Valentine’s Day is kinda..loaded, right? I mean, it’s nice in theory if you have someone to celebrate with. You can also celebrate it with friends and be thankful for platonic love.

But it’s also kinda hard because there’s a lot of pressure and expectation with this holiday. Many years ago, Hubby and I decided to keep it low key. I mean weren’t we SUPPOSED to go out and spend hundreds on dinner, sparkly gifts, huge amount of flowers? That’s what my 20 year old self thought when we first started dating. It was only when I was at work one V day that I realized – wow, this is seriously messed up. I had a couple of co-workers, women who had been married many many years whose had husbands sent them the same massive flower arrangement every year for Valentine’s Day. And they jokingly told me I had to train my husband young.

He isn’t a dog.

Okay, so after I had a mental meltdown about how I was seriously not getting those things and why not and he must not love me enough, I came to my senses. (Also, poor Hubby was like – wtf happened at work today??!)

Because love is different for everyone. Love is shown in different ways.

Maybe it’s buying a snack and coffee for her every Wednesday because she forgets to eat (The Love Hypothesis) or driving four hours to help your pretend boyfriend see their estranged father (Boyfriend Material). Maybe it’s getting the royal physician to look in on your friend’s mother (Tokyo In Love) or even reliving the same experience over and over and trying to do better with them every time (The Darkness Outside Us).

Because Love is love is love and it may not include flowers or expensive dinners or diamonds. It will be different for everyone. and that’s ok.

Here are my Top 9 Romance books at the moment that might warm your heart.