Romance books perfect for Valentines!
Valentine's Day is round the corner, and to get you in the mood we thought what better than to take a look at our top six love stories! From the traditional greats to the new favourites making the rounds on TikTok, we wanted to include a range of romantic novels that show love in all it’s great forms. Who knows, this list might even give you some Valentine's gift ideas for the bookworm in your life!
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
This is the romance novel of all romance novels! Jane Austen’s tale of love and pride in regency England has become a worldwide treasure, where the story of Elizabeth and Mr Darcy has been retold in dozens of adaptations. The key messages from the novel: not to judge someone before you know them, and that social position means little in the face of love, are ones that can apply to any couple even in today’s age. Definitely an unmissable love story!
The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller
This has long been one of my favourite books and I’m so glad that recently it’s getting the hype it deserves! The retelling of the story of Patroclus and Achilles, friends and lovers from the Trojan war, is the crux of this story. Filled with beautiful writing and world building, these mythical figures are brought to life with all the messiness and tangled feelings of relatable love. Tragic, stunning and destined to stay in your mind for a long while!
It Ends with Us - Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover’s novels have been kicking up a storm on TikTok, but It Ends with Us is definitely her most celebrated book to date. It follows Lily and Kyle, two young professionals trying to overcome their nerves about dating, when Lily’s first love Atlas shows up again out of the blue. This book deals with a lot of heavy themes so it’s not the lightest love story for Valentines, but it definitely shows all the complexities wrapped up in being emotionally vulnerable with another person.
One Last Stop - Casey McQuiston
This novel is pure heartwarming fun! It follows August, a cynical 23 year old struggling to get by in New York, until she meets the beautiful, charming Jane. The only problem? Jane is displaced in time from the 1970s. This story is wholesome, funny and full of magic. I feel it’s rare to find a romance about two women that isn’t full of drama and anguish, so this is definitely one I’d recommend!
Normal People - Sally Rooney
If you haven’t already read Normal People or watched the smash-hit TV show, what are you doing?! Sally Rooney’s love story about two completely opposite teenagers in Northern Ireland will pull on your nostalgic heartstrings, reminding you what it was like to be young and in love. Heart-wrenching, life-affirming and at times gutting - go forth ready to be swept away, and to have a box of tissues by your side!
Wuthering Heights - Emily Brontë
We had to end on another beautiful classic romance, which has set the benchmark for all the romantic novels to come after it throughout history. Emily Brontë’s timeless novel about Cathy and Heathcliff is a beautiful and raw look at how elemental love really is, and its power to heal us or destroy us. I’ll leave you with this iconic quote: “He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”
