Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to curl up with a swoon-worthy fantasy romance.
But if you’re like me and prefer your romance clean—with chemistry, tension, and emotional depth but without explicit scenes—finding the right book can be challenging.
I’ve put together a list of 9 fantasy romance books that are perfect for Valentine’s Day reading. These are books with genuine romance, magical worlds, and characters worth rooting for—all while keeping things closed-door.
Whether you’re looking for fated mates, enemies-to-lovers, arranged marriages, or epic quests with romance woven throughout, this list has something for every romantasy reader who prefers clean content.
Let’s dive into these swoon-worthy reads!
1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #1
Rating: 4.13 on Goodreads (859K+ ratings)
Tropes: Fairy tale retelling, forbidden love, slow burn
Why it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day:
Cinder is a brilliant Cinderella retelling set in a futuristic world with cyborgs, androids, and a lunar colony. Cinder is a mechanic (and secretly a cyborg) who catches the eye of Prince Kai just as a deadly plague threatens their world.
The romance between Cinder and Kai is sweet, slow-burning, and absolutely swoon-worthy. There’s tension, there’s chemistry, and there’s genuine affection building between two people from completely different worlds.
What I love about it:
- Strong, capable heroine who’s more than her romantic interest
- Clean romance that still makes your heart flutter
- Perfect blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and fairy tale
- First book in a series, so you can keep reading if you fall in love
Content level: Clean YA with kissing
2. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
Standalone
Rating: 4.05 on Goodreads (200K+ ratings)
Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers (sort of), magic library, slow burn
Why it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day:
Elisabeth has been raised among magical books that can turn into monsters. When she’s framed for sabotage, she must team up with a sorcerer she doesn’t trust and his mysterious demon servant to clear her name.
The romance that develops between Elisabeth and Nathaniel is beautifully done—full of banter, mutual respect, and moments that make you hold your breath.
What I love about it:
- Gorgeous prose and atmospheric world-building
- A heroine who’s fierce, smart, and bookish
- Romance built on trust and understanding
- Magical libraries (what’s more romantic than that?)
- Completely standalone—no cliffhanger
Content level: Clean with some kisses and romantic tension
3. An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
Standalone
Rating: 3.91 on Goodreads (180K+ ratings)
Tropes: Human/fae romance, forbidden love, artist heroine
Why it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day:
Isobel is a portrait artist who paints for the fair folk. When she inadvertently insults the autumn prince Rook by painting human emotion into his eyes, he whisks her away to the faerie realm to stand trial.
Their journey together is romantic, dangerous, and filled with moments that showcase why forbidden love is such a compelling trope.
What I love about it:
- Beautiful, lyrical writing
- A romance that feels both dangerous and tender
- Fae world with actual consequences
- Artist heroine (creativity as power is lovely)
- Perfect length for Valentine’s weekend reading
Content level: Clean with romantic moments
4. Fierce Heart by Tara Grayce
Series: Elven Alliance #1
Rating: 4.08 on Goodreads (7.8K+ ratings)
Tropes: Arranged marriage, human/elf romance, slow burn, fish out of water
Why it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day:
When a diplomatic meeting goes wrong, Princess Essie finds herself married to an elf prince she just met. Now she has to make an arranged marriage work while navigating a completely foreign culture.
This is comfort reading at its finest—sweet, funny, wholesome, and genuinely romantic.
What I love about it:
- Marriage-first romance (they’re already married, now they have to fall in love)
- Essie is optimistic, cheerful, and determined to make the best of things
- Farrendel is quietly protective and deeply kind
- Focus on choosing to love someone
- Completely no-spice (explicitly marketed as such)
- First in a completed 9-book series
Content level: No spice, sweet kisses, wholesome romance
5. War Bound by Tara Grayce
Series: Elven Alliance #2
Rating: 4.26 on Goodreads (4.6K+ ratings)
Tropes: Marriage in crisis, war setting, protective hero, fierce heroine
Why it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day:
This is the second book in the Elven Alliance series, continuing Essie and Farrendel’s story. Now married, they face their biggest challenge: Farrendel is captured by trolls, and Essie will do anything to get him back.
What I love about it:
- Shows marriage isn’t “happily ever after”—it’s choosing each other through trials
- Essie proves she’s just as fierce as her title suggests
- Beautiful portrayal of trauma and healing
- Action, romance, and emotional depth
- Still completely clean
Content level: No spice, married couple, wholesome
Note: Read Fierce Heart first—this is book 2!
6. The Selection by Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection #1
Rating: 4.13 on Goodreads (1.4M+ ratings)
Tropes: Competition for love, prince romance, class differences, slow burn
Why it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day:
America Singer is selected to compete for Prince Maxon’s heart in a Bachelor-style competition. She doesn’t want to be there—she’s in love with someone else—but gradually, she begins to see Maxon differently.
What I love about it:
- Sweet romance that develops slowly
- Prince who’s genuinely kind and thoughtful
- Commentary on class and privilege woven in
- Addictive, binge-able reading
- Clean romance with plenty of swoon
Content level: Clean YA with kissing
7. To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
Standalone
Rating: 4.06 on Goodreads (267K+ ratings)
Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, siren/pirate, morally gray characters, adventure
Why it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day:
Princess Lira is a deadly siren who kills princes. Prince Elian is a pirate who hunts sirens. When Lira is turned human as punishment, she ends up on Elian’s ship, hiding her true identity.
Their romance is tension-filled, built on lies and truth, and absolutely captivating.
What I love about it:
- Dark, atmospheric Little Mermaid retelling
- Both main characters are fierce and flawed
- Enemies-to-lovers done right (they have real reasons to be enemies)
- Siren romance (I’m biased, but sirens are fascinating)
- Adventure and romance perfectly balanced
Content level: Clean with romantic tension and one kiss
8. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
Standalone (with companion novel)
Rating: 3.98 on Goodreads (79K+ ratings)
Tropes: Kidnapped to another culture, slow burn, prophecy, warrior heroine
Why it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day:
Harry is kidnapped by a king from the desert and discovers she has magical gifts tied to his people’s history. As she trains as a warrior and uncovers her destiny, romance develops naturally.
What I love about it:
- Classic fantasy with rich world-building
- Romance is secondary to Harry’s personal journey (but still satisfying)
- Warrior training and coming into power
- Beautiful prose
- Timeless quality—published in 1982 and still beloved
Content level: Clean, subtle romance
9. The Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Standalone
Rating: 3.94 on Goodreads (51K+ ratings)
Tropes: Loyalty, mistaken identity, servant/lady, slow burn, fairy tale retelling
Why it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day:
Dashti and her mistress are locked in a tower for seven years. Through Dashti’s diary entries, we see her grow, survive, and eventually find unexpected love.
The romance is sweet, earned, and beautifully developed through the diary format.
What I love about it:
- Unique format (told through diary entries)
- Heroine who’s practical, loyal, and strong
- Romance that develops naturally over time
- Beautiful exploration of friendship and duty
- Completely standalone
Content level: Clean YA
Why Clean Fantasy Romance?
You might wonder why someone would specifically seek out clean or closed-door fantasy romance. Here’s why it works for many readers:
Focus on emotional intimacy: When physical scenes aren’t shown explicitly, authors often develop emotional connection more deeply.
Accessible to more readers: Younger readers, readers with different comfort levels, or those who simply prefer focusing on other elements.
Rereadability: Many readers find clean romance easier to reread without skipping chapters.
Different kind of tension: Building anticipation and chemistry without explicit scenes requires skill—and when done well, it’s incredibly satisfying.
Personal preference: Some readers simply prefer romance this way. It’s not better or worse than other heat levels—just different.
Finding Your Perfect Valentine’s Read
With 9 books on this list, how do you choose?
If you love sci-fi elements: Start with Cinder
If you want atmospheric, literary fantasy: Try Sorcery of Thorns or An Enchantment of Ravens
If you prefer wholesome comfort reads: Fierce Heart and War Bound
If you want addictive, binge-able romance: The Selection
If you love darker, edgier stories: To Kill a Kingdom
If you appreciate classic fantasy: The Blue Sword
If you want unique formats: The Book of a Thousand Days
All of these books feature:
- Genuine romantic chemistry
- Strong character development
- Engaging fantasy worlds
- Clean/closed-door content
- Satisfying emotional payoffs
Make It a Valentine’s Reading Experience
Want to make your Valentine’s Day reading extra special?
Create the mood:
- Light candles
- Make your favorite cozy drink (tea, hot chocolate, coffee)
- Find your comfiest reading spot
- Put your phone on Do Not Disturb
Set a reading goal:
- Finish one book over the long weekend
- Read a few chapters each night
- Start a new series
Share the love:
- Recommend your favorite to a friend
- Join a book club discussion
- Leave a review to help other readers find these gems
Your Turn: What Are You Reading?
I’d love to hear what you’re reading this Valentine’s Day! Have you read any of these books? Do you have other clean fantasy romance recommendations?
Drop a comment or join my newsletter to share your favorite swoon-worthy reads.
