This is OP - I am following & thank you all so much for the suggestions! Everyone is so helpful and Happy New Year!

I felt just like this falling in love with my medical resident 20 years ago

The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

The Love Proof


https://news.yale.edu/2021/02/18/story-about-permanent-love-set-yale

Anonymous wrote:There's a whole subsection of YA books that are specifically written for the teenage "tingle" as it is referred to, and that's what you're looking for.

I think a beautifully written one is Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. It’s by Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

There's a whole subsection of YA books that are specifically written for the teenage "tingle" as it is referred to, and that's what you're looking for.

Emily Henry does a great job of capturing that falling in love feeling… people you meet on vacation, beach read, Book lovers.

I remember this feeling while reading John Jakes' series, the Kent Family Chronicles. No idea how they stand up after all these years, but I loved them.

Ditto the romance novels by Kathleen Woodiwiss, especially Shanna.

I read these both in my early 20s.

-- also a 50-something

I capture the Castle

Anonymous wrote:Anna Karenina

OK, this is OP and this recommendation made me smile.
Neither my friend nor I is going to read a 1000 page book, especially with our nurses going on strike soon (I support the strike, but it’s going to be madness)!
My interactions with Russian literature have been decidedly depressing so far (ie “a day in the live of Ivan Denisovich”); however, I know it is a classic for a reason, and I will put this one on my list for retirement

For what’s it’s worth, back in the day a lot of my med school classmates seemed to marry people who were the right person in the right place at the right time At the beginning of 4th year many suddenly got engaged to someone who ticked all the boxes: same religion, fancy schools, good family, family money, attractive. It startled me - it’s like they pulled these guys with stellar CVs out of thin air in the beginning of 4th year - but they are almost all still married 25 years later so they did something right. I remember my apartment mates arguing with me that falling madly in love is overrated and limits your ability to think critically about a guy. But I still do remember the feeling fondly.

I just finished love and other words and it captures that young first love feeling well

Twilight

Anna Karenina

Aw, sweet. That is sad that your colleague never experienced that feeling. Or, maybe she has & doesn’t want to think about it (bc it is a little silly/impractical, or bc those feelings faded).
I don’t have a recommendation, but be easy on your coworker. To have no experience like that or to regret it is sad.

As background, 2 medical residents in our department have clearly fallen madly in love - they look at each other like heart eye emojis. It’s adorable.
All I can think is “have fun you crazy kids!” - because someday you’ll be old with cranky teenagers and ailing parents, so enjoy it while you can.

My faculty colleague (also a 50-something year old woman) claims she never acted like this and they are being immature for their age (probably 28-30 yo). But I remember I felt like I was losing my mind (in a good way!) when I was falling in love a long, long time ago.

I am trying to think up books (highbrow or lowbrow, doesn’t matter) to recommend to my friend that capture/describe that feeling.
Any suggestions? Thank you!