Books

Unconventional Books To Gift Your Valentine

by Melissa Ragsdale

It's nearly Valentine's Day, and the air is sweet with love and romance. As February 14th draws nearer, you may be searching for the perfect way to say "be mine" or "I love you" to that special someone, but it can be tough to find the right Valentine's Day gift. After all, how can you fit all your mushy feelings on a single valentine's card? That's why giving a book for Valentine's Day is the perfect idea!

There is nothing more wonderful than sharing in the joy of a book. If you ask me, the best gifts are books that you yourself love. Sharing your favorite book is like sharing an intimate part of yourself. So, if you don't find the perfect book on this list, think about the books that excite you the most. Or maybe even find a book that the two of you can read together. It's the personal touch that makes giving a book so fantastically special. I'm sure Cupid would agree.

A good book is a better gift than candy and flowers combined. (And hey, books go great with chocolate and wine, too.) So this Valentine's Day, make your Valentine swoon with one of these seven excellent reads.

1

'What is Not Yours Is Not Yours' by Helen Oyeyemi

The stories in this collection are absolutely gorgeous. Plus, books, hearts, and keys are all recurring themes, fitting hand-in-hand with the spirit of the season.

Click here to buy.

2

'Soppy' by Philippa Rice

The best parts about love are the little things, like sharing a blanket with someone or quietly working together in the same room. This adorable collection of comics and illustrations is all about those tiny, comforting moments that make love what it is.

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3

'100 Love Sonnets' by Pablo Neruda

This classic is filled with beautiful love poems that is sure to make your Valentine swoon. Try to get an edition that has the poems in both English and the original Spanish.

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4

'Me, You, Us' by Lisa Currie

If you love interactive books like Wreck This Journal, try this workbook that you and your Valentine can do together!

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5

'The God of Small Things' by Arundhati Roy

Of course, you want to give your Valentine a book they'll absolutely fall for. This beautiful masterpiece of a novel is one that they'll hold close to their heart. Set in Kerala, India, it's the story of two twins, Estha and Rahel, as they grow up in a childhood filled with hard circumstances, as their mother finds love in secret.

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6

'In Full Velvet' by Jenny Johnson

Coming out on Valentine's Day, this much-anticipated poetry collection by Whiting Award Winner Jenny Johnson is filled with poems that "interrogate the nuances of desire, love, gender, ecology, LGBTQ lineage and community, and the tension between a body’s material limits and the forms made possible by the imagination." Is there a better gift than brand new poetry?

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7

'The Giant's House' by Elizabeth McCracken

This sweet and strange story is about a 26-year-old librarian who forms a connection with an 11-year-old boy who is quickly growing impossibly tall. It's a beautiful story of two misfits coming together, and your Valentine will marvel at this lovely read.

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