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 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


Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Aging, Relationships: Family

Tags Relationships, Romance, Humor


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Humor, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance

Three Wishes (2003) is the debut novel by Australian author Liane Moriarty. Categorized as British and Irish humor and satire, the novel immediately became a New York Times Bestseller. The tone of Three Wishes is generally light and funny, despite its serious issues of adultery, divorce, abusive romantic partners, and the complications of pregnancy. The story is told from the limited third-person perspective of the sisters and the first-person perspective of several anonymous observers. The... Read Three Wishes Summary


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Romance, Love / Sexuality, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Politics / Government, American Literature

Throne of Glass is the first novel in the eight-book young adult (YA) fantasy series of the same name by author Sarah J. Maas. First published in 2012, the novel is loosely based on the Cinderella story. Throne of Glass was critically well-received. In 2016, Disney purchased the rights to a television adaptation. In addition to the Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas is the author of a second High Fantasy series, A Court... Read Throne of Glass Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge

Tags Fantasy, Romance


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Natural World: Environment

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


Publication year 1970

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Life/Time: The Past, Self Discovery

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Classic Fiction

Time and Again (1970) is an illustrated science fiction novel by American author Jack Finney. It follows illustrator Simon “Si” Morley as he is recruited to a secret time travel project and travels to 1882. There, he tries to unravel a conspiracy, falls in love, and faces difficult choices between love and obligation. Time and Again is the first of two novels, and the sequel From Time to Time (1995) was published the year Jack... Read Time and Again Summary


Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Self Discovery

Tags History: World, Victorian Literature / Period, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Romance, LGBTQ, Victorian Period


Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings

Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han is the first in a series of three novels; P.S. I Still Love You was published in 2015 and Always and Forever, Lara Jean in 2017. A movie adaptation of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before was released on Netflix in 2018 and instantly became one of Netflix’s most-watched movies. Simon Schuster first published To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in 2014.To All... Read To All the Boys I've Loved Before Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1831

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Mythology, Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, American Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Romance, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1681

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, Grief / Death, British Literature, Restoration, Education, Education, History: World, Romance, Classic Fiction

“To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell was posthumously published in 1681 as part of the collection Miscellaneous Poems. Marvell, a metaphysical poet, wrote this piece in Restoration England, probably after the English Civil War. Marvell’s canonical lyric works are well-known today but were unheard of during his lifetime. Like Emily Dickinson, none of Marvell's poems were published until after his death. However, some of his satirical and other prose works were published during his... Read To His Coy Mistress Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Community

Tags Romance, Fantasy, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Action / Adventure, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Mythology


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place

Tags Realistic Fiction, American Literature, Agriculture, Arts / Culture, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance


Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Identity: Disability, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Romance, Historical Fiction, Relationships, Gender / Feminism, Disability, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction