5 books that will teach you everything you need to know about love 

If your social media feed is remotely close to mine, it will consist of plenty of drool-worthy food shots, picturesque places, and...relationship reels. In case you haven’t been exposed to that particular corner of the internet, there is a new crop of counsellors and relationship experts making catchy, short reels where they analyse usually complex situations (because newsflash: relationships are not a one-size-fits-all!) in less than a minute. While these make for an engaging watch, you need something with a bit more depth and nuance if you’re actually looking for advice. Enter: books on relationships that cover everything from first love to devastating break-ups. Ahead, we list some of our favourites. 

All About Love by bell hooks

bell hooks (yes, it’s not supposed to be capitalised!) has given us quite a few classics—her book on feminism is a must-read—but it’s her book on love and relationships—All About Love—that has the most number of fans. It’s a nuanced and well-researched guide on love and ways to foster in every aspect of your life—not just heterosexual relationships. She emphasises how love is not a noun but a verb; you have to constantly put in the work to nurture your relationships. Preach!

8 Rules Of Love by Jay Shetty

Podcaster and life coach Jay Shetty, who’s known for his best-selling book, Think Like A Monk, is back with his latest that aims to teach us how to truly love. He takes inspiration from the Vedas to give us eight rules through which he analyses the whole cycle of a relationship—from the importance of loving yourself first and loving the right person, to knowing when it’s the right time to let someone go. We love how it’s not just a book listing down things you should do, but also has activities and exercises that you can do to reflect on your relationships and the way you love. 

Essays In Love by Alain De Botton

This one is a classic for a reason. Botton is known for his deep explorations of human behaviour and emotions, and this one doesn't disappoint. It’s about a young couple who quickly fall in love after a meet-cute on a flight, whose love story is put under the microscope by Botton, who analyses the many details and nuances that make up not only their relationship, but also romantic relationships at large. Think a chapter on first dates, another on when and how to say ‘I love you’, how guilt affects our relationships, and more. 

Notes on Heartbreak by Annie Lord 

Celebrated relationships columnist, Annie Lord has penned this part memoir, part guide to dealing with break-ups. She traces the journey of her own heartbreak in reverse, starting from where it all went bad. Released in 2022, this is her debut book, and is guaranteed to make you go through a tsunami of emotions and feelings, and if you’ve ever gone through a gut-wrenching break-up, you’ll find your own experience reflected in Lord’s. 

Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn

Compiled by London-based journalist Natasha Lunn, who has a popular newsletter of the same name as the book, Conversations on Love is a collection of poignant essays from eminent authors like Roxane Gay, Dolly Alderton, Candice Carty-Williams, and others. Be it exploring love in long-term relationships and how it evolves over time, to the excitement of first love and heart-breaking losses, this book covers it all.