Both Denny and Eve ask Enzo to protect the other members of their family, which demonstrates the universality of a parent's and spouse's instinct to protect their family members. The novel demonstrates familial love between Denny, Zoë, Eve, and Enzo. But this tension is resolved when Eve becomes pregnant with Zoë, and Enzo immediately softens toward her and accepts her into the family. By putting Enzo and Eve at odds, the novel demonstrates how different forms of love can distract a person from their respective relationships in life.

Denny and Eve's relationship progresses quickly, and Enzo finds himself competing with Eve for Denny's attention. When Denny meets Eve, the novel shows the reader romantic love. One of the pros of Enzo not being able to talk back to Denny (despite how badly Enzo wants to be able to speak) is that Denny knows he can say anything to Enzo without receiving a judgemental response. Their love grows into a trusted companionship where they rely on each other for unconditional support. There is no explanation as to why Denny picks Enzo there is simply a magnetism between them that we understand as fate, evidence that Denny and Enzo are meant to be together. Denny and Enzo experience 'love at first sight' when Denny lifts little puppy Enzo out of a furry pile of puppies in Spangle. The first relationship to demonstrate love is that between Denny and Enzo.

Stein introduces different forms of love as a major theme of the novel.

Art of racing in the rain novel