiction book on the list, but it reads exactly like a novel. Alderton lays out how her perception of friendships, relationships, and love has changed throughout her life. While it might have been easy to make the book all about romance, Everything I Know About Love is a beautiful examination of female friendships and has such a unique, funny perspective on life.

The Changeling by Victor Lavalle

The Changeling starts out like a normal story: boy meets girl, they fall in love, they have a beautiful baby. And then everything goes horribly wrong. I have seen this classified as a horror novel, but I think it leans more toward magical realism. And despite the creepiness and intensity of this book, the burning core of it is a father’s love for his wife and son, making it a worthy Valentine’s Day read.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

This book has one of the most beautiful covers I’ve ever seen, which should be reason enough to read it (yes, I am promoting judging books by their cover). There are other reasons, though. Remarkably Bright Creatures is about a friendship that forms between a widowed aquarium janitor and a grumpy octopus. Yes, it is as delightful as it sounds. With characters that seem real, a fascinating central mystery, and hilarious narration from Marcellus the octopus, this is the definition of a feel-good book.

There are so many more romances and happy books out there. This is just a small sampling of wonderful, Valentine’s Day-coded reads. I suggest pairing these books with a warm drink and a heart-shaped box of chocolates. I hope everyone out there finds the book of their dreams. Happy reading!