A woman sits and rejects her companion's declaration of love with scorn. Engraving by J. Punt and P. Tanjé after C. Troost. Wellcome Collection. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Valentine’s Day is here—a time to celebrate love in all its forms. While we adore romantic fiction, some of the most powerful stories about love aren’t found in the romance section. They’re tucked into novels, memoirs and even classics that explore love in unexpected and unforgettable ways.
We’re talking about those books that leave you soaring with joy at love found or in emotional pieces at love lost. Stories that remind us of the depth and complexity of human connection, the ache of longing and the beauty of finding someone—or something—that feels like home.
Think about Atonement, with its heartbreaking portrayal of missed chances and regrets, or The Great Gatsby, filled with unfulfilled desire and yearning. What about the bittersweet love of family in Little Women, or even The Road, where the bond between a father and son is the truest form of love?
Love in literature is vast—it’s romantic, familial, passionate and even tragic. That’s what makes it so captivating. This Valentine’s Day, we’d love to know:
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