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.

Like Water for Chocolate

by Laura Esquivel

Publication year 1989

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality, Natural World: Food, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: War

Tags Magical Realism, Latin American Literature, Historical Fiction, Romance, Food, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

Like Water for Chocolate is the debut novel of Laura Esquivel, published in Mexico in 1989 and then translated into English by Carol and Thomas Christensen. Esquivel has sold over four million copies of the novel worldwide. She is a novelist and active politician serving in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies. She collaborated with her husband at the time to adapt the novel into a film in 1992, which was then nominated for a Golden... Read Like Water for Chocolate Summary

Litany

by Billy Collins

Publication year 2002

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Literature, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Free verse, Lyric Poem, Play: Comedy / Satire, American Literature, Love / Sexuality

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Little Beast

by Richard Siken

Publication year 2019

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Lyric Poem, LGBTQ, Love / Sexuality

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Little Brother

by Cory Doctorow

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Politics & Government, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Leadership/Organization/Management, Politics / Government, Science / Nature

Little Brother, a dystopian young adult novel written by Cory Doctorow, was published by Tor Teen books in 2008. The book debuted at number nine on The New York Times Bestseller list and was a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2009. Little Brother also won the 2009 White Pine Award, Prometheus Award, and John W. Campbell Memorial Award. The story takes place in the near future and chronicles the efforts of... Read Little Brother Summary

Little Liar

by Leigh Rivers

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Love / Sexuality

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Little Men

by Louisa May Alcott

Publication year 1871

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Education, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Children's Literature

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Little Stranger

by Leigh Rivers

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery

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Living in Sin

by Adrienne Rich

Publication year 1954

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism, Relationships

... Read Living in Sin Summary

Lolita

by Vladimir Nabokov

Publication year 1955

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Satire, Realism, Russian Literature, History: World, Romance

Lolita, a novel by Russian-American author Vladimir Nabokov, was published in 1955 in Paris. American publishing companies refused to publish the novel due to its scandalous plot, but the book was considered a classic almost instantly. In 1967, the novel was finally published in America and, since then, Lolita has appeared on several lists of the greatest English-language and American novels of all time. The novel blends genres, offering readers elements of romance, erotica, and... Read Lolita Summary

Longbourn

by Jo Baker

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: The Future, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, British Literature, History: World, Regency Era

Longbourn (2013) is a work of fiction by British author Jo Baker, who is the author of several other novels of historical fiction and literary suspense. Longbourn depicts what life is like for the servants of the Bennet family of Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice. While events in Austen’s book frame this novel, Longbourn follows the inner lives of housemaid Sarah, housekeeper Mrs. Hill, and James Smith, the mysterious footman who shows up... Read Longbourn Summary

Long Island

by Colm Tóibín

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Midlife, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Immigration

Tags History: World, Historical Fiction, Irish Literature

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Lore Olympus: Volume One

by Rachel Smythe

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

... Read Lore Olympus: Volume One Summary

Lorna Doone

by R. D. Blackmore

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

Losing Hope

by Colleen Hoover

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

... Read Losing Hope Summary

Lost and Lassoed

by Lyla Sage

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

... Read Lost and Lassoed Summary

Love After Love

by Derek Walcott

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

... Read Love After Love Summary