I’ve been single for roughly 97% of the 46 Valentine’s Days I’ve been on Earth, which might be why I’ve one thing of a love/hate perspective in regards to the vacation. On one hand, I’m vulnerable to railing towards its manufactured nature and the truth that it appears to be designed to check relationships and make individuals who aren’t in them really feel alone. However I’m additionally a hopeless romantic who can get behind a vacation that, regardless of its disturbing origins, is someday out of the 12 months we will commit to celebrating the grand, sweeping, superb drive that’s love. If there ever was one thing worthy of celebration, it’s that.
The issue, I feel, is limiting the Valentine’s Day focus solely to romantic love and the standard (and drained) cis boy and woman, chocolate and roses, meet-cute and happily-ever-after clichés that usually outline the vacation. There’s nothing unsuitable with giving your companion some truffles or queueing up a romantic comedy on February 14, however we might additionally suppose extra expansively. There are, in spite of everything, so many various kinds of love value acknowledging and celebrating this Valentine’s Day.
Listed below are my suggestions for books that showcase a spread of passions—like meals, friendship, and even garments. Whether or not you’re partnered up or not, I hope no less than one in every of these picks speaks to your coronary heart and reminds you that love takes many splendid varieties.
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