Eight Romance Book Recommendations For Valentine's Day

Personally, my idea of the perfect Valentine’s Day is cuddling up at home with a sweet treat and a good book and this list has an option for everyone. Even if romance isn’t your usual go-to, they’re are plenty of novels on this last that are still so worth your time so I highly encourage you to branch out.

Love & Other Words by Christina Lauren

Contemporary Romance 16+

Goodreads Rating: 4.24/5

This heartfelt second chance story is perfect for a good cry. It revolves around characters Macy Sorensen and Elliot Petropoulos, teenage sweethearts who lost touch for many years and are reconnecting in their adult lives. It flashes between present time and old memories of them as children growing up together, eventually leading us to the devastating event that pushed them apart for so many years. This book is about first loves, heartbreak, and forgiveness exploring the complexities of love and loss. Even as someone who does not normally love the second-chance romance trope I loved this novel; it is such a beautiful story and very worth the read. 

Funny Story by Emily Henry

Contemporary Romance 16+

Goodreads Rating: 4.22/5

No one writes a romance novel like Emily Henry, every single one of her books could’ve made the list but her most recent release Funny Story is definitely one of my favorites. The story follows Daphne who’s fiance, Peter, just left her for his childhood best friend Petra, and Petra’s ex, Miles. Unable to pay the bills without Peter’s half taken care of, Daphne proposes Miles moves in with her since he has just been kicked out of his house for Peter to move in. Daphne and Miles eventually become friends, bonding over their shared heartbreak, and come up with a fake dating ruse in efforts to make their previous partners jealous. The story is hilarious and fun and the perfect feel good love story. 

Unsteady by Peyton Corrine

Contemporary Romance 16+

Goodreads Rating: 3.91/5

What’s better to make you feel less bitter on a cold, dreary, Valentines Day, than a figure skater and hockey player romance novel? Unsteady is basically booktok’s beloved Icebreaker but with an actually good plot and without an unnecessary amount of spice. The story follows figure skater, Sadie , who runs into hockey player, Rhys Kotesky, in the midst of a panic attack at the ice rink. As they continue to cross paths the two become closer and closer and discover the hardships of each others lives. It includes themes of mental health but in a relatable and genuine way that many books fail to do, as well substance abuse and the loss of a parent. This book is a great winter read and can also give you a good cry which I think is always a good bonus.

Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Young Adult Romance

Goodreads Rating: 4.05/5

Rowan Roth and Neil McNair have been academic rivals for all of highschool, always butting heads over who took the harder classes or had the better test scores. When Neil is named valedictorian, Rowan’s last chance at one-upping him is winning the senior class game of Howl (basically their version of Assassin). Neil and Rowan soon realize that a group of seniors is targeting the both of them and decide to team up. This leads Rowan to realize maybe she doesn’t hate Neil as much as she thought, and maybe she actually likes him? This is the perfect book for second semester as we reflect on the year about to end and has all of the cheesy romance aspects you could want for Valentine’s Day. 

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 

Adult Romantic Fantasy 16+

Goodreads Rating: 4.58/5

The story follows Violet Sorrengail, a young girl who is forced to attend the dangerous war college for dragonriders known as the Fourth Wing, a complete change in her previous future plans. In this she has to battle emotional and physical challenges and try to survive the wrath of the other students at the school who target her for being the daughter of a military general. Even if you don’t normally enjoy fantasy or haven’t read much in the past, I think this book has aspects that everyone can enjoy. The romance plot is immaculate, the action and politics are so interesting, and it is the kind of book that really brought back my passion for reading. I highly HIGHLY recommend this to anyone it will definitely make your Valentine’s Day more interesting.

From Lukov With Love by Mariana Zapata

Contemporary Romance 16+

Goodreads Rating: 4.21/5

Shocker, this is another figure skating romance! This story surrounds figure skater, Jasmine Santos, who is forced to pair skate with infamously intolerable male skater, Ivan Lukov, if she wants a chance at finally making it in the sports world. Throughout their training together they confront their own insecurities, past struggles, and growing feelings for eachother. This slow-burn story is immaculate. Mariana Zapata writes the most believable and genuine romance novels so do not let the length of her books scare you off.

Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter

Young Adult Romance

Goodreads Rating: 4.28/5

This book is perfect for all of the hopeless romantics and Swifties. It follows Olivia, a sucker for classic rom-coms, and Wes, her neighbor who she enlists to help her date her childhood crush who just moved back to town. As Olivia tries to orchestrate a romance between Michael and herself, she realizes not everything happens just like the movies. She ends up learning more about herself and what love really means from Wes. This is a great, easy, feel-good read. It isn’t anything out of this world but it is still a perfect book to sit down and dive into and has thought-provoking themes alongside the cheesy lovey-dovey stuff. I think it is a perfect Valentine’s Day book. 

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Young Adult Romantic Fantasy

Goodreads Rating: 3.95/5

This story follows Alosa, the daughter of the renowned Pirate King, as she gets intentionally captured by a rival pirate ship in order to steal a famous treasure map. Over the course of her time on the ship she is watched over by the ship’s first mate, Riden, whom she forms an interesting bond with. Between constantly deceiving the rival pirate crew and accidentally falling for the enemy, this plot is always taking twists and turns. The two sharp-witted leads in this story supply a great deal of banter and fun to the novel along with a plethora of reader’s favorite tropes. This is another fun, easy read if you are looking for a novel without any heavy themes on your Valentine’s Day.

Hopefully one of these recommendations can make you feel less (or possibly ten times more) lonely this Valentine's Day. Happy reading!