If you’re not in the mood for another sugar-coated happily-ever-after, immerse yourself in a novel of love gone wrong.

In fact, consider St. Valentine himself: the namesake of our February 14^th chocolate-and-sweethearts extravaganza suffered a martyr’s death.

I singled out “Beauty”, a retelling of the classic story. The author opted for a weeper of an ending. I liked the novel. Except the end. Which I didn’t like at all.

My anti-Valentine’s recommendations notwithstanding, I’m such a sucker for HEA.