Love letter

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This article is about a form of written communication. For other senses of this word, see love letter (disambiguation).

See also Love Letters (play)

A love letter (French: billet doux) is a popular way to express feelings of love in written form. Sometimes sent in the mail, and increasingly by electronic mail, the letter may be anything from a short and simple message of love to a lengthy explanation of feelings.

Sometimes letters are preferable to face-to-face contact because they can be written as the thoughts come to the author. This may allow feelings to be more easily expressed than if the writer were in the object's presence. Further, expressing strong emotional feelings to paper or some other permanent form can be an expression within itself of desire and the importance of the object and the subject matter. The expression of feelings may be made to an existing love or in the hope of establishing a new relationship. The increasing rarity and consequent emotional charm of personal mail may also serve to emphasize the emotional importance of the message.

As with any letter, a love letter could be written in any structure or style. One historically popular method is as a sonnet or other form of poem. William Shakespeare's sonnets are often cited as good examples of how to write emotional themes. There have been published books collecting models and suggestions for love letters.

After the end of a relationship, returning love letters to the sender or burning them can symbolise the hurt felt.

Some stationery companies produce paper and envelopes specifically for love letters. Some of these are scented, though some people like to use their own perfume to strengthen the impact of the letter.