February is a time for romance to shine. Whether you agree with the commercialism of love by the greeting card and chocolate companies or not, you have to admit that it can be fun getting swept up in the expression of love for others. Even if your Valentine's Day tends to be more of a Single Awareness Day, there is at least one way to join in the celebrations: reading the swooniest romance novels!
If you're looking for a new love story that will set the mood for Valentine's Day, these new releases will have your heart racing and the butterflies in your stomach fluttering. And, true love is someone buying you books, or just giving you some time to read. Self-love counts too, if you need a reason to add these romance and romantasy novels to your bookshelf this February.
Risky Business by Annabelle Slator — Feb. 3
Risky Business is a modern, techy adaptation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. When Jess Cole hears about a tech competition that could save her company, she's all in. The only problem is that in this male-dominated field, she worries that she'll be dismissed before she can prove herself.
Jess enters her company in the competition under her brother's name, and she poses as his assistant. If the actor she paid to play her brother doesn't blow their cover, the growing feelings Jess has for a rival company's assistant just might.
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The Lies that Summon the Night by Tessonja Odette — Feb. 3
From Tessonja Odette, the author of the Entangled with Fae series and The Fair Isle Trilogy, comes a new dark romantasy where art and creativity are illegal. When art is made, it summons monsters from the shadows. Those who break the law are sacrificed to the immortal, vampiric royals to save the rest of the people from the monsters.
Inana is a storyteller with a bounty on her head. Dominic is half-immortal who needs an artist who can call forth the monsters from the shadows. They enter a wary deal, brittle with misgivings and shaky trust. As they grow closer, they uncover secrets about their world, the immortal beings known as the Sinless, and who the real monsters are.
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Also releasing on February 3 are STEM rom-com Love and Other Brain Experiments by Hannah Brohm and hockey romance Skate It Till You Make It by Rufaro Faith Mazarura.
Still Into You by Erin Connor — Feb. 10
Still Into You is only Erin Connor's second novel, but with an early reader rating of 4.3 stars, it's already making some waves in the romance world. It's a contemporary second-chance romance set in the music industry, where love once ended in order for career dreams to take flight.
Dax has never done interviews, but with his band, Final Revelations, about to release a new album, he agrees to some promotion. But, only if his ex, Sloane, does the interview. This is Sloane's big break as a music journalist, and she's determined to live her dreams. The only issue is that she must decide once again between her feelings for Dax and her career.
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Other February 10 releases are Only Friends by Lydia San Andres and Wicked Onyx by Debbie Cassidy. Only Friends is a contemporary rom-com and Wicked Onyx is a dark academia romantasy.
Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett — Feb. 17
Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter is a new cozy historical romantasy by Heather Fawcett, author of the Emily Wilde series. Set in a magical version of Montreal, Canada in the 1920s, the story mixes several genres to make a tale anyone can enjoy.
Agnes's number one priority is to find homes for the cats in her shelter. She doesn't have time to deal with other nonsense, especially magical nonsense. But, when her landlord, a former dark wizard, is in trouble, Agnes realizes that her cats will be too. So, Agnes agrees to help him. Obviously not because of his handsome smile. It's only to save her cats. Right?
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Half City by Kate Golden — Feb. 17
Half City is the first book in the new Harker Academy series by Kate Golden. It's a dark academia romantasy with some Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes. There is also a mystery to solve and sinister secrets lurk around the main character.
Viv is a demon hunter like her late father. She enrolls in Harker Academy to enhance her skills and grow strong enough to face the demons that killed her father. But there is more to the school than just demon-hunting classes, and Viv may have just entered herself into a trap. Can she trust the handsome demon who offers to help her?
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The star-crossed lovers romantasy, Crown of War and Shadow by J.R. Ward, and Venezuelan rom-com, The Ex-Perimento by Maria J. Morillo, also arrive on Feb. 17.
The Legend of the Nine-Tailed Fox by Katrina Kwan — Feb. 24
The Legend of the Nine-Tailed Fox is a romance twist on ancient Asian mythology. Early readers give this tale a 4.4 rating for the rich fantasy and the representation of Asian characters and culture.
Yue is a nine-tailed fox, a demon who seduces men only to consume them. The demon hunter, Sonam, manages to capture her and send her to Hell, but Yue manages to drag him down with her. Now, they must traverse the different circles of Hell together if they want to survive. Can these enemies-to-lovers make it back to earth without too much emotional scarring?
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Rounding out the February romance novel releases are All We Have Is Time by Amy Tordoff and The Trident and the Pearl by Sarah K.L. Wilson, both of which release on Feb. 24.