Best Books to Get Over a Breakup: Reads to Heal and Move On
Heartbreak is exhausting. Sometimes you want to cry, sometimes you want to laugh, and sometimes you want someone to tell you it gets better. The right book can do all three.
Here are reads for each stage, from the sofa-and-tissues days to feeling like yourself again.
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Shop cheer-up cards and gifts Funny cards Feel-good books Books to pick yourself up
Cheer-up cards and gifts to go with a book
A book with a kind card tucked inside makes a lovely present. Our cards are designed in house and posted from the UK.
For the raw early days
- Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton: funny, honest and ultimately about friendship being the real love story.
- The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy: short, gentle and kind.
For making sense of it
- Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty: has a whole section on love and relationships, and on letting go of what isn't working.
- Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller: helps you understand patterns in how you and your ex acted in the relationship.
For getting your confidence back
- Atomic Habits by James Clear: new routines are a good way to build a new normal.
- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert: a nudge to put your energy into something creative that's just for you.
Stories that help
- Beach Read by Emily Henry: funny, warm and romantic, for when you're ready to believe in it again.
- Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman: a story about being alone and slowly letting people in.
What to write if you're giving one to a friend
- For the sofa days. Chapter one, then call me.
- They didn't deserve you. This book agrees.
- You're going to be more than fine. Here's proof in paperback.
Found your words? Now find the card
Shop cheer-up cards and gifts Funny cards Feel-good books Books to pick yourself up
How to write it so it lands
- Save the romance novels until you're ready for them.
- Pair the book with a plan, like a walk, a film night or a class.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best book to read after a breakup?
Everything I Know About Love is a popular pick because it's funny and honest, and it reminds you that friendships matter as much as romance.
Is a book a good gift for a friend going through a breakup?
Yes. Tuck a short card inside, add a bar of chocolate and you've made a little breakup care package.
What is a good example of best books to get over a breakup?
"Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton: funny, honest and ultimately about friendship being the real love story." is one of 11 examples on this page. Pick the one closest to the tone you want, then add a specific detail of your own - a shared memory, a date, a name - so it reads as yours rather than copied.
Can I copy these messages word for word?
Yes. Everything on this page is free to copy, print and read out - no permission or credit needed. Changing one detail so it fits the person is all we would suggest.