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.

Fingersmith

by Sarah Waters

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mothers, Truth & Lies, Sexual Identity

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, LGBTQ+, Gothic Literature, Victorian Period, Trauma & Abuse, Love & Sexuality, World History, Romance

A thrilling tale of thievery, betrayal, and mistaken identity, Fingersmith, by Welsh author Sarah Waters, tells the story of two women from two very different stations of life whose fates are inextricably linked. Set in the 1860s, Fingersmith is narrated alternately by Sue Smith (also known as Sue Trinder) and Maud Lilly. One is a young “fingersmith”—slang for a thief—lovingly protected from the worst of her world by Mrs. Sucksby; the other is an aristocratic... Read Fingersmith Summary

Fireborne

by Rosaria Munda

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Memory, Revenge, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Social Class, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Justice, Order & Chaos

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction

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Firefly Lane

by Kristin Hannah

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Trust & Doubt, Appearance & Reality, Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature, Historical Fiction, Romance

Firefly Lane is a 2008 young adult novel by the New York Times best-selling American author Kristin Hannah. She has written more than 20 novels including The Nightingale, The Great Alone, and The Women. Firefly Lane begins in 1974 and tells the story of two women whose 30-year friendship becomes the stabilizing force in their lives.Content Warning: The source text and this guide discuss rape, drug addiction, and alcohol addiction.Plot SummaryFirefly Lane tells the story... Read Firefly Lane Summary

Firekeeper's Daughter

by Angeline Boulley

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Appearance & Reality, Community

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Grief & Death, Race & Racism, American Literature, Horror & Suspense, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Romance

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Five Feet Apart

by Rachael Lippincott

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Realistic Fiction, Love & Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance

Rachael Lippincott’s 2018 novel Five Feet Apart portrays the intense relationship between meticulous Stella Grant and charming but rebellious Will Newman as they navigate life with cystic fibrosis. A genetic disease that affects both the respiratory and digestive system, cystic fibrosis significantly reduces the life span of those affected and limits their interactions with one another for fear of bacterial cross-infection. Alternating between the first-person point of view of both Stella and Will, the novel... Read Five Feet Apart Summary

Flawed

by Cecelia Ahern

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Community, Justice, Family

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Coming of Age, Modern Classic Fiction

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Flipped

by Wendelin Van Draanen

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Love, Forgiveness, Childhood & Youth, Fathers, Family

Tags Romance, Humor, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Flipped is a contemporary young adult novel by Wendelin Van Draanen. The main characters, Juli Baker and Bryce Loski, are neighbors in Mayfield, a fictional American town. Now in eighth grade, the two protagonists reveal the story of their relationship in a dual narrative of alternating first-person chapters that recount how Juli “flips” for Bryce at a young age but later decides she is not interested…right around the time Bryce finally “flips” for Juli. The... Read Flipped Summary

Flock

by Kate Stewart

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Shame & Pride, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Fathers, Self Discovery, Social Class, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction

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Flowers In The Attic

by V. C. Andrews

Publication year 1979

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Daughters & Sons

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Gothic Literature, Dramatic Literature, Romance, Classic Fiction

The American writer Virginia C. Andrews was born Cleo Virginia Andrews, in Portsmouth, Virginia. Known popularly as V.C. Andrews, she became a novelist late in life, having previously worked as a commercial artist, illustrator, and portrait painter. Flowers in the Attic (1979), which she wrote an early draft of in 1975, became a bestseller, although The Washington Post declared the book “deranged swill” and Andrews possibly the “worst writer I have ever read.” However, for... Read Flowers In The Attic Summary

Forever...

by Judy Blume

Publication year 1975

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grandparents, Mothers, Fathers, Sexual Identity, Self Discovery, Friendship

Tags Romance, Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

... Read Forever... Summary