book review about love

'Everything I Know About Love' review: Sex, drugs, and a millennial girl gang you'll want to join

Your new best friends are right around the corner.

Meet Maggie (Emma Appleton), Birdy (Bel Powley) Amara (Aliyah Odoffin), and Nell (Marli Siu) — four best mates living in a flat share in Camden, London, in the height of their twenties. Together they share the euphoric ups and rock-bottom downs that come hand in hand with being this age — dreadful dates, raucous nights out, awful hangovers, terrible decisions, heaps of sex and drugs, and relationships with people who don't treat you the way you deserve.

Created and adapted for television by Dolly Alderton , and based on her best-selling memoir of the same name, this show is about the almighty learning curve many of us embark upon in this formative decade of our lives. Don't be fooled by the title, this show is not just about romantic love — its most important arc is a story of friendship between best friends Maggie and Birdy, who've known each other since childhood, and are now navigating a perilous path as their romantic partners and sexual exploits pose a threat to the platonic love they share. Can their lifelong friendship survive?

If you happen to be in your thirties, and grew up in the nineties and early 2000s, then this show will have a very special place in your heart, most notably because of the cultural references that'll take you way back to your Tween era and the days of Tammy Girl , school discos, and putting dance routines together in your parents' living room. It's got a seriously banging soundtrack to match the heavy nostalgia too — Sugababes' "Overload," Whigfield's "Saturday Night," S Club 7's "Don't Stop Movin,'" Kylie Minogue's "Love at First Sight," and B*Witched's "C'est La Vie," to name a few.

The central friendship between Maggie and Birdy is deeply relatable. Maggie is a kind of Millennial Keith Richards with a penchant for bad boys and wild nights that never end. Birdy is a sweet-natured innocent who finds herself in a relationship with the most boring and stiffly conventional man known to humankind. His presence puts an almighty strain on the bond between these two BFFs, making Maggie feel abandoned and alone while Birdy enjoys the high of being in love with her first boyfriend. We've all been there — I know I certainly have .

Meanwhile, Maggie begins a dalliance with fuckboy supreme Street (Connor Finch) who's in a band (of course), doesn't have a smartphone (naturally), and refuses to travel to Camden for moral reasons not quite clear to any of us (lol OK). It's all fine for a while because, well, he's sexy and cool. Red flags are omnipresent, but — as many of us can relate — Maggie looks past them because she thinks she's in love with him.

There are moments in Everything I Know About Love that'll make you cackle so loud you'll feel bad for your neighbours, like Maggie's statement that she's "pretty sure the only I got from that relationship are technicolour strains of HPV." But in a true highlight, found in episode 1 of the series, viewers will note a dance scene that will rival Hugh Grant's epic Love Actually boogie to the Pointer Sisters' "Jump (For My Love)". Maggie goes one extra, dancing in nothing but a thong to "Brothers on the Slide" by Cymande with a cigarette in her mouth the whole time. It's fantastic.

But there are also deep lows that are real markers of this decade, like witnessing Maggie eating a block of Cathedral City cheddar in bed as she wallows in glumness, feeling like her friendship might be ending .

There's wonderfully sex-positive moments, like a montage of dating app hookups, in which Amara pulls out a vibrator and uses it during doggy-style sex, while her partner says, "Fuck, that's hot." It feels like a breakaway from previous iterations of onscreen heterosexual sex involving sex toys, which have typically framed the introduction of a device as a threat to masculinity in the bedroom.

There are also lovely flashbacks to Maggie and Birdy's teenage years together, as they trammeled the tumultuous time of crushes on boys and glittery makeovers in the school playground. Directed by China Moo-Young and Julia Ford, and produced by Surian Fletcher-Jones, this show will make you laugh, cry, and pick up the phone to text your mates. It will fill the voids in your life left by Derry Girls , Sex and the City , Girls , and every other girl gang show you've ever loved.

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Alderton wrote the screenplay during the third national lockdown in the UK — a time when seeing friends was pretty much banned, and having a house party (outside of 10 Downing Street) would have landed you in real police trouble. There's something delicious about seeing a group of friends partying like there's no tomorrow, like there are zero consequences to their actions, like they don't have a care in the world.

It's a heartwarming and at times heartbreaking show that'll feel like you're rewatching your twenties unfold.

Everything I Know About Love is now on Peacock.

UPDATE: Aug. 25, 2022, 9:07 a.m. EDT This review originally ran for the show's premiere on BBC on June 7, 2022. It has been republished for its Peacock debut.

Topics BBC Streaming

Rachel Thompson is the Features Editor at Mashable. Based in the UK, Rachel writes about sex, relationships, and online culture. She has been a sex and dating writer for a decade and she is the author of Rough (Penguin Random House, 2021). She is currently working on her second non-fiction book.

8 Rules of Love: How to Find It, Keep It, and Let It Go

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2023

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50 Must-Read Love Stories

Here's a list of 50 of the best love story books I've come across in my many years of reading, including romance, fantasy, YA, and more.

Namera Tanjeem

Namera is currently an English student at the University of Cambridge who loves romance novels, Harry Potter, true crime stories, and cats. You can find her over at her blog, The Literary Invertebrate . She can be contacted by email at [email protected].

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I’m a huge romance reader. I will read pretty much anything as long as it has some form of romance in it. Hence, this compilation of the 50 best love story books – the sweetest, the most epic, the most emotional – I’ve encountered in my travels.

While I do also read a lot of dark romances, this isn’t the place for them. (Click here if that’s what you’re looking for). You may have read some of the books in this article before; however, I’ve also included my lesser-known favourites, so hopefully there’s something for everyone. I’ve divided them up into YA love story books, fantasy, historical, and contemporary if you want to skip directly to the genre you like best.

Several strands of diversity have also been showcased in this collection, with plenty of queer and/or non-white protagonists. Most of the books simply have the Amazon descriptions added, but I’ve added brief captions to those I particularly recommend.

Best Love Stories: Contemporary Romance

The wedding date by jasmine guillory.

On the eve of his ex’s wedding festivities, Drew Nichols is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend…

Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck with in an elevator is not something Alexa Monroe would normally do. But Drew’s proposal proves hard to resist.

After their wedding date turns into a whole weekend of fun in San Francisco, Drew and Alexa return to their all-consuming careers – his in LA and hers in Berkeley. Too bad they can’t stop thinking about each other…

It could be the long-distance dating disaster of the century – or Drew and Alexa could be just a flight away from what each of them truly wants.

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Truly by Carmel Rhodes

The summer after senior year was supposed to be the best summer of my life.⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣It was supposed to be full of adventure and self-discovery and making love under the stars.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

It was supposed to be about losing myself and finding my way.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

Only, it wasn’t supposed to start like this.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

I wasn’t supposed to go to that party.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

He wasn’t supposed to notice me.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

The hot jock with the trust fund and chip on his shoulder.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

My ex-boyfriend’s half-brother.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

Noah Tedesco is so far out of my league he might as well be playing a different game.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

Noah wasn’t supposed to look twice at a girl like me, but he did.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

Now that I’m on his radar, my life will never be the same.⁣⁣⁣

[This is a dark romance with dark themes, but one of the reasons I’ve chosen to include it is because of the Black heroine (and author). I’ve yet to see many heroines of colour in dark romance.]

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan and a list. After almost – but not quite – dying, she’s come up with a list of directives to help her ‘Get a Life’:

– Enjoy a drunken night out

– Ride a motorbike

– Go camping

– Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex

– Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage

– And . . . do something bad

But it’s not easy being bad, even when you’ve written out step-by-step guidelines. What Chloe needs is a teacher, and she knows just the man for the job: Redford ‘Red’ Morgan.

With tattoos and a motorbike, Red is the perfect helper in her mission to rebel, but as they spend more time together, Chloe realises there’s much more to him than his tough exterior implies. Soon she’s left wanting more from him than she ever expected . . . maybe there’s more to life than her list ever imagined?

The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai

Rhiannon Hunter may have revolutionised romance in the digital world, but in real life she only swipes right on her career – and the occasional hookup. The cynical dating app creator controls her love life with a few key rules:

– Nude pics are by invitation only

– If someone stands you up, block them

– Protect your heart

Only there aren’t any rules to govern her attraction to her newest match, former sports star Samson Lima. The sexy and seemingly sweet hunk woos her one magical night…and then disappears.

Rhi thought she’d buried her hurt over Samson ghosting her, until he suddenly surfaces months later, still big, still beautiful – and in league with a business rival. He says he won’t fumble their second chance, but she’s wary. A temporary physical partnership is one thing, but a merger of hearts? Surely that’s too high a risk…

Feels like Summer (Summer Storm #2) by Six de los Reyes

Five-minute girlfriend. This is what Jett signs up for when she meets Adrian and his band Arabella at beach music festival Summer Storm. One kiss and the attraction is too electric to ignore, but Jett has no room for love and Adrian is Mr. Relationship who’s getting over his recent breakup. The solution? Keep it simple. Keep it casual. For three months (that’s the rule about breakups, right?), Jett helps Adrian move on and Adrian shows up on Jett’s bed whenever she wants.

Then the three months are up and neither of them are in a hurry to be the first to leave. Does Jett walk away from a potential disaster or does she finally let someone into her closely-guarded heart?

Intercepted (Playbook #1) by Alexa Martin

Marlee Harper is the perfect girlfriend. She’s definitely had enough practice by dating her NFL-star boyfriend for the last ten years. But when she discovers he has been tackling other women on the sly, she vows to never date an athlete again. There’s just one problem: Gavin Pope, the new hotshot quarterback and a fling from the past, has Marlee in his sights. 

Gavin fights to show Marlee he’s nothing like her ex. Unfortunately, not everyone is ready to let her escape her past. The team’s wives, who never led the welcome wagon, are not happy with Marlee’s return. They have only one thing on their minds: taking her down. But when the gossip makes Marlee public enemy number one, she worries about more than just her reputation. 

Between their own fumbles and the wicked wives, it will take a Hail Mary for Marlee and Gavin’s relationship to survive the season.

A Princess in Theory (Reluctant Royals #1) by Alyssa Cole

Between grad school and multiple jobs, Naledi Smith doesn’t have time for fairy tales…or patience for the constant e-mails claiming she’s betrothed to an African prince. Sure. Right.  Delete!  As a former foster kid, she’s learned that the only things she can depend on are herself and the scientific method, and a silly e-mail won’t convince her otherwise.

Prince Thabiso is the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo, shouldering the hopes of his parents and his people. At the top of their list? His marriage. Ever dutiful, he tracks down his missing betrothed. When Naledi mistakes the prince for a pauper, Thabiso can’t resist the chance to experience life—and love—without the burden of his crown.

The chemistry between them is instant and irresistible, and flirty friendship quickly evolves into passionate nights. But when the truth is revealed, can a princess in theory become a princess ever after?

The Bride Test (The Kiss Quotient #2) by Helen Hoang

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, not big, important emotions – like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better – that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly refuses to consider a relationship, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.

As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. So when the opportunity arises to go to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down. This could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go quite as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working… but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection.

As Esme’s time in the United States dwindles, will Khai let his head catch up with his heart? Will he find the strength to let go, and let love in?

Ayesha At Last by Uzma Jalaluddin

Ayesha Shamsi has a lot going on. Her dreams of being a poet have been overtaken by a demanding teaching job. Her boisterous Muslim family, and numerous (interfering) aunties, are professional naggers. And her flighty young cousin, about to reject her one hundredth marriage proposal, is a constant reminder that Ayesha is still single.

Ayesha might be a little lonely, but the one thing she doesn’t want is an arranged marriage. And then she meets Khalid… How could a man so conservative and judgmental (and, yes, smart and annoyingly handsome) have wormed his way into her thoughts so quickly?

As for Khalid, he’s happy the way he is; his mother will find him a suitable bride. But why can’t he get the captivating, outspoken Ayesha out of his mind? They’re far too different to be a good match, surely…

Friends Without Benefits (Knitting in the City #2) by Penny Reid

There are three things you need to know about Elizabeth Finney: 1) She suffers from severe sarcastic syndrome, especially when she’s unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her like Nico Manganiello, and 3) She knows how to knit.

Elizabeth Finney is almost always right about everything: the musical merits of boy bands are undervalued by society, “benefits” with human Ken dolls are better without friendship, and the sun has set on her once-in-a-lifetime chance for true love. But when Elizabeth’s plans for benefits without friendship are disarmed by the irritatingly charismatic and chauvinistic Nico Manganiello—her former nemesis—she finds herself struggling to maintain the electric fence around her heart while avoiding a Nico charisma-electrocution or, worse, falling in love.

Ryan’s Bed by Tijan

I crawled into Ryan Jensen’s bed that first night by accident.

I barely knew him. I thought it was his sister’s bed—her room. It took seconds to realize my error, and I should’ve left…

I didn’t. I didn’t jump out. I didn’t get embarrassed.

And that night, in that moment, it was the only thing I craved.

I asked to stay. He let me, and I slept.

The truth? I never wanted to leave his bed. If I could’ve stayed forever, I would have.

He became my sanctuary.

Because—four hours earlier—my twin sister [died by suicide].

[While Tijan is more hit than miss, Ryan’s Bed is a real standout for its heart-wrenching portrayal of grief and a sweet, strong love story.]

Editor’s Note: Publisher’s synopsis modified for word choice.

Ruthless Knight (Royal Hearts Academy #2) by Ashley Jade

Cole Covington is the most popular heartbreaker at school.

Every guy wants to be him and every girl wants to screw him.

His devastatingly good looks, golden arm, and flirty smiles don’t do it for me anymore…because I know what’s lurking underneath the star quarterback’s gorgeous armor.

At least I thought I did.

S ometimes the most beautiful people…hide the ugliest truths.

And sometimes the only way to save someone… is to walk beside them through hell.

Sawyer Church is the bible-thumping nerd of Royal Hearts Academy.

Girls pick on her and guys don’t notice her.

Sweet, curvy, and sarcastic, she’s impossible to ignore.

No matter how much I try.

Everyone at school has her pegged as the chubby, Jesus loving geek, but unlike them—Sawyer’s real and never pretends to be someone she’s not.

Until I ask her to be my fake girlfriend.

S ometimes the most beautiful souls… hide the greatest pain.

And sometimes the only way to save someone… is to fight for them.

[My favourite instalment in this series. It’s packed with drama, humour, and romance.]

Cry No More by Linda Howard

On a sultry afternoon in a small dusty village, Milla Boone faces every parent’s nightmare. Two assailants kidnap her six-week-old son, leaving Milla in a pool of blood. For ten years Milla’s resolve to find her son never wavers. Returning to the scene of the crime, Milla begins to piece together not only her son’s fate, but the fate of countless other children who have disappeared in to what appears to be an elaborate and highly lucrative baby smuggling ring. Cautiously, she joins forces with James Diaz, a dangerous stranger with his own agenda, a man who is as untrusting as he is untrustworthy. As Milla’s search for her son intensifies, along with a growing desire for Diaz, the quest becomes more treacherous. Suddenly entangled in an intricate criminal network of conspiracy and murder, Milla finds herself the hunted – the target of a lethal force of hired assassins that aims to silence her permanently.

The Chocolate Temptation (Amour et Chocolat #6) by Laura Florand

She hated him.

Patrick Chevalier. The charming, laid-back, golden second-in-command of the Paris pastry kitchen where Sarah worked as intern, who made everything she failed at seem so easy, and who could have every woman he winked at falling for him without even trying. She hated him, but she’d risked too much for this dream to give up on it and walk out just so he wouldn’t break her heart.

But he didn’t hate her.

Sarah Lin. Patrick’s serious, dark-haired American intern, who looked at him as if she could see right through him and wasn’t so impressed with what she saw. As her boss, he knew he should leave her alone. The same way he knew better than to risk his heart and gamble on love.

But he was never good at not going after what – or who – he wanted.

He could make magic out of sugar. But could he mold hate into love?

[Lovely and sweet, with an Asian American heroine and French hero. Even reading this blurb makes me want to eat chocolate.]

You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me by Sarah Manning

Sweet, bookish Neve Slater always plays by the rules. And the number one rule is that good-natured fat girls like her don’t get guys like gorgeous, handsome William, heir to Neve’s heart since university. But William’s been in LA for three years, and Neve’s been slimming down and re-inventing herself so that when he returns, he’ll fall head over heels in love with the new, improved her.

So she’s not that interested in other men. Until her sister Celia points out that if Neve wants William to think she’s an experienced love-goddess and not the fumbling, awkward girl he left behind, then she’d better get some, well, experience.

What Neve needs is someone to show her the ropes, someone like Celia’s colleague Max. Wicked, shallow,  sexy  Max. And since he’s such a man-slut, and so not Neve’s type, she certainly won’t fall for him. Because William is the man for her… right?

[An absolute must-read. Body-positive romance with adorable characters, realism, and just enough angst to savour.]

Shade’s Fall by Jamie Begley (The Last Riders #4) by Jamie Begley

Shade is everything Lily doesn’t want in a man. He’s rude, obnoxious and he’s definitely not a cowboy. The tattooed enforcer for The Last Riders is a mystery Lily doesn’t want to solve. He’s too much for her to handle, especially with the nightmares from her past constantly threatening her sanity.

Lily is everything Shade wants in a woman. She’s sweet, kind and submissive. When she discovers the truth about The Last Riders, it threatens to tear apart every relationship within the club. Her rebellion causes the predatory instincts to rise in the ex Navy SEAL sniper.

When The Last Riders are threatened by another motorcycle club just as determined to claim Lily, Shade is her only hope of surviving the approaching confrontation. Could their passion be Shade’s downfall?

[I actually can’t stand most of this series, because it’s packed with ridiculous amounts of drama and some unlikeable characters. But Shade and Lily are unmissable. In terms of quality and enjoyment, this book (and its companion Shade ) are head and shoulders above the rest.]

Cruel Idols by Sorcha Black

How can my favorite author be such a suspicious alphahole?

All I wanted was an autograph, but Vandal Stokes is livid when he finds me on his property. The sketchy contract he makes me sign traps me alone with him and his gorgeous friend, Zero, for months.

While we adjust to the awkwardness, Zero volunteers to be my writing mentor and assists me with my unsettling research. Vandal can’t resist getting involved, and the tension between the three of us ignites.

Our situation feeds into my most sinister fantasies.

Two against one.

Twisted games.

A dark basement.

No neighbors.

One torrid summer could very well change my life—and me—forever.

[This MMF romance can have some pretty dark themes, including extensive BDSM roleplaying and kinks. However, it’s extraordinarily well-written. All three of the main characters are also authors, which leads to some fascinatingly meta discussions about what it means to write a good story.]

Lola and the Millionaires by Kathryn Moon

Lola Barnes only wants one thing, to get her life under control. No more chasing alphas who abuse and toss away betas like her. No more hiding in her cousin’s apartment licking wounds that won’t heal. Armed with her dream job and her less than dreamy apartment, Lola is ready to start a new chapter of her life without alphas. But that’s easier said than done when one stumbling incident after another leads Lola closer to an alluring pack of captivating men.

These alphas are everything Lola dreamed of, but they already have an omega—a playful male model who won’t stop flirting with her. And Lola is only a beta, one who comes with deep scars and an unshakeable aversion to alphas and their powerful presences. If only she could resist their perfect beta, Leo, whose patience and determination to see her heal breaks down one wall after another.

When the alpha who all but destroyed Lola tries to start a game of cat and mouse that’s all claws, the safest place for Lola may be the one she’s most terrified of, in the arms of an alpha pack.

[I like this because it’s almost tooth-achingly sweet. Lola is a highly damaged heroine, but her slow journey back to self-acceptance is beautifully chronicled. Though this reverse harem (with M/M) has alpha/beta/omega dynamics I’ve classified it as contemporary because there are no fantasy/paranormal elements, just alternative humanity.]

Best Love Stories: Young Adult

The diabolic (the diabolic #1) by s.j. kincaid.

A Diabolic is ruthless. A Diabolic is powerful. A Diabolic has a single task: Kill in order to protect the person you’ve been created for.

Nemesis is a Diabolic, a humanoid teenager created to protect a galactic senator’s daughter, Sidonia. The two have grown up side by side, but are in no way sisters. Nemesis is expected to give her life for Sidonia, and she would do so gladly. She would also take as many lives as necessary to keep Sidonia safe.

When the power-mad Emperor learns Sidonia’s father is participating in a rebellion, he summons Sidonia to the Galactic court. She is to serve as a hostage. Now, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia. She must become her. Nemesis travels to the court disguised as Sidonia—a killing machine masquerading in a world of corrupt politicians and two-faced senators’ children. It’s a nest of vipers with threats on every side, but Nemesis must keep her true abilities a secret or risk everything.

As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns there is something more to her than just deadly force. She finds a humanity truer than what she encounters from most humans. Amidst all the danger, action, and intrigue, her humanity just might be the thing that saves her life—and the empire.

[One of my favourite YA books. Nemesis is a unique antiheroine and the Rome-inspired sci-fi world is brilliant.]

Immortal Plunder (Pirates of Felicity #1) by Kelly St Clare

I’m a pirate. One with six overprotective fathers for a crew. And if I’m telling the  honest  truth, not just the pirate truth, having so many fathers is working pretty well for me so far.

When I’m caught eavesdropping on the pirates of  Malice , they retaliate with violence, and my fathers become set on revenge. But simple payback cascades into shattering misfortune.

Unexplainable magical happenings and impossible creatures propel me toward a fate much darker than stealing plunder. A terrible beast drags forth horrible truths of my fathers’ pasts which call my entire life into question. Now, my sheltered upbringing is swelling into a furious storm that I must, for the first time in seventeen years, navigate without my crew.

An intense russet-haired landlubber seeks to help me. A savvy silver-eyed  Malice  pirate strives to hinder me. But the further I drift, the more I wonder—am I helping or hindering myself?

Can I stand on my own two feet to claim victory?

And if so. . .what will that victory cost?

[Kelly St Clare is one of the best discoveries I made last year. She has a range of incredible books, but this series – featuring a pirate heroine of colour and her slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance – is probably the best. I urge you to check out her entire backlist.]

Song of the Abyss (Tower of Winds #2) by Makiia Lucier

As the granddaughter of a famed navigator, seventeen-year-old Reyna has always lived life on her own terms, despite those who say a girl could never be an explorer for the royal house of St. John del Mar. She is determined to prove them wrong, and as she returns home after a year-long expedition, she knows her dream is within reach. No longer an apprentice, instead: Reyna, Master Explorer.      But when menacing raiders attack her ship, those dreams are pushed aside. Reyna’s escape is both desperate and dangerous, and when next she sees her ship, a mystery rises from the deep. The sailors–her captain, her countrymen–have vanished. To find them, Reyna must use every resource at her disposal . . . including placing her trust in a handsome prince from a rival kingdom. Together they uncover a disturbing truth. The attack was no isolated incident. Troubling signs point to a shadowy kingdom in the north, and for once, the rulers of the Sea of Magdalen agree: something must be done. But can Reyna be brave enough to find a way?

[Though technically second in a series, this works fine as a standalone. The romance is relatively understated in a typically YA way, but it’s absolutely ADORABLE.]

Cloudwish (Six Impossiverse #3) by Fiona Wood

For Vân Uoc, fantasies fall into two categories: nourishing or pointless. Daydreaming about attending her own art opening? Nourishing. Daydreaming about Billy Gardiner, star of the rowing team who doesn’t even know she’s alive? Pointless.

So Vân Uoc tries to stick to her reality-keeping a low profile as a scholarship student at her prestigious Melbourne private school, managing her mother’s PTSD from a traumatic emigration from Vietnam, and admiring Billy from afar. Until she makes a wish that inexplicably (possibly magically) comes true. Billy actually notices her. In fact, he seems to genuinely  like  her. But as they try to fit each other into their very different lives, confounding parents and confusing friends, Vân Uoc can’t help but wonder why Billy has suddenly fallen for her. Is it the magic of first love, or is it magic from a well-timed wish that will eventually, inevitably, come to an end?

[This has got to be one of the BEST love story books I’ve ever read. Though I’m neither Vietnamese nor Australian, I related so much to her experience of growing up in an immigrant family in a western country. A super-sweet romance is the cherry on top.]

My Love Lies Bleeding (Drake Chronicles #1) by Alyxandra Harvey

The Drakes are rather different to your usual neighbors. They are vampires and some of the members of the family date back to the twelfth century. One of the children, Solange, is the only born female vampire known and, as such, she poses a direct threat to the vampire queen. Her best friend Lucy is human, and when Solange is kidnapped, Lucy and Solange’s brother, Nicholas, set out to save her. Lucy soon discovers that she would like to be more than just friends with Nicholas. But how does one go about dating a vampire? Meanwhile, Solange finds an unlikely ally in Kieran, a vampire slayer on the hunt for his father’s killer.

[Do me a favour and ignore the cliched blurb and cover. THIS BOOK IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT. It’s hilarious, well-written, parodies a lot of vampire tropes, and has a ‘best friend’s brother’ romance so amazing that it’s stuck with me for the last 11 years. Another note: it seems that in the U.S., it has the infinitely inferior title ‘Hearts at Stake’. I prefer the UK cover and title though.]

The Cruel Prince (Folk of the Air #1) by Holly Black

Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself. 

[Does this book even need an introduction? Though I admit the last book of the trilogy falls a little flat, the twists the romance takes in the first two books is awe-inspiring. Holly Black is a great writer – here’s an article on some of my favourite quotes from her.]

Red Winter (Red Winter #1) by Annette Marie

Emi is the kamigakari. In a few short months, her life as a mortal will end and her new existence as the human host of a goddess will begin. Carefully hidden from those who would destroy her, she has prepared her mind, body, and soul to unite with the goddess-and not once has she doubted her chosen fate. Shiro is a yokai, a spirit of the earth, an enemy of the goddess Emi will soon host. Mystery shrouds his every move and his ruby eyes shine with cunning she can’t match and dares not trust. But she saved his life, and until his debt is paid, he is hers to command-whether she wants him or not. On the day they meet, everything Emi believes comes undone, swept away like snow upon the winter wind. For the first time, she wants to change her fate-but how can she erase a destiny already wrought in stone? Against the power of the gods, Shiro is her only hope… and hope is all she has left. 

[Soooooo good. A Japanese mythology–based fantasy with a romance that makes me wish I could just reread this book over and over again.]

Not Even Bones (Market of Monsters #1) by Rebecca Schaeffer

Nita doesn’t murder supernatural beings and sell their body parts on the internet—her mother does that. Nita just dissects the bodies after they’ve been “acquired.” But when her mom brings home a live specimen, Nita decides she wants out — dissecting living people is a step too far.

But when she tries to save her mother’s victim, she ends up sold on the black market in his place — because Nita herself is a supernatural being. Now Nita is on the other side of the bars, and there is no line she won’t cross to escape and make sure no one can ever capture her again.

Nita did a good deed, and it cost her everything. Now she’s going to do a lot of bad deeds to get it all back.

[A whole cast of ethnically diverse characters, asexual protagonists, and a superb antiheroine.]

Why I Loathe Sterling Lane by Ingrid Paulson

Per her 537 rules, Harper Campbell keeps her life tidy—academically and socially. But the moment Sterling Lane transfers into her tiny boarding school, her twin brother gets swept up in Sterling’s pranks and schemes and nearly gets expelled. Harper knows it’s Sterling’s fault, and to protect her brother, she vows to take him down. As she exposes his endless school violations, he keeps striking back, framing her for his own infractions. Worst of all, he’s charmed the administration into thinking he’s harmless, and only Harper sees him for the troublemaker he absolutely is.

As she breaks rule after precious rule in her battle of wits against Sterling and tension between them hits a boiling point, she’s horrified to discover that perhaps the two of them aren’t so different. And maybe she doesn’t entirely hate him after all. Teaming up with Sterling to save her brother might be the only way to keep from breaking the most important rule—protecting Cole.

[An amazing enemies-to-lovers YA, packed with humour and one-of-a-kind characters. Unfortunately, the author hasn’t posted anything on her social media channels for almost four years , and her website is now gone, despite stating she would be publishing another book soon. I really hope she’s okay! If anyone knows anything, please drop me a line.]

Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales

When Ollie meets Will over the summer break, he thinks he’s found his Happily Ever After. But once summer’s ended, Will stops texting him back, and Ollie finds himself short of his fairy-tale ending.

A family emergency sees Ollie uprooted and enrolled at a new school across the country – Will’s school – and Ollie finds that the sweet, affectionate and comfortably queer guy he knew from summer isn’t the same one attending Collinswood High. This Will is a class clown, a basketball jock and, well, a bit of a jerk.

Ollie isn’t going to pine after a guy who isn’t ready for a relationship. But as school life repeatedly throws them together, from music class to the lunch table, Ollie finds his resolve weakening.

With the noisy drama of their friends as the backdrop – from ambitious Juliette and frosty Lara, to big-hearted Darnell and king-jock Matt – Ollie has a decision to make.

The last time he gave Will his heart, Will handed it back to him trampled and battered. Ollie would have to be an idiot to trust him with it again. Right?

Huntress (Night World #7) by L.J. Smith

Jez Redfern is unique. She’s a vampire hunter… who’s half vampire. Raised in the Redfern family, the girl with fiery hair and silvery-blue eyes was the undisputed leader of a gang of vampire raiders. Then came the discovery that shattered her life– her mother was a human. Now, Jez hunts her former friends, protecting humans from the Night World.

But when Circle Daybreak sends her on a search for one of the legendary Wild Powers, Jez has to rejoin her old gang. They want her back– especially Morgead, the gorgeous green-eyed vampire who used to be her second-in-command. Jez wants to stay faithful to Hugh Davis, the human she loves. But Morgead swears he’s her soulmate and he’ll do anything to lure her back to the old ways. With danger and temptation around, Jez finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. And she’s afraid that if she tastes blood again, she’ll become the evil huntress she once was…

[Smith published most of her books back in the ’90s, so she’s kind of dropped off the map a little. I discovered her as a kid when the success of Vampire Diaries meant her other series were also republished. The Night World series is great paranormal romance. Each novella focuses on a different couple, but the seventh one is my favourite. Sadly the very last book in the series hasn’t been released yet, and probably won’t ever be finished. There are people who have been waiting for it for longer than I’ve been alive…]

The Merciful Crow (The Merciful Crow #1) by Margaret Owen

A future chieftain.

Fie abides by one rule: look after your own. Her Crow caste of undertakers and mercy-killers takes more abuse than coin, but when they’re called to collect royal dead, she’s hoping they’ll find the payout of a lifetime.

A fugitive prince.

When Crown Prince Jasimir turns out to have faked his death, Fie’s ready to cut her losses—and perhaps his throat. But he offers a wager that she can’t refuse: protect him from a ruthless queen, and he’ll protect the Crows when he reigns.

A too-cunning bodyguard.

Hawk warrior Tavin has always put Jas’s life before his, magically assuming the prince’s appearance and shadowing his every step. But what happens when Tavin begins to want something to call his own?

[One of my top reads of 2019. Also features a pansexual love interest and major gay and nonbinary supporting characters.]

Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

All Samantha wanted was to move back to New York and pursue her music, which was difficult enough being a Chinese girl in Missouri, 1849. Then her fate takes a turn for the worse after a tragic accident leaves her with nothing and she breaks the law in self-defense. With help from Annamae, a runaway [enslaved person] she met at the scene of her crime, the two flee town for the unknown frontier.

But life on the Oregon Trail is unsafe for two girls. Disguised as Sammy and Andy, two boys heading for the California gold rush, each search for a link to their past and struggle to avoid any unwanted attention. Until they merge paths with a band of cowboys turned allies, and Samantha can’t stop herself from falling for one. But the law is closing in on them and new setbacks come each day, and the girls will quickly learn there are not many places one can hide on the open trail.

[One of the first YA books I ever read which had a non-white heroine, and I remember how much I loved seeing the diversity. The romance is cute too. Plus, I’m a sucker for the girls-disguised-as-boys trope.]

Editor’s Note: publisher’s synopsis modified for word choice.

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.

[A library-based fantasy world! The best I’ve read. Also a deeply satisfying slow-burn romance with a bisexual hero to round it off.]

Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton

Long ago, a village made a bargain with the devil: to ensure their prosperity, when the Slaughter Moon rises, the village must sacrifice a young man into the depths of the Devil’s Forest.

Only this year, the Slaughter Moon has risen early.

Bound by duty, secrets, and the love they share for one another, Mairwen, a spirited witch; Rhun, the expected saint; and Arthur, a restless outcast, will each have a role to play as the devil demands a body to fill the bargain. But the devil these friends find is not the one they expect, and the lies they uncover will turn their town–and their hearts–inside out.

[Lovely and atmospheric, this groundbreaking novel has the only polyamorous romance I’ve seen in the mainstream YA genre.]

Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars #1) by Elizabeth Lim

On the fringes of the Great Spice Road, Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land – but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. Then a royal messenger summons her ailing father to court, and Maia seizes her chance. Disguised as a man, she travels to the Summer Palace in her father’s place to compete for the emperor’s favour, and the coveted position of imperial tailor.

If Maia’s ruse is discovered, her life will be forfeit. But if she wins, she will achieve her greatest dream.

Yet nothing could have prepared her for the challenge ahead: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor’s bride-to-be. One from the laughter of the sun, one from the tears of the moon, and one from the blood of stars.

Accompanied by the mysterious court enchanter, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise, Maia’s journey will take her to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.

[Good writing and an amazing exploration of Chinese mythology.]

Sanctuary (Sanctuary #1) by Caryn Lix

Kenzie holds one truth above all: the company is everything.

As a citizen of Omnistellar Concepts, the most powerful corporation in the solar system, Kenzie has trained her entire life for one goal: to become an elite guard on Sanctuary, Omnistellar’s space prison for superpowered teens too dangerous for Earth. As a junior guard, she’s excited to prove herself to her company—and that means sacrificing anything that won’t propel her forward.

But then a routine drill goes sideways and Kenzie is taken hostage by rioting prisoners.

At first, she’s confident her commanding officer—who also happens to be her mother—will stop at nothing to secure her freedom. Yet it soon becomes clear that her mother is more concerned with sticking to Omnistellar protocol than she is with getting Kenzie out safely.

As Kenzie forms her own plan to escape, she doesn’t realize there’s a more sinister threat looming, something ancient and evil that has clawed its way into Sanctuary from the vacuum of space. And Kenzie might have to team up with her captors to survive—all while beginning to suspect there’s a darker side to the Omnistellar she knows.

[Brilliant YA sci-fi, with a great romance featuring a Chinese hero and generally diverse supporting characters.]

Best Love Stories: Fantasy Romance

Angels’ blood (guild hunter #1) by nalini singh.

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she’s the best – but she doesn’t know if she’s good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, only one thing is clear – failure is not an option . . . even if the task she’s been set is impossible.

Because this time, it’s not a wayward vamp she has to track. It’s an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other . . . and pull her to the razor’s edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn’t destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just may. Because when archangels play, mortals break . . .

[Such an old series by now but so good . Singh can basically do no wrong when it comes to writing.]

Between Jobs (The City Between #1) by W.R. Gingell

When you get up in the morning, the last thing you expect to see is a murdered guy hanging outside your window. Things like that tend to draw the attention of the local police, and when you’re squatting in your parents’ old house until you can afford to buy it, another thing you can’t afford is the attention of the cops.

Oh yeah. Hi. My name is Pet.

It’s not my real name, but it’s the only one you’re getting. Things like names are important these days.

And it’s not so much that I’m Pet.

I a m  a pet.

A human pet: I belong to the two Behindkind fae and the pouty vampire who just moved into my house. It’s not weird, I promise—well, it is weird, yeah. But it’s not  weird  weird, you know?

[SO GOOD OH MY GOD. It’s witty, well-written, complex, and has supernatural beings who actually behave like supernatural beings. The slow-burn romance with JinYeong, a Korean vampire, is absolutely swoonworthy.]

Magic Bites (Kate Daniels #1) by Ilona Andrews

Future Atlanta is an interesting place to live: one moment magic dominates, and cars stall and guns fail. The next, technology takes over and the defensive spells no longer protect your house from monsters.

Here skyscrapers topple under the onslaught of magic; the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, prowl through the ruined streets; and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers driven by their thirst for knowledge and wealth, pilot blood-crazed vampires with their minds.

Kate Daniels likes her sword a little too much, and she has a hard time controlling her mouth. The magic in her blood makes her a target, and she’s spent most of her life hiding in plain sight. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, she must choose to do nothing, and remain safe, or to risk her life by pursuing his preternatural killer. Hiding is easy, but the right choice is rarely easy…

[This very long series has a diverse cast and is rich in humour and romance.]

Best Knight Ever (A Kinda Fairytale #4) by Cassandra Gannon

What if a warrior falls in love with his fiercest enemy?

For years, Trystan and Galahad fought on opposite sides of the brutal Looking Glass Campaigns. Trystan is a gryphon, part of a winged race who battled Camelot’s invasion of his homeland. Galahad was a knight of Camelot, who helped his king wage a relentless war, before he saw the dishonor in it and gave up combat forever. The two men have every reason to hate each other.

Now, the Looking Glass Campaigns are finally over. Suddenly, these former opponents on the battlefield need to become allies as they search for a “treasure beyond counting.” Traveling through a fairytale world of scheming enemies, magical temples, and the occasional leprechaun, Trystan and Galahad will have to follow an ancient map towards the lost city of Atlantis. Galahad’s reputation for perfection irritates the hell out of Trystan. Trystan’s propensity to kill everybody upsets Galahad. But the attraction between them is undeniable and growing stronger all the time.

As danger mounts and romance swirls, can these two powerful warriors settle the past and find their happily ever after?

[I know I keep recommending this book but I DON’T CARE because everything Gannon writes is gold.]

Sebastian (Family of Lies #1) by Sam Argent

Sebastian Orwell did the only thing a smart wizard could do when he stumbled upon the wounded Crown Prince: he healed him and dumped him in a tavern where he could continue not being Sebastian’s problem. Unfortunately, the prince isn’t content with being alive, and he hunts Sebastian down to thank him personally. Not only is Sebastian stuck with the prince’s unwanted affections, he’s also confronted by growing evidence linking the assassination attempt to someone from his father’s past.

Lord Orwell is a lot of things: thief, liar, drunk, and all around horrible father, but Sebastian knows he’s no murderer. In order to prove it, Sebastian has to keep the prince alive long enough to discover the truth—a task made considerably harder because the idiot prince prefers wooing Sebastian over securing his own survival. On top of everything, Sebastian needs to save the day without revealing his magical powers and the real reason he hides his appearance.

Sebastian had no intention of playing the hero, but whoever is stirring up shit in his country will pay for destroying his quiet life.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by Victoria Schwab

When Addie La Rue makes a pact with the devil, she trades her soul for immortality. But there’s always a price – the devil takes away her place in the world, cursing her to be forgotten by everyone.

Addie flees her tiny home town in 18th-Century France, beginning a journey that takes her across the world, learning to live a life where no one remembers her and everything she owns is lost and broken. Existing only as a muse for artists throughout history, she learns to fall in love anew every single day.

Her only companion on this journey is her dark devil with hypnotic green eyes, who visits her each year on the anniversary of their deal. Alone in the world, Addie has no choice but to confront him, to understand him, maybe to beat him.

Until one day, in a second hand bookshop in Manhattan, Addie meets someone who remembers her. Suddenly thrust back into a real, normal life, Addie realises she can’t escape her fate forever.

[I do think this book is seriously overhyped, and I don’t at all feel her big ‘love connection’ with Daniel. With the Devil, though? That’s another story.]

Darkfever (Fever #1) by Karen Marie Moning

MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that only breaks down every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman.

Or so she thinks … until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death – a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone – Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed – a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae…

[This is one of my ALL-TIME favourite series. The depiction of the fae is absolutely on point.]

Best Love Stories: Historical Romance

My wicked enchantress by meagan mckinney.

Torn from her ancestral home by her cousin’s treachery, the bewitching Scottish beauty Kayleigh Kerr found a new life in New Orleans as the notoriously proud pickpocket whom every man wanted but no man could touch. Keeping alive the dream of reclaiming her birthright, she was forced to flee once again…this time into the arms of St. Bride Ferringer, a handsome stranger who wouldn’t let her go.

St. Bride was a man who knew what he wanted. He came to New Orleans for revenge but soon he wanted more – he wanted Kayleigh, body and soul. Bewitched by the beautiful street urchin who some of highland castles, St. Bride vowed to tame her and maker her his own. But as the battle raged between them, he found himself succumbing to the charms of the woman he called…

[This is a bodice ripper. The love story between the protagonists is one of the richest and most complex I’ve read.]

The Silver Devil by Teresa Denys

Amid the gilded opulence and dark intrigue of Renaissance Italy grew a love that knew no bounds….

No woman’s heart is safe from the Silver Devil. From the moment he sees the beautiful Felicia, he must have her. Overnight he changes Felicia’s nightmare world of tavern drudgery into an erotic adventure as his royal mistress. He is the Duke of Cabria who holds his subjects in constant fear. He is troubled. He is ruthless. And Felicia is hopelessly in love with him – though at times he seems like the devil incarnate.… 

[I don’t even have the words to express how much I love this book. It’s another bodice ripper, and absolutely like nothing I’ve read before or since.]

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. By all rights their paths should never cross, but Achilles takes the shamed prince as his friend, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper – despite the displeasure of Achilles’ mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But then word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.

[Jaw-droppingly amazing. Will bring you to tears.]

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

As darkness falls, a man caught in a snowstorm is forced to shelter at the strange, grim house Wuthering Heights. It is a place he will never forget. There he will come to learn the story of Cathy: how she was forced to choose between her well-meaning husband and the dangerous man she had loved since she was young. How her choice led to betrayal and terrible revenge – and continues to torment those in the present. How love can transgress authority, convention, even death.

[This book has its haters, but it contains one of the best love stories in all of English literature. If I were stranded on a desert island, THIS is the book I would take with me.]

Dangerous to Kiss (Dangerous #2) by Elizabeth Thornton

Handsome, kind, and unassuming, Mr. Gray seemed the answer to Deborah Weyman’s prayers. For once she accepted the position he offered, she would finally be safe from the notorious Lord Kendal, a man she had good reason to believe had murdered her former employer — and was now after her. But there were certain things about Mr. Gray that Deborah should have noticed: the breadth of his shoulders, the steel in his voice, the gleam in his uncommonly blue eyes — things that might have warned her that Mr. Gray was no savior, but a very dangerous man….

Though she posed as a dowdy schoolteacher, Lord Kendal saw right through her disguise to the treacherous beauty beneath. Now, convinced that she alone can tell him the truth about Lord Barrington’s murder — and the whereabouts of Barrington’s young son — he coolly masquerades as the innocuous Mr. Gray. And only when it’s too late for Deborah to run will she learn what it means to be at his mercy — and powerless to resist his seduction….

[Adore this book. Thornton can be hit or miss, but this is a definite hit, with a heroine who gives as good as she gets.]

Cotillion by Georgette Heyer

“One of you shall have her, and my fortune into the bargain…”

Such was the whimsical, some would say outrageous, statement of the ageing Mr Penicuik, to the three of his great-nephews gathered around him.

The future of his vivacious step-daughter, Miss Kitty Charing, was thus assured, provided she married one of the handsome beaux now seeking her hand. But Kitty was in no hurry to conclude such a contract. By hook or by crook she meant to go to London, where anything might happen and very often did…

[There are at least a half-dozen Heyer books which belong on this list, but I’ve picked one of her more unusual ones. An unmissable read.]

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Margaret Mitchell’s page-turning, sweeping American epic has been a classic for over eighty years. Beloved and thought by many to be the greatest of the American novels,  Gone with the Wind  is a story of love, hope and loss set against the tense historical background of the American Civil War.

The lovers at the novel’s centre – the selfish, privileged Scarlett O’Hara and rakish Rhett Butler – are magnetic: pulling readers into the tangled narrative of a struggle to survive that cannot be forgotten.

[I’ve read this book a hundred times. One of the most epic love stories in existence.]

Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran

Sick of tragedy, done with rebellion, Emmaline Martin vows to settle quietly into British Indian society. But when the pillars of privilege topple, her fiancé’s betrayal leaves Emma no choice. She must turn for help to the one man whom she should not trust, but cannot resist: Julian Sinclair, the dangerous and dazzling heir to the Duke of Auburn.

In London, they toast Sinclair with champagne. In India, they call him a traitor. Cynical and impatient with both worlds, Julian has never imagined that the place he might belong is in the embrace of a woman with a reluctant laugh and haunted eyes. But in a time of terrible darkness, he and Emma will discover that love itself can be perilous – and that a single decision can alter one’s life forever.

In spring, Emma and Julian must finally confront the truth: no matter how hard one tries to deny it, some pasts cannot be disowned… and some passions never die.

Talk Sweetly to Me (Brothers Sinister #4.5) by Courtney Milan

Nobody knows who Miss Rose Sweetly is, and she prefers it that way. She’s a shy, mathematically-minded shopkeeper’s daughter who dreams of the stars. Women like her only ever come to attention through scandal. She’ll take obscurity, thank you very much.

All of England knows who Stephen Shaughnessy is. He’s an infamous advice columnist and a known rake. When he moves into the house next door to Rose, she discovers that he’s also wickedly funny, devilishly flirtatious, and heart-stoppingly handsome. But when he takes an interest in her mathematical work, she realizes that Mr. Shaughnessy isn’t just a scandal waiting to happen. He’s waiting to happen to her…and if she’s not careful, she’ll give in to certain ruination.

[I have a soft spot for this one – a Victorian novella featuring a Black heroine! Milan, however, has many excellent historicals.]

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The Literary Edit

Review: Everything I Know About Love – Dolly Alderton

I didn’t know a huge amount about Dolly Alderton prior to reading her memoir; I’d read her dating column in The Sunday Times Style magazine whenever I happened across a copy, but since moving to the land down under two-and-a-half years ago, I’ve fallen somewhat out of touch with the newspapers and magazines and feature journalists I’d once devoured of a lazy Sunday afternoon in bed. It was, however, almost impossible to ignore Alderton’s memoir while back in London – it seemed to be everywhere I turned – and on my penultimate day in the UK I bought myself a copy while perusing the shelves of Waterstones in Tottenham Court Road.

As soon as I began the book, I loved it: Alderton has a rare talent in that the way in which she writes makes the reader feel as though she’s talking to you and you alone. The memoir is full of endearing, relatable anecdotes: from a drunken journey down the M1 at 4am, to an after party with a man who knew her mum way back when. From finding her first post-university job, to the ups and downs of flat-sharing in the big city, to the horrible heartbreak of losing a loved one to cancer, Everything I Know About Love is as moving as it is funny.  Her tales are flanked by beautiful prose and raw life experiences and the memoir is near impossible to finish without wanting more.

Perhaps my favourite part of the book – though there were many more besides – was the colourful cast of characters we meet throughout her tumultuous twenties. From the boys she loved, to those she didn’t, to the dodgy landlord and the taxi driver who recalled picking her up shoeless and drunk one night, each of them is perfectly portrayed within the pages of her book. The shining star is, of course, her dear best friend – and I defy anyone to read this book without wanting a Dolly Alderton Farly Kleiner friendship of their very own.

A coming of age story of the very best sort, Alderton writes with wit and wonder about the events and the men and the friendships and the fall outs that have made up much of her life to date. An important lesson on the value of female friendships and a love letter to each of her favourite females, Dolly Alderton’s Everything I Know About Love is a glorious reminder of this one messy and precious life that each one of us have to live.

Buy it on Amazon , or from Waterstones .

After a second opinion? This is a great Everything I Know About Love review from The Evening Standard.

If you’ve read any books similar to Dolly Alderton’s Everything I Know About Love, let me know in the comments below!

Image: Ash Owens

Everything I Know About Love Summary

When it comes to the trials and triumphs of becoming a grown up, journalist and former  Sunday Times  dating columnist Dolly Alderton has seen and tried it all. In her memoir, she vividly recounts falling in love, wrestling with self-sabotage, finding a job, throwing a socially disastrous Rod-Stewart themed house party, getting drunk, getting dumped, realising that Ivan from the corner shop is the only man you’ve ever been able to rely on, and finding that that your mates are always there at the end of every messy night out. It’s a book about bad dates, good friends and – above all else – about recognising that you and you alone are enough.

Glittering with wit and insight, heart and humour, Dolly Alderton’s powerful début weaves together personal stories, satirical observations, a series of lists, recipes, and other vignettes that will strike a chord of recognition with women of every age – while making you laugh until you fall over. Everything I know About Love is about the struggles of early adulthood in all its grubby, hopeful uncertainty.

About Dolly Alderton

Dolly Alderton  is an award-winning journalist who has written for publications including the  Sunday Times , the  Daily Telegraph ,  GQ ,  Marie Claire ,  Red  and  Grazia . From 2015 – 2017 she was the  Sunday Times Style ‘s dating columnist. She is the co-host of  The High Low Show , a weekly pop culture and current affairs podcast, and also writes and directs for television. Everything I Know About Love is her first book.

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9 Great Books About Love and Relationships

As Shakespeare once wrote, “The course of true love never did run smooth.” But perhaps we should be grateful for this, because how else would we have such wonderful books about the many paths that love can take? Here are nine titles worth reading…

The Course of Love by Alain de Botton This novel was recommended many, many times before I actually sat down and read it. I had been told it was a “super realistic” portrayal of a relationship, and that sounded depressing. Why would I want to read a dose of reality when I can get a dose of reality just by existing? How wrong I was. (In fact, I’ve read it multiple times since.) The story of one couple’s long-term relationship is indeed realistic, but captures the kind of hopes, fears, insecurities and longing that each of us thinks is ours alone. A gorgeous novel.

Heartburn by Nora Ephron Have you ever been wronged? Cookbook writer Rachel Samstat knows the feeling — she’s seven months pregnant and just discovered that her husband (a man who is “capable of having sex with a venetian blind”) is having an affair. Thus begins this novel, based on real events from Ephron’s life, which manages to turn a terrible situation comedic, as only she could. Bonus: The chapters have recipes interspersed throughout.

What I Know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey Sometimes, you need a hug. Sometimes, you need tough love. Sometimes, it helps to hear that someone else has been through whatever you’re going through. This book has all of that, plus some. A collection of Oprah’s beloved “What I Know For Sure” columns from O Magazine, these short essays on tumultuous relationships, self-esteem, friendship, career, connection, resilience, and finding your way span the full range of human emotions and feel like a deep talk with a good friend. I’ve turned to them over and over again through different stages, and expect I will do so for years to come.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell This young adult book about two teens who meet on a bus is the perfect account of young love — that idyllic, all-encompassing feeling unlike any other. For any parents of teens, it’s a great reminder of that time of life. For everyone else, don’t let the YA label deter you. Though it’s about teens, the feelings of love are so universal, this book is really for everyone.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Hailed as one of the most beloved love stories of all time, Austen’s classic reminds us that romance has been complicated and annoying for centuries. Set in rural England, the book follows the five (very different) Bennet sisters, whom matriarch Mrs. Bennet cannot wait to marry off. Though I am incapable of reading without imaging nearly every character being played by Colin Firth, her novels never cease to amaze me — such sharp wit, brilliant observations, timeless emotions. This one really holds up.

The Art of Communicating by Thich Nhat Hanh If communication is the foundation of all human relationships, then this book is perfect for all humans, no matter where you are or what chapter you are currently in. The celebrated monk and author discusses how to listen mindfully and express your most authentic self. I especially loved his concept of conversation as a source of nourishment — with goodness or toxicity you absorb, like food. With specific examples for individuals, couples and families, this book can lead us all to more loving communication.

How to Be a Person in the World by Heather Havrilesky Struggling with a date who won’t commit? Not sure why you keep making the wrong choices? Heather Havrilesky’s got you covered. A collection of advice from the beloved Ask Polly columnist, my friends and I are so acquainted with a handful of these essays that we refer to them in conversation — “He sounds like the guy who wouldn’t move his art off the chair so his date could sit down.” This book is the best kind of advice: wise, honest, told from the perspective of someone who knows it’s all going to be okay.

All About Love by bell hooks No list about books on love would be complete without this book by scholar, cultural critic and feminist bell hooks. A treatise devoted to answering the question “What is love?”, it includes lines like “the word ‘love’ is most often defined as a noun, yet… we would all love better if we used it as a verb,” after which my life was never the same again. While the text skews frustratingly hetero-normative, this provocative and profound book is a must-read.

Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Dr. Sue Johnson Full disclosure: I haven’t read this book, but three of my friends were “prescribed” it by their various therapists, and all said it greatly helped them. The book’s approach is based on attachment theory, and promises to help couples break free of ‘demon dialogue’ to communicate more effectively. The reviews (and there are a lot of them!) are glowing. Have you read it?

That concludes my list, but I’d love to hear: Do you have any titles you’d add? Which books have you read and loved?

P.S. Five all-time favorite books and what children’s books do you like ?

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Lighter by Yung Pueblo!

I just finished Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld and it was fantastic. Great fun summer read!

Tied to the Carolinas. A love story about finding love online later in life.The man was widowed and the woman was divorced. Hope is a wonderful thing.💕 Christine

Can’t forget The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman. The way you love may not be the way others receive love…

CoJ! Just wanted to bring your attention to the new website Bookshop, bookshop.org, which is an online web store created by the American Bookseller Association in which you can link to books, and they have an affiliate program! That I think has better rates than Amazon, and also profits independent bookstores! The best of both worlds. NYTimes is using it. :) Would love to see it featured on CoJ in the future! Love, your friendly feminist bookseller!

thank you so much!

I’m a therapist and I “prescribe” Hold Me Tight allllllll the time. It’s easy to read and makes sense (lightbulb moments throughout)… it really gets at what intimacy is. Not just sexual, but more of the eye contact, vulnerable, heart communicating kind of intimacy that we all NEED in our marriages. Added bonus, the audio book is good as well (unless you are a highlighter, note scribbler like me)!

Meghan, same here! I have had so many couples I work with in therapy listen to the audiobook together and say “This is us and this is bringing us closer!” It is such a tender book talking about the fears, and longings underneath our exchanges.

Meghan, I just looke for it on Amazon but they list two different ones with the same title by Dr. Sue Johnson, which one is it?! Hold me tight: Your guide to the most successful approach to building loving relationships or Hold me tight: Seven Conversations for a lifetime of love.

I’d love to read it, thanks!

Martina, I think it’s the seven conversations one! I’d go with whatever has the most recent publication date. I think it’s essentially the same material but may have been repackaged later. Good luck!

Just flipped back to this post to find a title and went to place a hold on “Hold Me Tight” at my library…there are 28 holds in the queue! Amazing — I am guessing this must be Cup of Jo’s influence since the book came out in 2008. So crazy and cool!

I recommend How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About It by Patricia Love. No difficult conversations, which often leave people feeling worse, just simple things each person can do to make the other partner feel loved and secure.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on a true story and is the most wonderful and beautiful, yet painful love story I have ever read. I cried for 20 minutes after I finished it because the feelings of sadness AND happiness were so overwhelming.

Please, recommend non-fiction books you love! :)

I’m so glad bell hooks’ All About Love is included in this list! I have given countless copies to friends and meditation students. The part where she talks about how feminist, incredible men are honestly just far and few between was comforting to me when I felt like I wasn’t meeting anyone I wanted to partner with… and I think that understanding and knowing that I did not need to settle helped me not get too impatient and be ready to meet and fall in love with the man I did partner with (now, we’re happily married with a kiddo).

And did you find a “feminist, incredible man” or is it a work in progress? I’d love to know how to reconcile my own expectations or if I even have to to connect.

Thank you for this list! I have finished The Art of communicating and it’s really a great one! Looking for the next book to lose myself in. lol I love Jane Austen too!

I think Normal People by Sally Rooney is an amazing book about relationships. It captures the almost-saids and not-quite-understoods that make up the painful reality that really, truly knowing anyone or expecting them to know you, is impossible. For me this ideas was freeing and relieved so much relationship pain.

Belatedly, I agree, I’d absolutely add Normal People to a books-about-love list! I only read it recently and was blown away (like everyone else). I think if I’d read it when I was younger and single, I’d have felt even more personally implicated. Also, I generally never watch adaptations of books I loved, but this one was so wonderful. Since it is exactly like the book.

One of my favorite novels of all time, which I read every five years or so just to be reminded of what a perfect novel can feel like, is Plainsong by Kent Haruf. It explores many themes of love–the one that most compels me is the love we can find when we look outside of our parental family for parental love.

It also captures love between brothers in such a tender and beautiful way.

I cannot recommend it enough.

For relationship books, when my husband and I were working w/ our non-denominational minister before our wedding, he had us read an older book called Getting the Love You Want. This is a profound and illuminating book and I highly recommend it.

Yes! Plainsong is just soaringly beautiful in an even and simple fashion. Splendid, beautiful book.

I read Little Women for the first time over the winter holiday. Such a simple, yet beautiful book about love of all types. I have one brother, and it made me yearn for a sister. That love seems unlike any other.

The book I always reach for this time of year is “The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller. Gorgeous prose and a unique spin on a well-known tale.

Along with Pride and Prejudice, I cannot recommend highly enough Persuasion by Jane Austen. While P&P deals with falling in first/young love, Persuasion is about love lost and found, at a time a little later in life.

yes yes, i love persuasion so much, too!

I PREFER Persuasion! I think it’s her best novel, and shows a real understanding of the staying power of love. So glad someone else said it :)

I second all these comments! My daughter is Anne, and it’s because of “Persuasion”! That novel gave me hope when I was single in my late 20s/early 30s.

yes! sorry but Lizzie is a gold-digger (sorry not sorry lol) I think I became an English major in college just so I could read and discuss more Austen! Persuasion is definitely her greatest love story, I also love sense and sensibility for the love between sisters. My secret favorite is Mansfield park though, even though it’s a weird one, I love Fanny Price and her constancy!

Thank. You. CoJ! I needed these recommendations, on this topic, right now. Serendipitous or universal knowing….. Thank you. :)

Pride and Prejudice is such a classic! It’s one of my favorites. I’m a big Jane Austen fan! I haven’t read Eleanor & Park, but it’s next on my list!

Another PHENOMENAL book about love is Dolly Alderton’s Everything I Know About Love. It’s such a treatise on being in your twenties, love, friendship, everything. It’s brilliant and everyone should read it (even if you’re out of your twenties!)

The Course of Love is incredible.

I subscribe to de Botton’s newsletter but hadn’t read it yet – I just got it after reading this post and it’s already very enjoyable. It’s deep without being over-bearing or heavy-handed.

Plus, as an American English lit major, it’s always a joy for me to read English written by a British writer. I’d love any rec’s on other good writing by British writers.

Fore sure, I would suggest “The Art of Loving” by Erich Fromm. It completely changes the way you think about love, and I found it enlightening.

“Most people see the problem of love primarily as that of being loved, rather than that of loving, of one’s capacity to love. Hence the problem to them is how to be loved, how to be lovable”

I think this is why “The Five Languages of Love” is so popular. It gives specific actions of exactly how, why and what to do in real life to be as loving as you can. It’s great for beginners and even those who’ve gotten very psychologically/intellectually involved because it teaches simple empathy which is very effective.

I wonder if “The Course of Love” has been re-titled “On Love” in the UK… this book is so wonderful I completely agree with your assessment. I’ve only read it once because I’m scared I won’t love it as much the second time! I also just read Pride & Prejudice for the first time and it knocked my socks off and I’m minorly frustrated with myself for not having read it sooner. Love having a book rec list, thank you :-)

Hi Deb! de Botton wrote two books about 20 years apart. “On Love” was the first, and it’s also worthy read, but “The Course of Love” is a true gem and worth getting your hands on.

Thanks for this much needed list! I am going to start from de Botton’s book.

There is one thing I’d like to point out, but I’m afraid you’ll get me wrong or censor my comment and I don’t know how to phrase this.

I find it excessive and needless that a straight author (Caroline, who I adore) writes: “While the text skews frustratingly hetero-normative” Frustratingly for whom? Most of the human population is heterosexual… So was (I assume) the author of the book. Why is that a problem? Maybe the kind readers of Cup of Jo will help me understand, because I see it as much, much overdilligent (and thus insincere) correctness.

Question: why do you assume that Caroline is straight? Moreover, can she, or anyone else, be frustrated by a one-dimensional / one-sided perspective and yearn for more complex and inclusive representation, in order to more deeply understand the full human condition?

@Maria It struck me as well. And I am also a hetero woman. Putting down the mainstream in an effort to be inclusive doesn’t help.

My thought is she was trying to acknowledge that it was written from a hetero-normative perspective so alternatives wouldn’t be triggered and that is likely a challenge when every alternative to the mainstream wants public mention so as to feel seen. Of course we should make an effort to phrase inclusively. Phraseology (is that a word? lol) along the lines of: “while this is from a hetero-normative perspective, take what you can and apply it to suit your own perspective”, is what comes to me off the top of my head but there are probably a million ways to convey that idea for the easily triggered.

For example, I’m vegan for over a decade yet still read certain meat-centric cookbooks and blogs for inspiration because I can easily convert ingredients as necessary. The key is to take inspiration from whatever sources are available and riff off of it to suit your own life. Alternative people must master flexibility in order to live more deeply. You can not just go around being triggered by lack of accommodation by those who have no idea about your lifestyle. An obvious solution is for alternatives of every dimension to put our own books/media out there and in that way be “seen”.

I’d love to write a vegan cookbook for example. But there are already tons out there so I think the job has been done!

I haven’t read the book (and am heterosexual), but I’ve run across writing/communication that was not just *targeted* at a specific population, but assumed that no other population exists. It’s one thing if a statement (or book) just doesn’t include me, but I’m not fine with a statement like “Just putting it out there, because we all know it’s the truth, no matter what feminist stuff we keep saying, we women just want someone with a good job to take care of the money and let us stay at home and cook.” (bell hooks would, presumably, not say this! But I could imagine a statement about what “women” want, sexually, which would be accurate enough for heterosexual women but really alienating for anyone not in that bucket.)

So, I guess, there are grades of “normative”: 1. not mentioning anything other than the normative option (like using “he” for all examples of the generic doctor/technician/whatever). 2. saying things about universality… that aren’t universal (which is probably where this book landed afoul, I’m guessing?) 3. actively asserting that the minority group simply doesn’t exist and are just lying about who they are or just playing at it (like when people say things that amount to “well, all the *real* engineers are male; I mean, it’s cute that the girls try to do this stuff, but it’s not like they make contributions to the field”)

So! Maybe the review note was being slightly oversensitive to a lack of inclusion of non-heterosexual options/alternatives… or maybe the book was more actively “all”-ish in places, in a frustrating way.

As someone who is not hetero, I appreciate when people/writers leave space for me in their words. I find it thoughtful and kind that they take the time to acknowledge that non-hetero people exist and have their own valid experiences of love, relationships etc.

I also really appreciate how Maria framed her comment here – asking a genuine question in an effort to understand something more fully.

Thank you Caroline and Cup of Jo for facilitating these kinds of conversations.

Thank you, fellow readers, for not getting annoyed with me and genuinely explaining all the possible approaches to this! :)

I have to put a shout out for one of the books that deeply shifted my relationship with myself – which I believe to be an increasingly wonderful love story too. :)

Sara Eckel wrote one of the most read ever Modern Love columns that then became a book called “It’s Not You: 27 (Wrong) Reasons You’re Single”. The title does not even begin to capture how deep and compassionate her wisdom is for cultivating a more tender loving and free relationship with yourself. One of the wonderful thing she does is go through all the criticisms women receive for not being in a relationship *and* for looking for a relationship. Ahh the binds we are put in!

I laughed out loud, shed healing tears, and ended up buying Pema Chodron meditations that she mentions throughout the book. After years of reading other self-love books, this one really shifted something in me. I feel a deeper well of love and kindness than I’ve ever known.

And as Sara says – that isn’t a prerequisite for romantic life, just truly a wonderful voice to have, single or partnered.

Yes! I just finished reading Sara’s book, and it was so reassuring and kind. I’m planning on buying copies as Valentines gifts for some amazing single friends this year!

Tenley, this makes me so happy! Yes–reassuring and kind–that is totally how reading Sara felt. I love thinking of it as a gift to other dear women in your life, so lovely.

YAY!!! So glad to see Hold Me Tight by Sue Johnson on this list… It truly is the closest thing to therapy! It gets below the content of conflict and disrupted connection to how our attachment gets threatened and puts our nervous systems into high alert.. .So validating and soothing and useful.

Also Heather Havrilesky FOREVER. I always read her when I feel alone in the world and instantly don’t feel isolated at all. She is the absolute most real funny gritty human voice we all need.

My parents run a “Hold me tight” based workshop in Massachusetts. Beyond the weirdness of having therapist parents, it is a really interesting way to look at all types of relationships, not only romantic relationships, I did it with a friend! It has really helped me in the long run be able to reflect on my own emotions and needs, and most importantly, be able to express them better.

At the library earlier this winter I picked up Star-Crossed by Minnie Darke on a whim and devoured this romantic comedy in a novel: twenty-something writer starts re-writing the horoscopes of the paper she works for when she is reunited with her childhood best friend and learns he makes all life decisions based on his horoscope. Plus, peeks into the lives of so many others who also use the horoscopes for guidance in life. If you’re looking for a lighthearted guilty pleasure, I couldn’t recommend more. I laughed throughout and was sobbing at the ending! ?

“Attached” opened up my eyes to attachment theory and explained some of the patterns I was getting myself into. Changed my life.

Also, Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo also by TJR.

A great book about LGBTQ love is Red, White, and Royal Blue

Yes!! Such a sweet, fun read. I have a Galentine’s Day/impromptu book club party coming up to discuss it and I’m really excited!

I am thrilled to see a YA shoutout. Something that I deeply appreciate about YA as a genre is that it tends to reflect & create inclusive and progressive ideas, values, and spaces. The average YA book seems ahead of a lot of books written specifically for adults. I think the stories & ideas are so much stronger than a lot of non YA-texts.

One of my favorite YA novels that has helped me reflect deeply on ideas of love–as well as loneliness & loss–is We Are Okay by Nina LaCour. It is such a beautiful read.

Every time COJ does a book post, I pin lots of books to my Pinterest list. Usually my local (rural) library doesn’t have many of them (I still haven’t read “Pachinko” because I don’t buy books and prefer the library and they plain old have not ordered it), but they have a lot of the recommendations today! I always like the posts and I find great recommendations in the comments. Thank you all!

You post a blog a while back about couples fights and I think it was ultimately about wanting to be heard or listened to. The post resonated with me so much, but I can’t find it now! I know it’s not exactly related to this post but if you know what I’m talking about, please send me the link!

It might be this one? (“The story I’m telling myself…”) https://cupofjo.com/2019/07/magic-phrase-for-relationships/

Was it this one? https://cupofjo.com/2019/07/magic-phrase-for-relationships/

Cutting for Stone and Patty Jane’s House of Curl. Both about the bonds of siblings; both had me crying harder than one should about fictional characters.

I can’t agree more- It’s oh, so beautifully written… often a simple phrase would make me pause to think and reflect. If you haven’t read it, go and find yourself a copy!

I thought the author of Exit West did such an amazing job of detailing the breakup of the two main characters. It was such a sweet love story, and the eventual demise was so exquisitely described.

I just read this and completely agree! I wanted their love story to end so differently but the author did an amazing job nonetheless.

I love Heather Havrilesky! I discovered her on twitter and love reading her column, but haven’t read her book yet (it’s on my list!) She’s one of those writers where certain phrases or sentences that she writes lodge themselves in my brain and I return to them again, again , again. One of my favorite columns is this one: https://www.thecut.com/2019/10/ask-polly-how-do-you-learn-to-be-happy-alone.html

Meg, Thanks for highlighting this post! I’ve read so many of hers but not this. It was juicy. I think you’d really love both of her books.

I second The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. Knocked my socks off. I would add The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm. Also one to make you sit down and have a hard think about what one must contribute in order for love to grow.

Not a love story really, but about improving any relationship that you value, “Anatomy of Peace,” uses a story to insert philosophy of behavior so that you can identify yourself in it. I read it ONCE a year, along with pride and prejudice and also Little Women.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell is one of my all time favourite books and I recommend it to everyone! I’m so glad that you mentioned it in this post

Julia Child’s “My Life in France” is one of my favorite books to give engaged couples. Julia Child had space in her happy marriage to follow her dream and it’s incredibly romantic.

Also, Persuasion has become my favorite Jane Austen. I love that Anne Elliott stayed true to herself and found her happiness.

Good call! I love Julia & Paul’s relationship :)

Highly recommend Ade: A Love Story. I would say I’m a crier. It doesn’t take much to bring me to tears (beautiful music, old people holding hands, anything that involves a dog) but the biggest, most cathartic, most satisfying cry I have ever had reading a book (that didn’t involve a dog) is when I read that book. *Sigh* It was a short read, but even 5-6 years later, I still think about it sometime.

This is a fantastic list. I also love… Gratitude by Oliver Sacks (anything by Oliver Sacks is full of humanity), A Very Easy Death by Simone de Beauvoir – this is a beautiful book that shows depth of a relationship between mother, daughter and sisters too. It follows the time her mother became ill with cancer and was dying. My friend gave it to my when my mother was very sick. I thought it was the most empathetic, and brave, gift. I’m not a re-reader but re-read this short book from times when I need to. My (or a year?) Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. – follows her year rolling her husband and daughter passing away. It’s a beautiful book.

For non-romantic life relationships filled with love, based on listening and caring about the other:

Tuesdays with Morrie.

84 Charing Cross Road.

84 Charing Cross Road – yes! And if you can get your hands on the movie adaptation starring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins, it is well worth the watch.

Frantically going to SF Public Library website to place holds on audiobooks before all the other CoJ readers in the area beat me to them.

I know it’s not a novel about love and relationships per se, but I think The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand has one of the most intense love stories I’ ve ever read: Howard Roark and Dominique Francon!! It still gives me goosebumps when I think of their story plot.

This is a great list. Thank you! I have been overwhelmed by real life lately and escaping into a good book feels like a necessity.

I read Oprah’s What I Know For Sure when I was about to break up with a long term boyfriend and didn’t feel like I really had a “reason” to break up with him…other than that we grew apart and I didn’t see myself with him long term. I felt like I didn’t know anything for sure and this book was a really good lesson in helping me figure that out! And moving forward with my decision :)

I was so happy to discover I’ve read most of these. I painted my apartment listening to What I Know for Sure.

I am a really big fan of any Jane Austen novel. But when thinking about great stories about love, another one does come to my mind as well: “Twice Born” by Margaret Mazzantini. Man, how I cried reading it – and I usually NEVER cry reading books. This is such a beautiful, powerful story about love & family. It tells the story of a mother bringing her teenage son to Sarayevo after the war to “teach” him about the city he was born in. And also to tell him more about his deceased father… Quite an intense read. Years later I still think about it and have recommended it many times. (Not sure about the English translation, did not read that one!!!)

Here are a few wonderful books about love that haven’t been mentioned here:

1) Brooklyn by Colm Toibin 2) The Light of the World by Elizabeth Alexander 3) Our Souls At Night by Kent Haruf 4) Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin 5) Taduno’s Song by Odafe Atogun

Giovanni’s Room. Yes. The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson. Both books by LGBTQ+ writers, both about queer relationships. I am so grateful for both of them.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

Such an amazing book!

Laurie Colwin’s “Happy All the Time”. Never fails.

Oh man, YES a thousand times to all of Laurie Colwin’s books but especially Happy All the Time. I re-read it whenever I am sad and it never fails to cheer me. So hopeful, so loving, so funny.

I love that book so much! I’ve read it a million times. I’ve read all of her books a million times. People have said that Misty Berkowitz is her alter ego. And Holly was the embodiment of a Rules girl.

I think my favorite The Laurie Colwin novel is Shine On, Bright and Dangerous Object. I love the moment the heroine realizes that in order to know true rapture, you have to have experienced its opposite.

No romance novels?! Here are a few of my favorites within the genre:

You’d Be Mine by Erin Hahn (this is YA but no less endearing than an adult romance novel) The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev

I haven’t read it yet but on my TBR list is Mating in Captivity: Reconciling the Erotic and the Domestic by Esther Perel. I have heard her on podcasts and she is amazing!

I’m so excited to hear someone else loved The Course of Love as much as I did. I recommend it to everyone I know and don’t think anyone had yet to pick it up because they, too, assume it sounds depressing. I actually found it to be reassuring; a great study of a universal experience. Relatable without being specific.

Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner is a moving novel about long time relationships between each of two couples and also the long term friendship of the two couples. A wonderful read that places relationships in real life! I highly recommend it.

One of my favorites.

I read this book last year and it affected me so deeply. Highly recommended!

I read this years ago and still think of it. What a marvellous writer he was.

I’d add The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. I read this when I was younger and thought it was good, but now I’m re-reading it as an older, wiser, married woman and I’m finding myself bowled over by how well Didion’s style evokes the real experience of loving someone. It’s a heartbreaking read, but I adore how she communicates that love tends to reside in the minutiae of shared everyday experiences (rather than grand gestures or overwhelming emotions).

Yes, I loved this too. You’ve captured it so well.

I’ve only ever experienced one love and it was that “idyllic, all-encompassing feeling unlike any other” that you described. I’ve always wondered if it’s realistic to expect to always have that feeling in every relationship or is it only meant for youth and doesn’t exist in “more mature” relationships? Would love any insight :)

I’m 42, divorced, and met the love of my life this year, and we have been idyllically, teenagerishly, madly in love with each other for eight months so far, and still going strong building a blended family together. Our relationship is mature, kind, and stable, while also being all-encompassingly passionate. I’m so glad to discover I can feel this way in middle age, and to know there’s no reason to settle for a relationship that doesn’t meet my needs. What joy!

I don’t think it’s just for youth. I never really felt it truly until I met my current partner, when I was 30. It made me realize how much I had been missing!

That was my first love, too – all encompassing and years of yearning. When I met my now husband there was a similar feeling of urgency and desire, but that fever-pitch of emotion is not sustainable – it would be impossible to get anything else done. So it evolves and grows and shifts and stutters. For me love becomes a choice I make everyday – I carry it with me rather than being swept along by it.

To add to this discussion, I’d recommend Susan Piver’s The 4 Noble Truths of Love. She writes about love from a Buddhist perspective, and she makes the argument that relationships never stabilize. We go from desire to disgust and everything in between and sometimes we match with where our partners are at emotionally and often we don’t. This is all part of the dance of real love. We can lessen our suffering when we can tolerate that love is sometimes very difficult, and sometimes easy, and certainly always changing. (She makes a point to say that this does not apply to relationships where harm from substance or other abuse is happening.)

I enthusiastically recommend two very different Georgette Heyer novels: ‘Cotillion’, because it’s incredibly funny and sweet and turns all kinds of tropes upside down (while featuring a couple who are low-key great together) and ‘A Civil Contract’, because it’s unlike any romance novel I’ve ever read. It’s a little melancholy, but it does an amazing job of depicting a major relationship minefield: how to blend your families.

I love ‘A Civil Contract’! It’s lovely to see their relationship evolve into something much more solid and real as the novel progresses. One of my very favorite Heyer novels, probably because it isn’t all hearts and stars and pretty words.

Three completely different love stories: ‘North & South’ by Elizabeth Gaskell; ‘Fair Play’ by Tove Jansson; ‘The Tale of the Unknown Island’ by Jose Saramago.

I had no idea Tove Jansson wrote for adults as well! We are reading the Moomin books out loud to the kids and they are SO inventive and beautiful.

Love this list. Speaking of Nora, one of my favorite Valentine’s Day memories, was a few years ago, it fell on a weekend, and I spent the morning reading the When Harry Met Sally Script (it is in The Most of Nora Ephron book), with coffee and a muffin in bed. It was such a treat! Makes me want to check the book out again from the library for this year :)

I LOVE this movie, and didn’t think I needed to read the script, but also stumbled upon it in this book and absolutely loved reading it.

Just purchased Heather Havrilesky’s book after reading this — I love Dear Polly and after reading tiny beautiful things again and again am ready for another book in the same genre. Thank you for this list!

However, going forward can you link to independent booksellers instead of Amazon? There’s a long & growing list of reasons why I choose to NOT support Amazon but even more than that I think its crucial to keep local bookstores afloat!

Indiebound is a great alternative to Amazon: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781101911587

And readers, your local bookstores will often order you anything! Even better, try your local library— place a hold request, and then enjoy for free!

Normal People by Sally Rooney. It took my breath away.

The trailer for the TV adaptation is out, if that’s your kind of thing: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fsKmjOuPq9A

Recent favorite — “Normal People,” by Sally Rooney. Couldn’t put it down!

Longtime favorite — anything by Alice Munro. I recently re-read her novel-ish collection of short stories called “Who Do You Think You Are?” (that’s the original Canadian title; I think it was published in the U.S. as “The Lives of Girls and Women”) and it’s soooooo good. Highly recommended.

yes, loved normal people, too!

Did you know that the BBC is making an adaption of Normal People? A 12-part drama due to be released in the UK in the Spring…not sure about the States but I’m sure it won’t be far behind! I loved the book and can’t wait to see what they do with it. https://www.nme.com/news/tv/normal-people-bbc-adaptation-sally-rooney-first-trailer-2598140

that’s so cool, lydia!

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado.

I would add Tiny Beautiful Things as a must-read about love and life in general – https://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Beautiful-Things-Advice-Sugar/dp/0307949338/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Seconding this! I used to feel like love was some perfect ideal to strive toward. But reading this book freed me from that very limiting concept–Strayed communicates that love and life can be messy and disappointing and even sometimes tragic, yet utterly beautiful and worthwhile at the exact same time.

Oooh yes! Love how Cheryl captures so much gritty aliveness in life that doesn’t feel like it diminishes or overexalts romantic love.

Can’t recommend Alain de Botton’s interview on On Being enough! The True Hard Work of Love and Relationships: https://onbeing.org/programs/alain-de-botton-the-true-hard-work-of-love-and-relationships-aug2018/

The first bit completely changed how I think about my own relationship and I keep coming back to it. “We must fiercely resist the idea that true love must mean conflict-free love, that the course of true love is smooth. It’s not,” Alain says. “The course of true love is rocky and bumpy at the best of times. That’s the best we can manage as the creatures we are. It’s no fault of mine or no fault of yours; it’s to do with being human. And the more generous we can be towards that flawed humanity, the better chance we’ll have of doing the true hard work of love.”

Thanks, Sally, this really resonates with me. Something I need to learn to open up to more. I’m going to go listen to this now! Xx

Sally! I’m so delighted to find a fellow lover of this episode of On Being! I have listened to it at least half a dozen times since it first aired, and sent it to countless friends in that time. It has truly altered the way I look at relationships, both romantic and otherwise, and find it such a wonderful resource to come back to. I should have known I would find another soul in this lovely community of women who loves it dearly as well!

Gah I didn’t mean to post my whole name but google had my form auto filled haha

I was so excited with this heading. I was just looking for next books. Ironically I was craving the books about love. Cup of Jo, you know what readers are musing. Thanks!

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I think they do! Yesterday, I was eating some crappy salsa and wondering to myself what type I should buy next and then BAM, salsa taste test!

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All About Love: New Visions Paperback – January 30, 2018

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A New York Times bestseller and enduring classic, All About Love is the acclaimed first volume in feminist icon bell hooks' "Love Song to the Nation" trilogy.   All About Love reveals what causes a polarized society, and how to heal the divisions that cause suffering. Here is the truth about love, and inspiration to help us instill caring, compassion, and strength in our homes, schools, and workplaces.

“The word ‘love’ is most often defined as a noun, yet we would all love better if we used it as a verb,” writes bell hooks as she comes out fighting and on fire in All About Love. Here, at her most provocative and intensely personal, renowned scholar, cultural critic and feminist bell hooks offers a proactive new ethic for a society bereft with lovelessness--not the lack of romance, but the lack of care, compassion, and unity. People are divided, she declares, by society’s failure to provide a model for learning to love. 

As bell hooks uses her incisive mind to explore the question “What is love?” her answers strike at both the mind and heart. Razing the cultural paradigm that the ideal love is infused with sex and desire, she provides a new path to love that is sacred, redemptive, and healing for individuals and for a nation. The Utne Reader declared bell hooks one of the “100 Visionaries Who Can Change Your Life.” All About Love is a powerful, timely affirmation of just how profoundly her revelations can change hearts and minds for the better. 

• Part of series Love Song to the Nation
• Print length 272 pages
• Language English
• Publisher William Morrow Paperbacks
• Publication date January 30, 2018
• Dimensions 8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• ISBN-10 9780060959470
• ISBN-13 978-0060959470
• See all details

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From the back cover.

THE ACCLAIMED FIRST VOLUME IN HER "LOVE SONG TO THE NATION"

“The word ‘love’ is most often defined as a noun, yet . . . we would all love better if we used it as a verb,” writes bell hooks as she comes out fighting and on fire in All About Love . Here, at her most provocative and intensely personal, the renowned scholar, cultural critic, and feminist skewers our view of love as romance. In its place she offers a proactive new ethic for a people and a society bereft with lovelessness.

As Bell Hooks uses her incisive mind and razor-sharp pen to explore the question “What is love?” her answers strike at both the mind and heart. In thirteen concise chapters, hooks examines her own search for emotional connection and society’s failure to provide a model for learning to love. Razing the cultural paradigm that the ideal love is infused with sex and desire, she provides a new path to love that is sacred, redemptive, and healing for individuals and for a nation. The Utne Reader declared bell hooks one of the “100 Visionaries Who Can Change Your Life.” All About Love is a powerful affirmation of just how profoundly she can.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

All about love, chapter one.

The men in my life have always been the folks who are wary of using the word "love" lightly. They are wary because they believe women make too much of love. And they know that what we think love means is not always what they believe it means. Our confusion about what we mean when we use the word "love" is the source of our difficulty in loving. If our society had a commonly held understanding of the meaning of love, the act of loving would not be so mystifying. Dictionary definitions of love tend to emphasize romantic love, defining love first and foremost as "profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person, especially when based on sexual attraction." Of course, other definitions let the reader know one may have such feelings within a context that is not sexual. However, deep affection does not really adequately describe love's meaning.

The vast majority of books on the subject of love work hard to avoid giving clear definitions. In the introduction to Diane Ackerman's A Natural History of Love she declares "Love is the great intangible." A few sentences down from this she suggests: "Everyone admits that love is wonderful and necessary, yet no one can agree on what it is." Coyly, she adds, "We use the word love in such a sloppy way that it can mean almost nothing or absolutely everything." No definition ever appears in her book that would help anyone trying to learn the art of loving. Yet she is not alone in writing of love in ways that cloud our understanding. When the very meaning of the word is cloaked in mystery, it should not come as a surprise that most people find it hard to define what they mean when they use the word "love."

Imagine how much easier it would be for us to learn how to love if we began with a shared definition. The word "love" is most often defined as a noun, yet all the more astute theorists of love acknowledge that we would all love better if we used it as a verb. I spent years searching for a meaningful definition of the word "love," and was deeply relieved when I found one in psychiatrist M. Scott Peck's classic self-help book The Road Less Traveled , first published in 1978. Echoing the work of Erich Fromm, he defines love as "the will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth." Explaining further, he continues, "Love is as love does. Love is an act of will-namely, both an intention and an action. Will also implies choice. We do not have to love. We choose to love." Since the choice must be made to nurture growth, this definition counters the more widely accepted assumption that we love instinctually.

Everyone who has witnessed the growth process of a newborn child from the moment of birth on sees clearly that before language is known, before the identity of caretakers is recognized, babies respond to affectionate care. Usually they respond with sounds or looks of pleasure. As they grow older they respond to affectionate care by giving affection, cooing at the sight of a welcomed caretaker. Affection is only one ingredient of love. To truly love we must learn to mix various ingredients-care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, and trust, as well as honest and open communication. Learning faulty definitions of love when we are quite young makes it difficult to be loving as we grow older. We start out committed to the right path but go in the wrong direction. Most of us learn early on to think of love as a feeling. When we feel deeply drawn to someone, we cathect with them, that is, we invest feelings or emotion in them. That process of investment wherein a loved one becomes important to us is called "cathexis." In his book Peck rightly emphasizes that most of us "confuse cathecting with loving." We all know how often individuals feeling connected to someone through the process of cathecting insist that they love the other person even if they are hurting or neglecting them. Since their feeling is that of cathexis, they insist that what they feel is love.

Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0060959479
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks; 765th edition (January 30, 2018)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780060959470
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060959470
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• #2 in General Gender Studies
• #12 in Love & Romance (Books)
• #12 in Interpersonal Relations (Books)

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About the author

bell hooks is a cultural critic, feminist theorist, and writer. Celebrated as one of our nation's leading public intellectual by The Atlantic Monthly, as well as one of Utne Reader's 100 Visionaries Who Could Change Your Life, she is a charismatic speaker who divides her time among teaching, writing, and lecturing around the world. Previously a professor in the English departments at Yale University and Oberlin College, hooks is now a Distinguished Professor of English at City College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She is the author of more than seventeen books, including All About Love: New Visions; Remembered Rapture: The Writer at Work; Wounds of Passion: A Writing Life; Bone Black: Memories of Girlhood; Killing Rage: Ending Racism; Art on My Mind: Visual Politics; and Breaking Bread: Insurgent Black Intellectual Life. She lives in New York City.

Photo by Alex Lozupone (Tduk) (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

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Customers find the book thought-provoking, exhilarating, and important. They say it's a non-fictional read that sparks introspection and celebrates the human spirit. Readers also mention the author is amazing and the book is worth reading.

"The book came in great condition. This was a joy to read , and has easily become a favorite of mine...." Read more

" Such an amazing book ! I recommended it to all of my friends!" Read more

" This book is interesting and I loved the connections it made." Read more

"..."perfect love casts our fear" [220]), this is a courageous and important book that should be read widely and taken to heart." Read more

Customers find the book thought-provoking. They say it's filled with ideas, thoughts, and feelings that a lot of people have. Readers also mention the author provides helpful information and personal stories. They find the messages underlying the metaphors powerful. Reader mention the book improves and clears up their perspective of relationships.

"...the concept of love and loving practice are eye opening and nourishing to the soul ...." Read more

"...Read this book! It opened my mind and heart to questions I was not even considering." Read more

"Ms.Hooks wrote an insightful , eye opening read that captures your attention and invites you to dig deeper below the surface of what shapes your..." Read more

" Lovely discussion about love . I like how she gives me a new lense to consider...." Read more

Customers find the book beautifully written, straightforward, and honest. They say it helps them articulate the challenges they've had. Readers also appreciate the structure and how the author goes into detail about both the challenges and the structure.

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"...Overall, I enjoyed the structure of this book and how she goes into detail about both the components of love itself as well as the factors hindering..." Read more

"...All about love” is relevant to all types of human relationships , from platonic to romantic love, our relationship with work, close families and..." Read more

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Book review: Everything I know about love by Dolly Alderton

Phoebe Barker

The one book you should read if you find yourself single on Valentine’s Day.

“The gap between who you were on a Saturday night, commandeering an entire pub garden by shouting obnoxiously… and who you are on a Sunday afternoon, thinking about death and worrying if the postman likes you or not, becomes too capacious.”

I discovered Dolly Alderton one morning in 2015, in the form of an amusing dating column for The Sunday Times Style . I enjoyed her raucous stories and straight-talking, no-nonsense narrative so much that her writing quickly became the highlight of my (usually hungover) Sunday mornings. When I discovered that she had a book out, I jumped at the chance to read it. The book, Everything I know about love, did not disappoint.

As a hilarious collection of memoirs, this marvellous book is for anyone trying to walk the line between serious and silly. It’s a biography that tells us about Alderton’s childhood, first kisses, teenage dramas, her university days and living in a flat in Camden trying to navigate ‘adult’ life. It’s also a comedy, and a romance, and one for the heartbreak hotel too.

More than this, the book contains bizarre food recipes, emails to imaginary groups of people, weekly shopping lists and transcriptions of intimate text conversations. Yes, in an otherwise very sophisticated book it is as weird as it sounds, but it works perfectly and will have you laughing out loud.

“Dear friends who I normally only ever get completely leathered with, I’d love to have you round to witness my attempt at behaving like an adult.”

Everything I know about love is full of strikingly real and relatable musings, on enduring the challenges of life, love and (sometimes terrible) dates. The book provides a welcome release from packed-commuter trains or cumbersome to do lists. It is also a great book if you like the emotion of a troubled memoir but need a regular dose of comedy release.

“All I did was drink and shag. All anyone did was drink and shag, pausing only briefly to eat a kebab, watch an episode of Eggheads or shop for a fancy-dress outfit.”

Alderton is careful not to moralise life as a woman, simply telling us her story as it is. I can imagine the experience of recalling these stories was not always an easy one, but the dedication to her work shows. As an extremely successful biography, we get to know Alderton as if she too is our friend.

Despite how funny this book is, there is a notable amount of grief strung between the words. Life and loss come hand in hand, and Alderton is careful not to dismiss this. She has her fair share of sadness; like many of us she has not been immune to the cruelty of people, nor the affects of loss and soul-crushing heartbreak. I have found a lot of respect for Alderton in her clear need to write about everything properly, rather than sugar coating the truth in the name of comedy. She doesn’t try to be the patron saint in this story, just herself. That takes a lot of guts. What makes this book so good is that it is so true to life; the good the bad and the ugly muddled together so tightly you can barely tell them apart.

“I said goodbye to this spectacular, beautiful, electric thunderstorm of a girl, knowing it could be the last time I ever saw her.”

Everything I know about love ’s candid and joking address of even the hardest parts of life is refreshing, and takes you through a messy life in neat succession. The book is overflowing with a respect and care for the friends and family that fill these pages, and as a consequence you find yourself needing to tell the important people in your life that you love them, and get on the nearest train to go and hug your best friend.

When this book is stripped back, it becomes a homage to female friendships. We owe so much to the women in our lives. They are there when no one else is and understand us in ways no one else can. Where would we be without the friends we made along the way? The bond between women is inherent and precious and despite everything (the drama, the bitching, the undoubtable men who get in the way), Alderton makes sure you know that the importance of this gift.

The moral of Everything I know about love is only partly about self-love and the value of being alone. It is about loving all the good people in your life unconditionally. The book tells you it is okay to be single, because it doesn’t mean you’re not loved. And for those in a relationship, the book reminds you not to forget the others.

“It may seem that life is difficult at times but it’s really as simple as breathing in and out… Be the person you wish you could be, not the person you feel you are doomed to be. Let yourself run away with your feelings. You were made so that someone could love you. Let them love you.”

If you want a taste of Dolly Alderton before diving right in, she has a regular column for The Sunday Times Style Magazine.

Written by Phoebe Barker

Reader, writer. Marketing Manager. Equality and inclusivity always.

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ALL ABOUT LOVE

New visions.

by bell hooks ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 1, 2000

Love is the answer, but it’s also the question posed by a cynical generation “bombarded by [love’s] failure.” Though the dilemma is not solved here, huzzah for a valiant try. Love, these days, is a four-letter word that has lost as much of its meaning as those other familiar four-letter epithets. Lowercase cultural-critic hooks (English/CCNY; Remembered Rapture, 1999, etc.) tries to resuscitate love’s meaning, exploring love in its history, its definitions, its cultural context, and its values. Here is love betrayed by both men (who may lie to achieve dominance) and women (who may lie to manipulate). For no matter how slight the untruth or secret, lying always does damage to love, says hooks. Her counsel: Use affirmations to bolster self-acceptance, if necessary, and replace negative thinking with positive thinking. If the “love ethic” is present in every aspect of life, we will treat one another with care, respect, knowledge, integrity, and the will to cooperate. Calling on commentators as diverse as Marianne Williamson, Nathaniel Branden, Erich Fromm, Alice Miller, Saint Teresa of Avila, Thomas Merton, Eric Butterworth, and M. Scott Peck, hooks buttresses her arguments in chapters devoted to the alienation of greed (she cites President Clinton as a victim of greed for hedonistic pleasure); the power of love in community and between individuals (the Mars and Venus dichotomy is about power, not about love); and dealing with death and loss (choose life, but accept death with love). A final chapter describes the angels among us, sometimes in human form—perhaps as Alice Miller’s “enlightened witness”’sometimes as pure spirit. The recent cultural fascination with angels indicates a religious reawakening in America, hooks believes, and the angels are saying that “love [is] our true destiny.” A spiritual handbook, weighty with platitudes, yet refreshed with some thoughtful analyses that offer seekers a way to explore love’s meaning, or meaninglessness. (Author tour)

Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2000

ISBN: 0-688-16844-2

Page Count: 240

Publisher: Morrow/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1999

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS

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THE ESCAPE ARTIST

by Helen Fremont ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 11, 2020

A vivid sequel that strains credulity.

Fremont ( After Long Silence , 1999) continues—and alters—her story of how memories of the Holocaust affected her family.

At the age of 44, the author learned that her father had disowned her, declaring her “predeceased”—or dead in his eyes—in his will. It was his final insult: Her parents had stopped speaking to her after she’d published After Long Silence , which exposed them as Jewish Holocaust survivors who had posed as Catholics in Europe and America in order to hide multilayered secrets. Here, Fremont delves further into her tortured family dynamics and shows how the rift developed. One thread centers on her life after her harrowing childhood: her education at Wellesley and Boston University, the loss of her virginity to a college boyfriend before accepting her lesbianism, her stint with the Peace Corps in Lesotho, and her decades of work as a lawyer in Boston. Another strand involves her fraught relationship with her sister, Lara, and how their difficulties relate to their father, a doctor embittered after years in the Siberian gulag; and their mother, deeply enmeshed with her own sister, Zosia, who had married an Italian count and stayed in Rome to raise a child. Fremont tells these stories with novelistic flair, ending with a surprising theory about why her parents hid their Judaism. Yet she often appears insensitive to the serious problems she says Lara once faced, including suicidal depression. “The whole point of suicide, I thought, was to succeed at it,” she writes. “My sister’s completion rate was pathetic.” Key facts also differ from those in her earlier work. After Long Silence says, for example, that the author grew up “in a small city in the Midwest” while she writes here that she grew up in “upstate New York,” changes Fremont says she made for “consistency” in the new book but that muddy its narrative waters. The discrepancies may not bother readers seeking psychological insights rather than factual accuracy, but others will wonder if this book should have been labeled a fictionalized autobiography rather than a memoir.

Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-982113-60-5

Page Count: 352

Publisher: Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Oct. 20, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2019

GENERAL BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS

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by Helen Fremont

STRONG MOTHERS, STRONG SONS

Lessons mothers need to raise extraordinary men.

by Meg Meeker ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 8, 2014

Solid, practical advice for women on how to properly nurture their sons.

How women can raise boys to become good men.

More than ever, women are under pressure to be "everything to everyone," writes Meeker ( The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers: Reclaiming Our Passion, Purpose, and Sanity , 2010, etc.), as "working women feel that they must perform equally well both in the office and in caring for their home, husband, and children." The dynamics of raising boys is especially difficult for women due to the gender difference and the fact that women tend to be nurturing and helpful while allowing their sons to evolve into men in a constantly shifting masculine paradigm. Through research and interviews from her own practice, Meeker gives women the necessary tools to understand that perfection is not a realistic goal but that doing the best one can will ensure good results. Equally useful to single mothers and women with husbands is the advice that sons need to know they are loved from a very young age, as this builds a foundation of confidence in a child, a base that allows a boy to gradually move away from his mother as he interacts with male peers and elders. A boy's home life must be solid: a safe haven to return to regardless of his age, a place where his thoughts and feelings are respected and where he can express his hopes and dreams without fear of judgment. Meeker recommends introducing boys to religion, prayer and the unconditional love that comes from having a strong faith to boost self-confidence. She also skillfully navigates the world of sex—from a boy's first body awareness to the powerful effects of pornography and sexual messages embedded in social media, video games and news media, to his interactions in the world of girls and women. A mother's imprint on her son is powerful right from birth and remains so throughout her son's life. Meeker's advice gives women the tools to navigate these often rocky waters with confidence.

Pub Date: April 8, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-345-51809-5

Page Count: 368

Publisher: Ballantine

Review Posted Online: Feb. 18, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2014

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by Meg Meeker

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Blog – Posted on Tuesday, Nov 03

The 60 best romance novels to sweep you off your feet.

Romance is a perennial favorite for readers everywhere, and it isn’t hard to see why. A good love story has drama, intrigue, laughs, and, if you’re lucky, a little heat; while the very best romance novels can feel just like falling in love — intimate and personal, yet huge and life-changing all at once. 

We’ve compiled a list of our all-time favorite romance novels, from historical regency romance to contemporary novels tackling love in the digital age. So whether you’re searching for a how-to guide or cautionary tale (and there are plenty of those), you’re hungry to read the next rom-com blockbuster before it hits Netflix, or you just want to lose yourself in timeless romance tropes, we’ve got you covered! 💘

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of great romance novels out there, why not take our 30-second quiz to narrow it down quickly and get a personalized romance book recommendation?

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The Classics

1. jane eyre by charlotte brontë.

Though Jane Eyre might be ‘poor, obscure, plain and little’, her love story is anything but. One of the authoritative classics of the genre, Jane Eyre’ s enduring popularity is testament to the power of its central romance. Jane, a destitute young orphan, arrives at the home of the mysterious Mr Rochester in search of employment, but finds far more than she bargained for. The naïve and uncertain Jane is magnetically drawn to her brooding employer, but will the twisted secrets lying at the heart of Thornfield Hall undermine their budding relationship? Written at a time when most romantic heroines were preternaturally pretty, the headstrong, wilful, yet utterly average Jane is a subversive breath of fresh air — or should we say Eyre?

2. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

A sprawling epic that takes readers across continents in the name of love, Anna Karenina is one of the longest books on this list, coming to an intimidating 800+ pages. But those who persevere with this colossus of a novel are richly rewarded. In what is considered by many to be the best romance novel of all time (and, we think, one of the best books to read in a lifetime ), Tolstoy tells the story of an extramarital affair and its fallout in Imperial Russian society.  When Anna runs away with the handsome Count Vronsky, excitement gives way to paranoia, isolation, and regret, as we witness the unravelling of their relationship, and of Anna herself. As much a cautionary tale as it is a romance novel, Anna Karenina is a richly imagined portrait of both the agonies and ecstasies of love.

3. Love in the Time of Cholera (Oprah's Book Club) by Gabriel Garcia Márquez

Florentino Ariza has been waiting for 50 years for his true love to return. That’s not to say he’s been bored: he’s passed the time by having no fewer than 622 love affairs, which he has painstakingly recorded in his notebooks. Despite his dalliances and the passing of decades, when the man who married his childhood sweetheart dies, a now elderly Florentino seizes the opportunity to declare his love once more. An astonishing exploration of devotion and reunions, and the unrealistic expectations we place on those we love, Love in the Time of Cholera doesn’t just ask whether the hero will get the girl — it asks whether he should. They don’t just hand out the Nobel Prize for Literature to anyone, so it’s safe to say we’re in good hands with Gabriel Garcia Márquez.

4. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

This classic fish-out-of-water tale follows Margaret, a nineteen-year-old girl whose life is turned upside down when her family relocates from a sleepy village to Darkshire — a rough and restless industrial town in the north of England. Margaret finds a new calling, advocating for the poor and disenfranchised, but it brings her into direct conflict with imposing mill owner John Thornton. Can the two find any common ground, or will misunderstanding keep them at odds? Heart-warming and ahead of its time, North and South isn’t just a beautiful romance, it also has a lot to say on politics, gender, and religion, so one for the history buffs, too!

5. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

It is a truth universally acknowledged that any list of the best romance novels must be in want of at least one Jane Austen title (we’ve gone for three!). And Pride and Prejudice is by far the English humorist’s most famous story. It’s a tale as old as time: boy meets girl; boy and girl bicker and declare their contempt for one another; boy and girl realise over time that there is, in fact, more to one another than meets the eye — but has this realisation come too late? It might now be a rom-com trope, but Pride and Prejudice is one of the oldest and greatest examples of the thin line between love and hate. Elizabeth and Darcy’s romance is as honest as it is unexpected, and Austen’s characters are so vividly realised and so utterly believable that you’ll be gasping, cringing, and crying along with them.

6. Emma by Jane Austen

Austen once set out in a letter the perfect subject for a novel — “Three or four families in a country village” — and the description fits Emma well. The glue that holds these families together (and our beloved heroine) is Emma Woodhouse. Clever, rich, beautiful, and utterly deluded, she’s determined to meddle with the hearts of her neighbours, but sees no need to find a husband herself. The novel bends narration through the distorting lens of our protagonist, making for a genius coming-of-age story and a work of comic brilliance. No matter who plays them, in what adaptation , her characters never fail to be laugh-out-loud funny!

7. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

The third and final instalment in our ode to romance titan Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility is a novel of lies, secrets, and seduction. Following two sisters — one wild and impulsive, the other quiet and sensible — it brilliantly portrays a world of money and status, gossip and innuendo, where rigid social convention governs the impulses of the heart. Through their parallel experiences of love and heartbreak, will these two young women learn to strike a balance between wearing your heart on your sleeve and concealing your true feelings?

8. Maurice by E.M. Forster

The brave and passionate tale of a young man’s sexual awakening, this intensely personal novel was written by Forster in 1914, when homosexual relationships were not only stigmatised, but illegal. Languishing in a drawer for fifty-seven years, Maurice was published after the author’s death, and quickly celebrated as a powerful, moving, beautifully-written love story. It chronicles the experiences of a privileged but modest young man, who comes up against unrequited love, heartbreak, and society politics on his journey to self-discovery. If you’re scouring this list for brilliant LGBT books , look no further!

9. The Princess Bride by William Goldman

As Goldman himself writes in the introduction, “dollars to donuts you’ve seen the movie”. But if you haven’t read the book that inspired the cult hit, you’ve missed a trick. A spoof fairy tale, a sharp satire, and a rocket-powered fantasy , all brilliantly disguised as a love story — there’s absolutely nothing fluffy about The Princess Bride . In fact, though there’s plenty to giggle about in the story of Buttercup and Prince Humperdink, you might also call this novel a tightly-plotted thriller. So if you’re of a nervous disposition, maybe stick to fairy tales meant for kids. 

10 . Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Reading Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles is an affecting experience that will stay with you for a lifetime. Its heroine, Tess Durbyfield, is so beautifully and sympathetically drawn that you cannot help but feel crushed as the world conspires against her; betrayed by men who exploit her, a society that casts her out, and by the callousness of her religion. As the seasons change, and Tess changes with them, it’s clear that she identifies most with the natural world — and it is here that the intensity of Hardy’s imagination comes into its own. His lush and evocative descriptions, metaphors, and parallels make this tragic romance novel a poetic masterpiece. 

11. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

The first and only novel by an elusive icon, Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights plunges headfirst into an exploration of the violence of doomed romance. Amid the bleak and feral atmosphere of the Yorkshire moors, the novel revolves obsessively around the tempestuous course of Cathy and Heathcliff’s self-destructive love affair. A gothic novel of intense passion, betrayal, and bitter vengeance — underpinned by the quiet beauty of Brontë’s lyricism — Wuthering Heights is an iconoclastic masterpiece that has inspired film-makers, novelists, poets, and song-writers for generations.

12. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

The quintessential love story that has spawned countless retellings and inspired who knows how many writers, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet —  the story of two star-crossed lovers from rival houses — wrote many of the rules of tragic romance. From iconic scenes like the balcony soliloquy, to legendary one-liners (“A plague o’ both your houses”, anyone?), and the ending that defined the romantic tragedy genre, any aspiring romance connoisseur should get this one under their belt.

13. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

A dark, twisted tale told almost exclusively as a flashback, Rebecca follows the nameless protagonist and her speedy marriage to a mysterious but charming stranger, Maxim de Winter, whom she meets on a business excursion. Things quickly become unsettling, as the protagonist learns of the troubling questions surrounding Maxim’s previous wife, Rebecca, whose spectre haunts their relationship. As Maxim’s carefully curated image — and their relationship — unravels further, the protagonist falls deeper into the shadow of Rebecca’s legacy. If you’re one who enjoys indulging in dark romance plots with thriller or mystery elements, du Maurier’s novel may be one for you. 

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Historical Romance

14. gone with the wind by margaret mitchell.

Spoiled Southern belle Scarlett O’Hara only ever had to worry about her love life, until poverty threatened to wipe out her family’s plantation. Doing everything she can to save their fortunes, Scarlett embarks on a series of unexpected adventures, traversing burning cities and bandit-filled forests. Despite her new priorities, Scarlett quickly finds that she cannot leave affairs of the heart behind completely, as she is torn between her beloved Ashley and the dashing but dangerous Rhett. A controversial presentation of Civil-War era America, Gone With the Wind explores the complexities of both romantic and platonic love. If you’ve seen the incomparable Vivien Leigh bring her to life on screen, it’s time to meet Scarlett on the page.

15. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

The Thorn Birds explores the tangled web of three generations of one Australian Outback family, carefully tracking their loves and losses over the course of 50 years. The emotional heart of the novel lies in the illicit relationship between Meggie, the daughter of the family, and Ralph, a priest in the local parish. Their attraction is dangerous, forbidden — and difficult to resist. Will they ever be together, or will the seemingly insurmountable obstacles between them keep them apart? This sweeping panorama of life in a rural sheep station from 1915 to 1969 is an Aussie cultural mainstay — it’s the best-selling book in Australian history!

16. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

The story of Noah and Allie is captured in three intertwined snap-shots: their teens, their early thirties, and old age. As our mysterious, elderly narrator unpacks these nesting dolls, we gradually learn about the love affair between our protagonists. The universe appears to have conspired to keep these childhood sweethearts apart: with meddling families, possessive fiancés, and World War II thrown into the mix, will they ever find their way back together? Some might dismiss it as chick-lit, but The Notebook is a guaranteed tear-jerker — every time. Who would have thought the words "if you’re a bird, I’m a bird" could pack such an emotional punch?

17. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Popular and outgoing class president Landon doesn’t think he has much in common with the preacher’s daughter Jamie, until circumstance forces them together. A last-ditch effort to get a date to the high school dance leads to an unexpected romance in A Walk to Remember, Nicholas Sparks’ follow-up to smash hit The Notebook. As Landon and Jamie slowly find common ground, and an appreciation for one another, A Walk to Remember proves that love can be found in surprising places. It’s a charming and sweet read, but, be warned — it’s another Sparks tear-jerker. How does he always get us?

18. Indigo by Beverly Jenkins

A member of a wealthy, free Black family, Galen Vachon has a lot to lose when he decides to become a member of the Underground railroad network, and join the effort to free enslaved Southerners. His risky lifestyle catches up with him when, attacked and injured, he is forced to seek sanctuary in the basement of a stranger. That stranger is Hester Wyatt, a former slave. Despite agreeing to nurse Galen back to health, their clashing personalities lead Hester to wonder whether she can keep her promise — not to mention the hostile forces that have started to come looking for him. Equal parts history and romance, this novel from NAACP nominee Beverly Jenkins will keep you on the edge of your seat.

19. Ross Poldark by Winston Graham

If you’re a die-hard fan of the television phenomenon Poldark , you’ll be delighted to hear that there are twelve (yes, twelve) novels to consume. A rich Cornish broth of love, rivalry, and discontent, Graham’s novels conjure up the lashing rains, the wild winds, and the crashing seas of 18th century Cornwall as his plots roar along the coastline. If you start with book one (a sensible choice) you’ll meet Ross Poldark as he returns from war in America. A Mr Darcy-come-Robin Hood hero, he rescues an urchin girl from a brawl and employs her as his maid — an act which will alter the course of his life for the next twelve books. Did I mention there are twelve?

20. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

The best historical romance novels must all make great TV, because here’s another one that inspired a super sexy series. Before it became an epic costume drama, Gabaldon’s time-travelling novel introduced us to former British combat nurse, Claire Randall, and her roguish young love interest, Scotts warrior Jamie Fraser. There’s only one thing keeping this gorgeous couple apart…several centuries. On a trip to the Highlands with her husband Frank, Claire tumbles back in time to 1743, and finds herself caught between two very different lives, and two very different men. If you’re looking for a best-selling romance novel that’s got it all — passion, intrigue, danger, and time travel — Outlander is your one!

21. A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende

A recent release that’s already considered vintage Allende, A Long Petal of the Sea is suffused with a vibrant sense of time and place as it traces its story through forty years of authoritarian rule in Spain. Allende’s novel begins when pregnant widow, Roser, and her brother-in-law, Victor, flee fascist Spain aboard a ship chartered by the poet Pablo Neruda. Arriving in Chile, they immediately embroil themselves in a tangled web of characters connected by love and tragedy. A Long Petal of the Sea is a masterful historical romance novel, tinged with Allende’s hallmark magical realism . Don’t sleep on this one!

22. Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters

Living a quiet life and working in her family’s seafood restaurant in late 19th century England, Nan King is happy just the way she is — that is until Kitty Butler, a male impersonator and performer, whirls into her line of sight. Enchanted by her performances, Nan finally manages to meet Kitty and ends up becoming her dresser. The two head for big cities that Nan has never even dreamed of — and a passionate romance unfurls backstage that rivals the action onstage. For fans of historical fiction and lesbian romance, this rollercoaster of a novel will take you on exhilarating ride, filled with titillating insight into the raunchy underbelly of 1890s England and the thrill of forbidden love.

23. Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks

Beginning during WWI and spanning three generations, Sebastian Faulks’ Birdsong is an epic novel about the power of war to strip everything from you, whether that be home, family, dignity — or love. With a few key couples dominating the pages in the style of Anna Karenina , we see the action through their eyes and feel their struggle to maintain hope after endless sacrifices. For those inspired by stories of love in the time of war, Birdsong evokes classics like War and Peace , wrapping wartime drama in a healthy coating of romance, intrigue, and sacrifices for the greater good.

Contemporary Romance

24. call me by your name by andré aciman.

A long, hot Italian summer provides the backdrop to an equally steamy romance in Call Me by Your Name , the story of a young man’s romance with his family’s lodger. As tender and heartfelt as it is intense and passionate, Elio and Oliver’s love affair begins awkwardly, slowly, and tacitly, before building to unprecedented heights as the summer draws to a close. A modern classic of LGBT+ literature, this exploration of first love and sexual awakening is vividly realised, and astonishingly honest. The second you’re through reading, you’re sure to be clamouring for more. Luckily for you, Aciman released a sequel last year — so you won’t have to say goodbye to Elio and Oliver just yet.

25. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

When Henry and Clare bump into one another at the local library, it’s a classic meet-cute. Except, it’s not. Because Clare and Henry have met each other before —  in fact, she’s known him her whole life. As it turns out, Henry’s a time traveler, and Clare is his future wife. A rare genetic condition causes Henry to jump uncontrollably along the timeline of Clare’s life. They decide to give things a shot after their ‘first meeting’, but, despite their deep love for one another, they face  lots of challenges along the way; after all, it’s hard to keep up a relationship when one party is constantly dropping in and out of reality. Niffenegger’s touching novel is sure to pull at your heartstrings, as she leads us to consider how free will and destiny combine to determine who we end up loving.

26. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Stella loves logic. The problem is, love isn’t logical. A highflying mathematician, she’s never put much thought into finding a romantic partner. But when she decides it’s finally time to settle down, Stella comes up with a characteristically pragmatic plan: she’ll hire someone to teach her how to do it. Enter Michael, a handsome escort, who usually doesn’t do repeat customers. When he agrees to give Stella lessons in love, he finds himself drawn deeper into her life; suddenly, Stella isn’t the only one who’s learning. A charming and affectionate portrayal of the love life of a neurodivergent woman, The Kiss Quotient is a breath of fresh air — we doubt you’ll have read a romance quite like this before.

27. When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri

When Katie Met Cassidy is every inch the classic Nora Efron-style rom-com, with one simple difference — both our protagonists are women. Katie is a small town girl, reeling from the breakdown of her engagement. Cassidy is a high powered businesswoman, living and thriving in New York’s gay scene. A chance meeting is enough to cement their fate, and the two women are drawn uncontrollably to one another. Joyous, hilarious, and deeply sexy, Perri’s novel is not just an exploration of sexuality and gender nonconformity, but a sparkling subversion of the romantic comedy form.

28. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Will Traynor is living a lonely life. Recently left quadriplegic by a motorcycle accident, his formerly fast-paced life has ground to a halt. Enter Lou; bubbly, funny sunshine in human form. Will’s mother has hired her to help care for Will, in the hopes of lifting his perpetually dour mood, but the intrusion is not a welcome one — at least at first. Over time, the two come to understand one another a little better, though Will remains insistent on keeping Lou at arm’s length, while she struggles to understand what he’s so afraid of. Will she be able to break down his walls? You’ll shed a tear or two, but you won’t be able to resist falling in love with Me Before You.

29. Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Emily Giffin’s best-selling romance novel is for every woman that’s been the sidekick in a lopsided friendship. In this story, it’s Rachel White: hard-working attorney, consummate good girl, and diligent maid of honour to her dazzling best friend Darcy — who happens to be marrying the man that Rachel is in love with. Yeah, that wasn’t part of the plan. ( Well , she did set them up, but what are best friends for?) Things start to spiral out of control when Rachel drunkenly confesses her feelings to Darcy’s fiancé, and is both delighted and devastated to hear he feels the same way. It might be a classic romance trope , but this knotty love triangle will have you on the edge of your seat to the very end.

30. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Probably the best romance novel of 2019, Casey McQuiston’s queer, royal love story didn’t just take the New York Times bestseller list by storm, it broke the internet. A kaleidoscope of popular influences, dripping in internet lingo, Ariana Grande references, and memes aplenty, Red, White & Royal Blue is the book we were screaming for. It’s set in an alternate reality where in 2016, a Democrat became the first female president of the US, and follows First Son Alex — a twenty-something, biracial, modern-day Kennedy. The action begins at a royal wedding, when Alex is told to play nice with his childhood nemesis, the Prince of Wales. As the famous pair fake a bromance for the cameras, behind the scenes… well , you know where this is going.

31. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Lucy Hutton doesn’t dislike Joshua Templeman. She doesn’t reluctantly tolerate him. She hates him. And she has to sit across from his joyless, infuriatingly handsome face every day . To be fair to Joshua, the feeling’s mutual. Lucy’s a people pleaser — the kind who wears yellow to work — and she pushes all his buttons. Now they’re up for the same promotion, and this bitter workplace rivalry is about to reach boiling point. But when tensions run high, you know what they say: there’s a thin line between love and hate. Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game is an unmissable treat for anyone who loves a rom-com about that undeniable spark between nemeses.

32. Normal People by Sally Rooney

Sally Rooney was recognised as both a gifted writer and a perceptive and nuanced observer, when she released her debut novel Conversations With Friends . In Normal People, she captures the zeitgeist with the same subtlety and skill. It’s an intimate love story of deceptive simplicity: Marianne and Connell are two mismatched young people —unlikely friends, unlikely lovers — who share a profound understanding. However, as their small town lives in rural Ireland are eclipsed by the heady and confusing world of student Dublin, the ways in which they mould each other reveal a universal truth about the lasting impact that one person can have on another. Dripping with longing and regret, and steered by two deeply vulnerable characters, this novel remains immensely readable — one of the best romance novels of the 21st century.

33. Beach Read by Emily Henry

Henry’s smart and steamy page-turner, Beach Read, gave us all a sizzling slice of the summer romance we missed out on in 2020. In an effort to crack a crippling case of writer’s block, January, a hopeless romantic, and Gus, who thinks happy endings are for fairy tales, don’t swap numbers, but genres. Before the summer is out, January must write the next great work of literary fiction , while Gus has to pen a bestselling romance novel. Two writers, two beach huts, and plenty of whipcrack banter — let’s hope Henry is an author with a soft spot for happily-ever-after.

34. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

Everything in Lily’s life seems to be falling into place. She’s got a new place in Boston, her own business, and she’s convinced gorgeous neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid to break his “no-dating” rule. Her old life in small-town Maine certainly seems a long way behind her. But as questions about her new relationship, and Ryle’s stubborn aversion to dating, begin to overwhelm her, Lily can’t help but wonder about Atlas Corrigan — her first love, and a link to the world she left behind. So when Atlas appears in Boston, everything she has with Ryle is suddenly thrown into question. This unforgettable tale is as heartbreaking as it is thrilling; prepare yourself for a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

35. The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory

A New York Times bestselling romance novel and a favorite among book clubs and celebrity book-lovers alike, The Proposal is a fun and flirty novel about a second chance at love. Guillory kicks off with a man on one knee; it’s not the usual way to start a love story, but this proposal isn’t followed by happily ever after. When Nik’s boyfriend asks her to spend the rest of her life with him, saying no isn’t the hard part (the guy can’t even spell her name right!) — it’s doing it in front of a stadium full of disappointed baseball fans. Luckily, handsome doctor Carlos is there to sweep her away from the frenzy and into an epic rebound of food, fun, and fantastic sex. But how serious can their glorified hookups get before someone slams on the brakes?

36. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Part tragic romance, part coming-of-age, part war trauma — Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is a heart-wrenching, expansive look at a lot of hard truths. Little Dog, a Vietnamese refugee in the U.S. and protagonist of this semi-autobiographical novel, tries to find solace in the small comforts of his life in the working class town of Hartford, Connecticut but realizes that he wants to grow beyond his current horizons. The reader follows Little Dog as he chases the American Dream, pursues a growing romance with a farm boy who’s struggling with his family’s homophobia, and questions how to be happy in the shadow of grief and trauma. A raw, poetic, and dark experience, if you enjoy a large helping of hardship and identity crises with your romance, this might be your cup of tea.

37. Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Go to jail or marry the mystery man her father has set her up with — headstrong Daisy Devreaux chooses the latter. Her new husband, Alex Markov, is a deadpan grade-A jerk who seems to have no patience for Daisy’s bourgeois tastes and flights of fancy. But as they work on restoring a rundown traveling circus, their growing influence on each other becomes impossible to ignore. Fans of stubborn romantic leads (à la Annie and Frank from Annie Get Your Gun ), quirky settings, and the time-tested city-girl-in-the-country trope may find a winner in Kiss An Angel .

38. Vision in White by Nora Roberts

Mackensie Elliott is head of her own wedding planning business and firmly believes she’s better at capturing other people’s special days than she would be at experiencing her own. But when Mackensie hits it off with the seemingly humdrum Carter Maguire, a high school English teacher who’s definitely not her type, her friends encourage her to make the first move. What begins as a casual fling becomes something more, and Mackensie has to ask herself if she’s willing to step out from behind her cool and collected facade and seize her own happiness. Readers looking for a tentative slow burn and a strong female lead will find a perfect match in Roberts’ charming Vision in White .

Young Adult Romance

39. twilight by stephenie meyer.

It’s faced more than its fair share of backlash, derision, and parody, but it’s impossible to deny that few books have influenced the cultural zeitgeist as much as Twilight . It’s the book that led a generation of teenage girls to genuinely debate whether vampires or werewolves were hotter, and that launched an entire renaissance of paranormal romance books . No matter what the critics say, it’s the definitive high school romance turned struggle against a vampiric death cult — so why not revisit Twilight mania, and see what all the hype was about? Oh, and P.S., we’re totally team Edward.

40. Forever . . . by Judy Blume

‘Sybil Davison has a genius IQ and has been laid by at least six different guys’. So begins Judy Blume’s Forever… Is it any wonder that this YA book has been a favorite under-the-covers read ever since its release in the 70’s? This refreshingly honest presentation of teenage sexuality was deeply controversial because of its raunchy subject matter — it’s even been banned from several libraries — but it remains a classic. Katherine and Michael’s high school romance is a charming coming-of-age story that’s sure to have you laughing and cringing in equal parts.

41. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Imagine if all your high school crushes suddenly knew every embarrassing thought you’ve ever had about them. That’s what happens to Lara Jean, a sixteen-year-old girl whose life is turned upside down when letters she’s written to all the boys she’s ever loved — letters that the recipients were never supposed to see — are sent. Naturally, the fallout is chaotic. Jenny Han’s sugary sweet novel not only spent 40 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, it was also adapted into a blockbusting movie. If there’s one thing you should take away from this one, it’s to keep your top secret love letters under lock and key.

42. The Selection by Kiera Cass

Fans of dystopian novels (think The Hunger Games ) will find a lot to love in The Selection, the first in Kiera Cass’ Selection series. After being selected to compete for the heart of a Prince, America is forced to leave behind her home and the boy she secretly loves but cannot be with. What she doesn’t expect is to start falling for the handsome prince. With a Netflix adaptation in the works, now’s your chance to get ahead of the hype and join this YA series’ cult following before it’s cool.

43. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

An internet phenomenon that has a special place in the hearts of superfans everywhere, Rainbow Rowell’s young adult romance is as charming as it is candid. Cath is a fanfiction-writing, premiere-attending, card-carrying fangirl. Her twin sister Wren used to be the same, But now they’re in college, Wren has lost interest in geeky pursuits — she’s far too busy partying, making friends, and being cool. She’s also lost interest in Cath. Without her sister for the first time, Cath is forced to navigate the confusion and loneliness of being a freshman all alone. Will the cute guy in her creative writing class be a welcome distraction? How about her new roommate’s friendly ex-boyfriend...?

44. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Another Rainbow Rowell novel met with critical acclaim, Eleanor & Park is an urgent, breathless, gut-punch of a love story about two teen misfits and one life-changing school year. It’s 1986 when Eleanor arrives in her new town, all chaotic red hair and mismatched clothes. She takes a seat on the school bus and finds herself next to Park — quiet, understated, and impossibly cool. Carefully yet wholeheartedly, over late night phone calls and countless mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall in love. It’s that pure, fear-laced, heartbreaking kind of love you only experience when you’re sixteen — and trust us, your heart will melt.

45. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

When Anna’s father ships her off to boarding school in Paris, she’s less than thrilled to be leaving behind her friends in Atlanta — especially that cute guy she works with at the multiplex. But all is forgiven (and cute coworkers forgotten) when she meets Etienne St. Clair. He’s charming, smart, gorgeous...and tragically taken. But hearts have a way of coming together in the City of Love. So if Anna plays her cards right, her senior year might just end with the perfect first kiss. Relive the flutters of first love in Perkins’ wonderfully cheesy tale of crushes, complications, and croissants.

46. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

It’s 1987 and a hot summer’s day in El Paso, Texas, when Ari and Dante meet at a swimming pool. On the face of things, they have nothing in common. Ari is guarded, angry, and struggling to feel like he belongs. Dante is an open-hearted know-it-all, still figuring out who he is. But, as they spend the summer learning about each other, and discovering themselves, a friendship floods the lives of these two loners like a golden light. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a tender and lyrical reminder that love in all its many forms should be open, deep, and without shame.

47. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

High school junior Simon has a lot on his mind; but when a stray email falls into the wrong hands and he’s blackmailed by class clown Martin, he’s forced to play along — or he’ll be outed as gay, along with his increasingly flirtatious pen pal. As his friend group starts to fray and the situation becomes increasingly tenuous, Simon will have to keep up with the pace of change, or risk the life he knows crashing down around his ears. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is a gay romance filled with warm fuzzies, dry humor, and supportive friendships. Albertalli’s feel-good novel is still able, however, to flirt with some bigger questions about homophobia and the experience of being a closeted teen in the American South.

48. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

In this romantic retelling of a perennial Classics favorite, Homer’s Iliad , Madeline Miller casts Patroclus as the awkward but lovable ancient Grecian nerd to Achilles’ jock. As the unlikely duo fight in battle, quarrel, and form a bond that grows deeper every day, their conflicting beliefs about the Trojan War threaten to tear them apart. Miller, a classics teacher herself, takes up Homer’s thread of lyrical prose while adding her own unique style and story elements. If you’re partial to Rick Riordan (who, incidentally, gave this book a glowing review !) and his ancient mythology series, but wished they had a more mature and romantic tone, look no further than The Song of Achilles.

49. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

Sixteen-year-old Aaron Soto is trying to recover from a family tragedy, supported by his friends and his girlfriend Genevieve. But when Aaron starts spending his time almost exclusively with new boy Thomas, he quickly comes to a number of realizations that he’s not altogether thrilled with. At the same time, a slot opens up for a memory-alteration procedure at the Leteo Institute, and Aaron has the choice of wiping the things he’d rather not dwell on out of his head forever. A grittier take on young adult romance, More Happy Than Not goes deep into themes of depression, homophobia, and suicide, while exploring the scientific possibilities of the not-too-distant future .

50. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

For three years, Hazel’s life has been nothing but terminal. Diagnosed with incurable cancer at the age of thirteen, she’s never had the chance to experience the thrilling awkwardness of being a teenager. In an attempt to find kids who understand, Hazel’s mother forces her to attend a truly miserable cancer support group. Enter: Augustus Waters. A charming, and unremarkably handsome amputee with an alarming optimism for life, Gus is a much-needed plot twist in the story of Hazel Grace. Bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is a witty tour de force about the thrilling and tragic business of being alive, and a heartbreaking (but never depressing) story about a love that lasts ‘forever, within the numbered days.’

Regency Romance

51. the grand sophy by georgette heyer.

When Sophia Stanton-Lacy is dropped on her aunt’s doorstep by her diplomat father, she’s not quite what any of her extended family were expecting. Self-assured, confident, and more than a touch rebellious, the beautiful and charismatic Sophy sweeps through London like a breath of fresh air. In the opinion of her stern cousin Charles, however, that fresh air feels more like a hurricane. This witty, sophisticated tale of societal intrigue and domestic dramas has a lot to offer Austen fans, and Heyer’s pacy comedy-of-manners is served with a generous helping of heart-stopping romance.

52. Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

Annabelle needs a rich husband, and fast. Her family are in dire financial straits, and she must use every tool at her disposal to save them. There’s one major issue, however — her most tenacious suitor, entrepreneur Simon Hunt, has no interest in marrying her. As Annabelle struggles to resist his advances and keep her head in the game, Simon finds the chase even more exciting. This steamy regency romance is the first book in Kleypas’ mega-popular Wallflowers series, so once you’ve devoured this one (and we bet you will) there’s plenty left to enjoy.

53. Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale

A devilishly debonair womanizer is suddenly interred in an insane asylum, having suffered a stroke. The sheltered and naïve Maddy, fascinated by his scandalous reputation, is tasked with his care. Despite her Quaker upbringing and the brutality of their surroundings, the unlikely pair find themselves swept up in a passionate and intense love affair. As she grows closer to the Duke of Jervaux, Maddy begins to realise his playboy facade conceals hidden depths. New York Times bestseller Kinsale reminds us there’s often much more than meets the eye in this gripping, steamy, and desire-drenched novel.

54. Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

Lord of Scoundrels may be the third in its series, but we can’t resist including it on this list. One of the most well-known and well received historical romance novels of all time , this regency read has had readers seriously hot under the starched collar for 25 years. When the independent and beautiful Jessica Trent rolls into town to save her brother from the influence of the caddish Sebastian, the two engage in a fierce battle of wits. When the tension between them reaches fever pitch, they’re caught in a compromising situation at a society party. Will Sebastian do what’s right to save Jessica’s reputation, or is he really as unscrupulous as she always suspected?

Erotic Romance

55. fifty shades of grey by e. l. james.

You’ve probably already read Fifty Shades — it was the biggest selling book of the 2010’s, after all. But if the pop culture phenomenon somehow passed you by, it’s never too late to give this kinky thriller a try. The story of hunky, troubled billionaire Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, a naïve student who (quite literally) falls headfirst into his life, started out as self-published Twilight fanfiction. Who could have imagined that this steamier-than-a-sauna novel would go on to sell over 125 million copies!

56. Delta of Venus by Anaïs Nin

If there’s one thing more exciting than erotic fiction, it’s vintage erotic fiction. If you’re looking for retro erotica with a disarming feminist twist , look no further than Delta of Venus, a collection of 15 short stories written by Anais Nin in the 1940s. In sexy bitesize chunks, Nin regales us with stories of torrid love affairs and passionate trysts, told in what Nin herself refers to as ‘women's language, seeing sexual experience from a woman's point of view’. It’s as gorgeous as it was groundbreaking.

57. Twice In A Lifetime by Clare Lydon

Would you take a second chance at first love? This is the dilemma that Sally and Harriet face in Twice in a Lifetime . Teenage sweethearts, they broke up when Harriet moved away to college, breaking Sally’s heart. But a chance luggage mix-up at the airport brings them crashing back together. The sexual tension is heavy — but the emotional baggage is, too. Is it worth another shot? Scorching sex scenes are balanced out by genuine warmth and deeply likeable main characters in this LGBTQ+ erotic novel.

58. Rush by Maya Banks

Forbidden desire takes center stage in Rush, the first book in bestselling author Maya Banks’ Breathless trilogy, which follows the exploits of three very handsome, very successful, and very debauched business partners. Rush focuses on Gabe, who finds himself in a tight spot when he lays eyes on his best friend’s younger sister for the first time in several years. The attraction is instant. But will he get what he wants, or will outside forces intervene? Raunchy and compulsively readable, you’ll be rushing (pun intended) to find out what happens next in this erotic page-turner.

59. Bared to You by Sylvia Day

Another self-publishing success story in the vein of Fifty Shades of Grey, Sylvia Day’s Bared to You boasts a similarly devoted fan base — and a similarly intense love story. It’s often heartwarming, and always hot, but Bared to You is much more than just titillating. The story of Eva, a sexual assault survivor navigating her way to a healthy romantic life is surprisingly heartfelt. You’ll find you can’t help but root for our heroine as she finds love with the charismatic and equally complicated Gideon.

60. On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

Scotland’s answer to Fifty Shades of Grey , this erotic romance novel is much more than just “innocent young graduate meets gorgeous billionaire and dot, dot, dot” . Jocelyn and Braden — the innocent young graduate and gorgeous billionaire, respectively — are exquisitely written characters, engaged in a captivating and bittersweet love story. They meet when Jocelyn moves to Edinburgh and takes up an apartment in a building owned by Braden. He immediately feels an intense attraction, but, knowing Jocelyn’s past has left her guarded, Braden proposes a ‘no-strings-attached’ arrangement. Witty dialogue and steamy sex scenes ensue, but how long can the fun last before they want more than just mind-blowing passion?

Developed a taste for fiery love stories? Why not check out our guide to New Adult books and their sleek, steamy collegiate romances?

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The 20 Best Love Story Books for Adults

As long as there have been books, there have been love stories, and most of us start reading them as children. No matter the time period or genre, romantic stories have captivated readers of all ages. For many adults, finding a great romance novel is the perfect way to escape from the stresses of everyday life and enter the sweeping world of a love story. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the 20 best love story books for adults, all of which are sure to warm your heart and leave you swooning.

The 20 Best Love Story Novels for Adults 

Pride and prejudice by jane austen .

If you’re a romance fan and haven’t read some of the classics, Jane Austen is as classic as the genre gets. The 1813 novel follows Elizabeth Bennet, the second of five daughters living in England, as she meets a wealthy bachelor named Mr. Bingley. Bingley also introduces the Bennets to Mr. Darcy, a proud and arrogant man who slowly wins Elizabeth’s heart. As the two overcome their misunderstandings, Pride and Prejudice explores the role of women in society and spins a swoon-worthy tale for the ages.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 

Another classic romance, Jane Eyre is an 1847 novel that follows the life of the titular orphan, raised by a cruel aunt and sent to a harsh boarding school. As an adult, Jane becomes a governess to Mr. Rochester, and quickly falls in love with him. But like most of Jane’s life, her romance is not simple. 

Jane learns that she is not the first person Mr. Rochester has loved, and his secrets send her on a journey of her own. As their fortunes become intertwined and ultimately reversed, Jane and Mr. Rochester will need to determine if their love will persevere.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover 

As one of the most popular modern novelists, Colleen Hoover has no shortage of romance novels to choose from. It Ends With Us is the story of Lily Bloom, a young woman who falls in love with a successful neurosurgeon named Ryle. What seems like a perfect match soon turns sour as she uncovers his dark past and violent nature. 

In the midst of this turmoil, Lily encounters her teenage crush, Atlas, who has recently moved back to town. The meeting sparks feelings in Lily, who must navigate her complex relationships and decide what kind of future she wants for herself. Despite its dark themes, It Ends With Us is ultimately a story about love, forgiveness, and our own power.

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Though it is one of the most-loved romance films of all time, not everyone knows that The Notebook is also a novel. Narrated by an elderly man who is reading to a woman with Alzheimer’s disease, it tells the love story of a young couple in the 1940s, Noah and Allie. 

After a summer romance , Noah and Allie are torn apart by their different social backgrounds, as Allie’s parents force them apart. The two reunite years later, but Allie is engaged to another man. The story then follows the couple’s fight to be together and their enduring love story.

Beach Read by Emily Henry

When two novelists find themselves neighbors in a Michigan beach town, they think they may have something in common. But the two are opposites – January Andrews wants to write romantic tales, and Augustus Everett is a literary author who thinks cynicism is the way to go. The two strike up a deal to write each other’s genres to break their own writers’ block. 

Over the course of the bet, they begin to learn more about one another and find that they do have things in common after all. Beach Read is a steamy romance with a character-driven arc that focuses on self-discovery with a dash of humor thrown in. 

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Hannah Martin has moved back to her hometown and, during a night out, runs into her old flame Ethan. In alternating chapters, Maybe in Another Life follows Hannah’s path as it could have been based on the choice she makes about whether to stay with Ethan that night. In each version of the story, she must deal with the consequences of the choice and reckon with the impact of fate and chance in her life. The unique premise of this novel has earned it high praise and popularity in the romance world. 

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid 

For those who prefer a more established relationship at the start of a book, After I Do is the story of Lauren and Ryan, a married couple going through a rough patch. The two take a year to separate before deciding if they will stay married, and the book follows them through this period. As Lauren and Ryan date other people and learn about themselves, they come to realizations about how to make a relationship work well. This look at the complexities of marriage and personal growth is a wonderful character study with a romantic edge.

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

The quintessential enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy, The Hating Game introduces readers to Lucy and Josh, who are each the executive assistant to one of the co-CEOs of their company. The two have a longstanding rivalry based on their opposite personalities and love of pranking one another. But when the two are up for the same promotion, the rivalry becomes more serious. 

At the same time, the two begin to develop feelings for one another. Readers follow them through a series of sometimes hilarious and sometimes steamy encounters as they try to determine how to move forward, both personally and professionally. 

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

If you’re a romance lover who also loves reality TV, The Charm Offensive is the perfect book for you. Charlie is the star of a Bachelor- esque show, and while his charming personality and amazing looks make him seem perfect for the role, he begins to doubt its authenticity. When he runs away from the whole ordeal, he is met by Dev, a producer of the show who is now doubting his motives. 

While the two try to come to a compromise about the future of the show, Charlie and Dev also develop feelings for one another in this funny, heartwarming novel about finding love in the least expected people. 

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

In The Love Hypothesis , PhD student Olive Smith is focused on proving her hypothesis about love and winning a prestigious award in the process. But to make her proposal more convincing, she needs a fake boyfriend, which is where her classmate comes in. Adam is charming and attractive, but known for being a player.

Throughout their fake relationship , Olive and Adam begin to develop real feelings for one another, but their own circumstances make a relationship difficult. A devastating secret forces them to confront these circumstances and their own fear to make difficult choices about what comes next. 

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffienegger 

This sweeping tale follows Henry, a man born with a genetic condition that causes him to involuntarily travel through time and Claire, a girl whose fate has been tied to his since she was a child. Told through both perspectives and out of chronological order, The Time Traveler’s Wife chronicles their romance, even before it has happened, and explores the complexities of their relationship. Full of both joy and heartbreak, the novel is an instant classic and has been made into both a film and a miniseries due to its nuanced and passionate story. 

All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover 

While Quinn and Graham had a passionate and whirlwind romance, leading them to marry quickly, their relationship has hit a breaking point. Infertility and other personal issues have led them to the beginning of All Your Perfects , which finds them struggling to stay together. The novel alternates between their past and present, laying out their secrets and communication issues. In the end, the pair must decide if their love is as strong as it once seemed.

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston 

It doesn’t get much more salacious than this romantic comedy , which finds the son of the first female POTUS and the Prince of England in an enemies-to-lovers situation. But once Henry and Alex realize that their feelings have changed, the story isn’t over: Red, White, and Royal Blue takes readers through the fallout in both countries, and all the tabloids, that a gay Prince and First Son can bring. Funny, heartwarming, and steamy, it’s no wonder this novel is so beloved. 

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Chloe Brown is stuck. A combination of chronic pain and traumatic experiences have left her feeling limited, but a near-death experience pushes her to move on. She makes a list of things she needs to do to “get a life,” including getting her own apartment. There she meets the building superintendent, who she begrudgingly befriends. 

As their friendship grows to a romantic connection, Chloe and Red must learn to trust one another and accept life’s challenges. Get a Life, Chloe Brown tackles serious topics with humor and grace. 

Ayesha, At Last by Uzma Jalaluddin

In this modern take on Pride and Prejudice , Ayesha is a young Muslim woman who aspires to be a poet and teacher. When she meets Khalid, a conservative Muslim man with traditional views of gender roles, the two often clash but develop a friendship. When this relationship deepens, they must confront their own misconceptions about the other’s culture and beliefs, as well as their families’ pressures. Ayesha, At Last is a story about identity, heritage, and overcoming differences in the name of love. 

Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

Vivian Forest is a social worker in California, until she takes off to England to serve as the Queen’s stylist. There she meets Malcolm Hudson, the Queen’s private secretary, and the two develop a fast relationship despite their age difference. Throughout Royal Holiday , the pair must deal with cultural clashes, their own fears, and no shortage of royal crises. 

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

When August moves to New York, she is expecting a new start, not to meet a woman from the 1970s. Jane is a time traveler and has been stuck on the Q train for decades, and August finds herself helping her. The more time they spend together, they develop a romantic relationship, complicated by their situation. One Last Stop is a time travel romance, but ultimately is about confronting your own fears and taking a chance on love. 

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Olive has always been overshadowed by her twin sister, Ami. When Ami’s wedding day arrives, the feeling persists, and Olive is relegated to spending time with the best man. The problem is that she knows Ethan, and she hates him. But when everyone but them is hit with food poisoning, they agree to take the bride and groom’s place on their honeymoon. During the trip, Olive and Ethan begin to see each other in a different light, and must see if that translates to their home life. The Unhoneymooners is a classic enemies-to-lovers by one of the most popular romance authors today.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Normal People follows Connell and Marianne as they move from adolescence to young adulthood. While Connell is a popular athlete from a working-class family, Marianne is a social outcast who comes from wealth. The two find a deep connection despite their differences, and find themselves at university together, where their roles begin to reverse. Ultimately, they must decide if they will make sacrifices for love and to be together. 

The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle

Sabrina is living the age-old scenario: what 5 people, living or dead, would you invite to dinner? On her 30th birthday, Sabrina sits down to dinner with Audrey Hepburn, her father who long abandoned her, her college best friend, the philosopher Conrad, and a former boyfriend. Over the course of dinner, Sabrina must unpack choices she’s made and the possibility of second chances . The unique premise of The Dinner List is the perfect backdrop for this story about complex relationships and the future.

What are the best love stories of all time?

Different people will think different love stories are the best. Some people may say it’s Romeo and Juliet , while others will say it’s a Jane Austen novel. Ultimately, there are endless love stories you can choose to read, and each person may like something different.

Is all adult romance explicit?

No! While some people use “adult” to mean explicit, many romance novels do not feature any explicit scenes. You can look for ratings on books or avoid covers that appear racy to stick to more modest content.

Who are the best romance authors?

Classic authors like Jane Austen are often considered some of the best romance authors, but there are many modern authors as well. Nora Roberts, Danielle Steele, Christina Lauren, and Jasmine Guillory are all prolific authors in the romance genre.

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'Klara And The Sun' Is A Masterpiece About Life, Love And Mortality

Maureen Corrigan

This is unbearable.

I wrote that one-sentence review to myself about half-way through reading Klara and the Sun, Kazuo Ishiguro's just published eighth novel.

Lest you think that doesn't sound like much of an enticement, know that I've probably written something like that sentence about every Ishiguro novel I've read. He is the master of slowly deepening our awareness of human failing, fragility and the inevitability of death — all that, even as he deepens our awareness of what temporary magic it is to be alive in the first place.

Like a medieval pilgrim walking a cathedral labyrinth in meditation, Ishiguro keeps pacing his way through these big existential themes in his fiction. Klara and the Sun is yet another return pilgrimage and it's one of the most affecting and profound novels Ishiguro has written.

The story is set in a United States of the near future, a place riven by tribal loyalties and fascist political movements. Technology has rendered many people "postemployed" and created a blunt caste system where the so-called "lifted" are on top. That's the wide-focus social backdrop of this novel; but most of the time, we're seeing things through the narrow view of Klara, our first-person narrator.

'Klara And The Sun' Asks What It Means To Be Human

When we meet her, Klara is on display in a department store window: She's an AF or "Artificial Friend." To call her a robot diminishes her, because Klara, as the store manager says in a sales pitch, has an "appetite for observing and learning ... [and] has the most sophisticated understanding of any AF in this store."

The AFs have been designed as companions for the children of this brave new world who, for some reason, don't go out much. One day, a pale, thin teenager named Josie comes into the store with her mother, a woman who, Klara notices, carries an "angry exhaustion" in her eyes. We soon learn the mother's expression is connected to a mysterious illness that's weakening Josie. Immediately drawn to Klara, Josie chooses her to be her best friend, and Klara is packed up and sent to Josie's house.

Nobel Laureate Kazuo Ishiguro Once Wrote A Screenplay About Eating A Ghost

Loneliness is one of the signature emotions that Ishiguro's novels fathom, and in her new position, Klara has many opportunities to observe the strategies that humans devise to fight off loneliness and conceal vulnerability. Here, she describes a contrived gathering of teenagers, called an "interaction" at Josie's house. Klara is at first puzzled by the meanness of the kids including, uncharacteristically, Josie. Then, slowly, Klara grasps that:

They fear loneliness and that's why they behave as they do ... I'd begun to understand also that ... people often felt the need to prepare a side of themselves to display to passers-by — as they might in a store window — and that such a display needn't be taken so seriously once the moment had passed.

Klara's voice, her sensibility — if you can say that of an Artificial Friend — is pure and devoted, a little like a service dog. The question of whether Klara, indeed, has a "sensibility" is a crucial one here, as it was in Ishiguro's 2005 novel, Never Let Me Go where the young female narrator is a clone. Klara is such a compelling presence that I think most readers of this novel will say, yes , she's a sentient being. But, what does our intense connection to an Artificial Friend do to the belief that, as one character puts it, there's "something unreachable inside each of us [human beings]. Something that's unique and won't transfer."

First Reads

Exclusive 1st read: 'klara and the sun,' by kazuo ishiguro.

Without question, Klara certainly seems capable of loving. In the unbearable sections of this novel I referenced earlier, Josie grows weaker and Klara, who's herself solar-powered, beseeches the "kindly" Sun for "special nourishment" for Josie and, then, bravely sets out to make an offering to the Sun. Klara's misperception of the Sun as a caring deity calls to question our own limited human understanding of, well, everything. Like Klara, who sees the world through grids that sometimes go haywire, we humans only see through a glass, darkly.

But great artists, like Ishiguro, are distinguished by their more expansive vision. I know that's something of an old-fashioned conceit, as is the word, "masterpiece"; nevertheless, I'll go for broke and call Klara and the Sun a masterpiece that will make you think about life, mortality, the saving grace of love: in short, the all of it.

Kayleigh’s Substack

Book Review: All About You by Shaina Veronica ARC Copy

An unstarred review.

I really hope I’m using the term “unstarred” correctly. I mean to say, I don’t feel comfortable giving this book a star-rating for several important reasons:

It was delivered as an “ARC” but inside it says it is an uncorrected proof copy, so that feels more like a beta read to me than an ARC.

I have never in my entire life read a romance novel. This was my first ever. Which means my ability to “star” it in comparison to other romance novels is nil.

But, I thought it would be a fun exercise in branching out into another genre, and I’d be so interested to hear the thoughts of compulsive romance readers on some of the items I address below.

This author has put her work out there and this story is obviously near and dear to her, so I am going to treat this more like a beta read and front-load the positives, and then get into the critiques as I would for anyone who trusted me to read their work.

What works well:

It is really fun to read a book with Filipino characters at the heart. The glimpse into their culture and family bonds is refreshing in a world dominated by American culture.

The MC self-admits to having a “fatter” body type, but she is unbothered by it. She seems very happy with her appearance and isn’t striving to change it in any way. Her family and friends are also unbothered by it and do not pressure her to diet, or change.

A few really cute lines such as “the smell of the food greets me before my relatives” are sprinkled throughout.

The MC’s closeness to her family and reliance on her sister’s advice is endearing as well as a good behavioural model.

The moments where the story is centred on Marlon and Jaslene together are the true gems of the writing. Lots of cute interplay and teasing and it’s easy to root for them.

Here’s a few things that stood out that could be addressed to make this story a lot stronger (and/or are just my ignorance of the genre talking again):

First: the writing..

It is an “uncorrected” copy, so I’m unclear if this means it’s a first draft, or what, but it definitely needs a lot of tidying up. There are way too many dialogue tags used “drawls”, “scoffs”, “comments”, “exclaim”, and so on throughout the text and it is very distracting from the action.

There are also a lot of adverbs that could be cut, for example “violently” and “ungracefully” were used in one sentence. Stronger writing will let the reader know these things without using the adverbs.

It is lacking a distinct sense of place. “Sydney” is mentioned early on, but there is no reference to which Sydney this is. There is also minimal description throughout in terms of nature, weather, rooms, buildings, anything at all to really ground this in a firm setting.

A few crutch words could easily be deleted to make the writing stronger as well (“actually” is used a lot).

Second: the story

This is where my ignorance of romance is going to shine through, but as I said, I’m curious to see if these “issues” I have are just proof that I shouldn’t read romance.

* SOME of this might be considered spoilers, but beyond who the MC ends up with (which seems obvious), I don’t think I’m spoiling much.

The set-up of Jaslene and Marlon hating each other just seemed way too obvious to me at the beginning of the book that these two are going to end up together. Is this common in romance? These are obviously the enemies to lovers and fake dating tropes. To me it felt like I was reading a murder mystery where they tell me in the first chapter who the killer is. Why should I keep reading when I know how it ends?

I took issue with how single-minded the protagonist was on finding love. She’s only 18, but she seems wholly consumed with finding her forever love. Again, this may be my ignorance of romance novels, but I wished she had more depth, other dreams, other hobbies. Especially if this is targeted to a younger audience I’d love this book to show young women that they shouldn’t be all-consumed with finding a husband. Her attitude toward boys felt very middle-school all-consuming rather than a 1st-year university student.

I felt the “distraction” boy of Rafayel for Jaslene and “distraction” girl of Christine for Marlon could have been played up way more to increase the tension and the will-they/won’t-they suspense. They both never felt like real contenders and it was pretty obvious from the get-go that Marlon wouldn’t end up with Christine and Jaslene wouldn’t end up with Rafayel. Torturing the reader a bit more would make their eventual coupling that much sweeter.

I felt a lot of Marlon’s dialogue was not at all what I’d expect an 18-year-old boy to say. Perhaps because he has been life-long friends with Jaslene it is a bit different, but I can’t imagine any boy (including my my husband who I was dating at 18) saying some of the things he says. His admission to wanting to know if he could “love right” really stood out as an example. Perhaps this is also a cultural difference and Filipino boys are more willing to be that vulnerable. Or perhaps this is just accepted in romance novels?

The ending also just felt a bit too on the nose for me. A rescue by the “good boy” from the “wrong boy” and a kiss in the rain. Especially the kiss in the rain. I get that this is “THE” romantic kiss that we’ve seen so many times, but I think there is an opportunity to either refresh it by doing something unexpected or just picking an entirely new way for a first kiss to happen.

That’s just my thoughts, and as it is always said, this business is SO SUBJECTIVE. So I’ d love to hear from die-hard romance readers on this one to see their thoughts. I wish Shaina the best of luck with her self-publishing journey! For fans of soft, cute, light romance this might be just the read!

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‘Love’ Review: Thoughtful, Grownup Norwegian Romantic Drama Accounts for Different Emotional Needs

We live in a transitional era regarding relationship politics, as more people carve romantic and sexual lives for themselves outside the prescribed trajectory of love, marriage, procreation and nuclear family. The emergence of LGBT identities into the mainstream has had much to do with this, of course, but our collective understanding of opposite-sex partnerships —  those once deemed merely “normal” — is evolving too, alive to the complexities of bisexuality and open relationships. Screen romance, however, remains largely behind this curve, which is why Dag Johan Haugerud’s new film “Love” feels, in its quiet, conversational way, rather radical: a tender, gently observed relationship study that places as much stock in casual sex as in seeking a soulmate. Following two very different medical professionals on their contrasting quests for intimacy, it’s the rare romantic drama that concedes one person’s happily-ever-after is not necessarily another’s.

The fourth feature by Norwegian novelist and filmmaker Haugerud, “Love” is the second entry in a planned trilogy of self-contained but complementary films about contemporary sexuality and relationship mores. The first, “Sex,” charted the domestic fallout when a happily married, ostensibly straight man impulsively has sex with a male stranger, and admits as much to his wife. Despite the titles, “Sex” and “Love” aren’t separately defined by those terms, as both films examine how the concepts can diverge and overlap in matters of the heart. (It remains to be seen what the third entry, “Dreams,” will bring to the subject.) Intriguing but elusive, “Sex” premiered in Berlin’s Panorama sidebar earlier this year, while “Love,” arguably the warmer and more approachable of the two, benefits from the profile boost of a Venice competition slot. That may prompt global arthouse distributors to lead with “Love,” which requires no familiarity with its predecessor.

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Taking place over a three-week period in a balmy Nordic August, the film introduces its two protagonists in the somewhat unsexy environs of an Oslo hospital urology department. Attractive middle-aged doctor Marianne (Andrea Bræin Hovig) is pragmatically talking a patient through his prostate cancer diagnosis, as her younger, shaggy-haired assisting nurse Tor (Tayo Cittadella Jacobsen) provides gentle reassurance from the sidelines. As doctor and nurse talk privately afterwards, we sense a candid, comfortable chemistry between them with no frisson of anything non-platonic. Turns out he’s gay, she’s straight, and while both are single, they’re on different searches: She’s into dating, while he’s into cruising, with little interest in anything long-term.

After a blind date with amiable, recently divorced geologist Ole (Thomas Gullestad), a friend of her own best pal Heidi (Marte Engebrigtsen), Marianne bumps into Tor by chance on the ferry home — and is intrigued to learn that the boat is his favoured place for picking up guys. Suddenly, as she recounts her evening to her colleague, she surprises herself with an admission: “I wish I could have had sex with him tonight and never see him again.” To her, the very idea is a tantalising subversion of romantic norms; to Tor, it is the norm.

Yet as Marianne is left pondering the possibilities of one-time trysts — and weighing them up against her conflicted feelings for Ole — Tor is led into unexpected emotional territory by a ferry encounter with handsome older psychologist Bjorn (Lars Jacob Holm, superb). Something sparks between them, even though Bjorn admits to having no sexual urges; days later, they meet again at the hospital after Bjorn receives some bad news, and they begin to find alternative ways to help each other. Haugerud’s airily woven script isn’t shy about hanging on coincidence and contrivance, as its various narrative strands hover between perceptive human observation and playful hypothesis. These exchanges feel relatable even when they don’t feel entirely real.

It’s all gratifyingly grown-up, with a light touch and a mostly straight-faced, off-center sense of humor that doesn’t undermine the gravity of the subject matter. A subplot involving increasingly neurotic plans by municipal worker Heidi — hilariously played by Engebrightsen as an outright pill in hippyish disguise — for a sex-positive celebration of the city subtly pokes fun at the occasional hypocrisies of effortfully progressive social politics, without getting reactionary about it. The soft, summery pastels of Cecilie Semec’s cinematography and the loose, flutey jazz stylings of Peder Kjellsby’s score are in tune with the film’s mellow puckishness; Hovig and Jacobsen’s wry, watchful lead performances likewise never push too hard.

“Love’s” commentary on modern relations may be more complex and chewy than just “live and let live,” but the film’s calm embrace of whatever works for the individual is refreshingly humane, rhetorically exciting and more than a little hot: We see how Marianne can benefit from diving into the no-strings unknown, just Tor and Bjorn mutually benefit from a committed but unlabelled sort of companionship. It’s a cool corrective to the days when “it’s complicated” was the go-to description for any relationship outside the conventions of heteronormative coupledom. This breezy, sexy, thoughtful film shows that straying from the rom-com ideal can be easier than it sounds, and a bit of fun too.

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'Plenty More' Will Make You Fall in Love With Vegetables Again

Welcome to “ Cookbook of the Week. ” This is a series where I highlight cookbooks that are unique, easy to use, or just special to me. While finding a particular recipe online serves a quick purpose, flipping through a truly excellent cookbook has a magic all its own.  

I get attached to certain cookbooks. This week’s pick for my cookbook of the week is Plenty More by Yotam Ottolenghi. Similarly to the book I chose for last week ( Hershey’s Best-Loved Recipes ), this book and I have history. That’s the hope, isn’t it? When you buy a cookbook for yourself or as a gift for someone else, you’re hoping they build a relationship with it, use it for years, and form fond memories every time they cook from it. That’s how I see this cookbook—each recipe is a wink to great meals shared over the years. 

It certainly helps that every recipe freakin’ rules too. 

A bit about the book

Plenty More ’s subtitle is “vibrant vegetable cooking from London’s Ottolenghi,” and that says a lot. For starters, you should know that “Ottolenghi” is also the name of the chef’s string of high-end delis across London. I say high-end because the price point is a little steep, not because the food or atmosphere are unapproachable. In fact, it’s very welcoming inside. I’ve been to two locations in London and happily give them all of my money because the food is so good it makes me cry, or laugh, or get mad. And you can have a piece of that emotional rollercoaster at home. 

A great cookbook for (wannabe) veggie lovers 

The other key to that subtitle is the “vibrant vegetable” part. Yes, I’ve given you a vegetarian cookbook. No, do not roll your eyes at me. What they do with vegetables in this cookbook is nothing short of magic. As a person who eats meat, I can honestly say that you do not even think about meat or wonder for a moment if a recipe would be better with meat. 

Each recipe is substantial and satisfying. Even the salads are robust with flavor. One of my favorite things is how Ottolenghi uses surprising ingredients in places I had forgotten they could go. Why not put juicy lemon segments in a salad, or walnut halves in my pasta? 

This is an excellent cookbook choice for someone who is trying to eat more vegetables, or is dead-bored of the same veggie recipes. How many times can you roast carrots and cauliflower before you or your kids start thinking maybe they just hate vegetables? Plenty More shakes up the idea of vegetarian cooking with unexpected combinations. 

That said, this book is probably best for someone who is familiar with cooking; it’s not really a beginner’s cookbook. The ingredient lists can be long and potentially unusual, and there are a variety of cooking methods used. Something I appreciate about Ottolenghi’s recipes is that he frequently incorporates ingredients from multiple cultures, like the Iranian Vegetable Stew With Dried Lime. A beginner might be deterred by the Iranian limes or barberries in the recipe, and not consider that they could substitute ingredients to replace them.

The recipes you can expect

The recipes in this book are categorized by cooking method. You’ll find sections like steamed, braised, roasted, fried, and so on, which is kind of nice because it builds in some variety. Something “tossed” doesn’t have to mean a leafy green salad (there are those too), but maybe a satisfying eggplant dish tossed with a rich dressing. 

Each recipe’s method is contained within three to six paragraphs, and while the author assumes you know how to recognize certain states of food preparation (like food processing nuts down to a paste is something I know will take a while and some scraping), the steps are clear without being overly wordy. There’s always a gorgeous picture to accompany the recipes too, which is nice for eye-candy, but also helpful if you’re unsure how the dish is supposed to turn out. 

I have my favorites in this book, but I decided to try something new this week. I made the Cauliflower Cake and was not disappointed. Like every recipe in this book, the namesake vegetable becomes absolutely dazzling.

It’s a savory cake that uses red onions for flavor as much as for color, cauliflower for bulk and a creamy texture, along with eggs and a giant dose of grated parmesan. The cake baked up fluffy and the tiniest addition of turmeric lent a warm yellow hue to the crumb. This is one of those recipes that makes your whole kitchen smell amazing. The sesame seed and nigella seed crust adds flavor and a bit of wow-factor to the presentation. I’ll be bookmarking this one for the future.

How to buy it

Even if you’re into cookbooks just because they’re pretty, this is a great choice. It’s a hard cover with a gorgeous dark photograph on the front. When you touch it, you’ll realize that it’s pleasantly pillowy. Not like a child’s hardcover (but not not like it.) You’ll have to feel it for yourself. My copy was a gift from a friend, but you can buy it online for around $20 and in real-life bookstores for around $30. If you love this one, keep an eye out for Ottolenghi’s newest book Comfort , which will be released in the U.S. on Oct. 8 of this year.

Chris Clarkson is the author of 'That Summer Night on Frenchmen Street.' 'I really loved the idea of writing about people who may not actually meet in real life,' he says.

• STAFF PHOTO BY MATTHEW PERSCHALL
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Chris Clarkson is the author of 'That Summer Night on Frenchmen Street.' ' I really loved the idea of writing about people who may not actually meet in real life,' he says.

'That Summer Night on Frenchmen Street' by Chris Clarkson

New Orleans teens confront love, parents and college applications in this young adult novel

Torey Bovie

• Author email
• Sep 12, 2024
• 2 min to read

Chris Clarkson wanted to write the book he never had as a teenager. In 2018, he set out to accomplish just that.

The result is "That Summer Night on Frenchmen Street."  Set in New Orleans, the young adult novel is centered on two teens, Jessamine Monet and Tennessee Williams, the latter named for the famous writer. The pair struggle with their social lives, their relationships with their parents and their love for each other.

Jessamine goes on a journey of self exploration, but so does her family. Her transgender cousin, Solange, has to deal with ridicule from her sick mother. Jessamine’s brother, Joel, has been hiding his relationship with the most popular boy in the city.

Tennessee has always been stuck between the self-centered work habits of his mother, an aspiring author, and his father's toxic masculinity. When he meets Jessamine, the two embark on a New Orleans love story that flips their perception of love on its head.

Diversity and growing up

Aimed at young people 14 and up, the book takes readers down the rabbit hole of the characters’ lives. It sucks you in and demands you know more.

Clarkson wanted "That Summer Night on Frenchmen Street" to be a very diverse book, he said. Characters of different races, sexualities and personalities navigate the city, death and themselves. The tale explores themes of love, friendship, trauma and acceptance with a multilens view.

While Clarkson, 39, is from Virginia, he has lived in New Orleans for eight years. 

“I really loved the idea of writing about people who may not actually meet in real life, because they think they don't have anything in common. In actuality, they find out that they have a lot in common,” Clarkson said.

Complex promises

The book delivers on its complex promises as it switches back and forth between Jessamine's and Tennessee's point of view. Jessamine is avoidant and scared to commit, while Tennessee wears his emotions on his sleeve. As you read you’ll begin to question who is “right” and “wrong” as a moral gray area adds nuance to every character.

New Orleans makes for the perfect backdrop to the whimsical story. The mesmerizing imagery and incorporation of iconic landmarks bring the magical city to life.

However, there's another side to the city, which also shows up in the book. While the read is fun and light, "That Summer Night on Frenchmen Street" dives into hard truths of New Orleans and teenage life. Gun violence, Hurricane Katrina and the scariest of them all: college applications. 

The contrast of light and dark was juggled very well in the book. Readers may notice that the trauma and the healing begin to coexist in a beautiful way.

"That Summer Night on Frenchmen Street" offers needed relief from the business of life. Yes, the reader is watching these characters struggle. But, it also makes readers think about how to find the light in the darkest times, like Jessamine, who is burdened by gun violence in her neighborhood but finds solace in her love of art and her friends. 

What love looks like

The 48-chapter novel offers a story that is not often told about teenage and queer life. It acts as a reference sheet on what healthy and toxic love looks like.

Then, the book dares us to do the work of making healthy love our reality.

"That Summer Night on Frenchmen Street" can be found at local bookstores such as Blue Cypress Books and Tubby and Coo's , along with the usual big-box and internet stores.

Email Torey Bovie at [email protected] .

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