Happy Valentine's Day!: Ten Romance Recommendations

Happy Valentine's Day! Do you also like to read romantic titles that’ll make your teenage heart swoon with affection and heartbreak? Be sure to check out these ten titles. 

1. American Panda by Gloria Chao: A freshman at MIT, seventeen-year-old Mei Lu tries to live up to her Taiwanese parents' expectations, but no amount of tradition, obligation, or guilt prevent her from hiding several truths--that she is a germaphobe who cannot become a doctor, she prefers dancing to biology, she decides to reconnect with her estranged older brother, and she is dating a Japanese boy.
2. A Sign of Affection Vol. 1 by suu Morishita: This manga is not only beautifully illustrated, it also does a wonderful job depicting a healthy and positive relationship between Yuki and Itsuomi. The former has been deaf since she was born and the latter was both compassionate and understanding of her circumstances even when they first met on the train. Itsuomi has never used Yuki’s disability to make light of her.
3. Given Vol. 1 by Natsuki Kizu: Given is a heart touching depiction of male leads who aren’t cardboard cutouts of bl tropes. Ritsuka and Mafuyu’s relationship development will pull on the reader's  heartstrings. Natsuki Kizu's depiction of her character's creative process, their rehearsals, and concerts were very well done.
4. Heaven’s Official Blessing Vol. 1 by Moxiangtongxiu: If you’re looking for a danmei novel with an exquisite blend of mythology, mystery, and romance between its leads, this is the novel for you! The love story between Xie Lian, the beloved yet strange crown prince of Xianle and his most devoted believer, Hua Cheng, will make your breath hitch, your great skip a beat, and make you cry like a baby. 
5. Horimiya: Hori-san and Miyamura-kun. Vol. 01 by Hero: Are you tired of cliches in your romance titles? Look no further, Horimiya has a simple and relatable cast of high schoolers who’ll communicate with each other if they’re being plagued with misunderstandings. This series doesn't dwell on the common “will they won’t they” trope like most series to keep their readers interested.
6. Kaguya-sama: Love is War Vol. 1 by Aka Akasaka: This rom-com is relatable to its readers and absurd due to the main leads psychological warfare that is reminiscent of Light and L’s from Death Note. This story's comedy and character development is very on point.
7. Pathfinder Trilogy by Orson Scott Card: Orson Scott Card is most famous for his science fiction works such as Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead. If you like his writing style and want a book that is filled with adventure, mystery, and bits of romance, this trilogy is for you!
8. Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success by Jessica Parra: As seventeen-year-old Rubi secretly juggles participating in a baking competition, improving her grades for college admission, and a newfound romance, she soon realizes she must learn how to manage her family's expectations while finding her own path.
9. Ryan and Avery by David Levithan: When a blue-haired boy (Ryan) meets a pink-haired boy (Avery) at a dance--a queer prom--both feel an inexplicable but powerful connection. Follow them through their first ten dates as they bridge their initial shyness and fall in love--through snowstorms, groundings, meeting parents (Avery's) and not (Ryan's), cast parties, heartbreak, and every day and date in between. 
10. Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrest: Effie Galanos' goals for her senior year include her navigating her way through her high school that is not really wheelchair-friendly, getting into the perfect college, and getting her crush Wilder to accompany her to prom--but by spring she is beginning to see herself entirely differently.

This blog post was written by current Librarians of Tomorrow (LoT) intern Yuki Huang.