It’s that time of year, *sigh* again, when everything turns into fifty shades of pink and red. While many happily gush over boxes of chocolates, overpriced roses, and heart-shaped everything; we at bazaar prefer to check out the fictional scenes. Oh to live through bounds of literary love and frolic through the fields with Mr. Darcy. (Note to husbands: need not be jealous, for this is just for research sake.) Then there’s the father of romance, at least in my humble opinion, The Bard. Nothing compares to a Shakespearean wooing monologue. But then, we have Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Elizabeth wrote the infamous sonnet citing “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” On a scale from one to cheese-nation, they’re over the top with their love-struck ramblings. To be Cupid and shoot love-arrows…on second thought, I’d rather throw my books at random passersby. So here are my top three cheese-filled reads that’ll have you sobbing over a fictional love.

It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without a book of poetry now would it? So at the top of this list, I bequeath to you Penguin’s Poems For Love. Complete with a garden themed motif with roses as the cover art, this book contains many words of love. Selected by Laura Barber, this book contains lovey-dovey poetry from all over the world and through the ages. From Auden to Shakespeare to Dickinson (that’s Emily Dickinson), the anthology talks of love in all forms. Use it to woo from afar, impress up close, or to just wallow in your own love-fuelled daze while eating chocolates straight from the box. There’s a poem for every stage of “love” known and for every mood. So on my personal scale of Meh to Cartoon Circling Hearts, this book is sickeningly sweet, which if you’re into that sort of thing, means you’re golden.

My next heart-wrenching read is none other than Water for Elephants by the talented Sara Gruen. During the times of the prohibition and Depression, America was bleak to say the least, but the circus brought in a life of glamour and a lot of color into the dark world around. But as the saying goes “not all that glitters is gold,” and the circus is dangerous and cruel. Gruen painted this world with a forbidden love that could be the end of all things colorful and bright. Follow the life of Jacob as he goes from rags to circus to love in an unforgiving place. With a historical backdrop to this beautiful love story, prep for an emotional rollercoaster. Far from a Meh rating, this book will suck you into the turmoil. My rating: Flying Cupids with soaring arrows.

This last one is a no-brainer. How can one write about love and devastation without a reference to Nicholas Sparks? Now, take all the emotion, tears, and hysteric-love-crazed fits that ensued while reading (or watching, I’m not judging) The Notebook, and apply it to this book – The Wedding. While I may not be the most romantic of them all (I can be romantically challenged at times), I must admit that Sparks has done it again. Set as a follow-up to The Notebook, this book follows Noah and Allie’s (sigh) daughter, Jane, and her husband of thirty years, Wilson as they try to rekindle the love once shared. Using her parents’ love affair as a guideline to his own relationship with his wife, Wilson must do all he can to win back her love. Side note – keep the tissues nearby, and don’t forget to make yourself a cup of tea before you read this. On second thought, scrap the tea; you’ll need ice cream, lots of ice cream.

Love is in the air people! Why not gift your loved one a book with some flowers? Believe me, it’s an awesome combination. Or is that just me? Go enjoy the suggestions and remember me with every spoonful of ice cream you scoop from the tub. And don’t forget to check out the new Book Blog, The Curious Case of a Serial Reader! Join the book club at bazaar.townnew and read with us or let us know what you’re reading! Till next month…