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.

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Romance, Humor


Publication year 1598

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Mythology, Renaissance, Love / Sexuality, Education, Education, British Literature, Drama / Tragedy, Fantasy, Romance, Classic Fiction

Hero and Leander is an epyllion (brief epic) by 16th-century English poet and playwright Christopher Marlowe. It can also be described as a mythological-erotic poem, one of a number of such poems that were published in England around this time, including Shakespeare’s Venus and Adonis. The poem is based on the ancient Greek story of two tragic lovers. The exact date of composition is not known but the poem was published in 1598, five years... Read Hero and Leander Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romance, Love / Sexuality


Publication year 1991

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Birth

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Jewish Literature, Gender / Feminism, Fantasy, Romance

He, She and It is a 1991 cyberpunk novel by Marge Piercy. It won the Arthur C. Clarke award for Best Science Fiction novel, telling the story of a romance between a human woman and a cyborg against the backdrop of a dystopian/post-apocalyptic world. Plot Summary Shira and her ex-husband, Josh, are sitting in a courtroom in Nebraska awaiting word on the custody of their son, Ari. Shira is a psychoengineer who works with artificial intelligence. They... Read He, She and It Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, Gender / Feminism


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Romance, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Masculinity, Values/Ideas: Music

Tags Humor, Music, Romance, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

High Fidelity is a 1995 fiction novel by the English author Nick Hornby. It tells the story of Rob Fleming, an obsessive music fan who examines his top five worst break ups to understand his most recent heartbreak. The book was adapted into a musical, a television series, and 2000 film starring John Cusack and directly by Stephen Frears.Plot SummaryRob Fleming is the 35-year-old owner of a record store in London. When his girlfriend Laura... Read High Fidelity Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Humor, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Gender / Feminism, African Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Romance, LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Mental Illness

Jennifer Niven’s 2016 book, Holding up the Universe, is a young adult novel that explores the love story between two teenagers living in Amos, Indiana. The story follows Jack Masselin, a 17-year-old popular boy who secretly has a neurological disorder called prosopagnosia that inhibits his ability to recognize faces, and Libby Strout, a 16-year-old overweight girl who had to be lifted from her home by crane after a panic attack. The experience led to Libby... Read Holding Up The Universe Summary


Publication year 1981

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Historical Fiction, Classical Period, Romance

Homecoming (1981) is Cynthia Voigt’s first book in the Tillerman Cycle series, a seven-book young adult series. The novel earned praise and recognition as a National Book Award finalist; other books in the series won a Newberry medal and a Newberry honor. Following four young, abandoned siblings navigating large stretches of New England and the Northeastern United States, the novel explores themes about home, family, and resilience. This guide refers to the 1981 edition, which... Read Homecoming Summary


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Society: War, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Mental Health

Tags Romance, Historical Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Military / War, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, New Adult


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Relationships: Family, Identity: Gender, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fairy Tale / Folklore, Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Romance, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Relationships: Family

Tags Romance, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Religion / Spirituality, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Romance


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Music

Tags WWII / World War II, Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Military / War, History: World, Romance

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford is a historical novel published in 2009. The story follows Henry Lee at two pivotal stages in his life—in 1942, when he is a 12-year-old with a crush on a Japanese girl, and in 1986, when he is recently widowed. The book, Ford’s debut novel, spent 130 weeks atop the New York Times Best-Seller List and won the 2010 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature... Read Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Romance