Romantic Valentine’s Day Books for Everyone
I love Valentine’s Day. There are so many reasons, but the main one is it gives me an excuse to be sappy and decorate with pink and red and glitter everything. More than that though, I am a total romantic at heart. Over the past year I’ve read so many wonderful, super-romantic books and I wanted to share some of my favorites. Don’t worry!! These are all G-rated (well, maybe PG-13 to be safe!) and totally not creepy at all.
So if you are itching to feel inspired and maybe slightly sappy, here are some of my favorite reads (with a favorite line or two from each!)!
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1. Marriage Poems
from Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets. I picked up this little book at the Faulker House when Scott and I were in New Orleans last year. And I love it. It’s a tiny hardback book that’s packed with sweet sayings that I could quote all day. One of my favorites? Love in the Valley by George Meredith.
No, she does not doubt me! on a dewy eve-tide whispering together beneath the listening moon, I pray’d till her cheek flush’d, implored till she faltered- fluttered to my bosom- ah! to fly away so soon!
2. Love Letters of Great Men & Women
, compiled by C.H. Charles. From Napoleon to Charles Dickens to Victor Hugo and more this collection is so. much. fun. I love getting to read these sweet secret notes from these powerful men and women—it’s like getting to draw the curtain back a bit into history. The one that always gets me is the sweet series of letters between Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, like this sweet line from Robert to Elizabeth during their courtship:
…seeing that from the beginning and at this moment I never dreamed of winning your love. I can hardly write this word, so incongruous and impossible does it seem…
3. The Bible
The Bible is full of all kinds of love. Love between families, friends, God and man, Jesus and us and in the book of Song of Songs, there is a super romantic exchange. Verse 8:6 & 7 say:
Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death; ardent love is as unrelenting as the grave. Loves flames are fiery flames—the fiercest of all. Mighty waters cannot extinguish love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all his wealth for love, it would be utterly scorned.
4. Love Poems
compiled by C.N. Edwards
Confession—Scott picked out a favorite line to share from this one. And I think he did brilliantly. His favorite was At Last by Elizabeth Allen Akers.
I count no more my wasted tears; they left no echo of their fall; I mourn no more my lonesome years; this blessed hour atones for all.
5. Anne of Green Gables
. My childhood hero was Anne and I must have read this book a million times. The entire thing is utterly romantic, but not necessarily in a typical romantic way. The language that Lucy Maud Montgomery uses and the imagery is incredible. And there is so much love in this book! One of the sweetest quotes is Matthew (Anne’s adoptive father) speaking to Anne.
“Well now, I’d rather have you than a dozen boys, Anne,’ said Matthew patting her hand. ‘Just mind you that — rather than a dozen boys. Well now, I guess it wasn’t a boy that took the Avery scholarship, was it? It was a girl — my girl — my girl that I’m proud of.”
6. Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen. YES. This book is still my favorite. And of course, I have to pick a Darcy quote for my favorite:
My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.
I have to also give a shout out for my favorite quote from the movie…I love it so much it’s been hanging in our dining room on a giant sign I painted for over a year now. 🙂
Does anyone else like to read romance books that aren’t in the romantic book section of the bookstore? Know what I mean? 🙂 I just love all the passion these authors pour into their words. What are your favorites?
Tania Griffis is an accomplished writer, blogger, and interior designer with a Journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma. She started her popular blog, Run to Radiance, in 2011, demonstrating her design expertise through the personal remodeling of six houses to millions of readers across the globe.
Tania also owns The Creative Wheelhouse, a respected ghostwriting agency for bloggers, further showcasing her talent for creating engaging and informative content.
I’m a huge fan of love, any kind really, but especially the romantic one!
love this post and the quotes are beautiful!
we should watercolor them! 🙂
Done! Let’s make some watercolor magic! 🙂
Great post!
“Read the best books first, for you may not have a chance to read them at all.” –Henry David Thoreau
Very true…but how do you know the best books? 😛 I have such a hard time deciding!!
Great picks. Especially Anne of GG – one of my all time favorites. And you’re right – not romantic in the typical sense but romantic all the same.
Thanks Amy! 🙂 Anne is the best. I just love the way she speaks! 🙂
what a perfect way to get into the valentine’s day spirit – the marriage poems sounds like something i’d love to have around the house for always <3