With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, February is a great month to read a romance novel! Getting back into the romance genre turned my reading life around last year. Escaping into funny meet cutes, steamy love scenes, and guaranteed happy endings is sometimes just what you need.
Here’s a list of some of my favorite romance books to dive into this month. They’re all contemporary reads. I split the list into two categories, amazing romantic comedies and stories of growth told from a female perspective with a love story element.
Best Romance Books to Read in February
In the mood for a romantic comedy this Valentine’s Day? Try one of these.
Pucked by Helena Hunting
Violet is well acquainted with the playboy reputation of many hockey stars. She has a famous NHL player as a stepbrother. But when her family forces her to go to one of her stepbrother’s games, she’s surprised to discover Alex, the team captain, is as intellectual as he is athletic.
In a complete lapse in judgement Violet has a one night stand with Alex. At least she thought it was only for one night, but then Alex starts to call and text and send her gifts. He wants to date her but Violet isn’t sure she can trust him with his player reputation. It’s a reputation he claims is misconstrued by the media.
This was my first Helena Hunting book and I inhaled the series last November. It made her a go to author for me and I can’t wait to read the rest of her backlist. You can find my review of Pucked here.
Seduction and Snacks by Tara Sivec
Claire is a single mom, reluctantly helping her best friend sell sex toys while saving up enough money to start her own chocolate business. One night she runs into Carter, the one night stand from her past, who is completely unaware of the child they created.
Claire thinks Carter forgot all about her but the truth is her sweet scent has haunted him since their first encounter. Both are determined to make certain they don’t lose one another again.
Seduction and Snacks was a book pick for my IRL book club years ago. It is definitely full of profanity, sarcasm, and sex. I remember laughing out loud at so many parts of this story! Tara Sivec is an author I want to read more of.
Wallbanger by Alice Clayton
After moving into a new apartment, Caroline is woken up in the middle of the night by her neighbor’s intimate activities. She dubs him “Wallbanger” after having to listen to his escapades with his “harem” of female friends. Frustrated by her lack of sleep and her own missing O, she finally confronts her neighbor in the middle of one of his sessions.
Tension and sparks fly between Caroline and Simon as circumstances force them to get to know one another. Caroline finds herself wondering if Simon can help her capture her missing O for good.
This was another book club pick from a few years ago. It has a very sassy cover and the story was the perfect combination of sexy and hilarious. Wallbanger is one to enjoy again and again!
Love From Both Sides by Nick Spalding
Jamie Newman isn’t enjoying the single life. He’s either striking out completely or attracting crazies. Laura McIntyre isn’t having much luck in her search for love either. When the two literally crash into one another, things start looking up. Although sometimes finding the right person is only the beginning of the problem.
Love From Both Sides is the ultimate tale of anything that can go wrong will go wrong. It’s told with incredible humor. Nick Spalding is one of the few male authors I’ve found who writes romantic comedy. This is actually the first book in a series that follows the same couple. I’ve read the first three and really enjoyed them!
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Stella Lane is a successful math genius but she believes she struggles with intimate relationships due to her Asperger’s. She comes to the conclusion that she needs to practice and who better to give her sex lessons than a professional. Enter Michael, a sexy and patient escort. Michael hates what he does to make ends meet, keeping it a secret from those who depend on him. As they shift their lessons from the bedroom to a fake relationship, the lines blur between practice and real emotions.
Falling in love with Stella and Michael had me picking up romance novels for the rest of 2020. You can find my review of The Kiss Quotient here.
Fool For Love by Beth Ciotta
After getting dumped, Chloe Madison decides to pack up and start over in the small town of Sugar Creek, Vermont. As a chef-in-training, it seems she’s landed the perfect job cooking for eccentric Daisy, an older lady who loves desserts.
Devlin Monroe is all work and no play, busy running the family business, and very suspicious of the woman his grandmother has hired to cook for her. When he meets Chloe though all his preconceived notions and plans fly out the window.
I adore the entire Cupcake Lovers series by Beth Ciotta. I’ve read it several times. The cupcake recipes are a mouthwatering perk. I only wish there were more books to come!
Want a journey told from a female perspective with a dose of love? Pick up one of these.
The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker
Calla Fletcher is a city girl embracing her busy life in Toronto, having long ago given up having a relationship with her estranged father in Alaska. But when an unexpected phone call informs her of her father’s illness, she’s convinced to go visit the remote town her mother fled 24 years ago. Calla struggles to adjust to an opposite way of life, an aloof and awkward father, and their obnoxious neighbor, Jonah, who helps run her father’s charter plane company.
Jonah makes it clear he doesn’t believe Calla has what it takes to handle their world and can’t wait for her to run back to the city. They constantly butt heads. As Calla learns to negotiate a relationship with her father, she discovers an unexpected bond forming with Jonah too.
The Simple Wild gave me the biggest book hangover and desire to visit Alaska again! Luckily there are two more books in the series to enjoy, though this first one was definitely my favorite. Check out my review from last year here.
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
Rachel has always been the responsible good girl while her best friend Darcy has always been the fun wild one. All that gets flipped on it’s head when she wakes up the morning after her 30th birthday party in bed with Dex, Darcy’s fiancé.
Horrified she tries to put their discretion behind her, but all her past feelings for Dex from their college years resurface. And it seems they aren’t one sided. As the wedding day approaches, Rachel is forced to make a difficult choice learning that the lines between right and wrong are more blurry than she thought possible.
Something Borrowed was Emily Giffin’s first novel and still my favorite of her work. It is one of the books I reread every so often. The movie, though different from the book, is also awesome!
One Pink Line by Dina Silver
One Pink Line is a unique story that told from two perspectives over a couple generations. It opens with Sydney Shephard, a college student still in love with her first love and unexpectedly pregnant. Sydney must face a future she never thought possible where she may lose the love of her life.
The other perspective is told by Grace, her daughter, who always believed she’s a product of her parents’ great love. When she discovers the truth, she questions everything and must discover who she really is.
This book blew me away when I read it years ago. I cried, I laughed, I hoped, and I fell in love with these characters. Dina Silver is an amazing author who I don’t see recommended often enough. With every book of hers I’ve read, I’ve become totally absorbed in the world she creates.
Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center
Recently divorced, Helen Carpenter, finds herself signing up for a wilderness survival course. Looking for a chance to rediscover herself, she’s annoyed to find her younger brother’s best friend is also taking the trip and she’s his ride to Wyoming.
Imagining the entire experience can only end in disaster, they set out on their three week adventure with an unlikely cast of fellow students. Helen is surprised to find herself picking up important life skills from the wild, like how to be brave, how to stick up for herself, and maybe even how to take a chance on happiness.
I believe this book was gifted to me by a friend because it was one of her favorite reads that year. Happiness for Beginners is an amazing one! I loved the nature, the growth, and the romance. I’m happy I still have more backlist books by Katherine Center to enjoy!
After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Several years into their marriage, Ryan and Lauren find themselves on the brink of divorce. In a last ditch effort to save their relationship, they come up with a plan to take a break for an entire year. Their only rule is that they can’t contact each other.
Lauren journeys on a year of self discovery where she encounters all kinds of different views on love and marriage. As she heals and takes on the challenges of living alone, Lauren finds herself questioning her own opinions on love, values, and what she’s willing to fight for.
Taylor Jenkins Reid is a go to author for me. A couple years ago I caught up on her previously published books. While I’ve loved some of her stories more than others, they’ve all been terrific reading experiences!
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Beth and Jennifer know that due to a new work policy someone is now monitoring their email. They just can’t take it seriously though and continue their hilarious and sometimes deeply personal exchanges.
Lincoln can’t believe that his new job as “internet security officer” actually involves reading office emails and writing up reports whenever someone forwards an inappropriate joke. When he discovers Beth and Jennifer’s exchanges he knows he should report them but he’s too intrigued by their stories, eventually realizing far too late that he’s falling for Beth.
Attachments is an adorable retelling of Cyrano with a modern twist. I love Rainbow Rowell’s contemporary stories.
What are your favorite romances? Have you read any of these picks?
