Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is fast approaching which means it’s almost time for those grand romantic declarations, binging on too much chocolate and conversations over candlelight dinners…or just curling up with a good book! Whether you plan to celebrate the big day with a special someone, Galentine’s with your besties (or boycott the day all together) these 14 books will give you the warm & fuzzies just in time for the holiday everyone loves to hate. So grab that heart shaped box of candy, a glass of wine and fall in love with these books.
“The One That Got Away” by Bethany Chase
Serina Mahler is a 31 year old up and coming architect living with her best friend, Danny, in Austin, Texas. Her comfortable four year relationship with her boyfriend, Noah is being challenged now the two are separated by thousands of miles while he begins work in Argentina for almost a year. A big commission job lands in Serina’s lap when Eamon Roy, the famous Olympic swimmer who also happens to be Danny’s friend, hires her to completely redesign his new home now that he has decided to retire back to the Austin area. Only problem is 8 years ago Serina fell head over heels for Eamon before he left her scratching her head when he disappeared after a week of romantic emails and the best night of her life. Being forced to spend so much time with Eamon, Serina eventually lets her guard down and the two fall into a caring and chemistry riddled friendship. When Noah begins to show his true intentions towards Serina, she is forced to ask herself what it is she wants out of life and ultimately who she wants to spend hers with. “The One That Got Away” is not just a love story but really one of self-discovery. I loved getting to learn the details that go into Serina’s job and following her through different stages of multiple projects. At the back, Bethany Chase includes a brief preview of a spin-off book that I hope is still in the works.
Purchase a copy of “The One That Got Away” here.
“Bringing Down the Duke” by Evie Dunmore
Annabelle Archer is destitute and has been taken in to work in her awful cousin’s home as a maid. Though Annabelle has already been highly educated, she craves more for herself and has been accepted to study at Oxford with some of their first female students. In return for her scholarship, she is expected to join the women’s suffrage movement and attempt to sway the men in power to support their cause. On her first outing with the group she bumps into the dashing yet arrogant Duke of Montgomery, a political advisor to the Queen of England. Earning the ear of the Duke’s brother, Annabelle and two of her friends receive an invitation to a house party at the Duke’s home. After a miscommunication Annabelle and the Duke begin dancing around each other’s mutual attractions. In 1879 there is no way the two could be together without causing the scandal of the century. Will Annabelle be able to keep the Duke at arms length, keep in good standings at Oxford as well as help bring justice for the oppressed British women? I don’t normally read the romance genre but when Book of the Month club had this as one of their choices it looked too fun to not give it a try. “Bringing Down the Duke” gives the reader all of the passion of Outlander mixed with the sophistication of Downton Abbey. Now who can resist that combination? Fair warning for my more modest followers, this book does have some graphic scenes that may not be for all.
Purchase a copy of “Bringing Down the Duke” here.
“We Met in December” by Rosie Curtis
On the verge of turning 30, Jess is venturing out on her own for the first time. Taking a chance with a new job she decides to move to London after a friend offers her a room in a house she just inherited in the sought-after Notting Hill neighborhood. Alex, one of Jess’s new roommates, gives her instant butterflies when they meet for the first time just before the holidays. Jess can’t seem to get him out of her mind but when she returns home from her New Year ski trip early one morning she finds one of her other roommates sneaking out of Alex’s room. Not knowing she is aware of his friends with benefits relationship with Emma, Alex decides to become Jess’s personal tour guide showing her around London and all its secret spots while the two become each other’s confidants. Now Jess has to squash her feelings for the man of her dreams in order to keep living her dream life in the city in a house she can actually afford. As the book progresses over the course of a year this dual narrative will have you feeling all the warm and fuzzies.
Purchase a copy of “We Met in December” here.
“I Owe You One” by Sophie Kinsella
Fixie Farr has always been a fixer. Have a problem with your coffee maker? Fixie will fix it. Need help convincing your husband of something? Fixie will fix it. Have a crooked vase in your office? Fixie can’t help but fix it. No problem too big or small. Only question is who is helping Fixie sort out the things in her life? A chance encounter at a coffee shop brings a handsome man into Fixie’s life. After she steps in to solve a problem for him he gives Fixie an IOU, something she can cash in at any time for anything. When Ryan, Fixie’s life long crush, returns to London after losing everything he had in Hollywood she is determined to fix things for him and win his heart for good this time. Fixie’s brother Jake suggests she should cash in her IOU to get Ryan’s life back on track but could a small favor in a coffee shop really be equal to getting someone a job? Will Fixie finally learn to put herself before others or is she bound to live by the Farr “family first” motto for life? “I Owe You One” is another fun and refreshing read by Sophie Kinsella. In true Sophie Kinsella fashion, Fixie begins as a disheveled heroine but evolves into a stronger, more confident version of herself. Who doesn’t love a feel-good, happy ending?
Purchase a copy of “I Owe You One” here.
“The Glittering Hour” by Iona Grey
In 1925, the war is over and the “Bright Young People” rule London. They are the wealthy, fashionable elite that the paparazzi adore and young socialites don’t mind giving them plenty to write about. Selina Lennox is one of their shining stars. The youngest of the Lennox children she has always been the rebel of the family much to her mother and sister’s distain. One evening the “Bright Young People” are racing around the city on one of their treasure hunts when Selina’s friends runs over a cat. When Selina gets out of the car to check on the animal her friends become impatient and decide to leave her there and continue on their hunt. From a nearby apartment a handsome stranger comes to her aid. After her encounter with Lawrence, Selina’s carefree life suddenly is filled with complicated choices. Fast-forward to 1936. Selina’s daughter, Alice is staying with her grandparents at her childhood home while Selina and her husband are away on business. To stay connected to her nine year old daughter Alice while they are apart, Selina has conspired with their maid to create a treasure hunt around the family estate which will lead Alice to little clues and stories about her mother’s past. Iona Grey as written the most beautiful dual-timeline story with rich, authentic characters that will stay with you long after the last page. (I would LOVE to see this made into a movie or tv mini-series so I could selfishly discover this story again!) I absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend adding this to your TBR list. “The Glittering Hour” isn’t one to be missed.
Purchase a copy of “The Glittering Hour” here.
“The Unhoneymooners” by Christina Lauren
Olive and her twin sister Ami are polar opposites. Where Ami leads a charmed life full of love and luck, Olive has a black cloud of mishaps following her everywhere she goes. Having recently lost a roommate and her job, Olive is facing another daunting scenario – being Maid of Honor at her bridezilla sister’s wedding. On the big day Olive is given a to-do list with over 70+ items, the worst of which involves being in charge of keeping the Groom’s brother, Ethan, or as Olive refers to him Satan, in line. When a newsworthy catastrophe happens at the reception Olive & Ethan are forced into impersonating their siblings on their honeymoon, a trip (lucky) Ami won. Only one glitch, due to the contest rules if they are caught in their lie all expenses will fall on them. Spending 10 days in Maui doing their own thing would be easy but having to pretend to be a newly-married couple could be mission:impossible for two people who can’t stand one another. The hilarious misadventures that begin after Olive and Ethan land in paradise will make it hard for you to put this one down without a smile on your face. After turning the last page I had one thought: what a perfect rom-com movie this would make! Gina Rodriguez as Olive would be the absolute perfect casting. For me, “The Unhoneymooners”, written by Christina Lauren (a writing duo whose combined names, Christina Hobbs & Lauren Billings, make up the pen name) is THE perfect book to curl up with this Valentine’s Day.
Purchase a copy of “The Unhoneymooners” here.
“Twice in a Blue Moon” by Christina Lauren
For the first time in her eighteen years, Tate Jones is going on an adventure, two highly planned weeks in London with her Grandmother to celebrate her recent high school graduation. What Tate didn’t plan on was meeting her first love, Sam on day one of her trip. Sam and his grandfather are visiting England for a month and cross paths with Tate and Jude at a pub and realize they are staying at their hotel. The group begin sight-seeing together while Tate and Sam have secret meetings in the garden at night. While the two lay in the dark looking at stars they begin talking about their lives back home in California and Vermont. Tate confides in Sam the true identity of who her father really is, a secret she’s only shared with her best friend. Tate and Sam quickly fall in love, fast and all encompassing but when the paparazzi show up and Tate’s secret is all over the news Tate can’t believe that Sam could betray her. Fast forward fourteen years and Tate is building a life and a career that her younger self only dreamed of. Her next major project involves her relocating to Northern California for a few months but when she arrives she realizes that her past has walked back into her life, Sam is back. “Twice in a Blue Moon” was my second book by writing duo, Christina Lauren and I loved it just as much as “The Unhoneymooners”. Christina Lauren is a master of Contemporary Romance writing that always leaves the reader saying “just one more chapter”.
Purchase a copy of “Twice in a Blue Moon” here.
“Wedding Night” by Sophie Kinsella
This is it! Lottie is about to get engaged. Her boyfriend Richard has invited her to lunch to ask her a “big question”, everything is falling into place. She picked out the perfect outfit, even had time for a mani and she is more than ready to say yes when he gets down on one knee. Only a proposal wasn’t exactly on Richard’s agenda. In typical Lottie fashion she flies off the handle and calls her sister, Fliss, talking grand changes and life alterations as she does whenever she’s experienced a break-up. Fliss has lost track of the number of times a masters degree or a relocation has been on the table. When Fliss sets off on a two week vacation leaving Lottie to stew in her new singledom someone from Lottie’s past calls out of the blue and drags her out of her wallowing. Lottie agrees to have dinner with Ben, First Love Ben, beginning a series of whirlwind adventures that not only change the direction of Lottie’s life but Fliss’s life as well. “Wedding Night” is another fun, totally madcap story from author Sophie Kinsella that is read from both sister’s point of views. The gorgeous Greek island setting will leave you wanting to reach for your passport to see the sunsets so vividly described by Kinsella.
Purchase a copy of “Wedding Night” here.
“The Wedding Date” by Jasmine Guillory
In an elevator on her way up to her sister’s hotel room Alexa finds herself trapped with a handsome stranger. The two hit it off over snacks from Alexa’s purse while passing the time. Drew, who is in town for his ex-girlfriend/former best friend’s wedding, decides on a whim to ask Alexa to be his plus one. To save face with the future bride and groom Drew tells everyone that Alexa is his new girlfriend forcing the two to pretend to be a couple. After their charade at the wedding is a complete success the newly formed chemistry between Alexa & Drew becomes too difficult to ignore. Drew decides to extend his stay in San Francisco and the two begin a long-distance relationship. Alexa and Drew both have highly demanding careers and things become complicated. Although, slightly predictable “The Wedding Date” is a fun, flirty debut book by Guillory.
Purchase a copy of “The Wedding Date” here.
“The Proposal” by Jasmine Guillory
What Nikole thought was going to be a casual outing to a Dodgers game for her boyfriend’s birthday turned out to be anything but. Nik wasn’t exactly head over heels for this guy but she had enjoyed their light-hearted dating for the past five months. While she was catching up on a work email to pass the time, Fisher drew Nik’s attention to the Jumbotron. “Nicole: I love you. Will you marry me? Fisher.” Was he serious? They had never once mentioned being in love, let alone getting married and now here he was on one knee proposing after spelling her name wrong in front of thousands of people. Stunned, Nik turns him down causing Fisher, an actor by trade, to storm off causing a dramatic scene. Mortified doesn’t even begin to describe how Nik feels being left alone as cameramen start to descend upon her section for more footage. Brother and sister, Carlos and Angie saw the proposal play out a few rows behind Nik. The duo decided to intervene at just the right moment cutting off the cameramen and whisking Nik to the safety of the parking lot. To repay them for their kindness, Nik offers to buy them dinner and drinks. When the evening ends you would expect Nik & Carlos to go their own separate ways but that pizza was only just the beginning. “The Proposal” is a great follow-up to Jasmine Guillory’s “The Wedding Date” in which Carlos first appears.
Purchase a copy of “The Proposal” here.
“One Day in December” by Josie Silver
On her way home from work on a particularly miserable December day, Laurie is staring out of the window of her overly crowded bus when she locks eyes with a handsome stranger waiting on the bench at the bus stop. All at once she is overwhelmed with a sudden urge to rush off the bus and meet him. Clearly feeling the same, she sees him get up and rush towards the bus as it begins to pull away. He is left standing on the side of the road and Laurie left wondering if she will ever see “bus boy” again. Over the next year Laurie and her best friend Sarah keep their eyes peeled for the mystery man anytime they are out with no luck. Sarah however has managed to snag a new dreamy boyfriend that she has fallen head over heels for. She can’t wait to introduce him to Laurie at their annual Christmas party, only Laurie has already seen him before. Sarah’s new boyfriend is none other than “bus boy” who’s name turns out to be Jack. Neither Jack or Laurie decide to tell Sarah about their previous meeting leaving an unsettled chemistry between the three. “One Day in December” follows the trio over a decade and changes perspective between Jack and Laurie. I really didn’t want it to end and actually shut the book with a smile on my face.
Purchase a copy of “One Day in December” here.
“Victoria” by Daisy Goodwin
If you have not yet discovered “Victoria” on Masterpiece/PBS, get to a TV right now. This was one of the shows I most looked forward to watching each week. Daisy Goodwin, is the creator and head writer for the PBS show and this book follows along with season one. If you haven’t yet tuned in, no worries, the book is definitely worth the read. “Victoria” focuses on her early life as she becomes Queen and meets the love of her life, Albert. Obviously the events surrounding the Queen’s life are historically factual but Daisy Goodwin’s imaginative take on what transpired is so colorful and romantic you sometimes forget these private conversations are fictionalized. Reading this brought me right back to watching Jenna Coleman’s beautiful performance as Victoria in season one. Another great read by a talented female author about a strong, independent female leader and one of the most beautiful, loyal love stories of all time.
Purchase a copy of “Victoria” here.
For the YA Reader..
“Love & Gelato” by Jenna Evans Welch
Sixteen year old Lina is having a very rough year. Her mother just died after a short battle with cancer leaving her alone. During the four months she was sick, Hadley began to tell her daughter wild stories from her youth with a “friend” named Howard and now that she is gone Lina’s grandmother has just announced that Howard is actually Lina’s father. Her mother’s dying wish was for Lina to go and live with this stranger that she only just learned existed. One other plot twist in Lina’s already bad year was that she was going to have to leave her home and friends in Seattle because Howard lives in Florence, Italy. Where Hadley and Howard met. The year Lina was conceived. Upon arriving in Italy, Lina finds out that Howard is a caretaker for a World War II Memorial and lives inside a cemetery. Could this get any worse? Before she died Hadley had her journal from her time in Florence shipped to the cemetery and it found its way to Lina. She begins to discover the city along with her mother, entry by entry. In Hadley’s journal, the letter X is used to refer to the man Lina assumes is her father but when she presses Howard on some of the stories that Hadley shares he seems to know nothing about them. Is Howard really her father? Who is X and why did Hadley send her half way across the world to live with this man that may or may not be her father? Love & Gelato will have you reaching for your passport (or at least Google) to see for your self the gorgeous Italian landmarks that Lina visits on her journey. Jenna Evans Welch has written a sweet read for Young Adult readers and up.
Purchase a copy of “Love & Gelato” here.
A love story of a different kind…
“The Story of Arthur Truluv” by Elizabeth Berg
Every day at noon 85 year old Arthur Moses can be found in the same place – eating his lunch at his wife Nola’s grave. Arthur wouldn’t miss his daily visits to her for anything. He fills her in on his day to day happenings since she passed six months ago. Arthur misses Nola so very much. Maddy is a girl on the verge of adulthood whose home life is less than miserable and is on her way out of an unhealthy relationship. Maddy can’t wait to escape the hell that is High School. She has no friends, can’t go a day without someone tossing a disparaging comment her way and finds her only peace among the trees at the cemetery during her lunch breaks. This is where the unlikely duo meet for the first time, on one of their daily lunch trips. Arthur’s neighbor, Lucille, is a retired school teacher and is equally lonely. She keeps Arthur’s cookie jar full with her homemade baking. The three of them become an unlikely trio that prove that sometimes its the family that you create for yourself that ends up being the greatest blessing. Berg has written an absolutely heartwarming book. Some compare Arthur to Ove from Fredrick Backman’s book “A Man Called Ove” but I found Arthur to be much more of a genuinely caring soul right from the start. Nothing had to be chipped away for the reader to fall in love with his heart of gold.
Purchase a copy of “The Story of Arthur Truluv” here.