Anti-Valentines Day Books
Books to make you happy you’re single, help you get over a breakup, and more!
January 31, 2023
Novels to Make You Happy You’re Single
The Last Mrs Parrish
Liv Constantine
A coolly manipulative woman worms her way into the lives of a wealthy golden couple from Connecticut as part of her plot to achieve a privileged life, unveiling dark secrets along the way.
The Divorce Party
Laura Dave
Hosting a divorce party on what would have been their thirty-fifth anniversary, amicably separated spouses Gwyn and Thomas Huntington unexpectedly toast their son’s engagement to a young woman who inadvertently discovers unsettling secrets about the man she is to marry.
The Girl Before
JP Delaney
Seizing a unique opportunity to rent a one-of-a-kind house, a damaged young woman falls in love with the enigmatic architect who designed the residence, unaware that she is following in the footsteps of a doomed former tenant.
This Is How You Lose Her
Junot Diaz
Presents a collection of stories that explores the heartbreak and radiance of love as it is shaped by passion, betrayal, and the echoes of intimacy.
Apple Tree Yard
Louise Doughty
Sitting in a courtroom after being charged with murder, a geneticist and happily married mother of two reflects on her affair with a secret lover who claimed a connection to the British government and who seduced her with an irresistible combination of sexual power, justice and revenge.
My Lovely Wife
Samantha Downing
A seemingly typical suburban husband discloses the secret ways that he and his wife of fifteen years keep their marriage alive and chase away domestic boredom by orchestrating creative ways to get away with murder.
Gone Girl
Gillian Flynn
When a woman goes missing on her fifth wedding anniversary, her diary reveals hidden turmoil in her marriage, while her husband, desperate to clear himself of suspicion, realizes that something more disturbing than murder may have occurred.
Our Kind Of Cruelty
Araminta Hall
A less-than-reliable male narrator describes his emergence from a brutal childhood and devotion to the happiness of a woman who he believes is not returning his calls because she is playing games with him and only pretending to be getting married to someone else.
The Girl On The Train
Paula Hawkins
Obsessively watching a breakfasting couple every day to escape the pain of her losses, Rachel witnesses a shocking event that inextricably entangles her in the lives of strangers.
Le Divorce
Diane Johnson
When a pregnant Roxeanne Walker de Persand has her husband run out on her, her rough-edged sister, Isabel, comes to help her through this period as the powerful Persand family begins pushing for a divorce and control of a valuable Walker family heirloom.
Best Day Ever
Kaira Rouda
As they head for a romantic weekend away at their lake house, tension rises between Paul and Mia Strom as deception and betrayal reveal the true nature of their “perfect” marriage over a period of twenty-four hours.
A Separation
Katie Kitamura
A taut, complex portrait of a marriage haunted by secrets, in which a woman finds herself traveling to Greece in search of her missing, estranged husband.
The Other Mrs
Mary Kubica
Unnerved by her husband’s inheritance of a decrepit coastal property and the presence of a disturbed relative, community newcomer Sadie uncovers harrowing facts about her family’s possible role in a neighbor’s murder.
The Couple Next Door
Shari Lapena
When a terrible crime committed on the night of a dinner party casts suspicion on a young couple who seemed to have it all, Detective Rasbach discovers that the panicked duo had been hiding dangerous secrets from each other for years.
The Innocent Wife
Amy Lloyd
Falling in love with a man on Death Row she believes was falsely accused, a young schoolteacher successfully campaigns for the man’s release and becomes his wife only to begin wondering about his possible guilt in the aftermath of his release.
A Good Marriage
Kimberly McCreight
Begged for help by an old friend, an overworked lawyer investigates a suspicious death in a Brooklyn brownstone before she is confronted by a close-knit circle of parents who would protect an exclusive school.
The Wife Between Us
Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen
The divorce has just become final, and Richard is already engaged to someone. One woman is determined to change that situation– no matter what it takes. Soon a tangle of lies binds her life with those of Richard and his new fiancee. A tangle of lies– that hide some dangerous truths.
The Truth Hurts
Rebecca Reid
A young woman quickly embarks on what she thinks is the relationship and love of a lifetime, and is thrilled when her new husband insists they never speak of the past, but this one rule will prove to have very dangerous consequences.
Before I Go To Sleep
S.J. Watson
An amnesiac attempts to reconstruct her past by keeping a journal and discovers the dangerous inconsistencies in the stories of her husband and her secret doctor.
Relationships and Break-Up Self-Help
Divorce In Connecticut
The Legal Process, Your Rights, And What To Expect
Renee C Bauer
Structured in a question-and-answer format, this divorce handbook provides clear and concise responses to help build confidence and give the peace of mind needed to meet the challenges of a divorce proceeding.
Breaking Up & Bouncing Back
Moving On To Create The Love Life You Deserve
Samantha Burns
Teaches readers how to survive a breakup and bounce back to a healthy dating life, including how to practice critical coping and self-care survival skills.
Gray Divorce
What We Lose And Gain From Mid-Life Splits
Jocelyn Elise Crowley
“After twenty, thirty, or even forty years of marriage, countless vacations together, raising well-adjusted children, and sharing property and finances–what could go wrong? Gray Divorce offers a provocative look at the growing rate of marital splits after the age of 50, showcasing the voices of men and women who are considering, going through, or have undergone one. With empathy and insight, Jocelyn Crowley, who has written widely on family issues, uncovers the reasons for why men and women divorce–and the penalties and benefits that each pay for their choice.
Nolo’s Essential Guide To Divorce
Emily Doskow
Presents a step-by-step guide through every aspect of the divorce process and includes updated information on foreclosure and debt issues.
Getting To Good Riddance
A No Bullsh*t Breakup Survival Guide
Jodie Eckleberry-Hunt
Getting to Good Riddance is a practical, “how to” recover from heart break guide based on the scientific mash up of salty language, humor, CBT, and mindfulness. It’s like having the healing power of a psychologist right in your hand.
Getting Back Out There
Secrets To Successful Dating And Finding Real Love After The Big Breakup
Susan J Elliott
Presents a guide to dating and relationships after a breakup or divorce, offering tips on examining negative patterns in past relationships, maintaining healthy boundaries, and working through rejection.
Divorce After 50
A Guide To The Unique Legal & Financial Challenges Of Your Divorce
Janice Green
This book is for readers considering divorce later in life. It covers subjects such as ways to divorce, including mediation, collaborative law, and litigation; marital property: what it is, what you do with it, and how to divide assets and liabilities; how to survive financially during and after, and more.
The No-Nonsense Guide To Divorce
Getting Through And Starting Over
Lori Hellis
The No-Nonsense Guide to Divorce is the straight-talking book divorcing people need now. Written by an experienced family lawyer, it’s a blunt, funny, empathetic look at one of the most challenging times in life. Filled with concrete advice and hilarious and sometimes cringe-worthy examples, it’s the perfect blend of how-to and what-not-to-do.
Things I’ve Learned From Women Who’ve Dumped Me
Ben Karlin
An anthology of life lessons as imparted through the experiences of such contributors as Stephen Colbert, Andy Richter, and Bob Odenkirk shares such insights as “If you lie, you will get caught” and “Flowers work.”
Your Ex-Factor
Overcome Heartbreak & Build A Better Life
Stephan Poulter
Your Ex-Factor will be a welcome resource to anyone trying to move forward beyond the pain of emotional loss and rediscover the joys of loving again regardless of prior history, circumstances, “old baggage,” or fears. This invaluable guide will open your eyes to promote healthy and truly fulfilling relationships now and into the future.
Overthinking About You
Navigating Romantic Relationships When You Have Anxiety, OCD, And/or Depression
Allison Raskin
Interweaving interviews with clinical psychologists, a psychiatrist, a sexologist, relationship experts and real-life couples throughout, this memoir-driven self-help book explores the complex connection between brain and heart, helping readers feel better prepared to tackle dating and relationships with more confidence and less worry.
Healing From Toxic Relationships
10 Essential Steps To Recover From Gaslighting, Narcissism, And Emotional Abuse
Stephanie Sarkis
This guide for getting over a toxic relationship looks at the Ten Foundational Steps to True Healing that can help survivors move forward, stop blaming themselves and find peace.
The Optimist’s Guide To Divorce
How To Get Through Your Breakup And Create A New Life You Love
Suzanne Riss, Jill Sockwell
Presents stories and insights for divorced women, emphasizing the importance of support systems and covering such topics as co-parenting and dating.
Heartbreak
A Personal And Scientific Journey
Florence Williams
After her 25-year marriage ends, a journalist reveals her personal insights and explores the cutting edge science of “social pain” including checking her blood for grief markers and receiving electrical shocks, to explain why heartbreak hurts so much.