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 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Mothers

Tags Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ, Race / Racism, Gender / Feminism


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ, Mystery / Crime Fiction


Publication year 1979

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Identity: Masculinity

Tags Historical Fiction, Western, Relationships, WWII / World War II, American Literature, History: World, Romance, Classic Fiction

Legends of the Fall is a collection of three novellas by Jim Harrison, including “Revenge,” “The Man Who Gave Up His Name,” and the titular novella, “Legends of the Fall.” First published in 1979 by Collins, Legends of the Fall remains one of Harrison’s most highly regarded works. Harrison wrote across a range of genres such as fiction, poetry, essay, and film and was the recipient of several awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship. His work... Read Legends of the Fall Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality

Tags LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Humor

Written by Andrew Sean Greer and published in 2017, Less is a satirical comedy novel. It portrays the journey of Arthur Less, who after a difficult breakup plots a round-the-world trip to better understand himself. It won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.Plot SummaryApproaching 50, Arthur Less sits in a hotel lobby waiting to be picked up for a literary event. He is a writer and will be interviewing another writer, albeit a sci-fi author... Read Less Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Identity: Masculinity, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Midlife, Life/Time: The Future

Tags LGBTQ, Humor, Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Historical Fiction, Humor, Gender / Feminism, Romance, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 1838

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Gothic Literature, Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, American Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

Edgar Allan Poe's “Ligeia,” a well-known piece of Gothic and Romantic literature, invites readers to explore the intricacies of reality, death, and the enigmatic power of human will. Published in 1838 during the Romantic era, this tale falls within the sub-genre of Gothic fiction, typified by brooding atmospheres, uncanny occurrences, and a fascination with the supernatural.This guide refers to the Penguin Classic 2019 Kindle edition.Content Warning: This guide and the source text use the term... Read Ligeia Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Gender

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Romance


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction


Publication year 1989

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality, Natural World: Food, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: War

Tags Magical Realism, Latin American Literature, Historical Fiction, Romance, Food, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

Like Water for Chocolate is the debut novel of Laura Esquivel, published in Mexico in 1989 and then translated into English by Carol and Thomas Christensen. Esquivel has sold over four million copies of the novel worldwide. She is a novelist and active politician serving in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies. She collaborated with her husband at the time to adapt the novel into a film in 1992, which was then nominated for a Golden... Read Like Water for Chocolate Summary


Publication year 1857

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government

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

Charles Dickens’s novel Little Dorrit was originally published in serialized form between 1855 and 1857. In this novel, the author satirizes government and society at large, with a specific focus on debtors’ prisons that incarcerated those in debt. The prison in Little Dorrit is the Marshalsea, where at one time, Charles Dickens’s father was imprisoned for debt. Little Dorrit explores common Dickensian themes such as economic class, duty, and societal issues.Other works by this author... Read Little Dorrit Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Love / Sexuality


Publication year 1868

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Children's Literature, Classic Fiction, American Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance

Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, originally published in two volumes in 1868, is set in New England and inspired by her own family and life events. It is a coming-of-age domestic novel about four sisters who grow up during the American Civil War. Due to its popularity, Alcott wrote two sequels: Little Men (1871) and Jo’s Boys (1886). The novel has been adapted many times for the screen, including the 1994 film for which Winona Ryder... Read Little Women Summary


Publication year 1955

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Satire, Realism, Russian Literature, History: World, Romance

Lolita, a novel by Russian-American author Vladimir Nabokov, was published in 1955 in Paris. American publishing companies refused to publish the novel due to its scandalous plot, but the book was considered a classic almost instantly. In 1967, the novel was finally published in America and, since then, Lolita has appeared on several lists of the greatest English-language and American novels of all time. The novel blends genres, offering readers elements of romance, erotica, and... Read Lolita Summary


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: The Future, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, British Literature, History: World, Regency Era

Longbourn (2013) is a work of fiction by British author Jo Baker, who is the author of several other novels of historical fiction and literary suspense. Longbourn depicts what life is like for the servants of the Bennet family of Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice. While events in Austen’s book frame this novel, Longbourn follows the inner lives of housemaid Sarah, housekeeper Mrs. Hill, and James Smith, the mysterious footman who shows up... Read Longbourn Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Community, Self Discovery

Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romance, Gothic Literature, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Holidays & Occasions, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Realistic Fiction, Depression / Suicide, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance

Looking for Alaska is narrated by a sixteen-year-old boy, Miles Halter, who leaves behind his mundane life in Florida to attend a boarding school called Culver Creek. He is inspired by biographies detailing the adventures of notable figures during their days at boarding school. Most of all, he is motivated by the notion of a “Great Perhaps”. Miles has a fascination with famous last words, and particularly with the last words of the poet Francois... Read Looking for Alaska Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Teams

Tags Fantasy, Mythology, Action / Adventure, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Gender / Feminism, Grief / Death, Love / Sexuality, American Literature, Romance


Publication year 2021

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

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

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Mythology, Trauma / Abuse / Violence