Romantic Reads for Valentine's Day

     Ah, love (and COVID) is in the air! Can you believe Valentine’s Day is just around the corner? This post is for my hopeless romantics. Even if you aren’t in a relationship right now, you can still enjoy this time of the year by diving into some love stories. Some ~Romantic Reads~ if you will. If you aren’t a reader, don’t worry. A lot of these books on this list have been turned into movies. Let’s do this thing!

​Remember Me? - Sophie Kinsella

     First up is my personal favorite, Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella. But honestly, most books by Mrs. Kinsella are perfect to read this time of year. 
    Remember Me is a story about Lexi Smart who wakes up in a hospital after an accident. When she takes a look at in the mirror she doesn’t recognize herself! Fixed teeth, hot bod, new snobby friends, and a millionaire husband she’s never met. Turns out, the accident wiped her memory clean of the last three years, and she’s left having to put the pieces back together. The twist in this book is what makes it a love story, so I won’t spoil it for you!

Can You Keep A Secret? - Sophie Kinsella

     Another Sophie Kinsella recommendation is Can You Keep A Secret? (This one is a movie starring Alexandra Daddario and Laverne Cox.) 
    When Emma Corrigan thinks the airplane she’s on is going down, she confesses all her secrets to the stranger next to her. Turns out that stranger is the CEO of the company she works for! 

​To All The Boys I've Loved Before - Jenny Han

     Next up is To All The Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han. (All three books in this series are great!)
    I’m sure most of you have seen the movies on Netflix, but the books are better! The cutest story about a high school junior named Lara Jean Covey and - you guessed it - all the boys she’s loved before. Throughout her life there have been five boys to be exact. Not knowing exactly how to express her feelings she writes the boys love letters, but never sends them. The first book of the three part series is about what happens when those letters “accidentally” get mailed out.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secret of the Universe - Benjamin Alire Saenz

     Onto Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secret of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz.
    This one is a slow burn. Our two main characters meet as teenagers at a pool where Dante teaches Aristotle how to swim. The two become very close, but have to say goodbye when Dante’s family moves away. The boys live separate lives, but keep in touch by sending each other letters. When the two reunite - well, I don’t want to spoil it!

Bet Me - Lila Monroe

    If you want something a little more steamy, try Bet Me by Lila Monroe. 
    When Lizzie accidentally makes a viral video about swearing off sex until she gets some actual romance in her life, suddenly every man is interested in her - well, interesting in being the one who breaks the strike. Especially after a popular men’s magazine sets a very large bounty on her head. $50,000 to be exact! The more time she spends with her super hot co-worker Jake, (who also happens to be a past one night stand gone wrong) the harder it is for Lizzie to keep the strike going.
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The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald 

   If you are more of a tortured soul, I suggest rereading The Great Gatsby as an adult. 
    It hits differently. I imagine most of us read this book in high school. You really root for Gatsby. You think the all the mystery and all the parties are something to admire. But when you read it again as an adult you don’t idolize Gatsby in the same way. Sure, his ambition is something to applaud, but with all his desperation you almost feel sorry for him. The ending is so much more sad when you’ve when you understand that there is no hero of this book.
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     There you have it! Those are some of my favorite picks that aren't Nicholas Sparks, or 50 Shades of Grey. If you have any suggestions, please let me know in the comments. Or if you want to discuss any of these books, let's get our nerd on in the comments too!