February the 14th is Valentine’s day, a day that you traditionally shower your significant other with gifts and flowers and take them out to a fancy dinner. All that is great, but this Valentine’s Day we wanted to do something a little different. Here is our Valentine’s book picks- books full of witty romances, the love between families, the love between friends, and most importantly books about how to love yourself. No matter what your relationship is, take this Valentine’s day to spread love wherever you go.
6 and Under
Guess How Much I Love You, Sam McBratney
“Guess how much I love you,” says Little Nutbrown Hare. Little Nutbrown Hare shows his daddy how much he loves him: as wide as he can reach and as far as he can hop. But Big Nutbrown Hare, who can reach farther and hop higher, loves him back just as much. Guess How Much I Love You is a sweet tale about loving someone so much, you can’t even quantify it.
Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You, Nancy Tillman
Love is the greatest gift we have to give our children. It’s the one thing they can carry with them each and every day. If love could take shape, it might look something like these heartfelt words and images from the inimitable Nancy Tillman. Wherever You Are is a book to share with your loved ones, no matter how near or far, young or old they are.
The Runaway Bunny, Margaret Wise Brown
“If you run away,” said his mother, “I will run after you. For you are my little bunny.” A little bunny keeps running away from his mother in this imaginary game of hide-and-seek. Children will be profoundly comforted by this lovingly steadfast mother who finds her child every time.
7-13
Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli
From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first. Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal.
A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L’Engle
Out of this wild night, a strange visitor comes to the Murry house and beckons Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O’Keefe on a most dangerous and extraordinary adventure—one that will threaten their lives and our universe. A story about the love that binds families together.
Howl’s Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones
Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl’s Castle. Not just a Studio Ghibli movie, Howl’s Moving Castle is about the bonds we place on ourselves and that it is our own love which sets us free.
14-17
Gimmie a Call, Sarah Mlynowski
Devi’s life isn’t turning out at all like she wanted. She wasted the past three years going out with Bryan. Devi let her friendships fade, blew off studying, didn’t join any clubs, and now that Bryan has broken up with her, she has nothing left. Not even her stupid cell phone—she dropped it in the mall fountain. Now it only calls one number . . . hers. At age fourteen, three years ago! Once Devi gets over the shock, she realizes that she’s been given an awesome gift. She can tell herself all the right things to do because she’s already done all the wrong ones! Except, what if getting what you think you want changes everything? Gimmie a Call is a fantastic book about learning to balance the love in your life while not losing sight of yourself.
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austin
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” Thus memorably begins Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Pride and Prejudice tells the story of fiercely independent Elizabeth Bennet, one of five sisters who must marry rich, as she confounds the arrogant, wealthy Mr. Darcy. A story of what it means to recognize your own faults, and not settle for anything less than you deserve. Pride and Prejudice is a must for all readers entering into the first forays of love.
Unfiltered: How to Be as Happy as You Look on Social Media, Jessica Abo
Unfiltered: How to Be as Happy as You Look on Social Media is for anyone who needs to be reminded that we’re all a work in progress, no matter what judgments we make when measuring our lives against what others share online. Jessica Abo addresses the relationship between our psychology and technology and how we can take back our happiness IRL without falling into the compare and despair trap. In a world where everything is documented on social media for constant judgement, it is very necessary to take a step back and remind ourselves that we are more than numbers on a screen.
College
What a Time to Be Alone: The Slumflower’s Guide to Why You Are Already Enough, Chidera Eggerue
In What A Time To Be Alone, The Slumflower will be your life guru, confidante and best friend. She’ll show you that being alone is not just okay: it’s just about the best freaking thing that’s ever happened to you. As she says, ‘You’re bad as hell and you were made with intention.’ It’s about time you realized. An amazing book full of advice and beautiful imagery, What a Time to Be Alone is perfect for readers of all ages, but holds a particularly poignant message for high schoolers.
Shakespeare’s Sonnets, William Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s Sonnets make the world around us seem more vibrant, the epitome of rose-colored glasses. While this may not be a roadmap for the modern romance, Shakespeare’s Sonnets remind us that while love is a promise, it is also something beautiful. Readers will be inspired by these sonnets to find love to or focus on the one they already have.
Again, But Better, Christine Riccio
Shane has been doing college all wrong. Pre-med, stellar grades, and happy parents…sounds ideal—but Shane’s made zero friends, goes home every weekend, and romance…what’s that? Her life has been dorm, dining hall, class, repeat. Time’s a ticking, and she needs a change—there’s nothing like moving to a new country to really mix things up. Shane signs up for a semester abroad in London. She’s going to right all her college mistakes: make friends, pursue boys, and find adventure! But that’s easier said than done.
Adult
Modern Love, Revised and Updated: True Stories of Love, Loss, and Redemption, Daniel Jones
Modern Love, Revised and Updated features dozens of the most memorable essays to run in The New York Times “Modern Love” column since its debut in 2004. Some of the stories are unconventional, while others hit close to home. Some reveal the way technology has changed dating forever; others explore the timeless struggles experienced by anyone who has ever searched for love. All of the stories are, above everything else, honest. Together, they tell the larger story of how relationships begin, often fail, and – when we’re lucky – endure.
Boundaries in Dating: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Relationships, Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Boundaries in Dating offers illuminating insights for romance that can help you grow in freedom, honesty, and self-control as you pursue a healthy dating relationship that will lead to a healthy marriage. Dating can be fun, but it’s not easy. Meeting people is just one concern. Once you’ve met someone, then what? What do you build? Nothing, a simple friendship, or more? How do you set smart limits on physical involvement? Financial involvement? Individual responsibilities? Full of insightful, true-life examples, this is a much-needed book.
The Hating Game, Sally Thorne
Lucy Hutton is charming and accommodating and prides herself on being loved by everyone at Bexley & Gamin. Everyone except for coldly efficient, impeccably attired, physically intimidating Joshua Templeman. And the feeling is mutual. Trapped in a shared office together 40 (Okay, 50 or 60) hours a week, they’ve become entrenched in an addictive, ridiculous never-ending game of one-upmanship. Lucy can’t let Joshua beat her at anything—especially when a huge new promotion goes up for the taking.
