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.

Publication year 1961

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Philosophy, Fantasy, Psychological Fiction, Science / Nature, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

Stanisław Lem, a prominent Polish philosopher, essayist, and literary critic who achieved notoriety in the mid-20th century, is best known for his science fiction novels. Among these books, Solaris is regarded by most reviewers and critics as Lem’s masterpiece. Published in Polish in 1961, the English version was translated from the French version in 1970—which Lem allegedly referred to as “poor” (Flood, Alison. “First Ever Direct English Translation of Solaris Published.” The Guardian, 15 June... Read Solaris Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Irish Literature


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Fame, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Colonialism, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Prose poetry, Free verse, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Music, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Life/Time: Aging, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Relationships

Something Borrowed is a work of romantic fiction from author Emily Giffin, published in 2004. It was a critical and commercial success, earning rave reviews and landing a spot on the New York Times bestseller list. The novel was Giffin’s first, and she has published several more books in the same genre. Some of her other books include Love the One You’re With (2008), Heart of the Matter (2010), Where We Belong (2012), and Something... Read Something Borrowed Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness

Tags Romance, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Humor


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, LGBTQ, Romance, Magical Realism


Publication year 1609

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Lyric Poem, Elizabethan Era, Love / Sexuality, History: World, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1609

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Emotions/Behavior: Regret

Tags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality


Publication year 1609

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Lyric Poem, Play: Comedy / Satire, Relationships, Love / Sexuality

William Shakespeare is the author of “Sonnet 130.” The sonnet is one of 154 sonnets that Shakespeare published in 1609 under the title Shakes-spears Sonnets. The first 126 sonnets address a young man, while Sonnets 127-152 focus on a mysterious woman. As with “Sonnet 130,” the sonnets about the enigmatic woman concern ideas of love and beauty and directly undercut typical representations of both. Thus, “Sonnet 130” is satire; it makes fun of how adored... Read Sonnet 130 Summary


Publication year 1599

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride

Tags Lyric Poem, Relationships


Publication year 1609

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Natural World: Environment

Tags Romance, Arts / Culture, Elizabethan Era

William Shakespeare is the best-known author of the English Renaissance—also known as the Early Modern Period and the Elizabethan Age. Though readers’ attention tends to be more riveted toward his plays, Shakespeare published 154 sonnets during his exceptionally prolific career, in addition to the longer-form poems Venus and Adonis (1593), The Rape of Lucrece (1594), and The Phoenix and the Turtle (1601). Fifteen editions of Venus and Adonis—a poem in the form of 199 six-line... Read Sonnet 18 Summary


Publication year 1330

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Lyric Poem, Renaissance


Publication year 1609

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Lyric Poem, Depression / Suicide, Love / Sexuality, Elizabethan Era, History: World, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1609

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past

Tags Lyric Poem, British Literature


Publication year 1609

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Relationships


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Fantasy, Romance


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Romance


Publication year 2011

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Animals, Philosophy, American Literature


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Teams

Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags History: European, Politics / Government, British Literature, Animals, Grief / Death, Depression / Suicide, Class, Relationships, Journalism, Bullying, History: World, Biography