Summary of The Lover's Dictionary

The Lover's Dictionary is a 2011 novel by David Levithan that follows the story of two unnamed protagonists (simply referred to as “he” and “she”) as they navigate the ups and downs of their relationship. The novel is written like a dictionary; each definition corresponds to an event in the characters' lives, exploring their fluctuating feelings for each other over the course of the book. The novel struggles with questions of love and communication, as the couple is frequently frustrated by their inability to express their feelings for each other. As the book progresses, they must learn to bridge the emotional divide between them to make their relationship work. Ultimately, the novel suggests that love has no simple definition and requires hard work and constant adaptation to survive.