Our Valentine's Day Reads: The Theme of Love Collection features titles centered on love and all of its complexities. This Collection represents authors who have grappled with romantic, familial, and other forms of love through writing. With titles ranging from contemporary romance picks to works by Shakespeare, this Collection has something to offer any reader who has ever lost or found love.
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
Publication year 1869
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Romance, Classic Fiction
Originally published in 1869, R.D. Blackmore’s historical romance, Lorna Doone, remains a critically acclaimed story with several television and movie adaptations. Set in the 17th century during a fraught political climate, the novel centers on the star-crossed lovers, Lorna Doone and John Ridd, as they struggle to be together despite the differences in their social classes and the enmity between their families. The main character, John Ridd, is the narrator, telling his story years later... Read Lorna Doone Summary
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Regret
Tags Romance, Drama / Tragedy, Sociology, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Community
Tags Romance, Western
Publication year 1976
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Lyric Poem
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Romance, Humor, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2003
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Society: Class, Identity: Race, Identity: Gender
Tags African American Literature, Grief / Death, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1993
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, Realism
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family
Tags Italian Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Travel Literature, Realistic Fiction, Grief / Death
Publication year 1943
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Chinese Literature, Historical Fiction, Love / Sexuality, Asian Literature, History: World, Romance, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1719
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Romance, Love / Sexuality, British Literature, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1939
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, Relationships
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Community, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Gender
Tags Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Race, Identity: Mental Health, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Music
Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Mythology, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Grief / Death, History: World, Love / Sexuality, Military / War, Music, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, WWI / World War I, WWII / World War II, Fantasy
Publication year 1984
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction
American author Louise Erdrich’s debut novel, Love Medicine, was first published in 1984 to critical acclaim. A bestseller and winner of the 1984 National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction, the novel follows three generations of members from five Ojibwe families in Minnesota and North Dakota. Lyrical, metaphorical, and a complex exploration of oppression, joy, and family, the novel is both a record of history and an analysis of love. Blending the genres of historical... Read Love Medicine Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Romance, Humor, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2005
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Free verse, Love / Sexuality
Publication year 1999
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Romance, Love / Sexuality, American Literature, Food
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Family
Tags Romance, New Adult
Publication year 1598
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Masculinity, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Classic Fiction, Play: Comedy / Satire, British Literature, Drama / Tragedy, Romance, Humor
Love’s Labour’s Lost is an early Shakespearean comedy, produced in the burgeoning theatrical culture of Elizabethan London. It tells the story of four Lords, led by the King of Navarre, who swear to dedicate three years to study and avoid women. However, they immediately fall in love with four ladies, led by the Princess of France. The play follows their attempts to woo the ladies, while a host of comedic characters in the subplot squabble... Read Love's Labour's Lost Summary