Romance

"The course of true love never did run smooth," wrote William Shakespeare in A Midsummer Night's Dream—and he knew what he was talking about. A text from this study guide collection might be just the thing to remind you of the bliss and pain of love.

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Midlife, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Romance, Humor, LGBTQ, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Fantasy, Romance


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Colonialism

Tags Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Spanish Literature, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: World, Romance


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Romance, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence

It Ends with Us is a 2016 romance novel by Colleen Hoover. The novel tells the story of Lily Bloom and her doomed romance with Ryle Kincaid and traces her past history growing up in an abusive home, her fall into an abusive relationship, and her escape from that relationship. Colleen Hoover is the author of several best-selling novels, including Verity, Ugly Love, and All Your Perfects. In 2022, Hoover published a sequel to It... Read It Ends with Us Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Self Discovery, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Romance, Humor, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Mental Illness, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Psychology, Psychology, Romance

It’s Kind of a Funny Story was Ned Vizzini’s second Young Adult novel, published by Hyperion in 2006. It is a critically acclaimed Young Adult novel and coming-of-age story that was given a starred review by the American Librarians Association and adapted into a film of the same name (2010).Other work by this author includes the novel, Be More Chill.Content Warning: This novel and study guide include topics and themes that may be sensitive for... Read It's Kind of a Funny Story Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Beauty

Tags African American Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Romance, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1819

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Nation, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, History: World, Romance

Ivanhoe is a historical fiction novel by Walter Scott, first published in 1819. The novel or “romance” is a fanciful account of English life in the 12th century, during the time of King Richard I (Richard “Coeur de Lion”). The protagonist of the story is Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a knight returning home from fighting in the Third Crusade. His journey weaves together historical events, religious conflict, and Medieval folklore and explores themes of Chivalry as... Read Ivanhoe Summary


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Mental Health

Tags Depression / Suicide, Mental Illness, Realistic Fiction, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Trauma / Abuse / Violence

Matt de la Pena’s young adult novel I Will Save You (2010) follows the narrator, Kidd Ellison, after he runs away from a group home to live and work at a campground on the beach. Harboring memories of a traumatic past, he forges new relationships and fosters old ones that test his self-understanding. Through flashbacks, dreams, and journal entries mixed with the present day, the narrative explores themes such as The Impact of Trauma on... Read I Will Save You Summary


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community

Tags Realistic Fiction, Sports, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance


Publication year 1895

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Victorian Period, Classic Fiction, Class, Historical Fiction, Romance, British Literature, History: World, Victorian Literature / Period

English author Thomas Hardy published his final novel, Jude the Obscure, in 1895. Critics deemed it “immoral” and “indecent,” and it became a target of book burnings because of its critique of marriage, religion, education, and class structure. The narrative follows the tragic journey of Jude Fawley, a working-class man striving for education and love, whose aspirations are consistently thwarted by societal barriers, personal setbacks, and internal struggles.This guide refers to the e-book version of... Read Jude the Obscure Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, American Literature


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family

Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Relationships, Music, Mental Illness, Modern Classic Fiction

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen is a contemporary YA coming-of-age novel published in 2006. The story follows protagonist Annabel Greene, a 16-year-old model who is isolated at school due to a secret trauma that ended her friendship with Sophie. While Annabel tries to forget the past, her older sister, Whitney, deals with anorexia and bulimia. Her eating disorder weighs down the family, and Annabel can’t add another burden on them. When Annabel meets Owen, a... Read Just Listen Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Fairy Tale / Folklore


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community

Tags Romance, Sports, New Adult, Modern Classic Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Teams, Society: Class, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure