Ah, dating. It’s not the easiest right now. The idea of meeting people IRL feels like a modern-day myth. And the alternative? The apps: an endless game of swiping, liking and questionable ‘Most Compatibles’, marketed as a route to guaranteed romance but, in reality, leaves you feeling as loveable as a toad. And then, after all that work to finally meet someone, they turn into Casper and ghost you mid-conversation. So we wouldn’t blame you if you’d rather stay home on a Saturday night with a good read instead – because while you can’t rely on someone to text you back, you can rely on us to provide you with enough book reccs to make you forget about your matches altogether.
If you're thinking of deleting the apps for the third time and starting afresh, you’re not alone. If you're looking to step away from love altogether, we don’t blame you. And if you’re looking for some inspiration to get you back into the mood for love, well, we salute you. Whatever your approach to romance right now, we've highlighted 5 books for when you're over dating: stories to pick you up once you’ve put your phone down, from dating disasters that are a hard relate to tales so beautiful, they might just make you fall back in love with love again...
1. I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the story follows a woman who, after being raised in a bunker with only women and (as the title suggests) has never known men, must confront her understanding of intimacy and connection. A powerful read that stays with you – great for anyone who’s so over men (if that’s your thing), that they’d quite like to consider a world without them.
2. Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
Caleb Azumah Nelson’s debut novel is a poetic, poignant London love story. It follows two young Black creatives – a photographer and a dancer who are never named – as they quietly fall in love, exploring how such an intense love can rupture, and how such a break can heal. The perfect love story.
3. Thank You For Calling The Lesbian Line by Elizabeth Lovatt
This book is a reimagining of the women who both called and volunteered for the Lesbian Line in the 1990s (a local English helpline that went on to become the Norwich Gay and Lesbian line). It deals with first loves and breakups, sex and marriage (or the need to know the best gay bar for a night out). A refreshing, real take on love and a celebration of the ordinary lives of queer women – perfect for a post-app reset.
4. Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman
A beautiful story of a love so poignant, it stays with the characters (and you) forever. Set against the sun-soaked Italian countryside, Call Me By Your Name shows the power of first love and the beauty in longing – for anyone in need of a reminder.
5. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Charming and heartwarming, The Rosie Project is a story of unlikely love. It follows Don Tillman, a brilliant but socially awkward genetics professor, as he embarks on a quest to find the perfect wife through a scientific survey. Enter Rosie, a free-spirited bartender, who shatters his meticulously planned world. As they navigate their differences, Don discovers that love doesn’t fit into equations. A delightful example of how love can be imperfect, messy – and utterly magical.
