By Morgan Kacalek
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you may find yourself wanting to feel the joy of love by watching some of the best rom-coms or maybe even by reading some romance books. Here are some of my favorite movies and books to read around Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day
What is a more perfect movie to watch on Valentine’s Day than a movie titled “Valentine’s Day”? In this composition of intertwined stories, a variety of Las Vegas residents navigate the highs and lows of love and romance during Valentine’s Day. Throughout the day, they experience first dates, connections to past relationships, and longtime commitments. Critics say this movie is sweet and well-written, often compared to another classic, “Love Actually.”
“Valentine’s Day” features actors such as Julia Roberts, Bradley Cooper, Anne Hathaway, and Taylor Lautner, making this one of the best films to watch on February 14th.
The Do-Over By Lynn Painter
If you are looking to pick up a book this Valentine’s Day season, Lynn Painter is an amazing Y/A romance author. The Do Over is one of my favorite books by Painter because it’s so suiting to read on Valentine’s Day. The book follows Emile Hornby who wakes up on the morning of February 14th and anticipates the most romantic day with her boyfriend Josh. However, her day does not go as expected because she catches Josh cheating on her. After living through the worst day of her life, she wakes up the next morning only to realize that it is still the 14th and she is stuck reliving the same day over and over. The Do Over is a super cute and fun, fast-paced Y/A romance that is perfect to read on Valentine’s Day.
Just Go with It
Just Go with It is my absolute, all-time favorite rom-com. This movie follows plastic surgeon Danny Maccabee (Adam Sandler) who wears a fake wedding ring and pretends to be married so that he can continue to date with no strings attached. After meeting Palmer, the girl of his dreams, his plan backfires and she tells him she won’t date a married man. Danny then gets his assistant Kathrine (Jennifer Aniston) to pretend to be his ex-wife in an attempt to prove to Palmer that he is no longer married. Instead of fixing the problem, however, the lies spiral out of control. This movie is also hilarious and overall such a feel-good movie!
The Love Hypothesis By Ali Hazelwood
Another book that is a great option for Valentine’s Day is The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood—an amazing romance novelist known for writing about women in STEM. The Love Hypothesis is about a third-year PhD candidate, Olive Smith, who doesn’t believe that relationships can ever last. However, after trying to convince her friend that she can be in a relationship, she kisses the first boy she sees, who happens to be a young “hot-shot” professor, Adam Carlsen. After Olive explains the charade, he agrees to keep her secret and be her fake boyfriend. This book is a great option if you are a fan of the fake-dating trope and are looking for a romance book for Valentine’s day.
27 Dresses
27 Dresses is another classic rom-com that is perfect to watch around Valentine’s Day. This movie is about Jane Nichols (Katherine Heigl), a young woman who enjoys planning weddings and being a bridesmaid but she has never found love herself. When her sister, Tess, returns from a trip and falls in love with Jane’s boss, and secret crush, George, Jane begins to question her job planning weddings. When reporter Kevin Doyle (James Marsden), whom she despises, is assigned to cover the wedding of Tess and George, he hears about Jane’s unusual story and decides to write about her. 27 Dresses is beautiful, entertaining, and deals with all of the romantic themes that we like to think about on Valentines Day.
10 Things I Hate About You
This movie is one of the most iconic rom-coms there is. Everyone should watch this movie at least once in their lifetime, and what a more perfect time than Valentine’s Day? 10 Things I Hate About You follows Cameron, a boy who, as a new student, finds himself crushing on Bianca Stratford who isn’t allowed to date unless her older sister does. Cameron and his friend then bribe Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) to take out Kat (Julia Stiles), Bianca’s older sister, so Cameron can date Bianca. This movie contains some of the most iconic scenes and quotes relating to love which makes it perfect to watch on Valentine’s Day!
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