Breakups can be tough [1], and while it may sound obvious, often the best thing to do when you're heartbroken is to take some time to get to know yourself better, mature as a person, and focus on your personal goals. We've rounded up some insightful post-breakup books — from fictional tales about finding yourself to self-help books about moving on — that will guide you to live your best life. Plus, we added a few fun, distracting reads in the mix. So no matter what your headspace is like or what your plan of action is, take a deep breathe, check out our list ahead, and get ready to start healing.
Everything I Know About Love
Everything I Know About Love [2] is Dolly Alderton's heartfelt memoir that details her life as she navigates friendship, love, and loss. The book is hilariously relatable and contains great advice on how to navigate through the confusion and darkness after a breakup. Be prepared to laugh out loud, shed a few tears, and be moved by the lessons this book has to offer.
Mr. Perfect
Sometimes the best cure for a breakup is to lose yourself in a thrilling and engrossing book. Mr. Perfect [3] by Linda Howard focuses on Jaine Bright, and the plot thickens when one of her friends gets murdered. In the midst of this chilling mystery, she hits it off with a man who she shares sizzling chemistry and hilarious banter with. However, along the way, there are many twists and turns as the suspense and the body count increases.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone [4] is a critically acclaimed memoir by Lori Gottlieb. In the book, she details her experience as a psychotherapist, who after a bad breakup finds herself in therapy. With her wit and humour, she creates an engageing story that showcases the importance of therapy when dealing with a life-shattering change.
How to Survive the Loss of a Love
How to Survive the Loss of a Love [5] by Harold H. Bloomfield, Melba Colgrove, and Peter McWilliams is a powerful and deep book, and is applicable to heartbreaks caused by divorce, death, or a breakup. The renowned self-help book provides skills and tactics to cope with the pain.
Juliet Takes a Breath
Juliet Takes a Breath [6] by Gabby Rivera follows the story of Juliet Milagros Palante, who comes out to her family and then leaves her home in the New York City neighbourhood of the Bronx to move to Portland, OR. Along her journey, she grows as a person, learns more about the LGBTQ+ community, and starts to realise that feminism means different things to different people. This book is a wonderful read and highlights the importance of intersectional feminism and identity.
The Wisdom of a Broken Heart
Often, a breakup can be really painful, especially if your significant other was an integral part of your life. The Wisdom of a Broken Heart [7] is an introspective read that is filled with exercises, self-love practices, poems, funny anecdotes, and practical advice on dealing with the pain of a broken heart. Susan Piver's genuine and honest advice is reassuring and encourages you to acknowledge the depth of your pain, as that is the first step in the healing process.
The Single Girl's To-Do List
The Single Girl's To-Do List [8] by Lindsey Kelk is a fun, fictional novel about Rachel Summers. After a breakup with a man whom she had been dating for seven years rocks her world, her best friends come to the rescue with a very special to-do list. At its core, this novel is a great page-turner that shows that life goes on after a horrible breakup.
It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken
It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken [9] is written by husband-wife duo Greg Behrendt and Amiira Ruotola-Behrendt, and it's the ultimate guide to help heal a broken heart by detailing all the thoughts and feelings that people have after ending a relationship. It helps make sense of the post-breakup emotions and helps people move on.
The Rules Do Not Apply
The Rules Do Not Apply [11] by Ariel Levy is an excellently written memoir. It contains heavy topics — including infidelity, her wife's alcoholism, and a heartbreaking miscarriage — that accumulate and result in a breakup. The book is a fascinating read about modern marriages, balancing personal ambition with parenthood, and finding a life partner.
Why We Broke Up
Why We Broke Up [12] by Daniel Handler and illustrated by Maira Kalman tells the story of Min Green and Ed Slaterton's breakup. This unique book is written as a letter detailing the reasons why the couple didn't work out. It is an emotional read filled with beautiful words and equally outstanding artwork.
Audrey, Wait!
Audrey, Wait! [13] by Robin Benway is a funny read about Audrey Cuttler, an ordinary girl who wants to live her life to the fullest. After her ex-boyfriend's song about their breakup hits the top of the charts, her life is turned upside down as she is thrust into the spotlight. This hilarious story follows Audrey as she tries to navigate life after becoming famous overnight.
The Breakup Bible
The Breakup Bible [14] by psychotherapist Rachel A. Sussman is a book that allows women to create a new life after going through a breakup. Based on hundreds of counseling sessions, Sussman created a three-phase plan that guides women to put themselves first and move on from heartbreak. The book accounts for scenarios like divorces that include children and cultural dilemmas. The motivational spirit and tone of this novel make it the perfect book after the end of a long-term relationship.
Confess
A steamy romance novel can often be the best cure for a breakup, and this one will help you get back out there. Confess [15] by Colleen Hoover follows Auburn Reed and Owen Gentry, two people that have experienced a lot of heartbreak, but along the way they learn to love again.
The Goodbye Girl
The Goodbye Girls [16] by Lisa Harrington focuses on Lizzie, an awkward student that notices that the halls of her school are filled with terrible, messy breakups. So, she starts a business where she makes and sells personalized breakup gift baskets, but things don't go quite as she planned. This story is filled with drama, mystery, and sabotage — but a romance blossoms in the midst of the chaos.
How to Be Single and Happy
Sometimes the best thing to do after a breakup is learn how to love yourself outside of a relationship. Jennifer Taitz's How to Be Single and Happy [17] is a science-based novel that challenges modern-day tropes and myths about romance and women. The book provides strategies and guidance on how to find a life-partner by cultivating a healthy attitude and mindset toward dating. It also provides advice on how to build a strong foundation when starting a new relationship.
The Modern Break-Up
Daniel Chidiac's The Modern Break-Up [18] follows Amelia, a woman in her thirties who goes through a difficult breakup. Even though it is fictional, it feels like a book deeply rooted in psychology that captures the nuance of dating today. It contains beautiful life lessons, challenges you to be more introspective, and explains the complexities of modern dating.