16 Breakup Memoirs & Self-Help Books to Coach You Through Heartbreak

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For many of us, a breakup can be one of the biggest challenges we face. Whether your relationship lasted 20 years or three months, the devastation that comes from losing love can change us on a fundamental level. And — while the pain of the moment may have you believing otherwise — a lot of that change can be positive, in the long run. Sometimes the long long run. After a lot of healing gets done — and that’s where our favorite books on breakups come in.

While nothing can replace a therapy appointment or a good old-fashioned vent (or sob) session with your friends, break-up books are a vital part of the post-break-up toolbox. Whether you’re opting for a painfully relatable divorce memoir or a get-back-out-there self-help book, breakup books can show us the path to healing, or at least help us feel seen and comforted when the pain becomes unbearable. Many of these books are like a therapist and a best friend wrapped in one, and reading them is like getting a hug while hearing words of wisdom from someone who’s been where you are and come out the other side.

From longtime bestsellers like Eat Pray Love to more recent standouts like You Could Make This Place Beautiful, the following curated selection of break-up books are all non-fiction, all focused on helping you heal, feel, and (eventually, when you’re ready) move forward — whatever that looks like for you.

This article was originally published on sheknows.com.