Valentine’s Day occurs this year on Wednesday, February 14th. While the holiday is just another day for some, many others like to get into the Valentine’s Day spirit. One popular thing to do is wear red, pink, or purple clothes with hearts on them on the special day. Others enjoy gifting chocolate and flowers to friends and loved ones. But for those who are more introverted, cozying up with a book or movie is more ideal. It is still winter after all! Below I have curated a variety of different options to be enjoyed in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day and the wonderful day itself. 

In my opinion, the quintessential Valentine’s Day movie is none other than 2010’s Valentine’s Day. The film follows many different people in Los Angeles and their respective plans for Valentine’s Day. The lives of the characters are all intertwined in different ways, and the resulting story is filled with humor and surprises. Valentine’s Day features a cast of almost all A-list celebrities, including Ashton Kutcher, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway and Queen Latifah, among many others. The movie even includes a young Taylor Swift, who stars with her then-boyfriend Taylor Lautner. Though it may seem like the typical cheesy romcom, it is worth watching at least once. 

Other options for Valentine’s Day themed movies include Loveuary movies from the Hallmark Channel. There are too many Loveuary movies to count, but some of my recommendations include Sweeter Than Chocolate and A Paris Proposal. One of my favorites is The Secret Ingredient, a movie about an ex-couple who are now rival bakers on a Valentine’s Day-themed baking competition. The movie guest stars Food Network celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan as the host of the baking competition, adding to the fun. This year for Loveuary, the Hallmark Channel will be debuting four movies inspired by Jane Austen and her literary works. 

My final pick for Valentine’s-themed movies is the kid-friendly Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown. This wholesome half-hour-long movie centers on the Valentine’s Day celebrations of Charlie Brown and his class. This can be an enjoyable movie to watch in order to think back on your childhood and enjoy a simple, lighthearted story. It even received an Emmy nomination in the category of Outstanding Children’s Special in 1975. 

Now, for the more literary-inclined, I have the perfect book recommendations. Both of these book series are available to be checked out at Wake County Public Libraries. 

The Princess Diaries is one of the most popular Young Adult series, with twelve total books for readers to enjoy. Published in the early 2000s, they share the story of Mia Thermopolis, a normal teenage girl who discovers that she is actually the princess of a small European country, Genovia. Many people have seen the movie adaptations and can enjoy comparing the books to the movies. 

Finally, the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before series of books (and movies!) These books are about Korean-American Lara Jean Covey and her high school experiences with falling in love and growing up. Like the Princess Diaries, you can compare the books and movies and decide which one you like better!

Valentine’s Day only comes around once a year, so remember to make the most of the holiday. Check out the books and movies recommended in this article, and have a great week!