Bell hooks (1952-2021) was an American scholar, feminist, and activist. She wrote several books on race, class, and gender and the intersection of Black identities, and her work has been influential in the development of literary theory, intersectional feminism, and critical race theory. In All Above Love (2000), hooks studies love as a concept and practice, examining the ideal of romantic love in mainstream culture and analyzing love in other forms. The book focuses in particular on the importance of self-love, or respect for oneself, which is not to be confused with narcissism, or an unhealthy prioritizing of self over the well-being of others. All About Love analyzes compassion as the basis of intimacy and love as a source of connectedness with others.

In the novel, hooks’s book becomes a symbol of Soledad’s quest for self-knowledge. It serves to outline and clarify her own understanding of love, confirming the importance of learning about herself and offering encouragement that she can eventually heal from Edward’s betrayal. Reading the book is deeply relatable for Soledad:

My hands can’t keep up with my heart while I try to highlight all the truths dotted throughout these pages. It’s like a treasure map I’ve found at exactly the right time.