Filled with roses, chocolates, and love letters, February 14th is a celebration of connection, and what better way to add to the joy of the day than with some bookish love? Below you’ll find four bookish date ideas to help you capture the magic of the day! They’re fun for Palentine’s/Galentine’s, too, or you can embark on these adventures solo. You never know who you’ll meet along the way…
1. Annotating Your Favourite Scene(s) from Your Favourite Book
Annotating your favourite scene from one of your favourite books might just be even more romantic than a letter. It offers a chance to re-explore one of your favourite stories to share it with someone you love. Highlight why you connect with the characters, what makes you laugh, what makes you feel seen…the list is endless! Spread out some pens and sticky notes, take your seats, and dive in. Once you’ve finished annotating, swap to read each other’s choices!
2. Bakery & Bookstore Crawl
For my fellow sweet-toothed friends, a bakery-and-bookstore crawl is the perfect way to try delicious treats while exploring new (or old) bookstores. I’ve found that many bookstores are serendipitously located near the tastiest bakeries. For a sweet memento, pick out a book for each other as you browse the bookshelves.
Tip: Keep an eye out for any Valentine’s Day-themed events your local bookstores might be hosting!
3. Crafting or Puzzling while Sharing an Audiobook
Crafting or puzzling while listening to audiobooks (either out loud or with shared earbuds) is always a delightful choice, combining forced proximity with the excitement of working towards a finished product and the transportive experience of listening to an audiobook.
Some of my favourite crafts include shaping bowls or figurines out of clay, building book nook kits (especially the ones from Anavrin), and painting or drawing. To add to the fun, set a 5 to 10-minute timer and switch paintings/drawings until you have a finished piece! For creative and immersive puzzles, check out Piecework Puzzles.
If you’re looking for audiobook recommendations, here are some of my favourites with swoon-worthy love stories:
YA
- Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alechia Dow (cosy fantasy)
- Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe by C.B. Lee (cosy fantasy)
- And They Were Roommates by Page Powars (light academia)
- Furious by Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos (contemporary)
- Time After Time by Mikki Daughtry (contemporary + historical)
Adult
- This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (sci-fi fantasy)
- The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow (fantasy)
- Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban (historical)
- Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory (contemporary)
- The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Magic and Murder by Kiri Callaghan (cosy fantasy)
Oh, and if you’re looking for a book with platonic love, Serra Swift’s cosy fantasy debut, Kill the Beast, is a must-read!
4. Book-to-Screen Club
This date requires a bit of preparation before the big day, as you’ll want to read your selected book beforehand, but it adds to the anticipation. Together, you’ll answer the age-old question: Was the book or film better? You’ll have lots to discuss!
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid, People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry, and Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston are some novels that have been adapted for the screen.
Tip: Before you start watching, make a snack or dish inspired by the book to enhance the cinematic experience. If you pick Red, White & Royal Blue, Henry and Alex would certainly approve of falafel, Jaffa Cakes, and pork tamales with salsa verde.
Happy (almost) Valentine’s Day!
