Valentine’s Day this year is looking vastly different. As we find some new ways to celebrate love, you can bet that reading equally moving stories is on our to-do list. This is a great time to reawaken the meaning of love, and get into fascinating, unlikely love stories. These are not your typical romance novels, but they have similar effects.
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
This novel was actually my introduction to Rainbow Rowell’s captivating collection. Taking place in 1986, Eleanor and Park are surely star-crossed lovers. Love is hard, and first loves never last, but they won’t let that stop them from fighting for their relationship.
Me Before You: A Novel by Jojo Moyes
To this day, bumblebee tights bring an instant ache to my heart (no spoilers here). This novel is an emotional rollercoaster thanks to the unlikely clash of two worlds, but Moyes writes her characters with such depth and beauty, you’re instantly rooting for everyone.
What We Talk About When We Talk About Love (Vintage Contemporaries) by Raymond Carver
This compilation of short stories is a must-read. Carver is subtle, yet so descriptive that you can picture yourself in the terrible suffering as much as the happiest moments that he pens.
Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinenberg
No, not exactly the best romance book, but hear me out. Social science meets comedy; it’s honest, hilarious and revealing. Ansari and Klinenberg give us an in-depth perspective on love in today’s world.
Normal People: A Novel by Sally Rooney
A love story that spans over years of turmoil, teen angst and miscommunication. Yet, Connell and Marianne seem to always find their way back to one another proving friendship and love have a lot to do with one another.
The Duke and I: The (Bridgertons Book 1) by Julia Quinn
Have you already let Shonda Rhimes’s version take over your Netflix account yet? It’s time to dive into the unlikely romance yourself. While many things in the novel played out on screen, there’s a lot more to each story, and you get to relive all of the sexiness in book form.
The Hating Game: A Novel by Sally Thorne
Some of the best romances have started with conflict. Unfortunately for Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman, they can’t seem to stand each other. As they battle it out for an upcoming promotion at work, the two begin to question their initial feelings for one another.
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