I am a social guy, talking to people comes quite natural to me. Therefore I make friends easily. I have had a ton of crushes and was also in love for a couple of times. However I have never had any relationship to speak of (I’m 25, btw), and I feel like I’m missing out on something.
When it comes to relationships I honestly don’t know how people do it. I don’t know what makes someone “like” someone else, safe for their appearance. Or how someone “starts” to see another as a romantic partner rather than platonic. I feel like I only know how to serve friendship. So how do people develop feelings for someone?
Long and difficult question. For me, “The art of loving” by Erich Fromm was where I truly learnt this stuff. Inspired by Marx and Freud. The main point is that love starts with you, the subject, and how different kinds of love are connected. Could be what you’re after.
NOTE: There is some sexist and homophobic stuff in there. I will not defend it, but the spirit of the book does not rely on these points, in my opinion.