Snuggle up with romance: must-read books for the month of love

February has a way of slowing the world down. The evenings feel softer, the air carries a quiet promise, and there is an invitation to lean into stories that remind us why love continues to matter.

Romance on the page does not always arrive wrapped in perfection. Sometimes it is messy, dangerous, funny or deeply haunted by the past. That is what makes it real.

This month, these romantic reads offer different visions of love across Southern and West African settings, each one shaped by its own rhythms, risks and tenderness.

“Hlomu the Wife” by Dudu Busani-Dube

“Hlomu the Wife” opens the door to a love story that is as intense as it is unsettling. At the centre is a young woman who falls in love with a powerful taxi boss, unaware that her heart is leading her into a world ruled by violence, loyalty and unspoken codes.

Told from the perspectives of the women married to eight Zulu brothers from a feared crime family, the series blends romance with crime and family drama in a contemporary South African township setting.

What makes this book compelling is how love is tested under pressure. Hlomu must navigate devotion and fear, desire and survival, as she becomes entwined in a life that offers protection and danger in equal measure.

The story explores how love reshapes identity, especially for women expected to be strong while standing beside powerful men.

The fast-paced storytelling and emotionally grounded characters make the novel difficult to put down, while its exploration of power and loyalty keeps the romance rooted in reality rather than fantasy.

“The Lost Love” of Akbar Manzil by Shubnum Khan

If your idea of romance leans toward mystery and longing, “The Lost Love” of Akbar Manzil offers a haunting and lyrical experience.

Set in a decaying mansion on the east coast near Durban, the novel moves between timelines, weaving together history, grief and love that refuses to fade. The story begins with Akbar Khan, an adventurer from India who builds the grand Akbar Manzil and fills it with dreams, family and secrets.

His complicated relationships with his wife Jahanara and a second woman, Meena Begum, form the emotional core of the past. Years later, fifteen-year-old Sana moves into the near ruins of the mansion with her father, now a boardinghouse for people trying to disappear.

Her curiosity draws her to a locked room and a diary that reveals Begum’s tragic love story.

A grieving djinn watches over the house, bound to Begum’s memory, adding a layer of magical realism that deepens the sense of longing. This novel treats love as something that lingers beyond time and death, shaping lives long after it is lost.

It is a quiet, reflective read for those who enjoy romance wrapped in atmosphere and unanswered questions.

“Chasing Marian” by Amy Heydenrych, Qarnita Loxton, Pamela Power and Gail Schimmel

“Chasing Marian” celebrates love in its many forms, from romance to friendship and self-acceptance. The novel follows four strangers who meet online through their shared love for author Marian Keyes.

Each character brings a different stage of life and emotional struggle into the story.

Queenie is a Cape Town librarian in a long-distance relationship, quietly longing for more. Jess is a Johannesburg mother whose carefully curated life is falling apart after her marriage ends.

Matt is a sensitive, almost qualified psychologist navigating casual intimacy while hoping for something deeper. Ginger is a witty widow whose sharp humour masks a life well lived and well loved.

When they discover that Keyes is visiting a literary festival in South Africa, they hatch a plan to meet her. What follows is a story about connection and courage, written from four distinct voices that come together seamlessly.

While romance threads through the narrative, the heart of the book lies in how stories bring people together and help them heal.

“Valentine” by Kiru Taye

“Valentine” delivers a sharp and modern take on romantic tension.

Set in Enugu, Nigeria, this novella follows Michael Ede, an ex-soldier turned entrepreneur, who accepts a challenge from his friends to make a scorned socialite fall in love with him.

The rules of the bet force him to hide his wealth and rely on sincerity rather than status.

Kasie Bosa is not interested in love. After her long term relationship ends through a text message, she is angry, guarded and done with men. When she crosses paths with Michael, sparks fly, but so do confrontations.

Their chemistry is immediate and undeniable, complicated by secrets and wounded pride.

This story leans into themes of second chances and emotional honesty, asking whether love can survive once truth replaces illusion.

It is a quick but satisfying read, perfect for readers who enjoy romance driven by dialogue and strong personalities.