books

Just the 7 best break-up books to read if you're dealing with heartbreak.

 

There’s no companion like a good book.

Be it fiction or non, books have the ability to transport you to a whole new place, making them perfect for a brief break from real life – often, exactly what you need after a break-up.

Watch: Mamamia staff confess the worst reasons we’ve broken up with someone. Post continues after video.

Video by Mamamia

So whether you need to laugh or cry, we’ve put together a list of some of the best break-up books to get you through.

 Break Up Boss – Zoë Foster Blake

Break-up Boss by Zoe Foster Blake.
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Break-up Boss, by the one and only Zoë Foster-Blake, empowers those experiencing heartbreak by giving them the tools and techniques to cope with a relationship breakdown.

With Foster-Blake's signature flare, it's a positive outlook on what can no doubt feel like a harrowing time.

One colleague of mine, who has previously spoken of her unexpected breakup and subsequent heartbreak, wrote of this book: "THIS. BOOK. CHANGED. EVERYTHING. If you are currently heartbroken, and can’t see a light at the end of this tunnel, you need to get your hands on this book."

Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert
Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert
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You can't have a book list about break-ups without referencing Eat Pray Love. 

Published in 2006, Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love has inspired and empowered millions of readers to search for their own best selves – perfect for after a break-up.

The best-selling author had a husband, home, and a successful career, yet she still felt unfulfilled. Fresh from a divorce, Gilbert's memoir recounts her travels in Italy, India and Indonesia she goes on a journey of self-discovery.

The Lonely City - Olivia Laing

break-up books
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This book is part break-up memoir, and part exploration into how loneliness impacts us.

Olivia Laing, a UK author, seamlessly weaves copious amounts of research in with her own story of moving to New York, and the loneliness she experienced after her heartbreak.

The Break - Marian Keyes

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The Break follows a woman whose husband has told her he wants a six-month break from their marriage. He doesn't want a divorce, he assures her. Just a break, not necessarily a break-up.

They share children, making his decision to leave their family even more heart-wrenching.

The Pisces - Melissa Broder

book recommendations 2019
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Lucy is living in Phoenix when she hits rock bottom after a break-up. After moving towns, she meets a swimmer and has a sexual awakening at 38. She goes on a journey from being a distraught, depressed millennial to a woman in touch with her passion for life.

Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding

break-up books
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Bridget Jones's Diary is a staple in every woman's post-breakup kit.

Bridget Jones is 30-something, single, and a hopeless romantic.

Over the course of a year, she records her yoyo-ing weight, her alcohol and cigarette intake, and her hopes and dreams when it comes to her charming boss, Daniel Cleaver.

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This is Where I Leave You - Jonathan Tropper

break-up books
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Judd Foxman's wife has just left him when his father dies. In line with their Jewish faith, his mother summons all the children home to sit shivah, with disastrous consequences. A powerful and funny portrait of divorce, death, grief and, above all, family.

Feature Image: Getty.


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