This list is inspired by an exercise described in Ace by Angela Chen. In cultures that center romance as the epitome of intense emotion, how many works of literature don't include romantic development as a theme?

Angela Chen's criteria, as quoted from Ace:
"1. The novel is not young adult fiction or science fiction/fantasy. (There are plenty of YA books without romantic subplots, both because intended readers are younger and because recent YA authors are more likely to incorporate characters along the sexuality spectrum.)
2. The novel is not about romance, and romance—or yearning for romance—isn't a major plot point even if it's there. Maybe there's a couple, but their relationship is taken for granted and the book doesn't focus on its evolution. Maybe someone goes on a date, but dating doesn't move the story forward.
3. The novel has no explicit sex scenes or sexual themes (including sexual assault).
4. The novel doesn't present romantic love as necessary and central to flourishing. This last requirement is crucial. Even if there are no sex scenes and nobody goes on a date, if the main character is constantly thinking about how they should be dating, the novel is disqualified."

These criteria have really brought my attention to the way romance is often treated as a requirement in fiction. I've always felt compelled to include it in my writing even when it isn't particularly interesting to me, because there's an assumption that romance is necessary for compelling fiction. Reading diverse works is essential to our development as humans and storytellers, and as beings who relate to one another. Focusing any one potential facet of human experience this way limits us in the range of experiences we can have with literature.

Feel free to add any beloved books you can think of that fulfill these criteria!