by Victoria Bromely and Charlie Fabre
Love blooms in many ways. From friendship, complicated relationships, to family love, here are our book recs for Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s is upon us, but that doesn’t mean we need to read copious amounts of romance books to fill our hearts. While many of us indulge in a romantic comedy from time to time, romance is not everyone’s preferred genre. So, for those who want to feel the love on the 14th Feb without feeling the need to read about a cheesy couple, here are out book recs for all genres and different types of love.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
This is the perfect example of a book about love, but it’s not a romance. While Sam and Sadie’s relationship is a platonic one, the way they care for each other is so rich and nuanced – I was swooning. Definitely a book which shows how love comes in many forms, and is fluid and everflowing.
Dear Dolly by Dolly Alderton
The nation’s favourite agony aunt. If you’re looking for a non-fic recommendation and are craving some authentic, wise words on love and heartbreak, then Dolly is your woman. Also her memoir Everything I Know About Love serves as a powerhouse narrative on exploring love in your twenties. One for those of us who want to reflect this February 14th and turn the love inwards.
Beautiful World, Where are You by Sally Rooney
Rooney is the master of detailing complicated relationships, and in her latest novel the messiness of friendship and romantic lovers is paramount. There is so much yearning in this book: the urgency to rekindle the friendship between Alice and Eileen, but also for the women to succeed in their romantic endeavours.
Sweet Sorrow by David Nicholls
While this is a book about the romantic connection between main characters Charlie and Fran, it is also a coming of age, literary novel which deals with so much more than just romantic love. With Charlie finishing school and the looming decision of how he’s going to spend the rest of his life, this book is deeply nuanced and complex.
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
The title gives this away, but this book narrates such a beautiful, heartfelt friendship between Elena and Lila. There is so much love between these pages as the young girls look after and care for one another. While there are moments where the girls try to explore romantic connections, this book is first and foremost about the power of friendship and girlhood.
Just Kids by Patti Smith
Another non-fiction rec, Just Kids is Patti Smith’s recollection of her early days in New York, before her artistic life really started to kick off, and her all encompassing friendship with the late Robert Mapplethorpe. This is a really really beautiful and intimate look at friendship, the ins and outs of it, and how two people can so perfectly understand and compliment each other without it necessarily being a romantic bond. It was great to read about Patti’s early life and her ambitions, but the best part of Just Kids are the scenes when her and Robert just exist in the same space together. They really defined what a platonic soulmate is to me.
Mayflies by Andrew O’Hagen
A coming-of-age story set in retrospect about a group of boys and their childhoods growing up, especially in the summers. I won’t give everything away, but it’s not often that I see novels depicting true and unbridled male friendships, and this is such a great example of one. For those with a rebellious spirit, who yearn for wildness and freedom, this is definitely a must read.
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
Onto sisterhood and the bond between siblings, House of Hollow is an ethereal, eerie YA novel on the mystery of three sisters. When Grey goes missing, her sisters Iris and Vivi strive to uncover the secrets of their eldest sister’s disappearance.
Boys Don’t Cry by Fiona Scarlett
Did someone ask for heartbreak? Any cynics in the crowd? We recommend you read Boys Don’t Cry, which we guarantee will leave you sobbing. Centered around family and fraternity, this novel shows the strength of brotherly love. While not a joyous read, this book will undoubtedly make you feel every emotion.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Yes it’s devastating, yes it’s horrible and one of the saddest books you’ll ever read, but no one will ever be able to convince me that this isn’t, at its core, a book about deep deep love and friendship and unbreakable bonds. That’s the feeling I got while reading this book, and it’s the moments of companionship and care that made me cry the hardest. Not an easy read, but a really wonderful look at friendship in my opinion.
Will you read any of these this Valentine’s? Treat your self to some chocolates and tuck in.
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