Valentine's Day Reads: The Theme of Love

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 1971

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Lyric Poem, Relationships


Publication year 2024

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Self Discovery


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Romance, LGBTQ, African Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Masculinity, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags LGBTQ, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Bullying, Class, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Love / Sexuality, History: European, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness, Humor


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Romance, Magical Realism, Drama / Tragedy, Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 1176

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Classic Fiction, Romance, Mythology, Narrative / Epic Poem, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, French Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Fantasy

Completed in the year 1181, Yvain, Or the Knight of the Lion is an epic poem by Chrétian De Troyes that tells the story of Yvain, one of King Arthur’s knights, and the many great deeds he performs as he attempts to earn the love of the Lady Laudine. One of the founding stories of the Arthurian legend, Yvain paints a vivid picture of the knightly code of chivalry during the Middle Ages. Its high... Read Yvain, or the Knight With the Lion Summary