I love a timely themed book list as much as the next person, but for library workers, it’s important to remember that our patrons’ reading interests don’t just stop when a given holiday ends. To that end, I’ve rounded up a bunch of timely resources and lists for Black History Month and Valentine’s Day that you can refer to for the whole year. (And I also threw in some Wuthering Heights resources, because that is very relevant right now.) Let’s jump in.
Black History Month
- 100+ Black-owned bookstores in the US.
- Picture books to celebrate Black History Month.
- 13 nonfiction kids’ books that celebrate Black excellence.
- 13 YA historical fiction books by Black authors.
- 16 of the best new romances by Black authors.
- 26 queer books by Black authors to preorder now.
- 5 exciting fantasy novels by Black authors for your 2026 TBR.
- New nonfiction by Black authors in 2026.
- Celebrating Black voices in sci-fi and fantasy.
- A reading list for Black History Month.
- Canadian books to read during Black History Month.
- Black booksellers recommend 23 books for Black History Month and beyond.
- Black history & futures in space.
All Things Romance
- Your A-Z guide to all things romance.
- Library Journal has a great list of sure-bet romances.
- The best romances of the century (so far).
- 10 hot new romances to complete your February.
- The best YA romance authors.
- Must-read time loop romances.
- Must-read historical romance.
- 10 steamy hockey romances to devour after watching Heated Rivalry.
- Sports romances your patrons will love.
- Whimsical Valentine’s Day reads.
- 7 fake dating novels to read for Valentine’s Day.
- Criminally in love: mystery, crime, and romance all rolled into one.
- The romance books being turned into movies in 2026.
- Every romantasy movie & TV adaptation currently in development.
- I hate to end the romance section on a downer, but this is important to be aware of: A look at how the romance publishing industry is adapting to AI. The article says “Not everyone is on board,” but honestly, NO ONE should be on board! I want a book written by an actual person, dammit! Or as Jeff O’Neal puts it, the future of books we absolutely do not want is already here.
All Things WUTHERING HEIGHTS
- Was Wuthering Heights the Heated Rivalry of its era?
- Why we crave toxic love: 6 authors on the Wuthering Heights resurgence.
- Don’t read Wuthering Heights before seeing Wuthering Heights.
- A case for bringing back Kate Bush’s song “Wuthering Heights,” plus more songs inspired by literature.
- Jacob Elordi, Heathcliff, and the controversy over Wuthering Heights.
- 7 Wuthering Heights changes that will surprise fans of the book.
- The romance rebranding of Wuthering Heights.