In contrast to some lesbian novels of the time, such as Rita Mae Brown's Rubyfruit Jungle (also, incidentally, published by Daughters), which used a prototypical bildungsroman technique with a lesbian placed squarely at the center, Lover reflects complex notions of radical lesbian philosophy, community, family structure, and eroticism by using highly inventive, often fantastical storytelling techniques. In Harris's introduction to the 1993 edition, she writes, "Lover should be absorbed as if it were a theatrical performance.
This novel stands out from some lesbian literature of its era, such as Rita Mae Brown's Rubyfruit Jungle (also published by Daughters), which employed a classic coming-of-age narrative with a lesbian at its center. In contrast, Lover explores intricate ideas about radical lesbian philosophy, community, family structure, and intimacy through imaginative storytelling techniques. Harris's introduction to the 1993 edition emphasizes that readers should experience Lover as if it were a theatrical performance.