Sure enough, people have conflicting feelings towards celebrating on the 14th of February. Regardless if Valentine’s day lifts your spirits high up in the love-filled air or drags you mercilessly down a chilling pithole, a good romance book will never fail you.
RomComs, romantic dramas, tragic romances — you name it! So long as one or more of the fictional characters are the epitome of the pure and unconditional love you desire for yourself, then you’re scheduled for the best book date this Valentine’s.
Listed below are five romance books you should check out at the Josef Baumgartner Learning Resource Center (JB-LRC) of the University of San Carlos:
1. Pride and Prejudice (1813) by Jane Austen
“You have bewitched me body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you.”
This timeless classic tells the story of the independent and clever Elizabeth Bennett falling in love with the enigmatic Mr. Darcy. The novel explores their chemistry throughout the story until in the end, their mutual desire and attraction to one another outshine their differences. What makes this classic truly special is the becoming of the love, where it is not rushed but rather slow, pure, and deeply felt. Jane Austen managed to address a number of societal issues in the novel, especially those that were wildly relevant in the 19th century, alongside the romantic aspect of the story. Wealth, reputation, family, social class, and (of course) pride and prejudice, all happened to play a crucial role in both the hindrance and development of the course of love portrayed in the book.
Image credit: https://sinfoniadoslivros.blogspot.com/2014/03/comparando-capas-orgulho-e-preconceito.html
2. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2014) by Jenny Han
“Love is scary: it changes; it can go away. That’s part of the risk. I don’t want to be scared anymore.”
If you are in the search for a light-hearted novel that is easy and fun to read, Jenny Han has got you covered with a book filled with the giddiness of teenage romance. Over the years, high schooler Lara Jean Covey has been writing love letters addressed to the boys she had had a crush on, but she never actually sends them out. One day, the letters are mysteriously mailed to the five boys, and Lara Jean has to finesse her way in and out of the drama she’s now unwillingly involved in. Somewhere in the midst of all the chaos is where the fake-dating trope establishes. Peter Kavinsky and Lara Jean are in a pretend relationship, and we know how that usually ends.
Perhaps this story may inspire you to write a letter for your special someone 😉
Image credit: https://foreveryoungadult.com/voices/korean-diaspora/
3. The Fault in Our Stars (2012) by John Green
“I’m in love with you, and I’m not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things.”
Get a box of tissues ready because this tragic young adult novel might just cause you to cry a river on Valentine’s day. The story follows the dismal life of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a teenage girl diagnosed with cancer. She attends a cancer support group where she eventually meets Augustus Waters. Their relationship develops from then on, submerging into an ocean of genuine, heart-wrenching emotions and occurrences. Aside from the depressing prime narrative of the story, the book offers lessons that ultimately makes the readers rethink their priorities and viewpoints in life, especially on the unconscious habit one may have of taking things for granted. The beauty of this book lies in its probability — it is realistic and tragic, as life turns out to be at some point. You have to be ready for those tears, okay? Okay.
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4. Jane Eyre (1847) by Charlotte Brontë
“Every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own: in pain and sickness it would still be dear.”
Yet another literary classic that aided in revolutionizing the subsequent eras by tackling universally pertinent subjects. The story centers on the arduous life of Jane Eyre: her struggles all throughout, how societal expectations limited her growth and opportunities, and her eminent discovery of love. Like many of the novels written in the 19th century, Jane Eyre provides a rather insightful glimpse of the dark and constraining identity of society particularly towards women, paving the way for feminism to conspire. Needless to say, the romantic asset of the novel upholds its reputable concept of being a compelling love story wherein Jane and Mr. Rochester gradually form an intense and intimate connection with each other, battling the complications of their initially-forbidden romance.
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5. Dear John (2006) by Nicholas Sparks
“I finally understood what true love meant…love meant that you care for another person’s happiness more than your own, no matter how painful the choices you face might be.”
Best known for The Notebook and A Walk To Remember, Nicholas Sparks once again flawlessly pens a realistic and inspirational love story in Dear John. The novel explores the themes of love, betrayal, and forgiveness, and eventually spirals into an undesirable ending that could crush you into a thousand little pieces. This book may not be the most suitable option for the faint of heart because the pain felt by the characters will certainly resonate with the reader. Even so, there is beauty found in suffering, and this is shown in the story of Savannah and John.
Image credit: https://johngreenbookstfios.weebly.com/https://book.douban.com/subject/2380456/
Now you’re all set for the occasion. February 14th won’t be as uneventful with a touching book of romance. Head to the LRC as soon as you can and bury your senses in that love story.
You can smile, laugh, and cry all you like, no judgements here!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A work in progress.