Booked for Romance: Valentine's Day Picks for 2025

Wild Love by Elsie Silver

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Tropes: Single dad, brother's best friend, small-town, childhood frenemies to lovers, grumpy vs. sunshine.

Written in: Dual P.o.V.

Wild Love is the first book in the Rose Hill series, all about four swoon-worthy single dads. This one follows Ford Grant, a billionaire who ditches his fast-paced city life to open a recording studio in the small town of Rose Hill, where he spent his childhood summers. But things get really interesting when Rosie, his best friend’s little sister (and the girl he never quite forgot), returns to town after getting fired. Ford can’t help but offer her a job at his record label, even though he knows it’s probably a bad idea for his heart. And when life already feels complicated enough, a 12-year-old girl shows up in Rose Hill claiming to be his daughter, turning his world completely upside down.

Guys, when I tell you I'm obsessed with a good single dad trope, this book has it all and then some. Add a little grumpy vs. sunshine and an unapologetic billionaire to the mix, and you've got me hooked. I picked this up at a Barnes & Noble in LA, and I wasn't too sure about it initially. The blurb just didn’t speak to me. I wanted something heartfelt, something so cute it would make me want to puke, and this book seemed too complicated at first glance. But let me tell you, it wasn’t. I read this on an 11-hour flight, and I can’t even remember 6 of those hours because I was so lost in this book. When I finished, I hated myself for not having bought the second one. (Which I have now, of course, bought and read.) All I can say is that I love this book and this series. If you read this today on Valentine's Day, you’ll probably want to die afterward, but in the best, bittersweet way possible.

The Right Move by Liz Tomforde

Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

Tropes: Sports romance (Basketball), best friend's brother, forced proximity, fake dating, grumpy vs. sunshine.

Written in: Dual P.o.V.

Ryan's always been the clean-cut basketball star, focused only on the game. So, when his twin sister asks him to let her best friend Indy crash at his place after a rough breakup, he's not exactly thrilled. He remembers Indy as a bit of an emotional mess from the few times they've met. Indy isn't keen on living with Mr. All-Basketball either, but she needs to save some money and heal from a relationship gone wrong. As they start living together, they surprisingly find out they've got more in common than they thought. The Right Move is the second book in Liz Tomforde’s Windy Series but can be read as a standalone.

Hello, and welcome to one out of three romance books that are in my personal hall of fame. If you’re going to trust me on anything, trust that this IS a top-tier book. Closed Proximity, Fake Dating, SPORTS ROMANCE? Count me in. I read this book more than a year ago, but every time I feel down, I go back for a reread because it brings me so much comfort. I read it last year on Valentine’s Day and will probably read it again today, too.

“Do you think he loved you the right way, Blue?”

Ryan Shay, my God, I don’t have a lot of favorite MMCs, but when I do, they’re favorites for a reason. The way he loves Indy just scratches an itch in my brain. So much so that after finishing this one, I had to create a Spotify playlist called "Hopeless Romantics" because I realized I am, in fact, a hopeless romantic and men in real life will never be written by women.

God of Fury by Rina Kent

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Tropes: Mafia prince vs. golden boy, grumpy vs. sunshine, secret romance, dark romance.

Written in: Dual P.o.V.

TWs: Check here

In this standalone MM college romance, Brandon King, a reserved artist, has his world turned upside down when he meets Nikolai Sokolov, a notorious mafia heir. Brandon has always thought he wasn't attracted to guys, but Nikolai changes everything. As their connection deepens, Brandon finds himself tangled in a thrilling but risky romance. Falling for Nikolai is dangerous, and Brandon soon learns that loving a man with such a dangerous background has serious consequences. This is the 5th book in Rina Kent’s Legacy of God’s Series, but it is again a Standalone and can be read without having read the first four.

If you know me, you know I LIVE for a good dark romance. Being a dark romance reader is practically my only personality trait, which is why Rina Kent is one of my all-time favorite authors. I devour ANYTHING she writes (except for Black Knight from the Royale Elite series. My god was that horrible). This wasn't my first MM Romance, but it was my first dark MM romance, and I savored every second of it. I was pleasantly surprised by how open Nikolai was with his sexuality, since he's a Mafia heir and all. Go figure! Brandon's past and mental health are recurring themes in the book, and I felt for him in every sense. Niko and Bran are my babies, even if they are a little crazy. So, if you’re looking for a not-so-stereotypical read this Valentine's Day, this should definitely be your pick. Don’t forget to check TWs, though!

Wrath of an Exile by Monty Jay

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Tropes: Dark romance, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, college romance.

Written in: Dual P.o.V.

TWs: Check in book

Jude Sinclair, West Trinity Falls' notorious loner and bad boy, stirs up trouble just by existing. Known for being cocky and absurdly attractive, he's a walking temptation Seraphina can't afford. Especially now that he’s living just down the hall. Her dad’s only rule? Don’t trust a Sinclair. Easy enough, until Jude's filthy smirks and poet’s tongue start chipping away at her resolve. With every secret kiss and stolen moment, Seraphina is torn between family loyalty and the pull of her heart. Will she betray her family or her heart? This book kicks off Monty Jay’s Hollow Boys Series spin-off and is a stand-alone, so you can dive right in without having read the others.

Wow, okay. Let’s remember I’m a dark romance lover here, but don't worry, this is my penultimate(-ish) dark romance recommendation for today. I stumbled upon this book, not even knowing it was part of a series or that it was a spinoff. The parents were mentioned way more than usual, so about a third of the way through, I finally looked it up and, yup, it was a spinoff. You can definitely read it without having read the original series, although the original might just be my all-time favorite series. But the spinoff? Just as spectacular. In fact, read the whole series and the spinoff! Just kidding. But seriously, this book pulled me out of a several month-long reading slump. Every book I read to get me out of my slump had been hopeless, and I wasn't quite myself. So, when I came across this book, I wasn't expecting much since nothing else had worked, but WOW. This book gave me back my spark. I hadn't read a good enemies-to-lovers in a while, and it was everything. My god, Seraphina Van Doren is a warrior, and she is the moment. And Jude Sinclair? A freaking poet. Read this if you want a heart-wrenching new take on Romeo and Juliet with a complicated enemies-to-lovers twist. It will be EVERYTHING you've been searching for. Every word written in Jude's POV is pure art, and it makes you want to die. In the best way, I promise.

The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy

Spice: 🌶️🌶️,5/5

Tropes: Sports romance (Hockey), friends with benefits, college romance, secret dating/rivals.

Written in: Dual P.o.V.

Gigi Graham has three big goals: make the women’s national hockey team, win Olympic gold, and step out from her famous father’s shadow. Things are mostly on track; except she needs to up her game and requires help from Luke Ryder. Ryder, who is six-foot-five, built, and as opinionated and sexy as he is rude, still counts as the enemy. He’s also Briar’s new hockey co-captain, stuck dealing with a merged team of two rival programs that are full of tension. Plus, he's ruined his first impression with his idol, Garrett Graham, potentially costing him a summer coaching job. Teaming up with Gigi could solve problems for both. He helps her reach her national team dreams, and she might just help mend his reputation with her dad. This is the first book in Elle Kennedy’s Campus Diaries Series, a Spinoff of her internationally known Off-Campus Series. It can be read as a stand-alone, though. No worries!

I’m a total sucker for hockey romances. I mean, sports romances are great, but there’s just something about men who play hockey. Whew. The Off-Campus series was one of my favorite hockey series back in 2020, so when I heard that a spinoff was coming featuring Garrett Graham's (everyone's number one book boyfriend) daughter, I just had to read it. And let me tell you, I loved every second of it. Wow. Their banter, hello! I was a happy mess throughout the whole book, smiling and giggling like a teenage girl, my god. I love a good strangers-to-friends-to-lovers storyline, and this was it. So, if you're looking to be a giggling, blushing mess this Valentine's, this one’s for you.

Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

Spice: 🌶️/5

Tropes: Enemies to lovers, fated love, Curses and Prophecies, Fantasy.

Written in: Single P.o.V. (third person)

A spinoff from the popular Caraval Trilogy, Once Upon a Broken Heart, starts with Evangeline Fox in a desperate bid to stop the wedding of Luc Navarro, the love of her life, and her stepsister, Marisol. Convinced it’s all a mistake and that Luc loves her back, Evangeline turns to Jacks, The Prince of Hearts, a mythical Fate rumored to grant wishes for a price. She asks for his help in exchange for granting him three kisses to be claimed at his whim. Jacks agrees and fulfills her wish, but the cost of his help is far greater than Evangeline could have anticipated.

I was shocked at how fast I got through this book, especially since fantasy usually takes me ages to finish. I'd totally recommend this series to anyone who’s curious about fantasy but kind of nervous about diving into a new world. It’s super accessible, and honestly, anyone can get into it and enjoy it. Garber’s writing style is fantastic. I might be in the minority here, but I shipped Jacks and Evangeline right from the start. But hey, I’m basically a walking red flag for morally gray guys, and Jacks being all morally ambiguous was just perfect for me. The ending blew my mind, especially that last page! Thank goodness it's the first in a series, so you can just jump into the next one without missing a beat! This one’s for you if you not only want to escape reality but dive into a brand new one.

Twisted Hate by Ana Huang

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Tropes: Enemies to lovers, enemies with benefits, best friend's brother, forced proximity.

Written in: Dual P.o.V.

Josh Chen is handsome, cocky, and on his way to being a hotshot doctor. He’s used to charming any woman he wants, except for Jules Ambrose. The fiery redhead has been driving him nuts since day one, but he can’t stop thinking about her, either. After their tension explodes into a night they’ll never forget, Josh comes up with a wild idea to finally get her out of his system: become "enemies with benefits". The rules are simple: no jealousy, no strings, and definitely no falling in love. Twisted Hate by Ana Huang is the third book in the Twisted series. It works as a standalone, so you can jump right into this one without missing a beat.

Enemies to lovers! Enemies to lovers! Here’s the thing: I read a ton of books, as you might've gathered, and too often, blurbs or authors promise me an enemies-to-lovers scenario that doesn't deliver. Usually, it's just flirty banter until the characters get together, and I hate it. I want real enemies to lovers. I want them to genuinely dislike each other before they fall for each other. I want that tension where they're attracted to each other but hate themselves for it. I want actual hate. I'm a hater; I need real, palpable hating. And this book, while a popular one, nails the enemies-to-lovers trope like no other, and it does it without dipping into dark romance. So, if that's your favorite trope, you absolutely need to read this one.

Wild Side by Elsie Silver (Upcoming)

Release Date: 04.03.2025

Tropes: Small-town, marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers.

Blurb:

"I'd always dreamed of my wedding day. But not like this. Not looking into the eyes of the man who betrayed me.

But when my nephew's guardianship is contested, I decide I'll do whatever it takes to keep him in Rose Hill. Even if it means marrying the enemy.

Rhys Dupris.

A man who is secretive, broody, and completely infuriating. A man whose work takes him away for weeks on end and brings him back covered in mysterious bruises-ones he won't talk about. In fact, we barely talk at all.

Which would be fine, except when he's not talking, he's staring. And the way he looks at me is borderline indecent.

The tension between us has always been palpable. But living under the same roof is a dangerous temptation.

I swore I would never forgive him. But that was before I knew the man behind the mask. The one who's fierce and protective. The one who's gentle and patient. The one who shows up for us when we need him most.

He's not at all who I thought he was.

And that makes hating my husband so much harder... and loving him just a little too easy." 

King of Envy by Ana Huang (Upcoming)

Release Date: 25.03.2025

Tropes: Billionaire romance, love-triangle, forbidden romance.

Blurb:

"He had everything he could've wanted . . . except her.

Dangerous. Powerful. Reclusive.

Vuk Markovic is notorious for shunning human interactions. The scarred billionaire rarely talks, and he has no interest in relationships outside his small but trusted circle.

His only exception? Her. The beauty to his beast, the object of his obsession.

He saw her first. He wanted her first. But now, she's engaged to his oldest friend-and the closer the wedding looms, the more he's torn between loyalty and desire.

She should be his . . . and he might just risk it all to have her.

***

Beautiful. Successful. Glamorous.

To the world, supermodel Ayana Kidane leads the perfect life. Her career has skyrocketed, and she's engaged to one of New York's most eligible bachelors.

What people don't know is that the engagement is only a business arrangement. He gets his inheritance when they marry; she gets the money she needs to leave her abusive agency.

Pretending to be in love should be easy-until she finds herself increasingly drawn to her fiancé's enigmatic best man.

Vuk thrills and terrifies her in equal measure. She knows she should stay away, but when her wedding is thrown into chaos, he's the only person who makes her feel safe...

Until his past catches up with them and threatens everything they love."

The Charlie Method by Elle Kennedy (Upcoming)

 Release Date: 25.02.2025

Tropes: love-triangle, college romance, MFM romance, sports romance (hockey)

Blurb:

"College senior Charlotte Kingston is living two lives―and she's nailing both of them. By day, she's the perfect sorority girl, a STEM student in biomedical engineering, and the adopted daughter of an overachiever family. At night, she's Charlie: a risk-taking daredevil looking for fun who finds herself chatting on a dating app with two anonymous hotties.

Will Larsen may seem like the breezy boy next door, but his congressman father is a constant thorn in his side. After a scandal hits another Division 1 hockey program, Will's dad is determined to distance his son from it, hiring a journalist to prove how squeaky-clean Will and his team are. Which means the last thing Will wants is for anyone to find out he and his best friend Beckett Dunne―a laidback Aussie shielding secret heartache―sometimes share girls in the bedroom.

When Charlie finally meets them in person and realizes she's been chatting with two gorgeous Briar U hockey players, things get steamy―fast. But all their messy secrets are piling up, and real life soon threatens to shatter the fantasy. With Charlie, Will, and Beckett all coming to terms with what they want and what others want for them, difficult decisions will need to be made.

Especially when lust starts to look a lot like love."