I'm not a big fan of Valentine's Day, because where I live the most romantic day of the year is April 23rd. But since many of you celebrate Valentine's Day, I thought it would be nice to write a post about romance and stuff. Still, I'm not going to recommend the usual romance books in this post, it's more like how to tell someone "I love you" through 300 or so pages because you don't have the guts to say 3 words, and also some kind of master class on how to personalize said books to let that person know your feelings. But first, let me give you a little piece of advice: it's easier to get straight to the point and say those three words to that person than it is to try to explain it with hints; clear and direct communication isn't always easy, but it is the best way.
So, if you're already thinking about that someone you can't express your love to, keep reading, because this will be of interest to you. I have divided the post into three categories, so you can choose from the favorite genre of your love interest: contemporary, fantasy/sci-fi, and young adult. I'm going to give you three books for each category and what you're trying to say with each one, which may not always be a resounding "I love you", sometimes it will have a but after it, like "I love you, but I can't be with you right now". Don't worry, I'm sure one of these books will help you find the right way to say what you want to say.
Contemporary
​Normal People | Never Let Me Go | Cleopatra and Frankenstein |
Sally Rooney | Kazuo Ishiguro | Coco Mellors |
266 pages | 288 pages | 370 pages |
Faber & Faber ed. | Vintage International | 4th Estate |
Like I said, the best way to say "I love you" is to just say it, but if you can't do that, if you can't see yourself saying it to the person you love, then, kindly, you're an idiot and deserve to play a role in Normal People.
Welcome to the life of a high school student who falls in love with the socially awkward girl who has no friends and is the best in her class. But then you go to college with her, but not like with her, you just go to the same college, but not really together. And there you become the socially awkward boy, and she's the most popular one. And you're still in love with her and she loves you back, but when she's single you're with someone else and vice versa. You keep saying that you love each other, but neither of you believe that the other one truly feels it. So you keep seeing each other, making out and being friends, but never really dating. And it's all because of miscommunication, you should have been honest from day one. And that's why I say it's better to just say it than to play with hints. If you feel identified then get them Normal People, underline sentences and write little notes in it to let them know how you feel. Since you're an idiot, at least be a little creative and romantic. You're welcome.
Or maybe you're already a hopeless romantic who's been in love with the same person practically since you were born. Then you should get them Never Let Me Go, a beautiful, tragic love story like no other. Let them know how much they've always meant to you, that you'll love them until the end of your days, that your beating heart sings their name, that every part of you matches every part of them. Write them a love note that starts on the first page and ends on the last one, letting them know that everything in between is what you feel for them and more. If you're a hopeless romantic who's been in love with the same person since birth, let. Them. Know.
But maybe you're already with that person, you really, deeply, unreasonably love them, but you know that this burning love is hurting both of you. And you need to let them go in order to heal, to grow, to be able to know your own self, to finally find healthy love, and to move on kindly. But you don't want to break their heart because you love them, and you don't want to hurt the people you love. Then, get them Cleopatra and Frankenstein, so they can see that you're hurting each other, if they didn't know it already, and somehow help you both separate in a healthy way. And don't forget to let them know that you're doing this to become better people, to grow on your own, and to stop hurting each other. Let them know that you're doing it out of love.
Fantasy / Sci-Fi
Letting someone know you're in love with them with a fantasy novel can be a little confusing, they may understand that you loved that book so much you're giving it to them so they can enjoy it too. So please, even if you think it's a good idea, it's not. But if you still want to let someone know your love for them through a fantasy book, at least spend some time being creative about it, writing little notes throughout the book, underlining quotes that might be fundamental to let them know your feelings, if you're good at drawing, then draw something beautiful related to the story and meaningful between you too, etc. Use the book as an object, as a means to communicate your love, not through the story.
Still, there are books and books, and if the book you use is well written, something the other person will like and keep, not just because it's some kind of work of art, but because it's something they can actually read and enjoy, then that will be a huge win. And that's why I picked these three books. Because they give you lots of quotes and scenes to play with when it comes to communicating your love, and because they're all 5 stars for me.
A Discovery of Witches | Sky in the Deep | The Host |
Deborah Harkness | Adrienne Young | Stephenie Meyer |
688 pages | 350 pages | 617 pages |
Headline ed. | Wednesday Books | Sphere ed. |
In case that person is a history lover, I give you two options. If they're a historian as such or love Medieval history as much as I do, you should get them A Discovery of Witches. It has the perfect setting, the romance of a lifetime, and magic. It's set in Oxford, the lovers meet in the Bodleian Library, one is a witch and the other is a vampire. But don't worry, it's not some kind of remake between Twilight and The Vampire Diaries, it's a magnificent update of those, it's something completely different yet similar enough. And it has two sequels and a spin-off —and a TV series adaptation! Plus all the historical events and sources are correct, thanks to the fact that the author is a historian herself. So you can't go wrong with this one.
On the other hand, if they love ancient history and Norse mythology equally, you can get them Sky in the Deep. It's pure fantasy with a touch of history. A retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in the ancient world of the Vikings, with magic and an amazing female warrior protagonist. A little warning, that if you choose this book, you have to promise to read it before you gift it, because if you want that person to still love you after they've read it, you'll have to be like Fiske. He's a match, and literally everyone who meets him will fall in love with him right away. Because even though he's a fictional character, he can steal your girl.
Now, if that person is a UFO enthusiast, or loves Stephenie Meyer just as much, they will surely enjoy The Host. It's a beautiful love story between a human and an alien that needs a body to survive. It might sound like The Last Of Us, but I swear it's not a fungus that turns us into zombies, it's actual aliens that came to planet Earth to invade it and continue to spread their species throughout the universe out of necessity, I suppose. The story goes like this: this alien, Wanderer, who happens to be one of the oldest of the aliens, so they've been through many planets and invaded a lot of bodies —from jellyfish to algae, but never a human before— is confronted for the first time with a species that keeps its consciousness alive even when its body is taken, and although the alien tries to silence the conscience of the body it has occupied, it fails tremendously and ends up loving our kind, even falling in love with one of us.
This may not be the most beautiful love story ever written, but I can assure you it will give you so many quotes and beautiful scenes throughout the book that you'll be able to play with, to express your unstoppable love for the person you would cross the universe for.
Young adult
Now, this is going to be fun. These three books are random choices that I made because I'm not an actual romance reader, and I'm 25, so I'm not really into YA anymore. So these books might be a little outdated, but I tried, okay? I really tried.
The Memory Book | The Upside of Unrequited | Tell Me Three Things |
Lara Avery | Becky Albertalli | Julie Buxbaum |
357 pages | 368 pages | 336 pages |
Poppy ed. | Balzer + Bray | Delacorte Press |
This is perhaps one of my favorite books, a book I reread at least once every two years, and I read it in one day. So it's beautiful, it's a quick read, and, I won't lie to you, it gets very sad towards the end. The latter is the reason why it took me a while to figure out why I chose The Memory Book as a good way to say "I love you". But I think I finally have an answer. This is not only a story about friendship, family and love, it's also about finding while losing. I'd protect this book at all costs, and would like to reserve it for those who are going through a really hard time in their lives, either mentally or physically, and still find a way to make room in their hearts for someone else, to care for them, to love them. I'd protect them at all costs, too. They deserve all the love in the world. So if you're one of those people, please, take care and stay safe, and know that you're loved. And if you're in love with one of them, please, let them know they're loved.
With this book, you can either express your love and gratitude to those who have stood by you during your toughest times, or show them how much you care and love them, and how you'll stand by their side till the end, no matter what. That's the kind of unconditional love that needs to be shown, and there's no better way to do it than with a book like this, that takes the story to the next level, maybe even a little over the top, but for good reasons, to raise awareness. I would recommend this book to anyone, not just to express love or gratitude. I think it's a must read for everyone.
Wow, that got intense in a sec. Now, for the last two books, let's make things a bit more "ha-has" and a little less *shocked Lisa Simpson*, shall we? With The Upside of Unrequited, you can let your best friend know that you love them for being there when you were heartbroken, for mending you, and for basically being the best thing that ever happened to you. This book will give you lots of sweet moments and quotes to show them your love and gratitude. While Tell Me Three Things is a subtle way of letting someone who barely knows you know that you love them, without actually saying it, just like in the book itself. This book is very sweet and pure, the innocence of the characters warmed my heart and made me want to go back to high school —which was like hell for me, so you can only imagine how beautiful the book was.
All these books are great, and a very good way to say "I love you". But let me tell you a little story to show you —again— that it's better to say it than to imply it.
Once upon a time there was a girl who liked a boy, but couldn't find the words to tell him, so they remained friends and spent a lot of time together, which made her fall even more for him. But she never told him. And eventually, they went separate ways. Some time later, the girl started liking another guy, and this time she decided to take the plunge: she told him. Things went well for a couple of months, until they both decided to end things. It didn't work out, but she was glad she was able to enjoy a couple of months with him.
The moral of the story is that it's better to say it and risk having a good time together than to say nothing and live with the uncertainty of the what if. So have the courage to go and say the three words, it will spend you money, words, time and overthinking.
Thank you very much for reading me, and know that I appreciate you very much. And whether you are in love or not, have a very nice February 14.
