Romance Novels to Read This Valentine’s Day
Romance Novels to Read This Valentine’s Day
By Liv Briley
February is full of love, and what better way to celebrate than by reading a few romance novels? A good book is a great way to get in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, or distract you from the holiday’s eccentricities depending on your feelings toward February 14. Whether you choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day or not, there is something about a romance novel that has the ability to lift your mood, which is magic we could all use more of.
Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler
Eccentric former child actress Millie is on a mission to deliver the ashes of her elderly best friend Mrs. Nash to the woman she had fallen in love with nearly eighty years prior. After unexpected issues ground all flights leaving from D.C., Millie is forced to partner with the moody and cynical Hollis Hollenbeck on a road trip to Key West. As they race to get to their destination before it is too late to symbolically reunite Mrs. Nash with her long-lost love, Millie’s unrelenting optimism grows on Hollis until he is begrudgingly invested in the success of the journey, and the two gradually begin to ponder a different love story than the one they set out to finish – their own.
The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren
Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is a prolific romance novelist who has never actually been in love herself. When Connor Prince, a documentary filmmaker, approaches her about starring in a reality TV show that he is desperate to make work, despite his disbelief in the merits of reality TV, Fizzy agrees, with a few conditions. Production of The True Love Experiment begins, and Fizzy is the ultimate lead, even though she seems to be falling for the guy behind the camera rather than the ones in front of her. The True Love Experiment is a follow-up to The Soulmate Equation, and while you will follow along fine without having read the first book, feel free to get both and do a romance double feature.
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
Mallory Greenleaf was a childhood chess prodigy who has since decided to leave the sport behind. When she competes in a charity tournament as a favor to a friend and inadvertently defeats “Kingkiller” and world champion Nolan, a world of possibilities opens for Mallory. She agrees to compete again, but only for the cash prizes that her family desperately needs. As she climbs the world leaderboards, she has more run-ins with Nolan, who is infuriatingly desperate to compete against her again. As Mallory’s love for the sport is rekindled, she begins to realize that the game isn’t the only area of her life where sparks are flying.
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
When heir to the Montgomery medical dynasty Alexis and small-town carpenter Daniel have a chance meeting, it is clear to both of them that their lives are total opposites. Alexis does not want the responsibility of her family’s position, but she knows that being with Daniel would mean turning her back on her family, which she is not ready to do. Daniel does not fit into her world and she cannot leave her life to fit into his, leaving them in an impossible situation. Part of Your World is a feel-good story about finding where you belong and choosing love above all else.
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
If you love a good summer romance, this is the book for you. Persephone “Percy” Fraser grew up spending summers on the lake, where she spent every day with the boy next door, Sam Florek. They were inseparable for six summers until the biggest mistake of Percy’s life caused everything to fall apart. When the two are unexpectedly reunited in Barry’s Bay a decade later, they are forced to confront their pasts and decide if they are worth moving past for the chance at a future together.
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
Calling all Saturday Night Live fans – Romantic Comedy is a novel based around Sally Milz, a sketch writer for a late-night live comedy show. Sally has given up on love and is increasingly frustrated with the way her male colleagues, average-looking, nerdy, but funny, all seem to end up with supermodel-status women while the reverse is highly unlikely. Then comes Noah Brewster, pop star host of this week’s show. As they work together on sketches for Saturday night’s show, sparks begin to fly, much to Sally’s surprise. But in real life, a hunky celebrity like Noah would never date someone like Sally… would he?
Romance novels are a great source of entertainment any time of year, but if you are looking for some Valentine’s Day spirit, these books are especially right for you.
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