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10 romance books to fall for this Valentine’s Day
Choose a sweetheart candy and find your perfect Valentine's Day book date with our interactive visualization.
Valentine’s Day is upon us – a day filled with heart-shaped treats, flowers, and, of course, love.
But let’s be honest: sometimes the holiday can become cloying – excessively sweet to the point of sugar-rush.
So, if you’re in the mood for a swoony romance that’s not too sugary, or you’re craving something with a bit more depth but still a satisfying ending, this list has you covered.
These books deliver the romance you’re after, but they aren’t just about grand gestures and happy-ever-afters. They’re also raw, messy, and real. Plus, they bring a refreshing variety of characters with plenty of LGBTQ+ representation, breaking away from the typical heteronormative romance the genre is notorious for.
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From love stories of all kinds – romantic, platonic, and even cosmic – this collection has something for everyone. Historical romance? Absolutely. Disability representation? You bet. Time-travel love stories? Definitely. Prepare yourself for a mix of swoon-worthy moments and emotional depth – these ten books will capture your heart.
Click or hover on the sweet treats below to discover your next favorite romance read.
| Book | Book cover credit | Themes | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Beach Read” by Emily Henry | Berkley | Grief, Healing, Rivals-to-Lovers | Two writers, January Andrews and Augustus Everett, are stuck in a small beach town for the summer – one writes rom-coms and the other writes literary fiction. With writer’s block and personal issues weighing them down, they strike a deal to swap genres and help each other finish their books. As they spend more time together, the chemistry between them grows, but both have emotional baggage that complicates their connection. A heartwarming, witty, and emotional story about love, loss, and creative inspiration. |
| “Maurice” by E. M. Forster | W.W. Norton | Masculinity, Class, LGBTQ | Set in Edwardian England and published posthumously in 1971, “Maurice” tells the story of a young man named Maurice Hall, who struggles to accept his homosexuality in a society that condemns it. After a life of repression and failed relationships, Maurice finds love with Clive, a man who cannot return his affections in the same way. Eventually, Maurice’s journey leads him to a passionate romance with another man, Alec, offering him the chance at a fulfilling, authentic relationship. Maurice is a groundbreaking exploration of love and societal pressures. |
| “Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake” by Sarah MacLean | Avon | Social Expectations, Enemies-to-Lovers, Historical | Lady Calpurnia Hartwell, tired of her strict, unromantic life, decides to break the rules of Regency society. She creates a list of “rules” to follow in her quest to experience true romance, and the rakish and rebellious Duke Gabriel St. John becomes her unexpected ally. As their outrageous scheme to teach her how to flirt, kiss, and live out her fantasies plays out, sparks fly, and they discover that sometimes breaking the rules leads to the deepest love of all. |
| “One Last Stop” by Casey McQuiston | St. Martin’s Griffin | Time Travel, LGBTQ, Detective | August is a cynical, heartbroken woman who has just moved to New York City and is trying to figure out her life. But when she meets Jane, a mysterious woman on the subway, August is drawn to her – only to discover that Jane seems to be from the past, stuck in time. As they navigate their growing feelings for each other, August and Jane work to unravel the mystery of how Jane ended up in the present. “One Last Stop” is a whimsical, time-travel romance that explores themes of queer love, fate, and destiny. |
| “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen | Penguin Classics | Social Expectations, Class, Family | “Pride and Prejudice” follows the blossoming relationship between the headstrong Elizabeth Bennet and the brooding, wealthy Mr. Darcy. Despite initial misunderstandings and prejudices on both sides, Elizabeth and Darcy’s journey reveals the complexities of love, class, and social expectations. This classic romance dives into the societal pressures of marriage, personal growth, and how first impressions can be deceiving. With wit and insight, Jane Austen delivers a timeless love story. |
| “Seven Days in June” by Tia Williams | Grand Central Publishing | Motherhood, Disability Representation, Second-Chance Romance | Eva and Shane are two successful authors who, despite their shared literary fame, have kept their past deeply hidden. Seven years ago, they had a passionate but destructive romance that ended abruptly. Now, after years of distance, they’re thrown together again for a week-long event. As they reconnect, they confront their shared history, past traumas, and the emotional scars they’ve carried with them. “Seven Days in June” is a poignant and steamy romance that explores second chances, healing, and the power of love. |
| “The Ministry of Time” by Kaliane Bradley | Avid Reader Press | Time Travel, Colonialism, History | In “The Ministry of Time,” a covert government operation selects historical figures who were believed to have perished in their own time and brings them into the future for a second chance at life. Each of these time-displaced individuals, known as “expats,” is paired with a “bridge”—a civil servant who assists them in adjusting to their new reality. Among these visitors is Commander Gore, a Victorian-era explorer who, according to history, met his end during a failed Arctic expedition. Assigned to a female bridge, Gore embarks on an eye-opening journey to discover and adapt to the modern world. The novel blends time-travel intrigue with emotional depth. |
| “The Price of Salt, or Carol” by Patricia Highsmith | W.W. Norton & Company | LGBTQ+, Age-Gap, Sapphic, Queer | Therese, a young woman working at a department store in New York, meets the glamorous and older Carol, who is in the midst of a troubled divorce. What begins as an innocent friendship slowly deepens into a passionate love affair, complicated by the pressures of society’s judgment. “The Price of Salt, also known as Carol,” is a groundbreaking love story that explores the complexity of sapphic relationships in an era when such connections were not just often hidden, but also fordibben by law. It is a tale of longing, emotional depth, and the courage to live authentically. |
| “This Is How You Lose the Time War” by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone | Simon & Schuser/Saga Press | Epistolary, LGBTQ+, Time-Travel, Rivals-to-Lovers | Red and Blue are two time-traveling agents from opposing sides of a cosmic war, working across different timelines to shape history in favor of their respective factions. They communicate through letters, slowly developing a deep and unexpected bond. As their relationship deepens, both women grapple with their roles in the larger conflict, the fate of the universe, and their growing love for each other. This poetic and mind-bending romance explores themes of destiny, love, and the fluidity of time itself. |
| “We Could Be So Good” by Cat Sebastian | Avon | Political/Social Conflict, LGBTQ, Historical | “We Could Be So Good” is a historical romance set in 1950s New York City, centering on the unexpected bond between Nick Russo, a dedicated, closeted gay journalist, and Andy Fleming, the carefree son of a powerful newspaper tycoon. As Andy prepares to inherit his father’s company, he works alongside Nick in the newsroom, and despite the societal pressures of the time – when being openly gay was dangerous and frowned upon – their professional relationship blossoms into a deep, secret love. The novel explores themes of self-acceptance, the quiet joys of love, found family and creating a safe space amidst a repressive society. |
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