Books
10 Books to Give All of Your Valentines This Year, Because 'The Kama Sutra' Isn't Always Appropriate
The countdown has begun, and there are only two weeks until Valentine's Day. You've already made reservations for you and your beau at your favorite restaurant, pinned at least 20 different cupcake recipes for your office party, and the lingerie you ordered from Etsy has just arrived. Now all that is left is your gift list. What better way to say "I love you" to everyone than with a book? From romantic books to cookbooks and everything in between, this list has something for all those special someones on your Valentine's Day shopping list, because not everyone will want the newest tome on bedroom etiquette.
Image: Vanessa An Lim/flickr
For Your Mother
Where’s You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple
Bernadette is a lot of things to a lot of different people, but to her daughter Bee, she is just Mom, the best friend any 15-year-old could want. A book that, at the core, tells the story of the unbreakable bond between mother and daughter, this hilarious novel is the perfect gift for your own mom this year.
For Your Roommate
The Cookie Sutra by Edward Jaye
A kind of Kama Sutra meets Joy of Cooking and just the right mix of humor and naughtiness, this is a great choice for your roommate. You can laugh together through page after page of the adorable, not to mention brazen, gingerbread couple together. And hey, if your lucky, your roommate might even bake some sexy cookies for you.
For Your Best Friend
Everything I Need to Know About Love I Learned From a Little Golden Book by Diane Muldrow
The combination of original Little Golden Book artwork and new text including “Always the bridesmaid, never the bride?”, “Believe that the magical moment will come,” and “But don’t get so carried away that you neglect your friends,” is the perfect combination of nostalgia and humor for your BFF’s Valentine’s Day gift. It offers sage advice while being sweet and sentimental, just like your best friend.
For Your Work Wife
Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Dark and Light Mort Rosenblum
A book that confirms chocolate is good for — maybe even essential to — you? What better way to say “Happy Valentine’s Day” to your work bestie. Covering every aspect of everyone’s favorite guilty pleasure, from the history, to the production, and even to the dark side of the trade, this narrative is as every bit delectable as it is exciting.
For Your Perpetually Single Friend
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Jo March doesn’t need a man to tell her what to do, and neither does the single girl in your life. This classic about individual identity and independence is must-read for every woman deciding to love or not to love. Not to mention, the newly designed hard cover edition by Puffin In Bloom is drop-dead gorgeous, and will look great on your friend’s coffee table.
For Your Recently Dumped Friend
The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore
It’s easy to feel down after a break up, especially around Valentine’s Day. So, who better to remind your recently dumped pal that she is strong, sexy, and powerful on her own than the most bad-ass super hero of all time, Wonder Woman? This comic history mixed with family story examines the culture history of Wonder Woman, the scandalous life of her creator, William Moulton Marston, and the real-life women who inspired the feminist icon. This paired with a bottle of wine, and you’ve officially made your friend’s Valentine’s Day a whole lot better.
For Your New Boyfriend or Casual Partner
Fifty Shades of Bacon by Ben Myhre & Jenna Johnson
If you have just started seeing someone or you’re not too serious with him, this cheeky cookbook is a great solution to the “to gift or not to gift” problem that comes with having a casual partner. It says “I like having fun with you, and I think you’re really sexy” while also saying “make me bacon ice cream.”
For Your Secret Crush
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
For that special someone in your life to whom you can’t quite say “I’m into you,” try breaking the ice with the master of love. Funny, lighthearted, and all about miscommunicated love, this Shakespeare play tells your crush you think he is smart, and plays at the idea that anyone’s true love might be right in front of him.
For Your Long-Distance Boyfriend
The Hobbit (Graphic Novel) by J. R. R. Tolkien; adapted by David Wenzel; illustrated by Charles Dixon
Give your guy a book that says, “there’s nowhere I wouldn’t travel to be with you.” He can empathize with the journey of Bilbo and company while reading this graphic adaptation of Tolkien’s classic quest tale on the bus, train, or plane on his way to see you.
For Your Serious Boyfriend
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Let your man know he is the Westley to your Buttercup with one of the greatest love stories of all time. A little bit fantasy, adventure, and humor, this tale about true love — and the two people who will stop at nothing to be reunited — will show your boyfriend just how much care. And who doesn’t want to hear those three little words, “As you wish”?
