As someone who has never actually had a Valentine, I used to never want to celebrate Valentine’s Day. I had nothing against it, but it was just another day in the year. However, as I got older, I have come to love and appreciate so many aspects of the holiday. So today, I want to talk about some of my favorite young adult book recommendations for Valentine’s Day.
As a lover of everything pastel and pink, Valentine’s Day is perfect for me, and I am so mad I missed out on that aesthetic for so many years. Coming from the after-holiday lull that comes after Christmas and New Year’s, I am often looking for something to brighten my days. Lucky for me, throughout the month of February, everything turns into pinks, florals, and pastels. Everywhere I look, there is my favorite color, I can’t help but have a smile on my face.
Another hallmark of the season of love is romance, particularly stories about romance. For the longest time, I have known that I am not the biggest fan of romance stories. I read them, and younger me actually loved them, but they are definitely not on the top of my list.
However, just like anyone else, I too get swept away in the hype surrounding books. I have found myself reading quite a few romance books, especially with the recent surge in interest in the genre. When everyone on the Internet is talking about how good a book is, I want to know why!
But besides the hype, I am also making an effort to romanticize my life to the fullest, and appreciate the seasons and holidays that are offered to me. To do that, I wanted to give some of my favorite young adult book recommendations for Valentine’s Day from a non-romance reader. All of these books are adorable, romantic, and fun! Just the way I like it.
I am also going to attach some romance books that are coming out this month that are highly anticipated, and perfect for the season of love!
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Young Adult Book Recommendations for Valentine’s Day
The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar
Three Words to Describe it: Soft, Rivals, Cute
My all-time favorite romance stories are the ones that are soft, fluffy, and make me feel all warm and gooey inside, and The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar is the perfect book for that. This book follows Nishat and Flávia who are competing against each other in a school competition with their henna businesses. As the competition gets underway, Nishat has trouble parsing out her feelings for Flávia while also dealing with her culture being appropriated by her childhood friend.
This book was sweet, exciting, and heartwarming. With all the dramatic mysteries and epic fantasies I read, it was nice to slow down and read a simple love story between two girls. This is definitely a cute story that will put you in the mood for Valentine’s Day.
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Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
Three Words to Describe it: Dance, Heartfelt, Fun
This is one of my most recent reads, and it has quickly become one of my favorite young adult contemporary romance books. I initially picked up Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon because of the content (dance) but I got so much more with the beautiful relationship that develops between the two main characters.
This story is about Evie, who doesn’t believe in love after her parents’ marriage falls apart. One day, she learns that she has the power to see the entirety of people’s relationships, from first meeting to inevitable demise, just from seeing the couple kiss. This new power doesn’t help with her negative thoughts about love. In a quest to figure out more about this power, she finds herself in a dance studio, where she is wrapped into partnering with a boy named X for a dance competition.
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Loveboat, Taipei by
Three Words to Describe it:
Yet another book about a dancer, I am nothing if not predictable. Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen was one of my favorite reads of 2020. In the midst of lockdown and quarantine, I found this book and I fell in love with the characters and story.
This book is about Ever, who loves to dance and hopes to spend her summer practicing and perfecting her art. That is until her parents send her to a program in Taiwan to practice Mandarin all summer instead. There, she meets some incredible people, including Rick. Ever spends her summer free from her parents, but it doesn’t necessarily always work out in her favor.
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Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
Three Words to Describe it: Nerdy, Quiet, Messy
The story of Eliza and her Monsters by Francesca Zappia took me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting how deep, thoughtful, and connected I would feel to this story and these characters, it is a perfect addition to this list of young adult book recommendations for Valentine’s Day.
This book follows Eliza, who is the anonymous writer and artist behind an extremely popular webcomic called Monstrous Sea. Eliza is happy to go through her regular life virtually invisible until she meets Wallace who is a huge fan of her work. However, he doesn’t know it is Eliza behind his favorite webcomic. As their relationship develops, Eliza’s secrets become too much to handle, and her life starts spinning out of control.
This story is a little heavier and messier than the other two on the list. However, the adorable relationship that develops between Eliza and Wallace makes it a perfect February read. That was definitely a heartwarming read.
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You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
Three Words to Describe it: Dynamic, Competitive, Exciting
Another adorable YA contemporary book perfect for Valentine’s Day is You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson. I read this book a couple of years ago over the summer and fell in love with the interesting characters and developing relationships.
This book is about Liz Lighty, a high school student who has entered the running for homecoming queen in hopes of winning scholarship money to go to her dream school. She isn’t the most popular choice in the race, but she is determined and excited. However, as she is just getting into the competition, a new girl, Mack, shows up on the scene. Mack is a big contender for Homecoming queen. But this isn’t the only issue. Liz might be catching feelings for Mack.
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Young Adult Romance Books Coming Feburary 2022
February is the start of the contemporary book season, so there are a ton of fun contemporary romance books coming out this month and all throughout spring and summer. I am super excited about these stories, I can’t wait to read them!
Related: February New Releases for 2022
Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie
Release Date: February 8, 2022
First I need to say, I am obsessed with the cover of Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie! If this cover doesn’t scream Valentine’s Day, then I don’t know what does. The roses, the colors, everything!
But anyway, this book is about Ophelia, a high school student who is sure she knows exactly who she is. That is until she starts to fall for Talia, a quiet girl at her school, and everything she once thought she knew about herself might not be true.
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All the Right Reasons by Bethany Mangle
The premise of All the Right Reasons by Bethany Mangle is so unique and unlike anything, I have ever read before! This book is about a mother and daughter who are invited to star in a reality TV show for single-parent families.
With some early reviews coming in positive, I am excited to read this book and dive into the world that Bethan Mangle has created.
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Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon
I love books that are set in one day and from the sounds of the premise, that is how Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions by
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The start of 2022 has been rough. I ended last year with so much motivation and excitement for this year, only for January to be filled with so much bad and sad news. However coming into February, I am making a conscious effort to get myself back on track. I plan to do things I love, read books I want to read and work towards the goals that make me happy.
Valentine’s Day is often seen as a holiday for romantic love, but it is so much more than that. We go through life with so many different types of levels of relationships, and I love that there is a day to celebrate that. This year, my mom my sister, and I are planning a Galentine’s Day. We are going to make brunch watch movies and enjoy each other’s company.
I hope you can find something on this list of young adult book recommendations for Valentine’s Day. There are so many great contemporary and romance books out right now in the YA genre, you almost can’t go wrong!
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