Lifestyle

2nd February 2022

5 Beautiful Reads For The Month Of Love

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Image Credit: Colleen Hoover

As the two love stories from Lily Bloom’s past intertwine together in her present, Hoover shocks us, breaks us and puts us back together again all within this heartfelt book. Encapsulating the power of your first love, Hoover takes us from the falling in love and being vulnerable, to the heartbreak, the questioning, and the remembering.

Ryle – a man embedded within Lily’s life, through their relationship of intensity, darkness and desperation.

Atlas – as Taylor Swift says, the one who throws blankets over Lily’s barbed wire, her protector. The one who taught her the feeling and meaning of heartbreak.

Who will be the ultimate gatekeeper to Lily Bloom’s heart? This story will make you think, think again and think some more. It is not as easy as letting go, as stopping loving them, as forgiving and as letting someone back in.

Favourite Quote: “In the future… if by some miracle you ever find yourself in the position to fall in love again… fall in love with me.” He presses his lips against my forehead. “You’re still my favourite person, Lily. Always will be.” – Atlas Corrigan

The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

Image Credit: Simon & Schuster

Aaron Blackford. The man every girl dreams of. The guy that seems as if he plays hard to get but is so undeniably and completely in love with you. So in love with you that he is secretly in love with you, the guy that is willing to be your fake boyfriend just so you don’t look like a pathetic loser at your sister’s wedding halfway across the globe, who buys you five fish tacos when you asked for four, and steals doughnuts for you just to see you smile.

Fiery Lina Martin can’t stand Aaron Blackford on his first day at the office with his obnoxious and arrogant attitude, little did she know he didn’t know what to do with himself when he first looked up at her. I think I will forever be in love with a fictional man, one whose abs are chiselled to perfection and sweat glistens in the sun as he plays football with my family. Get a grip.

You will feel their undeniable chemistry through the page and Armas makes you feel as if you are Lina, living this Spanish love fantasy, well you definitely will wish that you were Lina. From enemies to lovers, this is by far, the best romance novel I have ever read. I fell deeply in love with Armas’ characters, this is truly magical and I am (im)patiently awaiting Armas’ The American Roommate Experiment.

Favourite Quote: “Because it was all you were willing to give me. And I’d rather have you hating me than not have you at all.” – Aaron Blackford

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Image Credit: Ali Hazelwood

This academic romcom definitely lived up to the BookTok hype. I immediately fell in love with Olive’s ditziness and naivety and obviously fell in love with sex-god professor Adam Carlsen. Accidentally kissing her professor to help out her best friend Anh, Olive gets herself wrapped up in a fake-dating situation with charming science professor, Adam. If only it was that easy to bag a handsome hunk of brains.

Olive is totally blind to Adam’s admiration and affection towards her, thinking his cutesy nickname “smart-ass” for her is nothing but stupid. After multiple awkward forced encounters between them, Olive begins to catch feelings for Adam who is brutally critical of everyone except “extraordinary” Olive. Hazelwood builds this love story so seamlessly, capitalising on the trope of an innocent girl blind to the male perfection that is standing right in front of her.

Favourite Quote: “I wish you could see yourself the way I see you” – Adam Carlsen

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Image Credit: Sally Thorne

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman are coworkers but sworn enemies who are total opposites and disagree on just about everything. As they rival each other for the same promotion, Josh starts picking up on Lucy’s quirks, noting them down secretly, while Lucy continues to slam Josh for being an overbearing, controlling idiot. Thorne’s build-up of sexual tension in the office is painful, so thank GOD for the steamy elevator scene.

Josh’s nickname for Lucy, “shortcake” is so endearing but again she slams it as mean and stupid. Failing to see the potential of a beautiful love story, will Lucy and Josh ever realise that, actually, hating someone is exactly like loving someone.

Favourite Quote: “Watching you pretend to hate the nickname is the best part of my day.” – Joshua Templeman

Bared to You, A CrossFire Novel by Sylvia Day

Image Credit: Sylvia Day

A raunchy relationship that is full of deep, dark secrets. Stumbling into her new office building, bombshell Eva Tramell falls head first at the feet of bad-boy billionaire, Gideon Cross. Everyone needs to experience the intensity of Gideon Cross at least once in their life. If you need more of him, this masterpiece is one part of a whole series, yay! Transforming each other’s damaged pasts through their undeniable chemistry is compelling to read as Day beautifully illustrates the healing power of the human connection and the bond of fiery passion. Gideon Cross, a man of fierce sex appeal and refreshing vulnerability is one we all need.

Favourite Quotes: “Sharing you would bother me. It’s not an option. Your body belongs to me, Eva.” 

“I’ve always seen you, angel. From the moment you found me, I’ve seen nothing but you.”

I have read a lot of romance novels, so you have to trust me on these ones – they are as good as it gets. These should be at the top of everyone’s reading list, especially, for February!

Ps: Don’t blame me if you have super high expectations for love and will never date anyone below the standard of Aaron Blackford and Gideon Cross combined, blame Elena Armas and Sylvia Day.

Feature Image Credit: Photo by Tara Winstead from Pexels