February is often framed as the month of love, but not every love story gets a happy ending. In honor of Geekwave’s Heartbreak theme this month, this is a book list full of longing, unrequited love and messy romances that just don’t work out.
Normal People – Sally Rooney
Normal People is a book that stuck with me for a long time after reading. We follow Connell and Marianne as they drift in and out of each other’s lives, sharing an inexplicable deep connection but never being quite in sync. Think slow-burn about first love, bad timing and the heartbreak that comes with loving someone but having no idea how to love them well. This is the perfect book for someone who wants a sad romance without having to actually read a romance. In classic Sally Rooney fashion, you’ll be pulled in by her writing and the way she can make the mundane feel beautiful even without rose-tinted glasses.
Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings
There’s a reason I haven’t talked about this series yet on Geekwave. If you know me, there’s a good chance you’ve heard me mention (if not rave) about this series, however I KNOW it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Magnolia Parks dives into the age-old question “how many loves do you get in a lifetime?” You follow Magnolia and BJ as they try and try again to figure out how to love each other without hurting each other. This book is heartbreaking in a messy, chaotic and toxic way. It’s like a car crash you just can’t look away from. Think “Gossip Girl” rich people, living in London, and true love that can never work out. Disclaimer: If you don’t love Magnolia Parks just keep going so you can get to Daisy Haites–if you don’t like Magnolia you’ll love Daisy.
Good Material by Dolly Alderton
This book follows a comedian navigating life in the aftermath of a breakup. Andy is adamant about solving the puzzle of why his relationship didn’t work out because in his mind, if he can do that, he can fix everything and they can be together again. You follow Andy through all the phases of a breakup, and wade through the misery with him as he tries to process the love he still has for his ex, while trying to figure out what went wrong. As he moves through denial, sadness, and self-reflection, the novel captures the messy reality of adult heartbreak: loving someone who’s gone, replaying what went wrong, and slowly trying to figure out who you are without them. While it can be a polarizing and heavy experience, reading this book after a break up is definitely something I would recommend. Watching Andy go through this process and inwardly reflect is refreshing.
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Daisy Jones and the Six is one of my favorite books of all time and is the perfect book to read for heartbreak month. You follow Daisy Jones, a talented young woman who lives on the Sunset Strip and is fascinated with all things music. She ends up joining an up and coming band called The Six, and with that, the most famous music group of the 70s is born. This fictional novel is loosely based on Fleetwood Mac in both genre/vibes and in drama. Getting to follow the band through their highs and lows and witnessing what it meant to be truly successful in the music world during this time is fascinating and horrifying. While this story is fictional, it’s easy to imagine Daisy Jones and The Six as a real band, so much so that I googled if they were real while reading. This story is full of heartbreak and devastation on a personal level with Daisy as well as in the band as a whole.
Conclusion
There are many different kinds of heartbreak, and everyone experiences it in their own way. Each of these books encapsulates their own version of heartbreak whether it happens slowly over years, suddenly falls apart, or it’s within a greater story. Books with heartbreaks are always great emotional reads that connect you with the characters on a deeper level. If you’re celebrating Heartbreak Month with Geekwave this February, check these reads out and let us know what you think!
Image from our amazing graphic designer Max Skinner!
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