8 Swoon-Worthy Romance Books to Read This Valentine's Day, Including One Reese's Book Club Pick

Part mystery, part romance, All the Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles is a book that practically anyone will love. True crime podcaster Ridley Sawyer arrives in a small town to investigate a case for her next episode, when she runs into sheriff Colter Brooks who wants nothing more than to keep her out of the way. What was a cold case, though, quickly becomes hot when Ridley finds herself facing threats and not only working with Brooks, but living with him, too, while they work to uncover the truth. (P.S. I listened to the audiobook of this one and the narration was *perfect,* if you're looking for a good listen for your daily commute.)

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang was a Reese's Book Club pick last spring, so you already know this one will be good. The story follows Helen and Grant, two writers who haven't spoken since being involved in a tragic accident 13 years prior. Now, they're thrown together in the same writers' room to work on an adaptation of Helen's young adult novels, where things are bound to get messy. If Reese Witherspoon's stamp of approval isn't enough to sell you on this read, what this reviewer has to say just might: "This novel is gorgeously written, with characters that feel real and human and complicated, family dynamics that are nuanced and gut-wrenching, and a love story at the center that is both steamy and romantic. This is a true love story and reminded me why I love the genre so much. I loved it!"

I have a secret—I didn't expect to like this book (which I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of). But, alas, I found myself not only liking it, but unable to stop reading it well into the early morning hours (we're talking *forcing* myself to go to sleep around 1 a.m.). The Charlie Method is the third in Elle Kennedy's interconnected Campus Diaries series and it centers around Charlotte, an over-achieving STEM student who also has a risk-taking side, a sort of alter-ego who she deems "Charlie." When Charlotte isn't studying or managing her sorority's finances, she's driving some seriously fast cars at a local track and chatting with two stars of the hockey team, Will and Beckett, who share a dating profile. This book is such a good time—from the throuple relationship to the Queen Elizabeth fanfic (yes, you read that right)—but it also doesn't shy away from issues like anxiety and challenging family dynamics, which make it entirely relatable.

Though this book is *technically* part of a series, they can each be read on their own, too—I read this as a standalone and had no issues following the plot. But if you want some good romance to hold you over until it releases on Feb. 25, I'd suggest digging into the first two, The Graham Effect and The Dixon Rule, which I plan to go back for ASAP.

For those who like just a *sprinkling* of magic with their romance, A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston is the perfect read for you. In this one, Elsy, a literature professor in her early 30s, stumbles upon Eloraton—the *exact* small town featured in her favorite romance novels...that isn't supposed to exist. While Elsy gets to live every reader's dream of living within the pages of her favorite books, she also has to navigate the certain fact that her presence is altering the story—starting with the slightly grumpy bookstore owner she doesn't recognize from her books. This read is fun and lighthearted, and I have a feeling it's one I'll be recommending for a long time.

Ali Hazelwood is beloved for her steamy novels that feature women in STEM, and after delving into her first paranormal book, Bride, last year, Not in Love is next on my list. This story surrounds Rue Siebert, who has established a career as a successful biotech engineer at Kline, a food science start-up that just got taken over—with the frustratingly attractive Eli Killgore as the front man. A secret affair quickly starts between the two until one of their companies wins out, and if anything TikTok reviewers have to say is true, this spicy read is definitely worth your time. As creator Emmy Rosam (whatemmyreads) shares in this video, "It's written so well, so uniquely...there's so much depth and emotion between the characters." So yeah, I'll be picking this one up sooner rather than later.

I also tapped one of my favorite TikTok creators, Gabi (gabikozreads), for some recs since I've been on a romance kick lately, and she raved that One Last Stop has a super unique plot and noted that she loved the magical realism of the story (so naturally, it's already downloaded to my Kindle). In this novel, cynical August meets charming Jane in NYC. But August finds out that her subway crush doesn't just look like an old school punk rocker, she actually *is,* and has somehow been displaced in time from the 1970s. Honestly, I didn't need to hear any more to know this book would make it to my never ending TBR list, and you might want to add it to yours, too.

Speaking of TBR lists, My Funny Demon Valentine by Aurora Ascher is at the very top of mine right now. Besides featuring some truly stunning sprayed edges and exclusive art, this deluxe limited-edition book has a story I *know* I won't be able to put down. The Prince of Hell, Asmodeus (Ash for short), just wants to play jazz music after he's escaped Hell but, of course, the fact that he's a demon certainly gets in the way. Ash soon meets Eva, a violinist, and they quickly become caught in each other's secrets. This one sounds like *so* much fun, and I'll be picking it up ASAP to make sure I get my hands on this gorgeous edition.

I've heard nothing but good things about Hannah Bonam-Young's writing, so Out of the Woods (her latest release) is definitely on my radar right now. In this story, we follow high school sweethearts Sarah and Caleb as they head out on a grueling hiking trip for couples going through rough patches to help rediscover who they are as a couple, and as individuals. Expect some comedy alongside this love story as the two fight their way out of the woods and rely on each other to get them through.