Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson is an erotic tale of love. The novel is about an unnamed narrator who is grieving the loss of love. The narrator, after a long string of fatal love affairs, finally found a soul mate in Louise. However, the narrator came to a point in their relationship where a choice between happiness and Louise's life had to be made. The narrator made the choice alone and comes to regret it. Written on the Body is a story of love with all the stereotypes removed, leaving in its place the purity of love between human beings, not gender or sexuality.

The narrator had a habit of falling in love with married women. The narrator craved the excitement of such a relationship. However, after one such affair ends in terrible heartache, the narrator decides to attempt a more mundane relationship with a woman who does not excite, but comforts. Jacqueline is kind, gentle, and everything a mate needs in a long term relationship. However, Jacqueline is not exciting. When Louise comes onto the scene, the narrator sees in her everything that Jacqueline lacks. Unfortunately, Louise is married meaning a relationship with her will mean the same old habit as before. The narrator hesitates, but there is something about Louise that promises a better life.

The narrator and Louise become lovers. The narrator tells Jacqueline right away, allowing her the dignity of walking away before the lies become too much to overcome. Jacqueline takes the news with outrage, destroying the apartment she shared with the narrator in an attempt to injure in response to her own pain. The narrator is not bothered by Jacqueline's anger and instead focuses on Louise. Louise tells her husband about their affair, also reluctant to live with lies. For a time Louise and the narrator carry on their relationship in her husband's house. However, Elgin eventually has enough of their relationship. Louise decides to file for divorce.

The narrator and Louise move in together. For several months they share a blissful relationship. However, Elgin comes to the narrator to tell of Louise's battle with leukemia. The narrator is shocked and insists that Louise tell all. Louise swears that the illness is minor and that she is not having symptoms. Louise's doctors are doing tests, but are sure that she does not need treatment while she is without symptoms. The narrator goes to Elgin and is told that Louise needs to have treatment at his research labs in Switzerland. Elgin promises that if the narrator will walk away, Louise will come back and consent to the treatment. The narrator agrees.

The narrator spends almost a year away from Louise, imagining her going through her treatments with Elgin at her side. However, the narrator misses Louise so much that the only way to deal with it is to learn all there is to know about the human body. Soon the narrator knows all there is to know about cancer and the systems of the body.

The narrator's boss attempts to begin a relationship. During these attempts, the narrator confesses all about Louise. Gail, the boss, tells the narrator that a mistake was made when Louise was left alone. Gail insists the narrator return to Louise. The narrator goes back to London, but Louise is nowhere to be found. Louise did not return to Elgin, but divorced him and left him free to remarry. The narrator waits for six weeks for Louise to return to their shared apartment. When Louise does not come back, the narrator goes back to the country. Upon arrival, the narrator finds Louise waiting.