By Jennifer Trend and Isabella Purdy, Staff Writers
As Valentine’s Day approaches, what better way to get into the loving spirit than to read some romance books? From cheesy pick up lines to heartwarming gestures, these five reads will be sure to inspire you to show your love for your special someone.
Once and for All by Sarah Dessen
Louna Barrett has seen every wedding imaginable as Natalie Barrett, her mother, is a respected wedding planner. The business beautifully sells the idea that true love can be achieved through a wonderful ceremony, but in reality, Natalie and her partner, William, don’t believe in true love. They only sell the idea of it—a belief that Louna holds to her heart. And with her heart still slightly broken over Ethan, it’s no surprise she rejects all attempts to be set up with unknown dates. But when Ambrose Little, the handsome, ignorant, annoying, and yet somehow charming boy she ends up working with walks into her life, perhaps her beliefs may change.
Dessen is not new to the writing industry, and “Once and for All” definitely shows this. The writing and story takes you away into a new world, and seamlessly introduces the reader to a world of weddings. The way Louna handles the tasks given to her felt all too realistic, and gave it a human feel that is not as common as one might think. It was a calming and refreshing read—a great way to destress and simultaneously find the true meaning of love.
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Simon is gay, but hasn’t come out just yet. His pen pal Blue is the only one that knows. Martin Addison finds out Simon’s secret after he forgets to log out of the computer at the library, and starts to blackmail Simon. Blue and Simon become even closer while Simon tries to find out Blue’s real identity while being Martin’s wingman to stop Martin from telling everyone the truth. Will Simon be able to keep his secret and find out who Blue really is?
This book was a love story that had sweet scenes in it along with a good dose of drama to keep readers on their toes. You’ll find yourself falling in love with the characters, especially Simon, who is very observant and hilarious with his obsession of Oreos. There are some interesting plot twists in this book that come out of nowhere that shocked me as a reader. I loved this book due to its love story that felt sweet, kind and just a bit shy along with all of the other happenings in the book that add fire to the drama involved in this love story. It is definitely worth reading.
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
A girl has bubble baby syndrome and the unexpected happens to her. She finds love through her kind neighbor who wants to show her the world. But will her mom let her? And will she get sick or die along the way? You’ll find out in this incredible story.
A sweet love story with a depressing aspect is rewritten through this wonderful book. The couple in the book is unforgettable and their love story is one that will leave you thinking about it for days. Not to mention, a heartbreaking and infuriating plot twist at the end makes this an incredible read. I’d highly recommend this for the sweet relationship of the couple in the book and the unexpected plot twists and turns along the way.
99 Days by Katie Cotugno
Returning to her small hometown after finishing senior year at a boarding school, Molly Barrows finds a town which hates her. A year ago, Molly completely destroyed her relationship with Patrick by cheating on him with his brother Gabe. Her heart leans towards both, having shared a past history, and an unknowing love triangle emerges. There’s only 99 more days left of summer before she can leave for college, but will Molly be able to fix what she broke, or will she create more destruction?
This book was an interesting read… if you don’t mind second hand anger and embarrassment. Things took an unexpected turn during parts, and I was left in shock at what Molly’s responses to certain situations were. It was a good read, but the ending felt like it was cut short.
Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West
Abby Turner’s summer is not off to the best start when two of her friends leave for vacation, leaving Abby with her best friend who also happens to be her crush. To make matters worse, Abby gets denied from an art show, and her chance to apply for a college art program is crushed. She gets told her art has no heart, and creates ‘The Heart List’, a list of ten things to do within the next few weeks that would give her the experiences needed to express her heart into art. But Abby realizes that getting through the list isn’t as straightforward as she thinks it is, and she will have to change if she wants her art to change.
It was a good read. Even though parts passed off as unlikely events, it was still interesting to see how things unfolded. This book also introduced a mother with anxiety, and a father away at war, and I think West tackled the two well, never sugarcoating it and showing what effects it had on Abby.
