"I encounter millions of bodies in my life; of these millions, I may desire some hundreds; but of these hundreds, I love only one."
— Roland Barthes, A Lover's Discourse
Valentine’s Day…oof! This hallmark holiday can be hard to navigate because that rascal, Cupid, is at one on everyone’s side and no one’s side. With this in mind, we’re sharing a special Valentine's Day Edition of our Bookclubs Staff Picks. Here’s a curated reading list of fiction and non-fiction reads with book club discussion guides from our personal collections about love, sex, romance, and heartbreak.
For the hopeless romantics out there looking for friends to read with, check out these public book clubs that specialize in matters of the heart. We also have tips on How To Avoid Book Club Breakups! If you don’t have a Bookclubs account yet, it’s easy and free to get started here.
Books about Falling in Love
- All About Love by bell hooks + Discussion Guide
- Something Wilder by Christina Lauren + Discussion Guide
- Book Lovers by Emily Henry + Discussion Guide
Books about Sharing the Love
- Beautiful World, Where Are You? by Sally Rooney + Discussion Guide
- Love from the Vortex & Other Poems by Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz + Discussion Guide
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid + Discussion Guide
Books about Breaking Up & Making Up
- It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover + Discussion Guide
- The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
- The Garnett Girls by Georgina Moore
- Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey
Books about Friendships
- My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
- Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close by Ann Friedman
- The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
- A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Books about Self-Love
- The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self- Love by Sonya Renee Taylor
- Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance by Jessamyn Stanely + Discussion Guide
- The Year of the Horses by Courtney Maum + Discussion Guide
Books about Black Love
- His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie + Discussion Guide
- Patsy by Nicole Dennis-Benn
- Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan
- Seven Days in June by Tia Willams
Books about Queer Love
- Endpapers by Jennifer Savran Kelly
- The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo + Discussion Guide
- Nothing Burns As Bright As You by Ashley Woodfolk + Discussion Guide
- Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
Books about Familial Love & Human Kind
- The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer + Discussion Guide
- Love and Fury: A Novel about Mary Wollenstonecraft by Samantha Silva + Discussion Guide
- The Love You Save by Goldie Taylor + Discussion Guide
- Loving You Big: One Family Embracing the Unexpected by Leah Moore + Discussion Guide
Books about Sex
- Ejaculate Responsibly by Gabrielle Stanley Blair + Discussion Guide
- Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski
- Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
- Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good by adrienne maree brown
Related Content:
Recommended Reading Lists for 2023:
- Books by black authors to read with your book club
- 12 Debut Authors to Discover With Your Book Club
- A Literary Guide to the 2023 Oscars
- 2023 Book Recommendations Based on Your Zodiac Sign
Find a public book club focusing on books by diverse authors:
- Book clubs reading books by women
- Book clubs reading books by BIPOC or other underrepresented authors
- Book clubs reading books by queer and LGBTQ+ authors
If you enjoyed this feature, subscribe to our blog and create a Bookclubs account to access more reading, discussion guides, and club inspiration! Already have an account? Rate and review books that you've read, and recommend your favorites to a friend.