If you’ve spent more than five minutes on the internet, then I’m sure you’ve probably taken one of those quizzes to find out which of the five love languages you value the most – both in how you feel people can best show their love to you, and how you like to show it yourself. Based on the 1992 book by Dean Chapman, The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate, these quizzes are a light- hearted look at whether you’re one of the people who expresses themselves through words of affirmation, quality time, gift giving, acts of service or physical touch.
Everyone loves love, in whatever form it takes, so I’ve rounded up a few book recommendations based on these languages. If you don’t already know which one you are, go and take a quiz, then come back here and settle down with the perfect book to appease your soul.
1. Words Of Affirmation | To The Bright Edge of The World – Eowyn Ivey
Ivey’s triumphant second book sweeps us away to 1880s Alaska, following the fortunes of Colonel Allan Forrester on an expedition to explore the Wolverine River, and his wife Sophie who is left behind at the barracks. The entire novel is epistolary, with journal entries, newspaper articles and letters making up the bulk of the text.
Allan and Sophie’s relationship is expressed so beautifully though these writings that you’d be forgiven for thinking Ivey had just found a box of letters written by a couple desperately in love with one another, and published them.
2. Quality Time | One Of The Good Ones – Maika and Maritza Moulite
This is a book about love between sisters; written by sisters, for their own younger sisters, it’s a heartfelt and painfully honest look at sibling relationships. Kezi, a social activist, is killed whilst in police custody and her younger sister, Happi – who always felt as though she was in Kezi’s shadow – is left adrift, reeling with guilt at the way their story together came to an end.
When oldest sister Genny drags Happi on the road trip that Kezi was planning, Happi comes to learn that sometimes the thing that anchors you to the world is the time you spend with the people you love.
3. Gift Giving | The Sealwoman’s Gift – Sally Magnusson
Telling the little-known story of the 1627 kidnap of 400 Icelanders by Barbary pirates, and their subsequent enslavement in dusty, hot Algiers, this book was a revelation when it was published, and it still is a brilliant work of historical fiction. Island pastor Olafur is soon sent to Denmark to try and secure his people’s freedom, whilst his wife Asta and their children remain behind in the possession of Cilleby, their master.
Asta and Cilleby’s unlikely friendship is founded on the stories that she gives him, the tales of her homeland; by the end of their time together, their complex and smouldering relationship will have wrung you out.
4. Acts Of Service | The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom
This novel might just be unbeatable when it comes to examining the love language that is acts of service. Eddie, a fairground mechanic, dies saving the life of a young girl and – on getting to heaven – encounters five people who had an impact on his life. As he talks with the people, some of whom he doesn’t even know, Eddie learns a series of gentle, life affirming lessons, such as how everyone has a purpose, or that hatred for another person is only going to eventually turn on ourselves.
Five People is not a preachy book, by any means, but you will finish it wondering what you can do to change yourself and other people’s lives for the better.
5. Physical Touch | The Kiss Quotient – Helen Hoang
Stella Lane, the autistic protagonist of this gorgeous and heart-warming romantic novel, is a whizz with algorithms, but at thirty years old, she’s worried that she is lacking a bit of romantic experience. So she decides to hire an escort, Michael Phan, to teach her everything that so far she has been missing out on – from kissing and foreplay onwards.
You don’t need to be a genius to figure out what happens here, but it hardly matters; The Kiss Quotient is a completely charming, steamy read. If you are someone who puts a lot of weight on your physical expression of love, then this is absolutely the book that will make you melt.
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