5 Books to Read If You’re Spending Valentine’s Day Single

We all know February is famous for two things. One is Sanremo, the holy week of Italian music, where from Tuesday to Saturday, we listen to the best (and sometimes not-so-great) songs on the Ariston stage. And then there’s Valentine’s Day—the holiday for lovers. That time of the year when, if you’re in a relationship, you want to celebrate your love, and if you’re not… well, you either try to feel less alone or embrace the joy of being single.

Either way, the best way to spend the day is curled up under a blanket with a hot cup of tea and a good book. Whether it’s a spicy romance, an intriguing thriller, or even a thought-provoking essay, everything feels better when you have a book that can transport you to another world.

Here are some recommendations to keep you company this Valentine’s Day

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow – Gabrielle Zevin (2023, Nord)

GABRIELLE ZEVIN - Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow

8,55€

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This is not a love story, but it’s a story about love. The love between Sam and Sadie, from their childhood to their shared passion for video games—from their first game of Super Mario to the creation of their own game, Ichigo. Throughout the novel, they meet, lose touch, and find each other again, blurring the lines between the virtual and real world. It’s a book about love and hope, even for those who have stopped believing in love. “What is a game? It is tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. It is the possibility of infinite rebirth, infinite redemption. The idea that if you keep playing, you can win. If you lose, it’s not forever, because nothing is ever forever.”

Ghosts – Dolly Alderton (2022, Rizzoli)

DOLLY ALDERTON - Ghosts

18€

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Dolly Alderton teaches readers how to survive in the era of Tinder, dating apps, and ghosting (which is the book’s original title). At 32, Nina Dean is caught between friends who are getting married and having kids and those who refuse to let go of their wild twenties. She’s stuck in the middle, trying to figure out what she truly wants from life and wondering whether the guy she met on a dating app—who seemed perfect, only to vanish into thin air—will come back to her, or if she can simply return to her old life and pretend she never met him (which, however, proves quite difficult). Because being thirty in an era where unfollowing someone is enough to erase them from your life means having to stop and take a deep breath.

Why Love Hurts – Eva Illouz (2015, Il Mulino)

EVA ILLOUZ - Why Love Hurts

12,35€

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A sociological essay that explores the reasons why love causes individuals to suffer, making this feeling not only a personal experience but also a collective one. Illouz, from the institution of marriage to beauty standards, and through the fear of commitment that permeates modernity, explains how everything is actually a construct shaped by society and modern utilitarian culture. By turning love into a spectacle, this system dictates how one is supposed to feel when a relationship begins or ends—especially if you’re a woman. Not that men suffer any less, of course, but modern Western society is structured in a way that puts women at a disadvantage even in this realm. This book is perfect for those who want a scientific and sociological perspective on emotions, and an essential read for anyone looking for a rational explanation behind the ritual celebration of love on February 14th.

The Love Letter – Cathleen Schine (2020, Adelphi)

CATHLEEN SCHINE - The Love Letter

9,60€

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"Dear goat, how does one fall in love? Do you stumble? Do you trip, lose your balance, and fall on the pavement, scraping your knee, scraping your heart? Do you crash onto the rocks? Or is it like being suspended over the edge of a cliff forever?" This is how the love letter that gives its title to Cathleen Schine’s novel begins: the sender is unknown, and Helen, a 42-year-old bookseller, finds it among her mail. At first, she thinks it’s a prank, perhaps played by one of the customers at Horatio Street Books, the shop where she works. There, we meet Lucy, her grumpy colleague, the young Jennifer and Kelly, Mrs. Skattergoods, who runs the library… and Johnny. Johnny is twenty years old and works for Helen, who happens to be friends with his parents. When he stumbles upon the letter, he assumes that Helen wrote it for him. From this misunderstanding unfolds a series of amusing mix-ups, eventually leading to the resolution of this little mystery—one that will leave you smiling. The Love Letter is a perfect read for those who don’t take things at face value when it comes to love and for anyone who enjoys a touch of suspense in their romantic stories.

How to Be Single – Liz Tuccillo (2018, TEA)

LIZ TUCCILLO - How to Be Single

9,50€

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This book inspired the 2016 film of the same name, starring Dakota Johnson and Rebel Wilson. "[…] Regardless of what I had learned or how I felt about being single, I am not alone. Not at all." A novel about the joys and struggles of being single, told through the stories of Julie, a Manhattan writer who embarks on a worldwide journey to answer the question: "Why am I still single?" Along the way, we meet her friends, who, between betrayals, flings, and disastrous blind dates, wonder whether there is really a rulebook for love—or if the beauty of love lies in the fact that there are no rules at all. If the storyline sounds familiar, that’s because the author is one of the screenwriters of Sex & The City. And you? How will you spend Valentine’s Day? Let us know, and if you’ll be spending it with a book, share your recommendations!