lou's library

Happy Valentine’s Day to those who celebrate and also a good day to those who don’t! As it’s 2025, I’m sure you’re aware that love comes in many shapes and sizes and today’s blog post is all about celebrating that. The following list includes books that portray love in a way that spoke to me – be that platonic love, romantic love or self-love. They’re all equally valid and worthy of a special shoutout today as much as any day of the year, really. Happy reading!

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Let’s start with an obvious one, why don’t we? Heartstopper to me is the ultimate love story, because it celebrates so many different kinds of love. The protagonists are gay and bisexual (actually), but there’s lots of diversity in the loves depicted this graphic novel series. Charlie and Nick are heartwarming and simply THE CUTEST. Alice Oseman has created such a cozy and fun world, and a safe space for millions of young (or not so young anymore) adults, and she deserves all the awards for it. I will root for Nick and Charlie always and forever and I can’t imagine a better read on Valentine’s Day than the entire Heartstopper series (and then watch the Netflix show)!

Atonement by Ian McEwan

I don’t talk about Atonement enough. This book shattered my soul when I first read it a few years ago. I won’t spoil anything, just be prepared to feel things, and lots of them. It’s set around the time of the Second World War (hardly ever a good sign, is it?) and focuses on the story of Cecilia and Robbie and it’s the sort of love story that grips you from page one and never lets you go again. It also doesn’t hurt that Ian McEwan writes so beautifully it makes me wanna scream into my pillow, because seriously, HOW CAN ANYONE WRITE SO PAINFULLY PERFECTLY? Now, this is an emotional, intense and gripping read, so if you wanna spend your Valentine’s Day frolicking, maybe skip this one. If you feel like crying into your pillow and becoming emotionally invested in fictional characters lives to an unhealthy extent, than boy, is this the book for you. It’s romantic love told at its best and I will never, ever get over it.

Women Living Deliciously by Florence Given

Self-love, arguably the most important forms of all shapes love can take (if you don’t overdo it, but most women I know seem to suffer from too little self-love, so that overdoing it doesn’t seem to be too big of an issue). Florence Given has written her heart out in this book, which is basically a manifesto on loving yourself as a woman, on allowing yourself the freedom to pursue your pleasure and your joy. Reading Women Living Deliciously was incredibly liberating for me, and I now want to thrust it into the hands of all the women in my life. Love spills out of every single gorgeously-illustrated page of this book, and reading it is a gift to your present and future self. Just dive right in, get lost in it and thank me later!

Boys Don’t Cry by Fiona Scarlett

A form of love that isn’t talked or written about enough is that between siblings, and particularly between brothers. In my opinion, sibling relationships can be some of the most important ones in our lives. I know I’d be a wreck without my sister, so I love to read books where sibling dynamics play a central role. Boys Don’t Cry focuses on the relationship between the teenager Joe and his younger brother Finn. They grow up in Glasgow with parents who are struggling financially and emotionally. Joe therefore has to take on the role of a parent sometimes for Finn, but at the same time always remains his caring, talented and devoted older brother. The relationship between the two is the best depiction of siblings I’ve ever come across in a book, and it left me feeling all the feels, chief among them a profound gratitude for my sister. Boys Don’t Cry is a love letter to the power of siblings in times of despair, and I couldn’t put this book down until the very last page. I already know I’ll reread this soon, and cherish every sentence we get of Joe and Finn being their delghtful selves.

Emma by Jane Austen

Now, if you know me, you’ll be well aware that Emma is my least favourite Jane Austen novel. Given my fierce admiration of this author, her “worst” book to me is still considerably better than anything most other writers ever produce. And when it comes to the topic of love, I do think Emma has a lot to offer. The main reason this book is not higher up in my Austen ranking is its protagonist, because she is a complete pain in the ass. I’m aware that this was Austen’s goal, and my god, did she achieve it. That being said, there’s such a lot of match-making in this novel, accompanied by so many musings on love and what makes people perfect for each other, that I do think Emma is a great choice for anyone looking for a classic all about love. It’s silly and not too serious and has Austen’s signature sarcasm all over it. Plus, I do know people who love Emma so much, it makes the top of their Austen ranking! And who knows, maybe once I will finally reread it, I’ll realise I love it more than I thought? All that being said, I already do appreciate it for its smart remarks on marriage and love, and for its great writing, so do give it a go!

There you have it, a little celebration of love in all its form! I do hope that whatever you’re up to today, you’ll feel a little love and lightness ❤