Learn to Love Like the Women Who Wrote Us Free
A transformative workbook exploring the 7 Greek forms of love through the wisdom of bell hooks, Toni Morrison, and the Black women writers who taught us that love is not possession—it's liberation.
2025
Oakland, Ca
Cover Art by Takiyah Franklin
Takiyah L. Franklin is an Oakland native, vocalist, educator, and advocate for transformative love. A proud alumna of Dillard University with a master's degree in Afro-American Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she has dedicated her career to creating spaces where people can experience vulnerability and healing. As a singer-songwriter and mother of three, Takiyah believes love is not merely a feeling but a radical practice—one that can heal individuals, strengthen communities, and change the world. She is committed to encouraging the conscious spiritual practice of being a Love Light.
This book is dedicated to my daughter Tseday, and my sons Hiram and Halim.
I wrote Venus Years because I needed it first. Growing up, I saw love portrayed as obsession, as sacrifice, as losing yourself to be chosen. But the Black women writers who shaped me—bell hooks, Toni Morrison, Audre Lorde—showed me something different. They taught me that love is a practice, not a performance. That self-love is revolutionary. That the way we love can either chain us or set us free. This workbook is the guide I wish I'd had during my own Venus Years, and the one I want my children—and yours—to carry into theirs.
WHY I WROTE THIS
WHAT'S INSIDE
Discover the 7 forms of love the ancient Greeks understood—Eros, Philia, Ludus, Agape, Pragma, Philautia, and Storge—and how each one shows up in your life
Learn to recognize the difference between love that expands you and love that diminishes you
Build a vocabulary for your emotions using the words and wisdom of Black women literary giants
Develop a personal love practice through reflection questions, journaling prompts, and hands-on exercises in every chapter
Break generational patterns by examining what you inherited about love and choosing what to keep, release, or create anew
Walk away knowing that love is not something you lack—it's something you practice, daily, with intention and courage
WHO THIS IS FOR
This workbook is for teenagers navigating first loves, young adults building lasting relationships, parents seeking meaningful conversation starters, educators looking for transformative curriculum, and anyone ready to unlearn what the world taught them about love and discover what liberation feels like instead.