Valentine’s Day date ideas range from fancy nights out on the town or a low-key night at home, and no matter how you spend your night—or who you’re with—the day is about celebrating the love you are surrounded with. But putting a literary-themed spin on your Valentine’s Day date plans is bound to make any book lover happy.

If you’re looking for a date idea to make your Valentine’s Day extra special, here are eight ideas to inspire you:

Take a trip to a local bookstore and each pick out a book for the other.

Not only do you get to spend time meandering the aisles of a bookstore together (you’re already winning the day with this one), but you also get to open each other’s eyes to a new book. Take time to each pick out a book for the other person. Maybe you choose your absolute favorite book to share with your special someone or you reach for a new release in their favorite genre. If you’re really feeling gutsy, try choosing a book for your significant other that they wouldn’t pick out on their own.

Attend an event together.

From poetry readings to author book signings, there are tons of literary events to choose from. Plan a date that includes one of these literary events and you’re sure to be a Valentine’s Day winner.

Watch your favorite movie adaption of a book.

Snag your favorite snacks from the store, pop some popcorn, and bake your favorite dessert, then hunker down for a cozy date night on the couch and watch your favorite movie adaptation of a book. Afterward, discuss which was better: the movie or the book.

Take a long weekend trip and tour the home of a famous American author.

No matter where you may live in the United States, you might be within driving distance of a well-known author’s home that’s open for tours. Take a step back in time, see where a great American novel was penned, and enjoy the quality time together

Some of the most notable author home tours include:

  • Ernest Hemingway’s home in Key West, Florida
  • Flannery O’Connor’s home in Milledgeville, Georgia
  • Margaret Mitchell’s home in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Thomas Wolfe’s home in Asheville, North Carolina
  • Laura Ingalls Wilder’s home in Mansfield, Missouri
  • William Faulkner’s home in Oxford, Mississippi
  • Herman Melville’s home in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
  • Jack London’s home in Glen Ellen, California
  • John Steinbeck’s home in Salinas, California
  • Mark Twain’s home in Hartford, Connecticut
  • Harriet Beecher Stowe’s home in Hartford, Connecticut

Have a coffee and reading date.

Grab your current read and your date and head to a coffee shop. You can share a snack, sip on your go-to coffee drink and spend time together while you both read. Then, you can talk about your books for some quality, one-on-one time.

Read a book together, alternating who reads aloud.

Choose a book to read together and take turns reading the book to each other until you finish it. This date night is great because you get several dates out of it and you’ll have someone to chat with about the story.

Buy a new cookbook and make dinner together.

There is a cookbook out there for every skill level and cuisine, so don’t feel intimidated when it comes to choosing a cookbook. Once you and your significant other have chosen a cookbook, take time skimming through the recipes to find some you want to try. Head to the grocery store to buy your ingredients, then spend the evening cooking together in the kitchen.

Go to the theater and see your favorite play come to life.

Even if you only have access to a local theater, going to see a play is a great Valentine’s Day date. Whether it’s Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, or a lesser-known playwright, you and your date will enjoy a live-action play and a night out.

Still on the hunt for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the book lover in your life? Read Love & Letters: The Perfect Books for a Valentine’s Day Gift for more inspiration.

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