These books deliver the romance you’re after, but they aren’t just about grand gestures and happy-ever-afters. They’re also raw, messy, and real. Plus, they bring a refreshing variety of characters with plenty of LGBTQ+ representation, breaking away from the typical heteronormative romance the genre is notorious for.

The world has fallen in love with romance again. Romantasy has become its own multi-million-pound industry, with sales up considerably in the past year, but romance and erotic fiction also saw sales value increases of 9.8% and 18.1% respectively last year. As Valentine's Day approaches, here are romantic reads to set your heart racing.

HACHETTE; Berkley It doesn’t matter if you’re spending Valentine’s Day alone or with a significant other, the best gift is a romance novel. The idea of romance looks different for every reader these days.

The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day is focused on monster romance books. Yep, you read that right. Monster Stuff Your Kindle Day offers romances that feature vampires, aliens, demons, trolls, orcs, and so much more. If that sounds like your thing (no judgement here), this is your chance to stock up.

Employees at stores like Montgomery & Taggert, Connecticut’s first romance-only bookstore recommend authors such as Krystal Marquis, Kristan Higgins and more.