Summer is on the horizon, and every book-lover knows there's nothing better than curling up with a sweet romantic novel on a blanket in the park. For all of my fellow love enthusiasts, I've compiled a list of titles of fairly new and potentially new-to-you novels that showcase a variety of different types of love.
1. "Mood Indigo" by Boris Vian
"Mood Indigo" begins with the classic trope of a young boy who falls in love with a young girl and they get married. The twist here — I promise I'm not spoiling it — is that on their honeymoon, the girl falls deathly ill with a sickness that can only be cured by being constantly surrounded by fresh flowers. The young man then begins frantically running through his fortune to keep her alive.
I have to stop right now and thank my old coworker Mia for giving this book to me on my birthday. I'm not even four chapters in, and the idealistic writing style has already begun carving a special place in my heart.
2. "When the Moon Was Ours" by Anna-Marie McLemore
"When the Moon Was Ours" alternates focus between Miel, the strange girl with flower petals growing from her wrists and fell from the town water tower, and and the mysterious resident artist Sam. They're both outcasts and they're inseparable. When the beautiful Bonner sisters believe Miel's flowers to be magic, and want them to make people fall in love with them, they'll do anything to get them from her.
Okay so I totally picked this one up in the teen section of the public library, but let me tell you, the combination of prose and magical surrealism in this book could capture the heart of even the most mature non-fiction reader out there. This one has a few plot twists that you'll never see coming. Every part of this book comes together to create the most unassuming love story I'm yet to come across.
3. "Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes
Bubbly, yet financially restricted Louisa Clark goes to work for the wealthy Traynor family. As the sole caregiver for the pessimistic and quadriplegic Will Traynor, Lou manages to get past his defenses and the two form an unlikely bond. Theirs is a story finding yourself, learning to start over and loving in a different capacity.
If you are one the maybe 10 people who weren't moved by Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin's performance in the movie, then I guess this book isn't for you. But if you were one of the majority who fell in love with the film, I guarantee you that you'll love the book just as much, if not more.
3. "Brooklyn" by Colm Toibin
"Brooklyn" follows the story of Eilis Lacey, an Irish girl who comes to America to start her life. Despite the only thing waiting for her at home being her family, she finds that trying to establish a life in the land of opportunity is harder than anything she's ever known. Over time she begins to find her way in Brooklyn only to be confronted with choosing between two different worlds that comprise equal parts of her identity.
One of my absolute favorite movies and an incredible book, Brooklyn is a great read in the way that it handles inner-conflict. While the decade-typical courtship aspect in this story gives me all kinds of warm fuzzy feelings, the love that Eilis has for her family and learns to cultivate for herself and her life in general is arguably the best part of the entire novel.
5. "Dying to Know You" by Aidan Chambers
Quiet, sweet Karl is sure he's in love with his girlfriend Fiorella, but she wants confirmation of this; being a literary enthusiast, she asks Karl to write her a letter to prove his devotion. The problem is that Karl is dyslexic and afraid of putting her off with his writing. So in an attempt to ensure her affection, Karl seeks out Fiorella's favorite author to help him compose the letter.
Another favorite from my teenage years, "Dying to Know You" has a talent for balancing light-hearted moments with ones of heavier weight. The self-discovery and exploration between both Karl and the unnamed author in this book gives way to an unassuming type of love that resonates all the more for being unexpected.
I hope that other people find as much joy and are able to experience these heart bursting romantic novels the same way I did. Add these titles to your reading list for a rainy day, or grab for a summer day spent reading on your front-porch and live vicariously through these paper worlds.
