The first time Michael Phan sets eyes on Stella, he knows he can’t do anything other than accept the terms of this amazing woman’s arrangement, but as the two gently explore all the physical comforts of a relationship together, they start to develop an even deeper connection than either of them might be entirely prepared for. But as a woman dedicated to her career, who also has Asperger’s, the dating game - not to mention getting physical with anyone - is something she doesn’t have any level of comfort with. Stella Lane has experience with numbers and, well … that’s just about it. The Pygmalion trope (as seen in films like My Fair Lady and Pretty Woman) tends to revolve around the lower-class female character in need of an image adjustment by a man of privilege, but Helen Hoang’s romance debut reinterprets this through a lens we’ve never seen before - to completely swoony effect. One of the best things about romance novels is their ability to breathe new life into a classic love story just by flipping the script in a few ways. We’re not here to judge your reasons, but we won’t apologize for adding to your TBR pile either. Or maybe you love all of the movies on this list and are looking for romance reads that offer more of the same. Hence this list, offered as an antidote to those unsatisfactory endings, but with a fun twist! We’re recommending romance novels based on the rom-coms they could be easily paired with - say, if you’re planning on staying in this Valentine’s Day and want to enjoy a thematically appropriate double feature. (It’s how we end up getting lists consisting of books like Lolita and Anna Karenina and Wuthering Heights - not exactly containing that “happily ever after” that the actual romance genre is known for.) The problem comes when these lists include books that are, in fact, literary fiction with a through line that could maybe be considered romance if you tilt your head and squint. On the surface, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that romance novels are awesome, and more people should be reading them at every available opportunity.

Well, folks, it’s that time again: Valentine’s Day is approaching and romance recommendations are already flooding the internet.

Pink Slip by Katrina Jackson