[3] Reflecting on that time, Ted Ottaviano stated, "I was fascinated with Altered Images and other bands that were incorporating bells and chimes into their music.

[3] Ivan forwarded the demo to Sire Records president Seymour Stein, who subsequently signed the group to his label in August 1984.

[3] Subsequently, the band was offered the opening slot on the North American leg of Depeche Mode's Some Great Reward Tour.

("Boy", "Book of Love", "Happy Day", "I Touch Roses", and "Lost Souls")[11] Following the success of I Touch Roses", the band resumed work on the album in September 1985 at Unique Recording and Sigma Sound Studios in New York City, recording the seven new songs that would make up the rest of their debut album.

The inside of the cassette sleeve and back of the LP feature "wacky lettering" done by artist Stephen Tashjian, and also a vase with flowers graphic that was used on the tour merchandise.

"You Make Me Feel So Good" was released as the first official single from the record on July 31, 1986, and became Book of Love's first CHR radio hit.

In April 1986, a music video was filmed on location in New York City for "You Make Me Feel So Good" and released in late July along with the single to promote the album.

Finally with an album to promote, Book of Love toured as the opening act on the massive Depeche Mode Black Celebration Tour, joining the band's first European leg on April 29, 1986 in Hanover, West Germany, and playing 48 shows in twelve weeks throughout the full North American leg which ended on July 15, 1986, in Irvine, California.

The track was penned by Jade Lee, Susan and Ted Ottaviano (no relation), who had all been art school students and were inspired by the Italian painter's paintings and history.

The cover of the single featured one of Modigliani's famous paintings of his mistress Jeanne Hebuterne, along with the short biography of the painter written by Ted Ottaviano.

[18] For the back sleeve of the 12 inch single, Susan Ottaviano made drawings of each member of the band in the style of Modigliani.

Reflecting on the album, keyboardist Ted Ottaviano explained, "I've always believed people's aesthetics are based more on what they don't know than what they do know,...We had great instincts, and wanted to say what we did as swiftly and simply as we could.

Book of Love was released on LP and cassette on April 1, 1986, with twelve tracks, featuring a mixture of memorable melodies and intriguing lyrics.

Upon release, Book of Love did not chart, receiving little attention among the large number of new wave and synthpop albums at the time.

"[1] The reissue also received a 4 out of 5 rating, with William Ruhlmann stating, "On this debut album, songs like "You Make Me Feel So Good" have an effervescent early-'60s girl group bounce, while others suggest what the early Velvet Underground with Nico might have sounded like with synthesizers.