It’s that time of year! Valentine’s Day is fast approaching.
It’s the time when some of us shop for presents for our partners, and when others try to hide ourselves in the dark with a romance book in order to feel something.
If you’re of the latter group like me, you can do one of two things – either go out there and get a really cozy romantic book that’s going to give you warm and fuzzy feelings, or you can turn to TikTok or the internet in general and see what’s popular right now in the Romance genre.
Interestingly, it’s not cozy feelings that are popular right now. If you were to look, you’d find a lot of Colleen Hoover books, many dark romances with toxic relationships, and an array of books with sad endings that are going to make you bawl your eyes out. Like I did when I read them.
Apparently, cozy romances are not in vogue right now. If anything is trending more than ever, it’s romantasy, a blend of romance and fantasy, which more often than not, has some very problematic elements that make the romance point kind of moot. On one hand, it can be disturbing how the younger generations increasingly view toxic love as romantic, but on the other, there’s no need for love to be all butterflies and rainbows. We can search for balance when it comes to love, and after all, some of us enjoy crying more than we enjoy laughing – when reading books, that is.
So let’s gather up a collection of popular books that people read around this time of year, and let’s see if you’re going to cry or not. And hey, there’s no shame in letting out a good cry in the darkness of your own room. My God, if anyone deserves to de-stress in this economy, it’s you.
Finally, just for balance’s sake, I’ll include a couple of cosy romances at the end. Enjoy!
Colleen Hoover’s one of the most popular romance authors of our time. The ironic part is, her books are rarely romantic. From toxic main characters to possessive and harmful relationships, her books should be more correctly deemed ‘dark romance’. It Ends With Us has some romance in it, but in the end, it’s all about domestic violence and what choice you have to make when you find yourself in this situation. Hardly romantic, but readers of romance die for this book, and I quite liked it as well.
Similar: All Your Perfects, In the Dream House
If any books has been going the rounds more than this one, I don’t know of it. It’s an extremely bittersweet story about two boys falling in love… on the last day of their lives. If anything is going to make you cry, it’s this one.
Similar: The Dead Romantics, Cemetery Boys
While this sounds like a really beautiful second chance romance of two people re-discovering each other years after meeting for the first time (and ruining their chance at love), most people tear up when they talk about it. It’s said to be soulful and bittersweet. I haven’t read it yet, but I want to.
Similar: Every Summer After
This is not a new book, but it has been one of the best young adult romances in recent years, and for me, it’s the saddest one. Two teenagers who are living their final years because of cancer strike a friendship, and then more. This is peak existentialism/heartbreak coming from the genius John Green.
Similar: Underneath the Sycamore Tree, All the Bright Places, We Are Okay
As we all know, Greek retellings are nothing but dramatic and well… tragic. This is the story of Achilles and his best friend, Patroclus. We follow their story from the time they’re children and then through adulthood. It’s a very romantic, but in the end, a very sad love story. I bawled my eyes out and I haven’t felt the same since.
Similar: The Tragedy of Felix and Jake, Wolfsong
This world-wide phenomenon by Sarah J Maas has been dubbed the most popular romantasy book of all time. With all the supernatural drama, you can say it’s romantic, but like most romantasy books these days, there’s more toxicity than romance in this one. However, it does have that addictive quality that everyone is looking for when they choose a book to get lost in. And it’s just the first of five!
Similar: The Cruel Prince, Rhapsodic
People online are literally daring each other and themselves to read this book and not cry. So far, nobody has been successful. I haven’t read it, but I listened to a person describe it, and I have to admit – I am not so brave as to read it. It’s full of triggers, but it has beautiful friendships and romance in it, so technically, if you want to read about that living with trauma and how it affects your relationships, you can turn to this one. Just be warned – it’s not for everyone.
Similar: On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous, The Wicker King
Who doesn’t love regret and second chances? Or broken friendships? This young adult romance about two friends breaking up and then looking back at what happened is going to make you feel a lot of things. You don’t have to be young to appreciate how intricate and raw this book is.
Similar: A Thousand Boy Kisses, I’ll Give You the Sun, You’ve Reached Sam
The newest dark romance, this book took TikTok by a storm. It has everything from a forbidden crush to dark past and secrets. It’s a brother’s best friend taboo romance that is quite addictive, so when you pick it up, you can’t put it down. However, as it’s dark romance, don’t expect to feel all fuzzy and happy reading it.
Similar: There Are No Saints, Beautiful Disaster, Ugly Love
And now it’s time for a few cosy romances, as promised.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Do you love stories about people who meet over the years and are friends for most of their relationship? For those of us who are big fans of When Harry Met Sally, One Day, Love Rosie, and so on, this book is like catnip. Friends to lovers at its very best. Millions of copies sold? Well deserved, indeed.
Similar: One Day
If you’re looking for a cosy romantic fantasy book, this is the most popular one at the moment, and for a good reason. We have an orc barbarian who’s trying to leave her sword behind and serve coffee instead, as well as a diverse and fun cast of characters who you’ll fall in love with. What could be cosier than this?!
Similar: Fear and Fury, So This is Ever After
If there is a more beloved ‘boy meets boy’ book, I don’t know of it. Albeit being a graphic novel, I would posit that Heartstopper has been the sweetest and coziest gay romance of this decade (so far). Nick and Charlie are lovely and real and so sweet together, and their story is just priceless. While reading the book – and watching the Netflix show – I kept saying ‘aww’. You’ll really feel this one. It’s perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Similar: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, The Passing Playbook, Mio
There have been many ‘enemies to lovers’ books that have risen to popularity recently. It’s always fun to watch people who hate each other discover that they weren’t so bad after all, and consequently, fall in love. Begrudgingly.
Similar: From Lukov with Love, The Hating Game
This beautiful book was made into a movie in 2023, which was just as hilarious as the book was. If you want to laugh at the son of the U.S. President and the Prince of Wales hating each other, then falling for each other, all the while they have to keep it a secret, this is the perfect choice for you.
Similar: The Hating Game
Please go to our book recommendations and check out our favorite picks for Valentine’s Day 2024!
Whether you choose to laugh or cry, we wish you happy reading!
