Some Galentine's Day Suggestions for Your Besties (And Yourself As Well)

By Cardyn Brooks

Galentine’s Day is February 13th, and this year we need this Gal Pal love fest holiday more than ever. So treat yo'self to one or more of the following literally entertaining reads, then after a few mimosas and some waffles during a virtual friendship feast with your favorite gal pals, grab a calzone while listening to some MouseRat tunes. Jam to the music and read some exceptional tales, without getting jammed, unless you enjoy that. No judgment here.

Bridgerton-adjacent

A Stitch in Time by Kelley Armstrong

Time Travel romance

K.L.A. Fricke, Inc., 2020

The Lady's Guide to Celestial Pursuits (Feminine Pursuits #1) by Olivia Waite

Historical romance

Avon Impulse, 2019

One-Eyed Dukes Are Wild (Dukes Behaving Badly #3) by Megan Frampton

Historical romance

Avon, 2015

More Historical Romance

Wild Rain (Women Who Dare #2) by Beverly Jenkins

Avon, February 9, 2021

Two Dukes and a Lady by Lorna James

Entangled: Scorched, 2017

The Hidden Blade by Sherry Thomas, author & publisher

2014

The Ultimate Amish Romance book set (Kaufman Family 1 – 7) by Becca Fisher, author & publisher

Generational religious romance

Multiple years

Contemporary Romance & Women's Lit

Grump-Aholic: A Grumpy Boss Romance by Jagger Cole, author & publisher

January 18, 2021

It's Not All Downhill From Here by Terry McMillan

Ballantine Books, 2020

Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

Avon, 2020

Code of Conduct (Cipher Security #1) by April White

Smarty Pants Romance, 2019

Sweet Talkin’ Lover (Girls' Trip #1) by Tracey Livesay

Avon, 2019

Black Girls Must Die Exhausted: A Novel for Grown Ups by Jayne Allen

Quality Black Books, 2018

And Then There Was Me by Sadeqa Johnson

Thomas Dunne Books, 2017

Confessions of a Librarian: A Memoir of Loves by Barbara Foster

Riverdale Avenue Books, 2015

The Chocolate Temptation (Amour et Chocolat #6) by Laura Florand

AOS Publishing, 2014

Between Friends by Sandra Kitt

Open Road Media Romance, reissued 2013

Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie

HQN, reissued 2012

Sunday Brunch by Norma Jarrett

Crown, 2009

The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank

Penguin Books, reissued 2000

Non-Fiction

Rethink: Smashing the Myths of Women in Business by Andi Simon, Ph.D.

Fast Company Press, January 2021

Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History by Blair Imani, Monique Le, Tegan and Sara

Ten Speed Press, 2018

Bad Girls Throughout History: 100 Remarkable Women Who Changed the World by Ann Shen

Chronicle Books, 2016

Hollywood Lesbians: From Garbo to Foster by Boze Hadleigh

Riverdale Avenue Books, 2016

Comix

One Dollar Debuts from Valiant Entertainment

Women in Comics Collective International

Bonus Movie Recommendation

Crave more Rege-Jean Page sightings?

Try the Civil Rights-era drama “Sylvie's Love” on Amazon Prime.

He's not the star, but he shines Brighter Than the Sun [wink to J.Q.] in all scenes (sadly, none involving eating utensils or a raised eyebrow) among a truly stellar cast led by Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha, with cameos by Eva Longoria, Wendi McLendon-Covey and many other notable actors, some more Shondaland favorites included.

Shameless Self-Promotion

When She's on Top by C. X Brooks

Contemporary erotic fiction

Black Opal Books, 2018