i don’t know about you, but even as a very single and very-anti-valentine’s day person, there’s something about all the love, hearts, and commercially-crafted romance in the air this time of year that makes me want to read something with a happily ever after. whether you like your romances on the sweet or the spicy side, i think there will be something in this round-up to suit your style, many featuring a great range of characters from a diverse group of authors to give you more than just a vanilla love story (although those are great, too!).

here are 18 sweet (and spicy!) romances to read this valentine’s day:

books i’ve read and really liked (or loved!):

the romantic agenda by claire kann // ace rep (2 characters), Black author, fake dating, i’d rate this a 2/5 spiciness.
out on a limb by hannah bonam-young // disability rep (2 characters), surprise pregnancy (done SO right!!!), i’d say 2/5 spiciness
teacher of the year by m.a. wardell // m/m, mixed-race couple, jewish rep, single dad + kindergarten teacher, i’d say 4/5 spiciness
seven days in june by tia williams // second chance romance, black author, chronic migraine rep, i’d say 3/5 spiciness, check tw!
i love you so mochi by sarah kuhn // set in japan, ya, asian author, meet cute, 0/5 spiciness, v cute!
the neighbor favor by kristina forest // you’ve got mail vibes, a book about books, friends to lovers, black author, 2/5 spiciness

long shot by kennedy ryan // black author, basketball romance, forbidden romance, 4/5 spiciness, check tw!
two wrongs make a right by chloe liese // lgbtqia+, neurodivergence/anxiety/autism rep, enemies to lovers, fake dating, i’d say 3/5 spiciness
when dimple met rishi by sandhya menon // indian-american rep, indian author, arranged marriage, girls in tech, 0/5 spiciness, v cute!
the kiss quotient by helen hoang // autism rep, asian author, vietnamese rep, fake relationship, hooker with a heart of gold, 4/5 spiciness
the wedding date by jasmine guillory // fake relationship, black author, interracial relationship, dual POV, 3/5 spiciness
dating dr. dil by nisha sharma // shakespeare retelling, enemies to lovers, desi rep, 3.5/5ish spiciness
a lady for a duke by alexis hall // trans rep, historical romance, friends to lovers, disability rep, queer author, i’d say 3.5/5ish spiciness

books on my tbr:

sex, lies, and sensibility by nikki payne // austen retelling, black author, black fmc and abenaki mmc
woke up like this by amy lea // 13 going on 30 vibes, ya, asian author, he falls first, time travel
the art of scandal by regina black // age gap, forbidden romance, black author, political scandal, family drama
Ramón and julieta by alana quintana albertson // shakespeare retelling, latinx author, enemies to lovers
just as you are by camille kellogg // austen retelling, enemies to lovers, queer author
lunar love by lauren kung jessen // enemies to lovers, chinese astrology