February: the month of Valentine’s Day. The time where everyone busts out all their favorite romantic comedies and chick flicks. 

Rom-com books are my guilty pleasure, and I have a specific list of my go-tos that I reread throughout the year — especially around this time. 

“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” — Jenny Han 

Peter Kavinsky and Lara Jean Covey invented the fake-dating trope. This series is my favorite in the Young Adult (YA) Romance genre.

Lara Jean eventually falling in love with Peter again after a middle school crush is too cute. This book made the fake-dating trope become my favorite trope.

I love this series because the characters feel relatable and their story is a feel good story. Han is a romance master.  

“The Summer I Turned Pretty” — Jenny Han 

Han is my favorite romance author, in case it wasn’t obvious. This series follows Belly and the love triangle between her and two brothers — Conrad and Jeremiah.

The angst of the series is what makes the romance factor so much more interesting to read about. All the outside factors in each characters’ lives makes you just want them to be happy. The moments where Belly gets to be with the person she’s meant to be with brings a smile to reader’s faces. 

“Kisses and Croissants” — Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau 

Jouhanneau’s book is a great read for fans of romance books that are set in Paris. An American girl’s first visit to Paris? Yes. A ballerina in a production of Swan Lake? Yes. A budding romance with the resident bad boy? Sign me up.

This debut book promises lots of croissants, angst, drama and of course, romance. Fans of Han should definitely check this one out. The ending of the book took me completely by surprise with that plot twist. 

“Happily Ever Afters” — Elise Bryant 

Bryant is an expert of the romance genre. She is my go-to author for Black love stories, and she has such a wide array of characters in her discography. Everything about her books, from the writing to the characters, makes her an author that stands out as someone who knows how to write a good story.

The best part about this book is the way Tessa’s love story is so relatable, especially for Black girls in majority white spaces. Everything she feels makes her feel like an authentic real character. 

“Romancing Mr. Bridgerton” — Julia Quinn

While this technically doesn’t count as a romantic comedy, there are definitely humorous moments — not to mention, this book invented unrequited love, so I’m counting it.

Penelope and Colin are my second favorite ship — thank you, Quinn. They are such a genuine match, and Colin becoming protective over Penelope is so adorable.

Penelope has always loved Colin, but Colin’s developing feelings for Penelope are the best part of the book. The hunt for Lady Whistledown also finally comes to a head, and the characters exploring that plot was so fun to read about.