Romantic novels don’t need to be your "thing" in order for you to enjoy these compelling reads but, if you’re in the mood for love-as-subject-matter, our picks suit the season perfectly.
Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart: It’s near-future New York and social media’s crazy, civil unrest is brewing and schlumpy, middle-aged Lenny Abramov is totally devoted to cool, young Eunice Park. Standout details? A supertight extension of the jeggings trend and perfect simulacrums of e-correspondence between 20-somethings. Buy it now
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami: An achingly beautiful tale of love and loss, we’re drawn into Toru Watanabe’s reminiscences about relationships with two enigmatic though dramatically different women from his youth. Elegiac and atmospheric, this one’s for those whose passions defy conventional definition. Buy it now
Ada or Ardor by Vladimir Nabokov: This is a read for languorous days (cashmere blankets and fireplaces are fitting accoutrements to the forest-thick prose). The book itself takes the form of a manuscript by Van Veen, punctuated by notes from his love Ada, as he attempts to document their complicated lifelong affair (how complicated? Turns out, they’re siblings). Buy it now
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss: Smart, complex and constantly weaving across time and space, this novel illustrates how a love between two people can, quietly, affect many more. Across generations and from Second World War Germany to New York City, it’ll have you wondering what incarnations of love might be out there, unknown, surviving in the wild. Buy it now
The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P by Adelle Waldman: Clever and entertaining, this slim read documents the experiences of Nate, a self-congratulatory thirty-something writer enjoying his first taste of success. Nate suddenly has his pick of eligible women, and deludes himself (but not the reader) that he’s capable of feeling more than contempt for others. An awesome take-down of the male psyche. Buy it now
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell: The author’s writing is addictive to start, and particularly so when she’s spinning a story about love. In Attachments, an IT guy falls hard for his co-worker, sight unseen, when he’s tasked with monitoring her emails. The result: an awkward, agonizing and totally appealing romantic read. Buy it now
Happy Valentine’s Day, literally. —Adrienne Matei & Noa Nichol
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