Everything Books Taught Me About How to Find Love

This post was originally published on January 29, 2016.

Often when I’m faced with life’s toughest  questions,  I ask myself what would provide me with the best insight into the human experience at that moment. Sometimes I find answers in episodes of Friends.  Usually  I can find answers in something edible. The problem with those is that the answers are occasionally clouded by Joey’s judgement, and  the meaning of life can only be explained  by a jar of Nutella for, like, three spoonfuls.

The next thing I turn to, after spoonfuls of various nut spreads, is—surpriiise— literature. J.K. Rowling taught me that the meaning of life is friendship. Harper Lee taught me about the importance of truth and justice. Haruki Murakami made me question my entire existence, reality, and sheep, twice.

That’s why I  think we should turn to literature for wisdom  about ~love~, too. Below, I’ve cobbled together  all the advice  I could remember about how to find it  from some of my favorite pieces of fiction. Up to you whether to take it or not.

Romeo and Juliet: Crash a party; make sure you bring a wingman and a general sense of despair

The Hunger Games:  Pretend to be in love until you’re actually in love;  bonus points if your love subverts  an oppressive regime

Little Women: YOU DON’T HAVE TIME FOR LOVE until you move to New York

Anne of Green Gables: Engage in intellectual feuds with smart, handsome boys at school; tip  your canoe and  wait to be rescued by one of them

Harry Potter: Look for potential mates amongst your best friends’ siblings

Pride and Prejudice: Pick out a handsome but broody man, convince yourself that  he’s an asshat, realize you were so wrong and then make out in the sunset

Jane Eyre: Wait until you hear your soul mate  call your name from beyond the moors

Madame Bovary: Move to Yonville, France, and you will find ALL THE LOVES. Maybe too many loves

Great Gatsby: Change your name and throw a few bangers

Catcher in the Rye:  Call or text e v e r y o n e  in your contacts; someone’s bound to  watch ducks with you

Wuthering Heights:  Do the exact opposite of every single character in this book

Do you look for love in a jar of peanut butter, like I do?