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.

Redeeming Love

by Francine Rivers

Publication year 1991

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Love

Tags Romance, Christian, World History, Historical Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

Redeeming Love is a 1991 historical romance novel written by Francine Rivers. It is set in California in the 1850s, during the Gold Rush. Taking its inspiration from the Biblical Book of Hosea, it is built upon the foundation of the author’s Christian beliefs. Major themes include Direct Communication with God, The Strength of Family Bonds, and The Need for Redemption.Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of sexual content, child sexual abuse... Read Redeeming Love Summary

Red, White, and Royal Blue

by Casey McQuiston

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love

Tags LGBTQ+, Romance, Modern Classic Fiction

Red, White & Royal Blue is the debut novel of author Casey McQuiston. When first published in May of 2019, it created an immediate sensation and rose to the top of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and earned awards from NPR, Kirkus, Library Journal, and others.Red, White & Royal Blue is the story of a gay romance between FSOTUS (First Son of the United States) Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry, a... Read Red, White, and Royal Blue Summary

Reel

by Kennedy Ryan

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Race, Art

Tags Romance, Historical Fiction, African American Literature, Disability

... Read Reel Summary

Rejection

by Tony Tulathimutte

Publication year 2024

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Love, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Race, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Community, Literature, Power & Greed, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies

... Read Rejection Summary

Releasing 10

by Chloe Walsh

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Forgiveness, Loneliness, Love, Shame & Pride, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Family, Fathers, Friendship, Mothers, Self Discovery, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger

Tags Romance, New Adult

... Read Releasing 10 Summary

Remain

by Nicholas Sparks, M. Night Shyamalan

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Grief, Love, Memory, Mental Health, Midlife, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Siblings, Self Discovery, Community, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, New Age, Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, Fantasy

... Read Remain Summary

Reminders of Him

by Colleen Hoover

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Forgiveness, Self Discovery, The Past, Daughters & Sons, Family, Friendship, Mothers, Music, Trust & Doubt, Appearance & Reality, Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Grief, Guilt, Loneliness

Tags Romance, Love & Sexuality, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature

... Read Reminders of Him Summary

Resurrection

by Leo Tolstoy

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Forgiveness, Love, Guilt, Hope, Regret, Masculinity, Self Discovery, Social Class, Good & Evil, Justice

Tags Russian Literature, Classic Fiction, Philosophy, Social Science

... Read Resurrection Summary

Rez Dogs

by Joseph Bruchac

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Family, Community, Grandparents, Love, Animals, Indigenous Identity

Tags Animals, Health, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction

... Read Rez Dogs Summary

Rock Paper Scissors

by Alice Feeney

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Mothers, Fathers, Friendship, Love, Hate & Anger, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Good & Evil, Truth & Lies, Daughters & Sons, Fear, Loneliness, Apathy, Marriage

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction

... Read Rock Paper Scissors Summary