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 1887

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Sexuality

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


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Self Discovery

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Humor, Romance


Publication year 1920

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, Scandinavian Literature, History: World, Romance, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera is a young adult, science fiction novel published in 2017. Set in a dystopian alternate version of New York City in September 2017, the book follows two teenagers, Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio, who both have been notified by Death-Cast that they will die by the end of the day. Death-Cast, the defining feature of Silvera’s dystopia, is a company that predicts citizens’ deaths and notifies... Read They Both Die at the End Summary


Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Family

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Romance

Published in 2002, Things Not Seen, a science-fiction novel written by Andrew Clements for middle-grade students, tells of a boy who becomes invisible and strikes up a friendship with a girl who is blind. They and their parents search for a way to prevent the public from learning about his condition and tearing the family apart. The work is the first in a three-book series.Clements, winner of more than two dozen awards, was the author... Read Things Not Seen Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Fathers

Tags Romance, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Community, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship

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


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Relationships: Family

Tags Romance, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Gender / Feminism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health

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

Tormented by false rumors and betrayals, high-schooler Hannah Baker dies by suicide—but leaves behind a set of tapes for 13 of her classmates explaining how they contributed to her death in Thirteen Reasons Why (2007) by Jay Asher. This suspenseful young adult drama—Asher’s debut novel—was inspired by a close family member who attempted suicide when she was Hannah’s age. She survived and shared with Asher the feelings and events that led to her suicide attempt... Read Thirteen Reasons Why Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Midlife, Natural World: Food, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, African American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2010

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance

This Is How You Lose Her is a short story collection published in 2012 by the Dominican American author Junot Díaz, and his second story collection. The book is comprised of nine stories, most of which were originally published in The New Yorker magazine. Eight of the stories feature the same narrator, Yunior, who also appears as a character in Díaz’s other major works, Drown and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. This Is... Read This Is How You Lose Her Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Literature

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


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Fame

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Irish Literature, British Literature


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Community

Tags Realistic Fiction, Romance, African American Literature, Race / Racism, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1920

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Self Discovery

Tags Classic Fiction, Jazz Age, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Roaring Twenties, Class, American Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance

This Side of Paradise (1920) is a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It was Fitzgerald’s first novel and became an instant hit, launching Fitzgerald into literary fame for its social commentary on a younger generation fueled by indulgence and materialism. This Side of Paradise is also a historical depiction of the Jazz Age, like Fitzgerald’s most famous novel, The Great Gatsby.This Side of Paradise follows Amory Blaine’s coming of age during prep school and four... Read This Side of Paradise Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Holidays & Occasions, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Mythology


Publication year 1952

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: Globalization

Tags Japanese Literature, Love / Sexuality, Asian Literature, Romance, Classic Fiction

The novel Thousand Cranes (in Japanese, Senbazuru) was written by Japanese author Yasunari Kawabata. It was originally published in serialized form between 1949 and 1951 and compiled with another of Kawabata’s novels, Snow Country (1948), in book form in 1952. The narrative follows Kikuji, an orphaned young businessman, as he navigates the legacy of his father’s infidelity against the backdrop of traditional Japanese tea culture. It explores themes of Decay of Traditions and Values, Legacy:... Read Thousand Cranes Summary