The end of a relationship can be one of the most emotionally devastating things a person can go through, whether it’s on mutual, amicable terms or not. There are countless songs, poems, and films about breakups and heartbreak because it's an undeniably universal human experience. The silver lining? Precisely because this experience is so universal, there are no shortage of people to turn to for help and advice on how to weather the worst of it. These carefully selected listens aim to offer help and healing, from wisdom that focuses on handling immediate painful emotions to advice on regaining confidence after a thorny split.
Pema Chödrön is an American Tibetan Buddhist, an ordained nun, and a bestselling author. In this deeply spiritual, critically acclaimed book, Chödrön shows that, rather than running away from uncomfortable emotions, moving towards what may be painful and truly allowing yourself to feel may be the answer to healing your heart. Drawing on her knowledge of traditional Buddhist wisdom, Chödrön offers listeners tools that may transform suffering into ease, and possibly even joy. Narrated by the soothing yet compelling voice of Cassandra Campbell, When Things Fall Apart is a must-listen for anyone navigating a difficult life change.
When navigating a particularly painful time, sometimes all you need is a healthy dose of comfort. If you fall into this category, The Comfort Book, a listen akin to a great big virtual bear hug, is here for you. Narrated by its bestselling author, Matt Haig, this collection of wisdom and soothing ideas gives each listener the feeling of being held, cared for, and understood. Haig shares inspiring tidbits from anywhere he has found them throughout his life, from the awe-inspiring words of literary legend Anne Lamott to the tales his father told him as a child. Having overcome deep depression himself, Haig is a reassuring voice (literally!) in times of darkness, and one that just might lead you into the light.
In his highly anticipated second book, bestselling author Jackson MacKenzie focuses on moving forward after a breakup. This entails learning from the past, yes, but not dwelling there and instead focusing on the present moment—and the future. Healing after an intimate partnership ends is not easy or linear, and MacKenzie does not claim that it is. What he does in Whole Again is help listeners begin the healing process by finding happiness and wholeness from within—not from another person.
In this powerful listen, author John Purkiss argues that when you let go of expectations, you are free to live intuitively, and when that happens, life truly begins to flow. Purkiss breaks down the stages of really letting go and shares techniques for how to actually release expectations and not just attempt to do so. The Power of Letting Go mixes self-reflection with meditation and motivation to give listeners a powerful start on their journey to self-discovery.
If you want to make changes in your life, it can help to try a little positivity. Shonda Rhimes, creator of hit TV series, including Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and Bridgerton, decided to spend a year saying yes to everything that came her way. She narrates her own story of how that small action changed her life for the better—and as you recover from a breakup, Year of Yes just might inspire you to do the same.
In her most revealing and powerful memoir yet, Glennon Doyle, the beloved activist, speaker, and bestselling author of Love Warrior and Carry On, Warrior, explores the joy and peace we discover when we stop striving to meet the expectations of the world. Soulful and rousing, Untamed may help you access your "inner cheetah," and act more bravely after a breakup. And it doesn't hurt that the book is narrated by the dynamic Doyle herself!
Comedian Meshel Laurie turned to Buddhist philosophy when her 19-year marriage ended, and gained a lot of insight and wisdom in return. In Buddhism for Break-ups, she uses humor and heart to discuss, in her own voice, how to embrace the changes in your life, get comfortable with aloneness (which doesn't have to mean being lonely), keep calm when your emotions feel like they’re too much to handle, and use your pain to grow and learn.
In this widely praised bestseller, psychotherapist and national advice columnist Lori Gottlieb brings listeners into the therapy room as she counsels four patients, each facing their own inner (and external) battles. The plot thickens when Gottlieb herself winds up in therapy after her longtime boyfriend abruptly ends their relationship. Her intimate path to finding acceptance and peace in the wake of a devastating breakup unfolds in tandem with the journeys of her patients. Voiced with genuine warmth by narrator Brittany Pressley, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is a powerful reminder of the universality of sadness, loneliness, and, ultimately, strength.
Self-care is essential to healing after a breakup, which is why breakup books that focus on self-love, like How to Mend a Broken Heart, are so valuable. Supported by Kelly Doran’s soothing delivery, Charity Jenser offers insights and trusted tactics to help you stop replaying painful memories, find productive distractions, improve your positive outlook on life, find support among friends, family, and experts—and much more—while teaching you affirmations, morning routines, and workouts to keep you healthy and on track.
In The Breakup Bible, Daphne Rose Kingma draws on her 25 years of work as a couples therapist to offer insights into how to turn the painful end of a relationship into a positive opportunity for self-development and life-giving experience. Using exercises and real-life examples, the author-narrator helps you handle self-doubts about moving on and addresses the questions and fears you have about loving again.
