I identify as a hopeless romantic who basks in the euphoria of love, whether I’m experiencing it directly or reading about other people experiencing it. If something remotely looks or feels romantic, please colour me interested and grant me front-row seats because this is the stuff I live for.
People like me have highs and lows. The lows are characterized by a short period of loneliness, where a person craves the feeling of love and romance, whether real or fictional. If you’ve ever found yourself here, I’ve got you! From one lover of love to another, here are a few places you can go to get a quick fix.
Books
I have read a bevvy of romance novels but if I were to recommend just one novel, it would be Love in Colour. The author, Bolu Babalola calls herself a ‘romcomoisseur’ and I believe every letter of the word because this collection of retold stories will take you on a wildly passionate ride of love while exploring themes like love at first sight, workplace romance, self-love and rekindled love. If you are not seen sporting the cheesiest smile while reading this book, come back and fight me!
Movies
I will not recommend a particular movie for you but do you remember how beautiful the wedding scene in Crazy Rich Asians was? Do not even try to deny how in your feelings you were during that scene. That is exactly what a good romance movie will do for you. Go ahead, pick something, then watch and thank me later for all that dopamine your body will be releasing.
Music
We all know the transformative power good music has on our moods. I’ll let you in on an open secret: Acoustics! Try listening to the acoustic version of some of your favourite songs. It’s slower, the lyrics are clearer and if your imagination is good enough, it feels like the artist is serenading you. C’est la vie!
Websites
What screams love louder than wedding content? If you want to see the most loved-up pictures of couples, BellaNaijaWeddings has you covered. But, if you want to inject the sweetness further into your veins, read the ‘How We Met’ stories on their website. So good!
Another fave of mine is Zikoko’s Love Life category. They interview couples who walk us through their journeys of finding, keeping or losing love. Shout out to Kunle Ologunro for being a preacher of love and bringing these real, thrilling and sometimes chaotic love stories our way.
Honourable mention: The HumansofNY page on Instagram, posts stories of platonic love and kindness from all over the world that will renew your faith in the goodness of humanity.
Friends & Family
Whether it’s with your girlfriend, boyfriend, lover, or family members, the people who make you feel safe to be your most vulnerable self are the ones who can give you the love that truly lasts. In all honesty, everything I have mentioned before now will have a placebo effect that may wear off after a short while. A genuine, heartfelt conversation with someone who knows and loves you can quickly pull you out of a Love funk.
When you turn to love stories from fictional sources or even those real-life tales shared online, remember that people often highlight the best moments. Don’t let these polished narratives dictate how you navigate your own love life. Instead, let them remind you that love exists and that you are worthy of experiencing it in your own unique way.
