Now I know Valentine’s Day is over and that is when I last did a post like this but I had to give you all some fresh recommendations.

Philia – Affectionate Love

A love that runs deep in friendships

• Rin and Kitty – The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
• The Wrecklings – The Secret of Haven Point by Lisette Auton
• Leonie, Niamh, Helena and Elle – Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson

These recommendations are based on some of my favourite friendships from the books I read in the last year.

Storge – Familiar Love

A love for family

• The entire main cast – The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
• The Bellinger Sisters – The Bellinger Sisters Duology by Tessa Bailey
• The Grace Field Orphans – The Promised Neverland series by Kaiu Shirai

These recommendations are based on some of my favourite found family/siblings situations from the books, I read in the last year.

Pragma – Enduring Love

Duos who have been together for a long time

• Signa and Death – Belladonna series by Adalyn Grace
• Wimsey and Bunter – Lord Peter Wimsey series by Dorothy L. Sayers
• Izumi and Sig – Fullmetal Alchemist series by Hiromi Arakawa

Eros – Romantic Love

• Shirayuki and Zen – Snow White with the Red Hair series by Sorata Akiduki
• Fatma and Siti – A Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark
• Ella and Madeleine – Thieves by Lucie Bryon

Ludus – Playful Love

Beginning stages of love

• J.B. and Keyana – Promise Boys by Nick Brooks
• Viv and Tandri – Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
• Hirotaka and Narumi – Wotakoi series by Fujita

Mania – Obsessive Love

• Indigo and Azure – The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
• Marion and Countess Lisavet – House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson
• Christine and Erik – The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

Philautia – Self Love

• Phryne Fisher – Miss Fisher Mysteries by Kerry Greenwood
• Amanda LeDuc – Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability and Making Space by Amanda LeDuc
• Vasya – The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden

I wanted to choose characters (and in one case a real person) who either practised self-love straight away or learnt to love themselves over the course of a lot of growth and learning.

Agape – Selfless Love

The love you have for others

• Annaleigh – House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
• Wayne – The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson
• Michael – Mercia’s Take by Daniel Wiles