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.

A Spark of Light

by Jodi Picoult

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Guilt, Love, Politics & Government

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Health, Trauma & Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature

Published in 2019, Jodi Picoult’s novel A Spark of Light tells the story of a gunman’s attack on an abortion clinic from multiple points of view, examining the lives of different characters and the events that lead them to the clinic on that day. Picoult is a New York Times best-selling author and has written 28 novels, several of which have been adapted for film and television. Her books are known for tackling social issues... Read A Spark of Light Summary

A Stage Set for Villains

by Shannon J. Spann

Publication year 2026

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Self Discovery, Truth & Lies

Shannon J. Spann’s debut novel, A Stage Set for Villains (2026), is a dark fantasy that draws heavily on the traditions of ancient Greek theater. The story is set in the world of Theatron, where society is divided by its relationship to the Players—immortal, godlike beings who wield a powerful magic called Craft through performance. The protagonist, Riven Hesper, has been an outcast for a decade, suffering from a mysterious curse after a childhood encounter... Read A Stage Set for Villains Summary

As You Like It

by William Shakespeare

Publication year 1599

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Love, Siblings

Tags Elizabethan Era, Comedy & Satire, Romance, Education, Education, Humor, Classic Fiction

As You Like It is a pastoral comedy that features romance by William Shakespeare. The date of its first performance is unknown, but it is believed to have been written in 1599. As You Like It was first published in 1623 in the First Folio, the first of the posthumously published collections of Shakespeare’s plays.This summary refers to the 2019 Folger Shakespeare Library updated edition. Your edition’s line numbers and spellings may vary slightly.Plot SummaryWhen... Read As You Like It Summary

A Thousand Steps into Night

by Traci Chee

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Hate & Anger, Grief, Hope, Love, Regret, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Beauty, Equality, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Wins & Losses, Appearance & Reality, Space, Animals, Place, Daughters & Sons, Friendship, Fathers, Family, Teamwork, Femininity, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, Social Class

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Mythology, Coming of Age, Historical Fiction, Gender & Feminism, Asian Literature, Japanese Literature

... Read A Thousand Steps into Night Summary

Atmosphere

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Hope, Joy, Love, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Midlife, Death, Future, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Space, Family, Friendship, Marriage, Siblings, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, Equality, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction

... Read Atmosphere Summary

Aubade

by Major Jackson

Publication year 2015

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Love, Beauty

Tags Lyric Poem, African American Literature

“Aubade” is a contemporary love poem by American poet Major Jackson. Published in 2017 in Jackson’s fourth collection of poetry Roll Deep, the poem first appeared in The New Yorker in 2015. The title of the poem references a form of love song or poem that marks the dawn—the time of day when lovers must separate. Aubades were popular in medieval times, and unlike a serenade, which accompanies the evening and nightfall, an aubade evokes... Read Aubade Summary

Autumn

by Ali Smith

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Art, Aging, Love, Friendship, Apathy, Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Hope, Memory, Femininity, Death, The Past, Environment, Place, Community, Immigration, Nation, Politics & Government, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed

Tags British Literature

Ali Smith’s 2016 novel Autumn is a work of literary fiction and the first installment in her celebrated Seasonal Quartet. It was shortlisted for the 2017 Man Booker Prize. The story centers on the tender, unconventional friendship between Elisabeth Demand, a young lecturer, and Daniel Gluck, her 101-year-old former neighbor, who lies near death in a care facility. As Elisabeth keeps vigil by his bedside, the narrative drifts between the fractured political landscape of the... Read Autumn Summary