: Caroline Khoury's 2022 novel It Must Be Love uses the phrase to frame a "heart-wrenching story" of fate and destiny, following two lovers, Abbie and Oz, across fifteen years of separation and chance encounters.
: In practical applications, counselors use the phrase as a question— "It Must Be Love, but Let's Be Sure" —challenging couples to look past initial feelings toward long-term compatibility and stability. It Must Be Love by Caroline Khoury - Karen K is reading It Must Be Love
The phrase is most famously associated with the 1971 song by British singer-songwriter Labi Siffre, later popularized by the ska band Madness. While it serves as a quintessential expression of romantic realization, it also functions as a thematic anchor in literature and philosophical discourse. Musical Foundations: Labi Siffre and Madness : Caroline Khoury's 2022 novel It Must Be