Would you date a book for Valentine’s?
What are you looking for in a date this Valentine’s Day? Funny? Check. Excellent conversationalist? Absolutely. Smart, interesting, and makes you feel genuinely connected? Definitely.
A good book ticks all those boxes. What’s more, there are plenty of fish (errr, books) to choose from–it’s just a matter of finding your perfect match. Here, Fully Booked suggests 10 titles that could be your ideal date this February.
“Alone With You On The Ether” by Olivia Blake
This book is about two misfits who fall in love: one is clinically depressed, and the other is a manipulative counterfeit artist. Can you still love and be loved, while showing all your real, messy, and broken parts? Can two seemingly incompatible souls find their happily ever after?
“Beautiful World, Where Are You” by Sally Rooney
There’s no room for small talk in Sally Rooney’s 2021 pandemic novel, where two best friends in their early 30s navigate life in an overwhelming and imperfect world. Get to know these characters piece by piece as the chapters unfold, directing us to the innermost thoughts and inner lives of these millennials searching for answers, and in doing so, inviting us to be vulnerable like they are—and isn’t that key to finding healthy and intimate relationships?
“Eleanor & Park (10th Year Anniversary Edition)” by Rainbow Rowell
Rowell’s debut is the kind of young adult book that will make you remember the magic of first love, imagine yourself falling in love all over again, but also break your heart into pieces–well, depending on how you interpret the book’s open-ended conclusion. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, “Eleanor & Park” as one of the best YA books hasn’t lost its luster and is worthy to be dated again and again.
“Queerly Beloved” by Susie Dumond
If you have a strong craving for tasty baked treats and a charming queer romance, this is the book to savor. Set in Oklahoma before gay marriage was legal, it follows semi-closeted Amy, a baker in a Christian bakery. When her employers discover she’s queer, she’s fired and forced to reinvent herself—taking on the unexpected role of a bridesmaid for hire. But even as Amy enjoys her new job, how can she keep supporting an institution that’s closed off for people like her and other same-sex couples?
“The Z Word” by Lindsay-King Miller
Chaotic bisexual Wendy is still reeling from her breakup with her ex, Leah, who’s hooking up with some of her friends, her fellow organizers at Pride. But when a zombie apocalypse erupts, Wendy discovers she has bigger problems to tackle. Funny and propulsive, “The Z Word” is an unabashedly Sapphic zombie adventure you didn’t know you needed.
“All About Love” by bell hooks
What is love? It’s not just a feeling or a catchy refrain from a song. The word love encapsulates multitudes and worlds. Celebrated feminist and cultural critic bell hooks dares to probe and go to the heart of it all, offering a compelling path to “return to love”—a vital feat in the increasingly loveless world we live in.
“Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies” by Heather Fawcett
Whether you’re single or tired of your situationship, sometimes a sprinkle of magic is all you need. This book blends historical romance, cozy fantasy, and fairytale wonder into one enchanting package. Follow an anti-social, curmudgeonly scholar as she faces off with a dashing, charming archnemesis who might be out to steal her research—or her heart.
“Heartburn” by Nora Ephron
Trust the patron saint of romantic comedies (the brains behind “You’ve Got Mail” and “Sleepless and Seattle”) to deliver a hearty and sinfully delicious novel. Loosely based on her life, Heartburn follows pregnant cookbook writer Rachel who finds out her husband is in love with another woman. Interweaving personal stories with recipes, this comic masterpiece proves that revenge is a dish best served cold.
“Beg, Borrow or Steal” by Sarah Adams
Two feuding second-grade teachers reluctantly team up in this rivals-to-lovers romance, a totally datable book by Sarah Adams. The story: Emily Walker, a teacher by day and secret romance novelist by night, couldn’t be more miserable when her nemesis, Jack Bennett, a bestselling mystery novelist, returns to town after a failed engagement. But when Emily’s secret side hustle is at risk of being exposed, she’s forced to seek help from the last person she wants to—Jack. Could their animosity spark something more… steamy than they ever imagined?
“Emma” by Jane Austen
A list of swoon-worthy romances won’t be complete without at least one Jane Austen novel. This timeless classic follows our endearing yet meddlesome heroine Emma, and her revolution from being a misguided girl to a compassionate and self-aware woman. Though written more than 200 years ago, Emma’s comedy of errors and romance is arguably Jane Austen’s most perfect novel. Pick this Puffin in Bloom edition featuring Anna Bond’s floral cover illustration.
For more reads about love, visit https://www.fullybookedonline.com/blog.
