Happy Tuesday! With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite romantic books with all of you. I’m not a huge romance reader, but I’ve noticed that this past month I’ve picked up more lovey dovey books than normal. This blog post will feature five of my all-time favorite romance books, and you’ll notice I typically go for light-hearted and cutesy stories. I’ve also teamed up with bloggers Kayla, Amélie, and Colleen who are sharing their picks today, too. Their posts will be linked at the end, so please be sure to check them out!
5. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
My first pick is a young adult contemporary, and is more of a coming-of-age story than a romance. I think this is a great book for those who may not like mushy love stories, because this book features friendship more than traditional love. We follow teen boys Aristotle and Dante as they meet one summer. Both are shy and have trouble expressing their emotions. The book follows their journey, and is a beautiful story. I highly recommend this book!
4. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
I read Stargirl years ago and immediately fell in love with it. This young adult novel takes place in high school, and follows Leo Borlock as he begins to notice the ‘weird’ girl in school. She’s named herself Stargirl, and is often bullied because of her uniqueness. I love this book because it shows how appearances aren’t everything, and how it’s important to stay true to yourself. This is also a very quick read if you’re short on time!
If you like romantic comedies, you need to check out The Rosie Project! This is an adult contemporary novel that follows main character Don Tillman. Don is a scientist, and has similar character traits to Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory. One day he decides to begin The Wife Project, because he wants a life partner that meets his very specific criteria. Then he meets Rosie – a woman who doesn’t check any of the boxes on his list. The book follows their journey together to find Rosie’s biological father. It’s cute, funny, and the perfect Valentine’s Day read!
2. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Another great adult contemporary is Attachments. This is my favorite book from Rainbow Rowell (so far), and follows Lincoln O’Neill at the turn of the 21st Century. Lincoln works in the IT department of a newspaper office, and his job is to monitor the emails of the workers. He becomes enthralled with the emails of Beth and Jennifer, and soon begins to fall for one of them despite never speaking with her in person. This book is adorable, but also deals with some deep issues, too. I think it’s perfect for millennials!
1. The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith
Last but not least, I have to recommend The Geography of You and Me, a young adult contemporary romance. This book is the epitome of cute, but is also extremely well written. It follows two teens in New York City during a blackout. They happen to meet when the power is turned off, but once the city is restored to normal, they aren’t sure how to keep their relationship going. If you’re looking for a quick read with some depth, I highly recommend this one!
That wraps up my top picks for Valentine’s Day! Please make sure to visit my fellow bloggers to see what books they have to recommend for you. You can also leave me a comment with your favorite romantic books! I’d love to know what you recommend, too.
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3. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saénz 
by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff 
