Valentine’s Day is always a great excuse to watch rom coms, eat heart-shaped candy or read romance books. Regardless of your relationship status, here are eight romance books you may not have heard of to add some love to your day!
Best Wintery Romance
“The Borrow a Boyfriend Club” by Page Powars (available at the Omaha Public Library)
The swoony, cozy winter dates in this book are probably the cutest part. Except for the fact that they’re fake dates offered by the Borrow a Boyfriend Club – a boyfriend renting service. Asher and Noah work for the Borrow a Boyfriend Club and are entering their school’s talent show together, but the “no real relationships” rule of the club is getting harder to balance…
Most Entertaining Romance Plots
“If This Gets Out” by Cale Dietrich and Sophie Gonzales (available at the Central library and Omaha Public Library)
One of the most engrossing and drama-filled books I have read, “If This Gets Out” is basically One Direction fanfiction if it was a well-written novel. Ruben and Zach’s friendship in their famous boy band turns into a romance, but not without worries about how their management and fans will react. This book has enough tension to warm you up during the chilly winter months.
“Don’t Let It Break Your Heart” by Maggie Horne (available at the Omaha Public Library)
This book definitely lives up to its cover! If you dislike miscommunication, you may not enjoy this, as the plot revolves around best friends Alana and Gray falling for the same dreamy new girl. Only one of them wins her over, creating a web of drama. And, oh yeah, Alana and Gray have history too.
Best Romance Book Author
Alexandria Bellefleur writes creative, addictive queer romances with lots of tension and spice. Two of her best books are “Count Your Lucky Stars,” where former best friends who had a fling senior year become roommates again, and “The Fiancée Farce,” that mixes family inheritance drama, fake dating and a marriage of convenience. These titles are available at the Omaha Public Library.
Best Emotional Romance
“Beating Heart Baby” by Lio Min (available at the Central library and Omaha Public Library)
Santi’s the new student; Suma’s the enemy who is immediately skeptical of Santi’s participation in the school marching band. Then, tension and secrets bring them together. One secret, however, tests their future and the past they didn’t realize they had.
Best Dark Romance
“Black Iris” by Elliot Wake
“Black Iris” is unique in its complicated, messy romances (yes, there are multiple romances), disjointed timeline and exploration of human nature and mental illness. The novel follows Laney as she contends with the trauma of her hometown after starting her freshman year of college; there she meets Armin and Blythe, her love interests who are as mysterious and broken as her. There are parties, secret university societies, attacks and very twisted relationships, making it a very gripping book.
Best Romance that isn’t a Romance
“Eleven Minutes” by Paulo Coehlo (available at the Omaha Public Library)
A highlight of “Eleven Minutes” is how it centers Maria’s life and character before she meets Ralf, her lover. In that way, the novel is not a traditional romance book focusing on the couple’s relationship. Instead, it explores Maria’s search for meaning as a Brazilian sex worker in Switzerland who ends up falling in love. This book explores belonging in another culture, sex work, personal relationships and finding true happiness, with a hint of romance sprinkled in.
