As Valentine’s Day approaches, people often connect with their loved ones through the typical cards and chocolates. However, a captivating book can be an even more magical experience for yourself or a literary friend! Try one of these reads to celebrate love in all its forms.
Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales
A mix of dry wit and poignant emotion, the book centers on Darcy Phillips, creator of a relationship advice service in the empty Locker 89 at school. Ironically, her own love life is stressful — she’s pined over her best friend for years. To make matters worse, star swimmer Alexander Brougham catches her at the locker and blackmails her into helping him win back his ex-girlfriend. As she learns more about Brougham and explores her identity, she’s forced to confront the painful truths in her life. Gonzales weaves a heartwarming story that shows how people and their relationships grow over time.
Beasts and Beauty by Soman Chainani
This fractured fairy tale collection is made even more intriguing by the fact that the twelve stories finish their arcs in forty pages or less, showcasing powerful relationships while reinventing cliché folktales. Highlights include a retold Bluebeard where a crafty young boy saves himself and the ghosts in the castle; a version of Hansel and Gretel where a mother’s love helps two children escape a coldhearted witch; and an alternative Sleeping Beauty where a prince followed by demons finds warmth in the strangest of places. These new spins on classic plots emphasize the value of recognizing the extraordinary.
Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski
Jedrowski’s debut tells the story of a Polish university student, Ludwik, and his forbidden romance with the carefree Janusz, whom he meets at a summer camp in 1980s Communist Poland. They believe their devotion is strong enough to beat the odds, but Janusz’s path leads him to a high position in the government, while Ludwik is compelled to protest everything his love stands for. Throughout the book, Jedrowski’s lyrical prose illustrates both the realities of growing apart from those one cares about and the untold stories of humanity’s checkered past.
Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett
A retelling of the 1988 film You’ve Got Mail, this novel follows Bailey Rydell, a member of an online forum for film buffs. When she visits her dad in California, she realizes that “Alex,” the witty fellow fan she has a crush on, is in the same town. Instead of telling him, she tries to find Alex naturally, all the while clashing with cocky surfer Porter. However, she comes to like him just as much as Alex and ends up stuck between her dream and reality. The snappy summer romance deserves the praise it gets for its identifiable characters, handling of mature topics, and strong relationships.
Each of these books offers something new, from romances to root for to protagonists readers can empathize with. No matter your taste in books, the many stories with devoted relationships is a perfect place to start for Valentine’s Day!
