There’s no denying that love found and love lost is part of every life story, so it’s no surprise that books about love also abound. This curated list of books about love includes romances that span time, stories of childhood friends falling in love, star-crossed lovers, the ups and downs of realistic love, and the science of love.

The Time Traveler’s Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger
IN A NUTSHELL. Romance across time
SHORT & SIMPLE. Henry and Clare’s love is threatened because Henry can’t control when he time travels.
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you’d like to read a touching fictional book about love with an unconvential plot device.
The Time Traveler’s Wife is a charming, touching, cozy book about love. Despite the science fiction element, The Time Traveler’s Wife reads like a well-written romance. The time travel plot device makes for a slightly unconventional addition to what otherwise would be a classic romantic drama, but it’s a very welcome addition.
A General Theory of Love
by Thomas Lewis, Fari Amini, Richard Lannon
IN A NUTSHELL. Psychiatrists explore the science of love
SHORT & SIMPLE. Psychiatrists describe the science behind love and how human nervous systems interact.
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you want to learn more about the science of love.
In this book about love, three psychiatrists explain the science behind how the nervous system works and what we can learn from science about love. The scientific information presented explores how a child’s nervous system is impacted by caregivers and how nervous systems interact in relationships. A General Theory of Love is a great choice for anyone who wants to read a nonfiction book about love that takes a scientific approach.
Emily of New Moon Series
by L.M. Montgomery
IN A NUTSHELL. Orphan wins over extended family and finds love
SHORT & SIMPLE. In early 1900s Canada, Emily is orphaned and forced to move in with extended family who don’t want her, but she eventually finds love with family and a childhood friend.
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you want to read a historical fiction young adult novel about love.
Emily of New Moon is Anne of Green Gables author L.M. Montgomery’s lesser-known novel with a very similar plot. If you like Anne of Green Gables, you’ll love the Emily of New Moon book series. The Emily series consists of Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs, and Emily’s Quest. A sweet love story between Emily and a childhood friend develops throughout the three novels in the Emily series.
The Age of Innocence
by Edith Wharton
IN A NUTSHELL. Forbidden love in the Gilded Age
SHORT & SIMPLE. An upper-class gentleman in the Gilded Age is torn between his perfect on paper fiancée and his newly found love for a divorcee that would break all the rules.
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you want to read a book about star-crossed love.
This classic 1920 novel by Edith Wharton is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a book about love featuring star-crossed lovers. The would-be-lovers in Wharton’s The Age of Innocence are kept apart by the rules of societal decorum. The novel explores the tension the protagonist feels between desire and the rules he’s been taught to follow.
Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage
by Heather Havrilesky
IN A NUTSHELL. Realistic take on marital love
SHORT & SIMPLE. A funny memoir on what it takes to make a marriage work.
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you want to read a memoir about realistic love in marriage.
Foreverland is a funny, realistic memoir about the author’s 15-year marriage. In this wry memoir, Havrilesky explores what it really takes to make a marriage work. This book about love focuses on the everyday reality rather than romantic ideals.