Poets and PO boxes: book recommendations for this Valentine’s Day and beyond

Valentine’s Day provides a unique opposition to itself; while the day itself is seen as the height of romance in the United States, the name the day is taken from—Saint Valentine—is represented best by Gregory Alan Isakov in his single “Saint Valentine:” “Well, I just came to talk, Saint Valentine/I never pictured you here with the rats and the vines.”

Relationships, especially romantic relationships, are full of vines—tangles of snaking vines.

But they are vines, beautiful in their messiness.

The two books below highlight a bit of that tangled mess. But above all, we hope to show that relationships—in whatever capacity—are valid and worthy of being spoken about.

Happy Valentine’s Day, all. You are valid.

“This is How You Lose the Time War” by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone with T:

Okay, hear me out: rival time-traveling agents—code-named Blue and Red, respectively—who leave each other letters and correspond across different realities in an effort for their faction to win; and where this is the only reality they don’t die before meeting one another (via writing letters) while never actually meeting in person.

Oh, and Socrates shows up.

Mixing a Shakespearian lyricism rarely seen in science fiction with pop-culture references akin to the style of “Ready Player One,” El-Mohtar and Gladstone’s 2019 release redefines the sci-fi genre and romance while giving readers accessibility to said genre.

If you’ve ever wanted to push a friend or two toward a high sci-fi and/or fantasy novel, I would direct them toward this book as a starter (and I promise no drunken debauchery polemics about Greek love; maybe another time, Socrates).

Beyond the basics of a sci-fi premise, there is a quiet but growing idea of trust between Blue and Red, which grows both on the page and as a reader.

We truly don’t know if either of them receive/find the letters, but we trust that Blue and Red find them, we hope they read the words that could break realities into splinters and reform it in the same instant — because to think otherwise is unimaginable.

We are creatures of stories and community, creatures of love, in whatever shape that takes.

I’ll leave you with a quote from the story: “I’ll be all the poets…and every time love’s written in all the strands it will be to you.”

And to all my romantic time-travelers out there — I’m waiting for a letter. PO Box 0857.

“Book Lovers” by Emily Henry, with Macy:

If you’re generally a romance reader, chances are you’ve at least heard of Emily Henry.

As a self-proclaimed Emily Henry afficionado, I sure have done my research: I’ve read all of her to-date releases.

Buckle up, readers — I’m here to review her best yet so that you, too, can live vicariously through our characters this Valentine’s Day.

Henry is known for her literary romances (yes, literary, don’t get scared yet) and “Book Lovers” is literary romance at its best. Nora Stephens (yes, like Nora Ephron) — our girlboss main character but in a good way — is a (synonym for bitchy) literary agent who loves her Peloton and city lifestyle.

She is not your average girlie, and this is not your average small-town romance. Cue our other main character, Charlie Lastra, big city book editor man. These two do not get along.

Long story short, Nora takes her sister on a vacay to some small town where, what do you know, she runs into handsome but evil book editor man Charlie.

There’s the classic enemies to lovers trope, but this book is so much more than its tropes. It effortlessly subverts the Hallmark-esque style of big city girl goes to small town and finds love.

Seriously, I love this book, and you will too.

Perhaps you’ll be a “Book Lovers” book lover. And I love that for you.

Thank me later – I take emails but take more kindly to handwritten love letters. PO Box 0318