Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and whether you’re celebrating with a partner, embracing self-love, or just here for the chocolate (respect ✊🍫), I’ve got the perfect book list for you! These romance reads will make you swoon, sob, and maybe even reevaluate your dating standards. Because fictional men just hit different. 😩💘
I’ve personally devoured all these books, so this isn’t your typical list of generic recommendations. Expect deep dives, honest opinions, tropes, and Goodreads ratings because we all secretly check them before committing. Let’s go! 🚀
10 Valentine’s Day Books for Adults That Will Make Your Heart Skip a Beat
1. Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
Goodreads Rating: 4.33/5
Tropes: Childhood friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance, dual timelines.
I will never shut up about this book. Ever. If you love emotional rollercoasters and books that punch you in the gut (in the best way possible), this is it. Macy and Elliot were childhood best friends who turned into something more—until a heartbreaking event ripped them apart. Years later, fate throws them back together, and old feelings resurface.
The storytelling is pure magic. The dual timelines (past and present) weave together beautifully, making you fall in love with them and for them. If you’re into poetic writing and emotional depth, grab tissues and dive in.
🚨 Warning: Will break your heart, then put it back together.
2. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Goodreads Rating: ⭐ 4.41/5
Tropes: Love triangle, emotional romance, heavy themes.
Love her or hate her, CoHo knows how to grip your soul. It Ends With Us is NOT your fluffy, feel-good romance. It’s intense, raw, and emotional, tackling serious themes like domestic abuse and the cycle of toxic relationships. Lily falls for Ryle (a swoon-worthy neurosurgeon), but as their relationship unfolds, she starts seeing red flags. And then there’s Atlas, her first love, who suddenly reappears.
This book will have you questioning everything. It’s one of those reads that sticks with you long after you finish.
🛑 Trigger Warning: This book covers domestic abuse, so be mindful if that’s a sensitive topic for you.
3. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Goodreads Rating: 4.20/5
Tropes: Fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, STEM romance.
If you like rom-coms with nerdy STEM heroines and socially awkward but secretly soft heroes, this book will make your heart happy. Olive, a Ph.D. student, randomly kisses a grumpy professor (Adam) to convince her friend she’s moved on. To her shock, he goes along with it. Cue the hilarious fake dating shenanigans.
This book is witty, adorable, and gives MAJOR Reylo (Rey + Kylo Ren) vibes. Also, Adam is tall, broody, and definitely book-boyfriend material. 😏
4. Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Goodreads Rating: 4.26/5
Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, bookish romance, small-town setting.
Emily Henry is the queen of contemporary romance, and Book Lovers is her best yet. A workaholic literary agent (Nora) takes a summer trip to a small town with her sister, only to run into her professional nemesis, Charlie. Sparks fly, but not in the way you’d expect.
If you love books about books (meta, I know), this one’s for you. It’s got humor, heart, and some of the best banter I’ve ever read.
5. Beach Read by Emily Henry
Goodreads Rating: 4.23/5
Tropes: Grumpy/sunshine, writers-to-lovers, forced proximity.
Another Emily Henry masterpiece, but this one hits different. January, a romance writer, and Gus, a literary fiction author, are stuck in neighboring beach houses, both dealing with major writer’s block. They strike a deal: swap genres and see who writes better.
This book is more than just romance—it’s about grief, healing, and rediscovering yourself. The chemistry? 🔥🔥🔥
6. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Goodreads Rating: 4.14/5
Tropes: Friends-to-lovers, slow burn, travel romance.
Yes, more Emily Henry, because she delivers. Poppy and Alex have been best friends forever, taking an annual trip together. But two years ago, something happened, and they stopped talking. Now, Poppy wants to fix things and suggests one last vacation.
If you love longing stares, travel vibes, and the ultimate slow-burn romance, you NEED this book.
7. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Goodreads Rating: 4.26/5
Tropes: Opposites attract, emotional romance, life-changing love.
Do you want to ugly cry? Like, full-body, snot-running-down-your-face sobbing? Then welcome to Me Before You. Lou, an eccentric, quirky girl, becomes a caregiver for Will, a wealthy man who became quadriplegic after an accident. Their journey together is heartbreaking, beautiful, and unforgettable.
Read with tissues. Lots of them.
8. Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle
Goodreads Rating: 3.89/5
Tropes: Inheritance romance, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine.
This book is a warm hug. Maybell inherits a house, only to discover it’s co-owned by a grumpy yet endearing groundskeeper. They don’t exactly hit it off, but as they renovate together, sparks start flying.
It’s whimsical, comforting, and perfect if you’re looking for something cozy.
9. The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
Goodreads Rating: 4.02/5
Tropes: Fake dating, enemies-to-lovers, slow burn.
Did someone say fake boyfriend to a wedding in Spain? Lina needs a date for her sister’s wedding, and Aaron, her irritating yet insanely attractive coworker, offers to help.
This book is LONG but worth it. The tension? Immaculate. The payoff? Chef’s kiss.
10. Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
Goodreads Rating: 4.29/5
Tropes: Second-chance romance, writer romance, deep emotions.
If you want something steamy yet emotionally rich, this book delivers. Two writers with a messy past reconnect, and their chemistry is insane.
It’s funny, sharp, and deeply moving. Also, Eva and Shane are just 🔥🔥🔥 together.
Which One Will You Pick? 💕
So, which of these is calling your name? Whether you want to laugh, cry, or swoon, there’s something here for everyone. Drop a comment with your fave romance reads—I’d love to add more to my ever-growing TBR! 📚💘
More Romance Books:
10 Open Door Romance Books You Will Enjoy
7 Magical YA Fantasy Romance Books
10 Mind-Blowing College Romance Books
Table of Contents
