Many people think Valentine’s Day is overrated, but if there’s one thing I am a sucker for, it’s romance. I’m in a long-distance relationship, which can make Valentine’s Day bittersweet. Still, every year, regardless of my Valentine’s Day plans, I know I’ll always have the option to watch romantic comedies all day. 

Whether you’re celebrating with your partner, your friends or yourself, you always have rom-coms to turn to if you want to get in the Valentine’s Day spirit. If you don’t feel like watching a rom-com but still want to celebrate love, I’ve created a playlist of songs that remind me of my favorite rom-coms.

“The Big Sick”

The premise of this movie is absolutely beautiful, so imagine my surprise when I learned it was based off of the real story of how the lead actor, Kumail Nanjiani, fell in love with his wife. Aside from the incredible story, this movie also has no comedic drop-off — it’s consistently funny throughout. 

I’m just as obsessed with Olivia Dean as the rest of the world is right now, so it’s no surprise her song “Man I Need” came to mind when I thought about this movie. Kumail was definitely the man Emily needed, and he happened to be in the right place at the right time.

“She Will Be Loved” by Maroon 5 is another song that reminds me of this movie, mostly because the lyrics “I don’t mind spending every day / Out on your corner in the pouring rain” are pretty on the nose.   

“Notting Hill”

“Notting Hill” is the first rom-com I ever watched, and I still love it as much as I did the first time. It’s predictable in the way that rom-coms are supposed to be — you basically know what’s going to happen but are still excited to see how it ends. 

“Cinema” by Harry Styles and “More Than A Woman,” by the Bee Gees are two songs I associate with Anna Scott, who is perhaps one of the most chic movie characters of all time. This movie feels like a dreamy fairytale brought to life, and “Somethin’ Stupid” by Frank and Nancy Sinatra is a song that feels the same way. 

“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”

“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” is just as much of a classic in my mind as “Notting Hill.”

Taylor Swift’s “The Way I Loved You” is a great match for this classic comedy. The lyrics, “You’re so in love that you act insane” and “It’s a roller coaster kind of rush,”  are a perfect way to describe Andie and Ben’s relationship.

“I Hate Myself for Loving You” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts reminds me of the tricky start to their relationship, while “Dive” by Olivia Dean reminds me of the satisfying end, where Andie fully makes her decision. 

And of course, “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon is in not one, but two of the most iconic scenes in the movie, so I’d be remiss to exclude it. 

“Crazy, Stupid, Love.”

“Crazy, Stupid, Love.” is a movie filled with hilarious plot twists and two adorable love stories. What more could I ask for? 

“Late Night Talking” by Harry Styles reminds me of when Hannah and Jacob first get together. On the other hand, “Always” by Daniel Caesar and “Begin Again” by Taylor Swift are two tracks that come to mind when I think of Cal and Emily — high school sweethearts who had to overcome a lot in their marriage. 

“The Dress” by Dijon, specifically when he sings, “We should go out and dance like we used to dance,” is also pretty perfect for Cal and Emily. 

“About Time”

“About Time” is one of my favorite movies of all time. It makes me laugh and cry in one sitting. 

The lyrics “Right from the start, I knew / You’d set a fire in me / And I’d rather be sad with you / Then anywhere away from you / And hey / I can’t believe I captured your heart” from “Wake Me” by Bleachers remind me so much of how Tim feels once he finally gets to be with Mary.

“I Know A Place” by MUNA, “Slow Burn” by Kacey Musgraves and “Friday I’m in Love” by The Cure are some other songs that remind me of this incredibly wholesome couple and their trajectory throughout the movie. 

“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”

I rewatched this movie the other day and instantly transported to 2018. That moment when Lara Jean and her classmates leave for their ski trip and “I Like Me Better” by Lauv plays in the background is so iconic.  Whenever I hear that song, I instantly think of this movie. 

“Can I Call You Tonight” by Dayglow might not have been in the movie, but it’s another song with that nostalgic, 2018 feeling. “Risk” by Gracie Abrams and “Cross Your Mind” by Shelly are more recent songs that emulate the innocent, exciting high school love Lara Jean and Peter have.

This isn’t a complete list because I had just as hard a time picking rom-coms as I do picking songs. Still, I hope this list serves as double the Valentine’s Day recommendations — give these songs a listen and then watch the movies that inspired me to choose them.

And if you’re feeling lonely this Valentine’s Day, I hope this list helps you remember that just like music, rom-coms are always there to lean on.