14 Love Stories for Valentine’s Day 2021

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, a Zoom 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 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 Christina Lauren (a writing duo whose combined names, Christina Hobbs & Lauren Billings, make up the pen name) was such a perfect read to unwind with.

Purchase a copy of “The Unhoneymooners” here.

Learn more about author Christina Lauren here.

“Postscript” by Cecelia Ahern

Picking up seven years after Gerry’s death in “P.S. I Love You”, Holly Kennedy has created a new life for herself. She is working at her sister Ciara’s store, still as close as ever with Denise and Sharon and is on the verge of moving in with her boyfriend Gabriel. Ciara asks Holly to speak on an episode of her podcast to share the story of Gerry’s death and the gifts he left behind for her in the form of 10 letters delivered periodically after his passing. One listener found an immediate connection to the concept and decided to form a club, “The P.S. I Love You Club”. This group of terminally ill friends want to recreate Gerry’s idea for their families and are determined to get Holly on board to help them navigate the process. Only Holly wants no part of stepping back into her grief. “P.S. I Love You” is one of my all time favorite movies. I sobbed like a baby watching this for the first time, full on ugly cry. What I didn’t realize having not read the book (I know, I know) is how drastically different the two stories are. If you are a fan of Holly & Gerry’s love story I recommend reading “P.S. I Love You” before reading “Postscript” so you aren’t as confused as I was at the differences from the start. Reader be warned, you will need tissues for this ending. Hand to heart putting this one back on the shelf.

Purchase a copy of “Postscript” here.

Learn more about author Cecelia Ahern here.

“This Time Next Year” by Sophie Cousens

Beginning on December 31st until dawn on January 2nd you are best avoid Minnie Cooper. After experiencing disasters year after year on New Years Eve and Day, Minnie is convinced she is jinxed. You see, Minnie was born just after midnight on January 1st, 1990 and this is where all her troubles began. Not only was she edged out of being the first baby born in the 90s resulting in her family missing out on the prize money and promotions that went along with that honor she had her intended name stolen by the same baby…Quinn. Instead she was given the same name as a car fueling her bullies with endless amounts of ammunition for years to come. When Minnie finally crosses paths with her birthday twin, Quinn Hamilton, on their 30th birthday the two couldn’t be any less alike. Quinn has everything in life while Minnie’s business is barely hanging on by a thread. However the more time Minnie and Quinn spend together she begins to realize that maybe she has been wrong for not-so-secretly blaming Quinn for her life’s path. Could these two opposites actually help one another discover what they really want from life? “This Time Next Year” is a wonderful debut by author Sophie Cousens. With the book starting off on New Year’s Eve 2019, it was really nice to imagine what a fictional 2020 could have been like if the pandemic hadn’t happened. Set over the course of the year, including flashbacks to different points in Minnie and Quinn’s life, I thought “This Time Next Year” was the perfect way to round out my 2020 reading. If you could use a little levity in your life be sure to add this to your TBR list.

Purchase a copy of “This Time Next Year” here.

Learn more about author Sophie Cousens here.

“Us, in Pieces” by Tasha Cotter & Christopher Green

Lilly and Adin met as freshman in college and they quickly became inseparable. The two would spend lazy afternoons sharing a set of headphones to listen to music, hang out for hours watching movies, take long naps and be a shoulder for the other to lean on at a moments notice. There was only one major problem…Adin was head over heels in love with Lilly who had friend-zoned Adin often coming to him when her long-term boyfriend upset her. Afraid to lose her completely Adin never opened up to Lilly about how much he cared for her. Completely out of the blue, Lilly doesn’t return to school the following semester cutting off all contact with Adin and breaking his heart. Fast-forward ten years and Lilly is still the one Adin compares all women to. When his best friend Tristan lets it slip that Lilly is recently divorced, Adin decides to put it all on the line and picks up the phone. Could this possibly be his chance with Lilly he has always dreamed of? This creative co-written, dual-perspective story is told through emails, texts, letters and brief first-person narration. There are times you want to shake both of these characters and tell them to get it together but I think that’s what makes them so relatable. Whether you’ve been friend-zoned or been the one talking your friend through confusing times there is at least one character in this book that everyone can relate to. This was such a cute love story, a perfect read right before Valentine’s Day. Be sure to add this to your TBR list for a weekend binge read.

Purchase a copy of “Us, in Pieces” here.

Learn more about author Tasha Cotter here.

“In Five Years” by Rebecca Serle

“Where do you see yourself in five years?” Dannie is having the best day of her life. She nailed her interview at a company she has always dreamed of working for and that evening her boyfriend turned into her fiancé. Dannie falls asleep that night high on life after going through champagne and bottles of wine to celebrate their carefully laid, type-a plans coming to fruition. When she opens her eyes, however, she finds herself in a different apartment, with a man she has never met who seems to know her very well, in fact it would seem they are very much in love. Getting a glance at the TV she notices the date – December 15, 2025 – five years into the future. After stumbling through this new world for an hour, Dannie wakes again to find herself back in her apartment, back in 2020. Unable to shake off what she just saw Dannie questions what it could all mean. Was that just a very vivid dream or was it something more like her therapist suggests? Pushing it to the back of her mind Dannie goes on with her life until one day four and a half years in the future when she comes face to face with the man from that night. “In Five Years” is a heartbreakingly beautiful book filled with love, friendship and the lessons in life only we can take on by ourselves. I highly recommend you add this to your TBR list.

Purchase a copy of “In Five Years” here.

Learn more about author Rebecca Serle 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.

Learn more about author Iona Grey here.

“Would Like to Meet” by Rachel Winters

Long-time assistant, Evie Summers, is determined to convince her boss that she is ready to be an agent. Her agency’s star screenwriter, Ezra Chester, has missed several deadlines for the newest script he’s been asked to write and the producers are starting to get angry. Evie’s boss sends her to convince Ezra to deliver his work within three months or his deal (and their company) will be over. Narcissistic Ezra, however, believes rom-coms are beneath him and unrealistic. In order to save her job Evie devises a plan. If she can prove to Ezra those romantic meet-cutes that happen in the movies can occur in real life then he has to finish the movie. Ezra agrees to her terms only if she will provide him with weekly written updates about her adventures. Evie begins to recreate iconic movie moments, hoping to meet her Harry on a road trip with a stranger or leaving her number in a book (a la Serendipity). As in every rom-com, nothing goes as planned and humiliation abounds as Evie stops at nothing to keep her deal with Ezra now if she can only get him to keep his end of the bargain then they could all live happily ever after. This debut novel by Rachel Winters is a refreshing, heart-warming read that fans of rom-com movies will love! You could completely see “Would Like to Meet” up on the big screen. If you are in need of a light, upbeat book to escape into, be sure to add this to your TBR list.

Purchase a copy of “Would Like to Meet” here.

Learn more about author Rachel Winters here.

“The Two Lives of Lydia Bird” by Josie Silver

On Lydia Bird’s twenty-eighth birthday her fiancé, Freddie, is killed in a car accident. As anyone would be, Lydia is devastated, locking herself away to be numb and cry endlessly. She plasters on a facade when around her family so they won’t know how truly alone she feels. “I am just going through the motions, of course, but for her sake I try to fake it till I make it. Though what happens if you never make it?” Then something unexplainable happens and Lydia is given the chance to step back into a world where the accident never existed. One where life went on past her birthday, one where she gets to experience life with Freddie. Stepping out of her world and into this one becomes an addiction but makes living in the here and now all that more difficult when she can’t be there. Splitting herself between two lives is a juggling act that Lydia isn’t fully equipped to handle. How long can she go on like this before being forced to decide where her heart should stay? Josie Silver has written another beautiful love story in which Lydia gets to see what her life would look like if that pivotal incident didn’t happen. Each chapter is beautifully decorated and I just loved the font that gave this book a fresh, modern look. I loved Silver’s “One Day in December” and “…Lydia Bird” doesn’t disappoint. Be sure to add this heartbreaker to your TBR list.

Purchase a copy of “The Two Lives of Lydia Bird” here.

Learn more about Josie Silver 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.

Purchase a copy of “The Proposal” here.

Learn more about author Jasmine Guillory here.

“One in a Million” by Lindsey Kelk

Annie Higgins is much too busy to think about love. Her new start-up company Content London keeps her schedule full. Luckily she is in it with her best friend since childhood, Miranda. The two, along with their friend Brian, are taking over the social media world one account at a time. Even with recently being nominated for three major business awards, Annie & Miranda are constantly teased by two other marketing agents in the building. When one pushes Annie too far she challenges them to a bet – she can make the next person to walk through the door Insta-famous in 30 days. If Content wins, Charlie needs to pay their rent for the month. If Charlie wins, Content helps with his company’s social media for free. Competitive Annie isn’t deterred even when the subject of their bet becomes anti-social, historian Dr. Samuel Page, another occupant of their office building. Even if the odds are stacked against her (the man doesn’t even have a single social account, yet!) Annie’s bank account (or lack thereof) makes winning that much more crucial – well that and shutting up Martin & Charlie for good. Getting Dr. Page 20,000 followers in 30 days might seem attainable to Annie at the start but breaking into the fortress that Dr. Page has built around himself looks like it might just be mission: impossible. You guys, “One in a Million” is a smash. For those of you who love a good “feel good” read this is an absolute must. While reading I kept imagining Annie as if she was being played by Emilia Clarke. (Anyone else see this?) Crossing my fingers that someone turns this into a movie. I hadn’t heard of author Lindsey Kelk before but her catalog has 15 other titles and one children’s book! I can’t wait to read more of her work.

Purchase a copy of “One in a Million” here.

Learn more about author Lindsey Kelk here.

“Beach Read” by Emily Henry

Don’t let the title fool you, this is not a book about a vacation set on some tropical beach. “Beach Read” by author Emily Henry is set on the shores of Lake Michigan as January rolls into town after inheriting her father’s beach house upon his death. After discovering that her father was living in the house with his mistress, January decides to spend the next few months clearing it of its belongings and getting it ready to sell while hopefully tackling her writer’s block and finishing her next book. If having to live in a house that brings up confusing emotions wasn’t bad enough January discovers that her college nemesis and fellow author is her next door neighbor. Augustus Everett is the extreme opposite of January. She writes love stories and happy endings and he can only conjure up the dark aspects of life. When tensions come to a head between the two a challenge is proposed. Both authors would drop their current genres and adopt the other’s for their next books. In order to do this they would take each other on a series of research trips and whichever author’s book sold first determined the winner. Helping each other through writer’s block as well as complicated past traumas the two begin to navigate a friendship that neither saw coming. If you love yourself a good rom com you should add this to your TBR list immediately. “Beach Read” is a perfect, feel good (and slightly steamy at times) book to dial out from life’s current stresses.

Purchase a copy of “Beach Read” here.

Learn more about author Emily Henry here.

“Bringing Down the Duke” & “A Rogue of One’s Own” 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? If you have spent the first few weeks of 2021 bingeing Netflix’s “Bridgerton” and now need something else to fill your time with, these two books from author Evie Dunmore’s “A League of Extraordinary Women” series is just the thing you are looking for. Now who can resist that? Fair warning for my more modest followers, these books do have some graphic scenes that may not be for all. The sequel, “A Rogue of One’s Own” was just as scandalous, witty and filled to the brim with fantastic feminist themes. Also, good news for fans of this series book number 3 will be out September 2021.

Purchase a copy of “Bringing Down the Duke” here & “A Rogue of One’s Own” here.

Learn more about author Evie Dunmore here.

A YA Love Story…

“American Royals” by Katharine McGee

What if instead of becoming America’s first President George Washington became King? In “American Royals” by author Katharine McGee that’s exactly what happened. Fast-forward centuries later, the Washingtons are still ruling the United States. The throne is currently held by King George IV who is training his oldest daughter, Princess Beatrice, for the role when her time comes. Beatrice’s younger twin siblings, however, don’t have a care in the world. Having just returned from a six month trip around the world, Princess Sam and Prince Jefferson, need to figure out how they fit into their family now. If Jeff had been born a generation sooner it would be him next in line for the throne and Sam has never been anything but the “spare”. When rules and laws keep the three youngest Washingtons from the things they desire most, what will the trio be willing to risk for the life they dream of? “American Royals” is the first in a series by author Katharine McGee and is a fun, quick YA read that would be a great addition to any teen/YA reader’s library.

Purchase a copy of “American Royals” here.

Learn more about author Katharine McGee here.

A Different Type of Love Story…

“The Story of Arthur Truluv” & “Night of Miracles” 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.

Follow up “Arthur Truluv” with the sequel, “A Night of Miracles”

Purchase a copy of “The Story of Arthur Truluv” here & “A Night of Miracles” here.

The Booked Mama

books are peace in the chaos of life