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 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1954

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Classic Fiction, French Literature, Romance, Love / Sexuality

The Story of O is a 1954 erotic novel written by French writer Anne Desclos under the pen name Pauline Réage. Explicit and intense in tone, the work centers on the sexual life and fantasies of O, who engages in sadomasochistic play with her lover and several other figures, both men and women. At the time the novel was written, women in Europe faced an atmosphere that was repressive both sexually and professionally, leading many... Read Story of O Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Romance


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Class

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Urban Development, Romance


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Romance, Arts / Culture, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure

Stung is a 2013 work of young adult fiction by Bethany Wiggins. The setting is a near-future dystopia in which honeybees are extinct, resulting in famine and a breakdown of societal infrastructures. As 17-year-old Fiona Tarsis battles both beasts and humans in an effort to stay alive and learn the truth, the novel explores themes of humanity and violence through the lens of gender dynamics. Stung earned a Starred Review from Kirkus; a sequel, Cured... Read Stung Summary


Publication year 1917

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Realistic Fiction, American Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, Classic Fiction

Summer, written by Edith Wharton, is a novel set in rural New England and was published in 1917. The work was unusual for Wharton, who usually set her novels in New York City and populated them with members of the privileged upper class. The author was born to wealthy New York socialites on January 24, 1862, and raised in luxurious style in Manhattan and Newport, Rhode Island. The family traveled through Europe during the years... Read Summer Summary


Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Fame

Tags Romance, Drama / Tragedy, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, Relationships, Race / Racism, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Romance


Publication year 1973

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: War, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World, Classic Fiction

Summer of My German Soldier (1973) is a young adult novel by American author Bette Greene. The book is heavily based on Greene’s own childhood in Arkansas and Tennessee during World War II and her experiences growing up Jewish in the conservative Christian South. A made-for-TV film adaptation starring Kristy McNichol was released in 1978. The sequel to the novel, Morning Is a Long Time Coming, was published in 1978. Summer of My German Soldier... Read Summer of My German Soldier Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Midlife, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Romance, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Family

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Romance, Love / Sexuality, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Judy Blume is the author of the bildungsroman and romance Summer Sisters, which she published in 1998. A prolific author, Blume is famous for her young-reader books, including the canonized Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (1970), but Summer Sisters is for adults. The book follows the friendship of two girls from different socioeconomic classes from adolescence through adulthood as it addresses themes like The Elusive Power of Sex, The Fluidity of Families, and... Read Summer Sisters Summary


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Satire, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Humor

Gary Shteyngart’s 2010 novel Super Sad True Love Story is a futuristic tale of love, mortality, family, and technology. In the tradition of science fiction and apocalyptic storytelling, Shteyngart creates a world full of all-consuming technology that distracts from the fall of America and the rise of a new global economy. Told through the diaries of an old-timey Russian Jewish protagonist, Lenny Abramov, and the online messages of his youthful Korean-American love interest, Eunice Park... Read Super Sad True Love Story Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Tags Food, Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Historical Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Relationships, Arts / Culture, History: European, Politics / Government, British Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Romance

Sweet Tooth is a 2012 novel by Ian McEwan. Set in the 1970s, it tells the story of one woman’s involvement with MI5 and the world of literature. Themes include the balance of power, navigating lies and deceit, and conditional versus unconditional acceptance.Plot SummarySerena Frome grows up in a small, uninteresting English city. In the 1960s, her mother encourages her to study mathematics at Cambridge University even though Serena (a keen reader) would rather study... Read Sweet Tooth Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Memoir in Verse, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Sexuality, Self Discovery, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Realistic Fiction, Sports, Romance, Music


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family

Tags Romance


Publication year 1964

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage

Tags Romance, Relationships


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman