Valentine’s Day has come and gone, and whether you spent it with a significant other (sana all), indulging in self-care (a must!), or completely ignoring the hype, the post-Valentine’s lull can feel a little bit anticlimactic. But who says the celebration has to end on February 14th?
Let’s be honest: Valentine’s Day is fine. But Galentine’s? That’s where the real fun is. It’s the kind of gathering where you can swoon over your latest book boyfriend, sip something warm (or strong, no judgment), and be surrounded by friends who just get you.
So, in the spirit of post-Valentine’s Galentine’s, let’s talk about how to make the most of this season with books, friendships, and a sprinkle of rebellion against the usual romance tropes.
Picture this: a cozy night in, a table full of books everyone has been dying to read, and an agreement that no one has to actually discuss anything intellectual if they don’t want to. Maybe you’re all reading different books, swapping favorites, or simply basking in the presence of fellow bookworms while a Jane Austen adaptation plays in the background. As for me, I find myself lost in “Jasmines in Her Hair: Poetry for the Soul.” Perhaps it’s the raw beauty of Desai’s words that captures me or the way the poems evoke love, loss, and the bittersweet beauty of reconciliation.
If you’re not in the mood to stay in, there’s plenty of fun outdoors. Walking into a bookstore with your friends turns even the most reserved reader into a gremlin. You enter intending to simply browse and leave with three new books, a tote bag, and a sense of financial regret. But if you’re going to sabotage your wallet, it might as well be with good company, right? Make an afternoon of it: buy books for each other, pretend you’re the main characters in a found-family novel, and finish the day at a coffee shop, where you can admire your collective haul while sipping overpriced lattes.
We spend so much time romanticizing fictional characters that we often forget to romanticize ourselves. Instead of waiting for someone to write you a love letter, how about writing one to yourself? Or better yet, to your bookshelf? Take a moment to appreciate the stories that helped shape you. Write a letter to the book that got you through your worst heartbreak, the one that made you believe in love again, or the one that reminded you that solitude can be beautiful. Reorganize your bookshelves in a way that sparks joy, whether it’s by color, genre, or pure chaotic energy. Light a candle, put on some soft music, and simply exist in the presence of stories that have never let you down.
At the end of the day, Galentine’s isn’t just about books or friendship or pretending that eating an entire box of chocolate hearts in one sitting is totally fine. It’s about love, the kind that manifests itself in dog-eared pages, inside jokes, and the assurance that even if no grand romantic gestures are coming your way, your bookshelf and your best friends will always be there.
So here’s to the love stories that aren’t defined by romance. Here’s to the ones about adventure, emerging friendships, and the quiet strength of choosing yourself. Here’s to celebrating love without the pressure, the overpriced restaurant menus, or the existential dread of Valentine’s Day. Just you, your friends, and a stack of books that deserve to be cherished.
Happy Post-Valentine’s Day, book lovers! May your pages be filled with joy, your coffee supply be limitless, and your TBR pile be only slightly overwhelming.
By Justina Torres