blind date with a book! (valentines day edition)
- Studio Four-One-Two 
- Feb 7, 2022
- 2 min read
By Belle O’Hara and Kate Castello
With Valentine's day right around the corner, all of us are in the mood for a date, whether it's with a significant other, a class crush, …or maybe even a fictional character. Blind dates with strangers can be intimidating, but a blind date with a book will never stand you up. This February 14th, step out of your comfort zone with our picks from some of our favorite book tropes. Each with a little romance and charming characters, pick your new possible favorite based on personality, not the looks. The links will lead you to a local bookstore here in Pittsburgh that you can purchase the book from if you feel an instant connection. Along with the links to the books, the trigger warnings are also listed, so read to your own comfort level. Happy Valentine's day to all of our fellow hot people who read, and know that we will always be your Valentine <3
Get reading you sexy people
Love, Belle & Kate
Enemies to lovers
Book One:
- Forced proximity 
- Legendary thief 
- Badass females 
- Extensive fantasy worldbuilding 
Content Warnings: Violence, Death, Assault, Torture, Rape Mention, Animal Death, War Themes, Murder, Illness, PTSD, Kidnapping/Abduction
Book Two:
- A diverse cast of characters 
- Conversations about politics 
- Fake friendship 
- Realistic representation of bisexuality 
Content Warnings: Addiction, Alcohol, Anxiety, Blackmail, Cancer (mentioned), Death (parental, mentioned), Drug abuse (mentioned), Forced outing, Grief, Homophobia, Invasion/violation of privacy, Neglect (parental), Panic attack, Politics, Racism, Sexual abuse, Sexual harassment (mentioned), Sexually explicit scenes
Right Person Wrong Time
Book One:
- Coming of Age 
- University Environment 
- Philosophical/Political Conversations and topics 
- Sex and Relationship dynamics 
- Contemporary Fiction 
Content Warnings: Abuse (physical, emotional), Alcohol use, Anxiety, Bullying, Death, Death of a parent (past), Depression, Disordered eating, Domestic violence, Drug use, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationships, Violence
Book Two:
- New York City in the sixties and seventies 
- Artist and photographer 
- Slowly drift apart 
- Memoir of relationship 
- Nonfiction 
Content Warnings: Drug use, Drug overdose, Alcohol, Death, Self-harm, Sexual content, Suicide
Book Three:
- Private east coast university 
- Murder mystery 
- Focus on Shakespearean literature 
- Slow Burn 
- Contemporary Fiction 
Content Warnings: Alcohol use, Death, Depression, Domestic violence/abuse, Drug overdose, Drug use, Eating disorder (mentioned), Homophobia, Injury, Murder, Physical abuse, PTSD, Racial slur (use of Romani slur), Self harm, Sexual content, Slut shaming, Substance abuse, Suicide (mentioned), Transphobic comment, Violence
Queer Identity and Relationships
Book One:
- Focus on Indigenous culture 
- Representation of queer sex work 
- How pain brings us closer to those we love 
- Abandoned love 
- Contemporary Fiction 
Content Warnings: Sexual content, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Racism, Bullying, Death
Book Two:
- Forbidden love 
- Love at first sight 
- Dual Perspective 
- The pressure of societal expectations 
- Contemporary Fiction 
Content Warnings: Homophobia, Outing, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Misogyny
Strong Female Protagonist (girlboss)
Book One:
- Witchcraft 
- Disowned from family 
- Isolation 
- Self-acceptance 
- Historical Fiction 
Content Warnings: Body horror, Childbirth (with complications), Rape, Torture
Book Two:
- Lesbian fiction 
- The 1950s-1960s 
- Journey to openmindedness 
- Strong-willed girl from small-town 
- Fiction 
Content Warnings: emotional abuse, general sexism, racism, and homophobia
Book Three:
- Secret Mission 
- Faeries 
- Magic in music 
- Woman Warrior 
- Fantasy 
Content Warnings: Ableism, Animal abuse, Animal killing, Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, PTSD, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide (mentioned), Torture
Poetry
Book One:
- Short lines 
- Fast-paced 
- Focused on love and nature 
Book Two:
- Loved doomed by social convention 
- Breathtaking language 
- Depressing 







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