1. The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern

Read this with your significant other.

When I first read The Night Circus, I thought it must be the greatest book that had ever been written. It probably isn’t, but it may well be the most tastefully crafted love story there is in today’s fantasy genre. Apart from a delicately erotic scene towards the end of the novel, the book’s magic is balanced on its use of anticipation: the ‘butterfly’ feeling that comes with first love. The book’s darker undercurrents provide it with an element of the risqué and dangerous, and the illicit tension between Celia and Marco takes on an increasingly dark and disturbing hue as the narative progresses. It is also very well written: you’ll fall in love with Morgenstern’s style as easily as with her protagonists.

2. Crocodile on the Sandbank (from the Amelia Peabody series), by Elizabeth Peters

Read this to spice up your love life.

Expect to be thrown in the exotic, faintly spicy atmosphere of late 19th century Egypt. Luxury and deprivation, enmity and desire fuse together, turning this intelligent historical novel into an excellent delineation of the unconventional romance between two unconventional people. This book carefully intertwines the thrill of archaeological discovery, detective mystery and a forcefully budding romance. It is entertaining, witty, and an unusual but exquisite choice for a love story. It is also the best of the Amelia Peabody series, and can be read entirely on its own.

3. Like Water for Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel

Read this if you are suffering the pangs of unrequited love.

If this book were a food, it would be molasses: thick, syrupy, dark, and, to be sure, not to everyone’s taste. A wonderful alternative to Gabriel García Márquez’s Love in the Time of Cholera, this Mexican novel is all about seduction.Which is more seductive, Esquivel’s descriptions of desire, or of food? I suppose I don’t have to decide as the two are sensually intertwined in this text; cocoa feels lustful, chorizo seems passionate. For anyone that has experienced the turmoil of unrequited love, this love story will provide both a graphic reminder, and an irresistible feeling of catharsis.

4. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford

Read this book if you want to cry.

As suggested by its title, this book is the paragon of ambivalent love stories. Set during World War II, it explores the potential of young love within the constraints of a harsh historical reality through the story of Henry Lee, a Chinese American boy, and Keiko Okabe, a Japanese American girl. A realistic and touching example of romantic historical fiction, this is a story of awakening and of the melancholy of loss. It’s sure to bring a tear to your eye as you recall your first loves this Valentine’s Day.

5. Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man, by Fannie Flagg

Read this if you are searching for an everyday love story.

Set in the American South of the 1950s, this story, like many, recounts the life and loves of a young girl. The reader follows her as she is gradually stripped of her romantic illusions in a world of ‘ordinary hardship’. Similar in feel to Kathryn Stockett’s The Help, Flagg uses a combination of humour and sorrow to grant us insight into troubles of poverty and illiteracy, fears of pregnancy out of wedlock, and the universal issues of heartbreak and disillusionment suffered by the young and innocent. The book will remind you of the need to open yourself up to love.

6. The Thread, by Victoria Hislop

Read this if you want to be inspired by the powers of love.

I fell in love with this book because of its unique atmosphere. The character of Greece shines through, beautiful and resilient. It is comparable, even superior, to Nicholas Spark’s work in terms of plot, setting, and writing style, and yet is a purer love story: less sentimental, more matter-of-fact. This is an ode to the ability of strong, determined love to endure through all sorts of difficulties and disasters, as much as it is an ode to the strength and determination of the Greek people.

7. The Blue Sword (from the Damar series), by Robin McKinley

Read this if you are searching for dangerous and adventurous love.

One of my favourite specimens of 80s fantasy fiction, this book has unfairly lost its following over the years. If you are a fan of fantasy, this may be your Valentine. Set in a world reminiscent of the Arabian Nights, the love story that unfolds is an extremely enticing one. As a female reader, I couldn’t but imagine myself in the place of the heroine. Sword-fighting and restrained romance bubble into a tense, perilous and alluring game of passion. There is also the occasional veiled political reference, for those that like some extra intrigue alongside their romance.

8. Anne of the Island, (Anne of Green Gables Series) by L.M. Montgomery

Read this if you’re feeling blue.

Although the first book in this series is very widely read, the third sequel is far from well-known. It is a heartwarming, wholesome story of old-fashioned romance, abounding in suitors, beaus, letters, flowers, courting, dances and unrequited, but ultimately satisfied love. Anne and Gilbert are a couple that withstand the passage of time, and forever exist as one of the most beautiful examples of love surviving and conquering all.This is a book to read when you need to renew your enchantment with the world.

9. All my Friends are Superheroes, by Andrew Kaufman

Read this if you’re experiencing the pangs of uncertainty in your relationships.

A wonderful and neglected novella, this book is perfect for any literary lovers out there. Short and sweet, it is a playful depiction of true, everlasting love. The writing is structured around a series of metaphors, turning itself into a variation on the style of magical realism. Easily read in a single sitting: an espresso shot of optimism, cheer and appreciation for the well-written word. Although the love story at the core of the book makes for a nice centrepiece, this is a text you can appreciate simply for Kaufman’s powerful storytelling.

10. House of Flowers (short story), by Truman Capote

Read this if you are opposed to the idea of Valentine’s Day.

Although not in the strictest sense a book, I could not leave this short story off my list. It is infused with his characteristic magical touch. The writing is exquisite, each sentence perfectly constructed and polished: a brilliant-cut diamond, ringing like glass and tasting of marigolds. Glittering with the seduction of the Caribbean, the story is fanciful and pretty, but unflinchingly concerned with the idea of sacrificing for love. The book is most deeply touching at its resolution, where the reader’s initial enchantment is tested and the story questions the terms of loving and being loved (and remember that this story often comes coupled with Capote’s seminal Breakfast at Tiffany’s!) A light but lasting read.