Feeling the Love - Top 10 Book Recommendations for Valentine’s Day
It’s that time of year again, we’re feeling all warm and fuzzy because it is almost Valentine’s Day!
We love curling up with a good book — did you see our Top 10 Business Books blog? — so we have teamed up with the lovely Jess and Lauren from Book Reccos on Instagram to give you some cosy, sitting on the sofa with a box of chocolates (next to your locker of course!) book recommendations for the season of luuuurve.
Now, we didn’t just want to be all romantic, lovey-dovey reccos, although there are some of those too! We value friendship, sisterhood, family and self confidence just as much. As a business run by two sisters, with families and friends we love too, this was super important to us! So Jess and Lauren have used their library of expertise and popped in books to celebrate all kinds of beautiful, diverse love!
Time to hand you over to the experts…
Hello! It’s Jess and Lauren here from @BookReccos. Funnily enough, our page is dedicated to sharing…book recommendations (or reccos as we like to call them)!
We know love comes in a variety love of forms, so this February whether you’re celebrating Valentines, Galentines, or anything in between, we’ve teamed up with our pals at Mustard Made to share with you some of our top reccos which celebrate all kinds of love from romantic love, to friendship, familial bonds, and self love.
If you’re a fellow book lover, or someone who could benefit from some reading inspo, then give us a follow on our Instagram, or tune in to our weekly podcast Book Reccos: Between the Pages!
one.
Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn
For love in all its forms…
In Conversations on Love Natsha Lunn recounts her own journey alongside discussions with the likes of Dolly Alderton, Candice Carty-Williams and Alain de Botton on love in all its forms; the love you have for your parents, siblings, friends as well as of course romantic love. It’s a really thought-provoking and gorgeous read that would make a perfect gift for anyone!
You can read our full review here.
two.
Buy yourself the F*cking Lilies, by Tara Schuster
For self love…
After waking up hungover on her 25th birthday and realising she had drunk dialled her therapist, Tara Schuster realises it’s time to get her life in order and shares with us in this part memoir, part self help book all the different simple ways to go about becoming a happy, stable adult. It’s honest and hilarious and thankfully not too out there - no crystals, acupuncture or burning of sage, just realistic and achievable tips and advice told with shockingly comical anecdotes.
You can read our full review here
three.
Seven Days in June, by Tia Williams
For romantic love…
Eva is a best selling author of a steamy fantasy series but between work, being a single parent and her chronic illness she doesn’t get much action herself. Shane is a literary phenomenon with a dark past, which Eva knows all about having spent a week together as teens. So when the two meet at a panellist event for black authors it’s no wonder that the two have unfinished business... (CW: self harm and substance abuse)
You can read our full review here.
four.
The Split by Laura Kay
For friendship (& breakups!)...
When Ally’s girlfriend breaks up with her she moves back in with her Dad and in doing so is reunited with her childhood friend Jeremy who has recently been dumped by his boyfriend. The title might lead you to believe this is a book about relationships, and it is of course, but really it’s a celebration of friendship and it’s flippin’ gorgeous!
You can read our full review here.
five.
A Single Revolution by Shani Silver
For loving single life…
Shani Silver is not an advocate for singlehood. She’s an advocate for single women feeling good while single. A Single Revolution is one book for single women that won’t approach you like you’re unfinished, but inspire you to embrace your singlehood. It's a book for every woman who’s ever been told she’s too ‘picky’ or too ‘fussy’, or simply ‘Not trying hard enough’ (whatever that means). Shani’s style of writing is EXCELLENT, she’s blunt, sarcastic, potty mouthed and passionate about changing the narrative around what it means (and how it should feel) to be single and it is honestly game changing. In her own words “I’m not afraid of us being single forever. I’m afraid of us finding a relationship and THEN realising how great it was to be single.”
You can read our full review here.
six.
Fault Lines by Emily Itami
For forbidden love…
Mizuki is a Japanese housewife. She has a hardworking husband, two adorable children, and a beautiful apartment in Tokyo. She has everything she thought she ever wanted, yet sometimes she wonders whether she would rather throw herself off the high-rise balcony than spend another evening not talking to her husband and hanging up laundry. That is until the night she meets Kiyoshi and her one existence stems into two.
You can read our full review here.
seven.
An Ordinary Wonder by Buki Papillon
For the love between siblings…
Synopsis: Set in Nigeria, this is a coming of age story about Oto, an intersex twin who is forced to live as a boy despite knowing in their heart they are a girl just like their sister. There are many people out to get them but fortunately the wonderful people in Oto’s corner are always there. (CW: sexual assault).
You can read our full review here.
eight.
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal
For friendship…
Nikki, a first generation Punjabi woman, born and raised in England, is a little lost after the death of her father and dropping out of Uni. In an attempt to earn some extra cash she signs up to teach a ‘Creative Writing’ course at the Sikh temple. But in the first class she understands the students (all Punjabi widows) are largely illiterate. But don’t let appearances or stereotypes deceive you, these women have some burning fantasies and dark secrets which take the classes on an unexpected turn becoming the talk of the community. This is a novel about women finding their voices, owning their bodies and learning to speak up for themselves.
You can read our full review here.
nine.
Love After Love, by Ingrid Persaud
For familial love…
After Betty’s husband dies she invites a colleague Mr Chetan to move in with her and her son, Solo. They’re an unconventional but deeply loving family until Solo learns a secret and flees Trinidad for New York. What unfolds is a beautiful story of love and pain spanning across decades that is guaranteed to stay with you long after you've finished it. (CW: domestic abuse, self harm)
You can read our full review here.
ten.
Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
For romantic love…
Greece in the age of heroes. When Patroclus is exiled he becomes close friends with Achilles. As they grow into young men their bond blossoms so when Achilles is sent to war, torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. A beautiful tale of love, ambition and immortal fame.
You can read our full review here.
If you fancy checking out how Jess and Lauren use their lockers as book storage (spoiler alert, the Shorty works super well!) then you can find them over on Instagram!
