Valentine’s Day is half hype and half pressure. If you want to opt-out of it altogether, then we’re here to help you celebrate yourself instead. We’ve compiled a list of books and podcasts that are tangentially romantic and can help you get in touch with yourself over this holiday. When the pressure of having the perfect relationship, creating the perfect date night or just having a date gets to be too much, it’s wise just to cut out the stressors and spend the day showing yourself some love.
Women Don’t Owe You Pretty
Women Don’t Owe You Pretty is the debut non-fiction novel of London-based artist, activist and writer Florence Given. In the book, Florence shares what she has learned about relationships, consent, fatphobia, allyship and much more. The chapters are broken up with the artist’s signature illustrations that highlight different points in her book. It’s a must-read and the number one novel on our Valentine’s Day list.
The Self Love Fix
The Self Love Fix is a podcast made by the self-love embodiment coach Beatrice Kamau. It’s an excellent choice for podcast listening on Valentine’s Day, especially if you’re going to use the holiday as an opportunity to show yourself some love. Beatrice also goes into relationships dynamics, which is ideal for evaluating how the themes of this holiday relate to your day-to-day life. Get comfortable and reflective with the host of The Self Love Fix as she guides you toward alignment and expansion.
Buy yourself the F*cking Lilies
Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies is the debut novel from former Comedy Central executive Tara Shuster. The non-fiction book is centred around mental health and self-care habits. It urges us to stop looking at life like it’s a laundry list and to start building habits that make it more enjoyable. One of these habits is splurging on the little things that make your life better, like nice flowers, good food and the occasional expensive chocolates. Allowing yourself those small indulgences can shift your mindset from denying to deserving and will have a big impact on your outlook over time. So, go ahead, buy yourself the f*cking lilies this Valentine’s Day.
Hey God… It’s Me Again
Two friends-turned-podcast-hosts Farah Baidas and Leletta Acal are a Jordanian and Ugandan Swiss duo who turned their first date experiences into comedy fodder. Their podcast Hey God… It’s Me Again dives into topics like how social media affects dating and who should pick up the cheque on a first date. Baidas and Acal tackle these questions with a comedic slant and impart their wisdom along the way, making it the perfect podcast for a good Valentine’s Day night-in.
