Love Is in the Air: Books for Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is this weekend, and hearts are everywhere, which always makes me smile. I am not a big reader of romance but do really enjoy a well-written love story. Here are a few of my favorites:

The Beach Trap by Ali Brady – When Kat Steiner and Blake O’Neill meet at sleepaway camp, their connection is immediate, but the girls’ relationship ends abruptly when they realize they are half-sisters. Flash forward 15 years, and Kat and Blake are dismayed to find that when their father died, he left them joint owners of the Destin, Florida family beach house. Blake, who supports her ailing grandfather, wants to sell the beach house, while social media influencer Kat refuses to sell because she has so many fond family memories from her time spent there. The women decide to take the summer to renovate the worn house with the agreement that by the end of the summer Kat will buy Blake out or they will sell it and split the money. As they begin to work on the house, the two women slowly get to know each other better as they come to terms with their shared past and learn what it means to be sisters. Ali Brady, pen name for the writing duo of Bradeigh Godfrey and Alison Hammer, hit the ball out of the park with their debut – the story is just so well-done. The writing is vivid, and I felt like I was transported to the beach or living in the beach house. The Beach Trap is a sweet and uplifting story that had me cheering for Kat and Blake to resolve their differences and come to terms with their family’s sordid past. It will be the perfect book to take to the pool or the beach this summer.

Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love by Marianne Cronin – This delightful tale centers around nonagenarian Eddie Winston who stays busy by volunteering at a charity shop in Birmingham, UK, where he sorts through the donations that arrive to the shop, occasionally selecting sentimental items to take home in case the owners return for their items. When 24-year-old Bella visits the shop to donate her recently deceased boyfriend’s belongings, the two strike up a touching friendship. Once Bella learns that Eddie has never been kissed, she sets out to change that by aiding him in signing up for a senior dating app and serving as his wingman. The relationship between Bella and Eddie is so endearing, and I loved that Cronin flipped the standard generational roles so that Bella was the one dealing with the loss of a loved one and Eddie was looking for his first kiss. Eddie has cemented his spot as one of my favorite fictional characters, and readers will be wishing they had an Eddie in their life. Chock full of humor and beautiful characters, Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love is a gem from start to finish. This one will appeal to those of all ages who like stories about found family and finding community as well as the importance of human connection.

Elizabeth of East Hampton by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding – Jane Austen retellings are all the rage currently, and Elizabeth of East Hampton is one of the best that I have read in a while. It is an engaging and refreshing take on Pride & Prejudice that demonstrates why Austen’s stories still resonate with readers today. The authors do a wonderful job of loosely following the original but modernizing the story and adding some of their own elements as well. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fabulously crafted retelling and an engaging romance with a fun summer setting. And for those who like to know, there is some steam in this one. For readers headed to the beach or pool and those who love Jane Austen.

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan – Jane Jackson is a former child actress famous for playing the nerdy sidekick on one of the country’s favorite sitcoms. Now in her 30s, Jane is an aspiring producer working to get her first project off the ground, a sweet romantic movie. Dan Finnegan, a cinematographer and Jane’s one-time crush, surprisingly agrees with Jane about the film and is willing to help her get the project greenlit. They travel cross country to Dan’s home to attend a music festival to track down popular musician Jack Quinlan – who Jane claimed in a panicked moment that she knew well enough to convince him to write a song for the project. What Dan does not know is that Jane hasn’t spoken to Jack in 20 years. While the romance occupies center stage, Monaghan also weaves in other themes, including the importance of being true to oneself, worthiness and sense of self, and family. These characters have stayed with me since I finished the book, especially Dan’s wonderful family, and I loved the way Jane and Dan’s relationship developed. Those who enjoy engaging tales with standout characters and fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope will devour this one.

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren – Writing duo Christina Lauren (writing partners/best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings) is back with a fabulous summer read. Felicity Chen, who goes by Fizzy, is a bestselling romance author who has lost her ability to write happily-ever-afters, partly because she feels that she will never find her own true love. When Connor Prince, a documentary filmmaker and single dad, is tasked with creating a reality dating show or face losing his job, he contacts Fizzy to star in the show – what would romance readers love more than seeing their favorite writer fall in love on national TV? Reluctantly, Fizzy agrees but includes a long list of requirements that Connor surprisingly agrees to. Chock full of fun pop culture references and focused on our nation’s obsession with reality TV, The True Love Experiment is a sweet and engaging romance with fun banter and genuinely likeable characters.

For more book recommendations and bookish thoughts, see Cindy’s monthly Buzz Reads column, her Thoughts from a Page Podcast or follow @ThoughtsFromaPage on Instagram.