Graphic by Anjali Rao-Herel ‘22
By Cat Barbour ’24
Staff Writer
After scouring both the internet and Mount Holyoke students’ to-read lists, the Mount Holyoke News compiled a list of books to put you in a romantic mood this Valentine’s Day.
“Glimpsed” by G.F. Miller
Release date: Jan. 5, 2021
Author G.F. Miller brings us “Glimpsed,” a novel in which the protagonist, Charity, is a fairy godmother. Charity’s ability to “glimpse” into her classmates’ ideal futures eventually leads her to disaster, throwing her previously granted wishes into question. Uncertain of her power, she has to deal with Noah, the ex of one of her past clients, who blames her for his prom plans going awry. However, he soon proves to be a useful ally, and perhaps something more, as he helps Charity understand her glimpses.
Alethea Kontis, New York Times bestselling author and writer for NPR, dubbed the book “utterly delightful,” adding, “[I]t was exactly what I needed, exactly when I needed it.”
“Happily Ever Afters” by Elise Bryant
Release date: Jan. 5, 2021
Goodreads describes “Happily Ever Afters” by Elise Bryant as a crossover between “Jane the Virgin” and “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.”
The main character, Tessa Johnson, has writer’s block, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time: She has just begun a creative writing program at a prestigious art school. Her friend Caroline believes Tessa needs to live her own love story to get out of her slump and fix her writing. To do so, Caroline creates a list of steps for romance that leads Tessa to Nico, a brooding but dreamy artist. But following the list creates more problems than it solves.
“The beginning of this book felt like a warm hug. The middle was full of all this tension and the ending … is so fabulous,” declared book blog Utopia State of Mind.
“Much Ado About You” by Samantha Young
Release date: Feb. 2, 2021
Teenagers aren’t the only ones falling in love. In “Much Ado About You,” Evangeline Starling wants more than what her 33 years have given her so far. On a whim, she travels to England on vacation and gets a temporary position at the bookstore Much Ado About Books. There, she befriends the locals, including Roane Robson, resident farmer. Evangeline knows she shouldn’t fall for him, but she can’t seem to help it. The romance book blog Harlequin Junkie calls Young’s novel “a gem of a rom-com set in the coziest of seaside towns in England and with wonderfully genuine emotions.”
“First Comes Like” by Alisha Rai
Release date: Feb. 16, 2021
Author Alisha Rai tells the story of Jia Ahmed and Dev Dixit in “First Comes Like,” the newest installment of the “Modern Love” series. Jia and Dev’s successful, busy lives suddenly collide when someone catfishes Jia using Dev’s name. When the accident is leaked, they must create a fake relationship to save face. Those familiar with the fake relationship trope will not be disappointed.
Rai’s “Modern Love” series includes two previous novels, “The Right Swipe” and “Girl Gone Viral.” While these are stand-alone stories, each contains characters that make appearances in the other books.
“Written in the Stars” by Alexandria Bellefleur
Release date: Nov. 10, 2020
Continuing the trope of fake relationships, Darcy Lowell and Elle Jones meet after Darcy’s brother plays matchmaker in Alexandria Bellefleur’s “Written in the Stars.” Unfortunately, it’s not a great fit, but Darcy tells her brother it was a wonderful date to escape another round of his misguided matchmaking and Elle is forced to play along. The last thing they expect is to develop real feelings. Adelia Brown ’22 proclaims it “sweet and genuinely funny.” “It feels exactly like a rom-com you’d watch with a group of friends at a high school sleepover, except it’s gay,” she added.