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.

The End Of The Affair

by Graham Greene

Publication year 1951

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love

Tags Romance, British Literature, World History, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

The End of the Affair is a romance novel and work of psychological fiction written by British author Graham Greene, originally published in 1951. The narrative takes place in London between 1942 and 1946, during the middle and end of World War II. The work is comprised of five books, or parts, which center around the tryst of three primary characters: Maurice Bendrix, a blossoming writer; Sarah Miles; and Sarah’s ineffective husband, Henry Miles, who... Read The End Of The Affair Summary

The Ersatz Elevator

by Lemony Snicket

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Good & Evil, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Order & Chaos, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Love, Childhood & Youth, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Family, Teamwork

Tags Fantasy, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure, Humor, Children`s Literature

... Read The Ersatz Elevator Summary

The Ex

by Freida McFadden

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Revenge, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Grandparents, Marriage, Social Class, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction

... Read The Ex Summary

The Ex Hex

by Erin Sterling

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Love, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, Fantasy, Love & Sexuality, Relationships, Special Occasions, Science Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

... Read The Ex Hex Summary

The Faerie Queene

by Edmund Spenser

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Love, Beauty, Good & Evil, Religion & Spirituality, Wins & Losses

Tags Narrative Poem, Fantasy, Symbolic Narrative, British Literature, Education, Education, World History, Classic Fiction

Edmund Spenser, who went from an impoverished upbringing to a celebrated English poet, is the author of The Faerie Queene. The epic, as the word implies, is long. The first three books came out in 1590, and the next three books arrived in 1596. The work is an allegory; each book symbolizes one of the moral virtues advocated by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. At the same time, the poem qualifies as a quest narrative and... Read The Faerie Queene Summary

The Familiar

by Leigh Bardugo

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Fear, Love, Social Class, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, World History, Magical Realism, Romance

... Read The Familiar Summary

The Fat Girl

by Andre Dubus II

Publication year 1977

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Love, Mental Health, Mothers, Truth & Lies, Sexual Identity

Tags Psychological Fiction

“The Fat Girl” is a short story by Andre Dubus II that was originally published in his 1977 collection Adultery and Other Choices. Dubus was an American writer of short stories and essays from Louisiana. “The Fat Girl” chronicles nearly two decades in protagonist Louise’s life, spanning childhood to motherhood. The story explores Louise’s issues with body image, food and dieting, secrecy, gender roles, and relationships.This guide is based on the version of the text... Read The Fat Girl Summary

The Fifth Of March

by Ann Rinaldi

Publication year 1993

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes War, Conflict, Hate & Anger, Love, Revenge, Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Friendship, Self Discovery, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Nation, Politics & Government, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, American Revolution

... Read The Fifth Of March Summary