Be Still, My Beating Heart!

There is no better month than February to pick up a romance novel, and luckily for you, we have the perfect recommendations! In lieu of your favorite bookseller, let us guide you toward your next pick for the season of love! Into stories of tragedy, heart-pounding encounters, or maybe childhood sweethearts? If so, then you have come to the right place!

So lose yourself in the fantasy of love—grab a tissue box and your favorite blanket, and get cozy. Whether you are a seasoned hopeless romantic or a timid first timer, these books are just the right amount of sweet (and bittersweet) for any reader’s palate! 

In a World of Lies, I Fell into an Unforgettable Love

By Misaki Ichijo

In his second year of high school, Makoto Tsukishima learns he has only twelve months left to live. Just as he decides to give up on confessing his feelings to the girl he likes, however, she invites him to join the film club. Soon, the two grow closer and begin to feel a connection, but time is running out for Makoto. Conflicted, yet determined to spare her the truth, it's time for him to put a certain plan into action... A story of hope connecting past and future from the author of Even If This Love Disappears Tonight.

Misaki Ichijo has written a lot of romance novels, and every time, she outdoes herself. Readers looking for a good crying session (even better than therapy, some might say!) are highly encouraged to pick up Ichijo’s latest novel, In a World of Lies, I Fell into an Unforgettable Love. A race against time, a compassionate narrator, and the tragedy of terminal illness—a romance novel that will make you stay up at night and contemplate how difficult love can be. 

(By the way, if you prefer to listen to your books, In a World of Lies, I Fell into an Unforgettable Love will soon to be available as an audiobook too!)

You Can't See the Snow

By Rokudo Ningen

One summer night, Natsuki Uzume meets Yuki Iwato, an art student from the same university, and falls in love. After that, they spend night after night together. But as autumn approaches, Yuki suddenly tells him to find a cute girlfriend, wishes him well, and disappears from his life. Desperate to see her again, Natsuki visits her family home, but an unimaginable secret awaits him there: Yuki suffers from a mysterious illness that forces her to sleep through the winter each year. Is Natsuki willing to stay with her, even if it means spending every winter alone? And can Yuki, whose strange way of life has only brought her heartbreak, trust him enough to give him a chance?

If you are into modern fairy-tale retellings and romance that is dense with emotional turmoil, then make sure to check out You Can’t See the Snow. This Snow White retelling features a nontraditional love story between two university students who come together despite their own shortcomings. But most importantly, You Can’t See the Snow offers a delicate and caring exploration of chronic illness and the often-ignored challenges of the people surrounding those affected by said illness. A novel that can be read in a single sitting but is best enjoyed slowly, just like a good cup of herbal tea.

Tower of the Sun

By Tomihiko Morimi

One young man’s barren college life changes forever when he shares a budding romance with a girl named Mizuo...only for it to all come crashing down when she has the gall to dump him! With the specter of a solitary Christmas Eve looming, he tears through the streets of Kyoto with just his powerful (some might say delusional) imagination to protect him from the cruel world at large. A Japanese fantasy novel for every man who’s been let down by love—and those still bracing for it!

Readers might be familiar with Tomihiko Morimi’s The Tatami Galaxy and The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl, but Tower of the Sun was Morimi’s debut work and laid the foundations for this writer’s spectacular use of magical realism. In Tower of the Sun, we find a man let down by love, and we watch as he tries to make sense of his loss in an almost absurdist way. We encourage readers to make fun of the protagonist—this is definitely not your usual love story—but it’s great when doing some self-reflection after a particularly bad breakup.

How to Win Her Heart on the Nth Try

By Ichine Kamijo

Nagi Yoroizuka, a twenty-seven-year old systems engineer at a software development company, is facing down her thirties with no sign of romance. She works hard at her job, but things never seem to go right. Then, when a series of mishaps leaves her at her lowest point yet, a childhood friend reappears to offer her a hand. Not only is this genius engineer warm hearted and good looking, but he also gets along great with her! There’s just one problem: She’s only ever seen him as a friend, while he’s been hiding his feelings for her their whole lives. But even if she’s willing to give him a chance, will trauma from her past prove too much to overcome?

There are two camps in the contemporary romance world:  those who love the trope of childhood-friend-to-lovers, and those who would much rather read something else. If you find yourself falling into the first camp, then How to Win Her Heart on the Nth Try is a great companion to have during this cold month. Moreover, who doesn’t love a sweet and devoted romance featuring older characters? How to Win Her Heart on the Nth Try is the perfect office romance to keep you going until the next quarter!

“Romance” is the word of the month, and with Valentine’s Day at the door, it is prime time for you to pick up a sweet treat! This February, indulge yourself with this selection and nurture that sweet feeling called love!