Breakups suck. Whether you were the one who ended it, got blindsided, or it was mutual but still messy, the aftermath can feel like walking barefoot across emotional Legos. You cry, you question everything, you stalk their Instagram for just one more hit of masochism, and then… maybe, just maybe, you realize it’s time to heal.
And guess what? You don’t have to do it alone. While your best friend is probably exhausted from your 2 a.m. texts and your dog can only offer so much emotional support, books—yes, books—can be the quiet, judgment-free therapy you didn’t know you needed.
Whether you’re looking for straight-up tough love, a soulful deep dive, or a way to laugh through the pain, these breakup recovery books are here to help you cry, cope, curse, and come back stronger.
1. Let That Sh*t Go by Monica Sweeney
🧘♀️ Best for: When you need to laugh, scream, and finally move the fck on*
Let’s be real. Sometimes, the best medicine after a breakup isn’t a deep, tear-streaked memoir—it’s a little bit of profanity-laced honesty and some room to vent without anyone telling you to “just move on.”
That’s where Let That Sh*t Go comes in. This isn’t your average “journal your feelings” kind of book. It’s an unapologetic, hilarious, and empowering journal by Monica Sweeney that invites you to write out your rage, your regrets, and ultimately, your release.
It’s got prompts like:
- “Write a letter to your ex you’ll never send (but secretly might).”
- “What toxic traits are you officially done tolerating?”
- “Name three ways you’ve already leveled up since the breakup.”
The tone is equal parts therapy and wine night with your most brutally honest friend. You’ll curse, you’ll laugh, you might cry—and by the end, you’ll realize how much lighter you feel when you let go of all the sh*t that’s been weighing you down.
👉 Check out Let That Sh*t Go on Amazon — it might just be the most therapeutic $10 you’ve ever spent.
2. It’s Called a Breakup Because It’s Broken by Greg Behrendt and Amiira Ruotola
📘 Best for: When you need tough love with a splash of humor
This one’s a classic—and for good reason. Greg Behrendt (yes, the same guy behind He’s Just Not That Into You) and Amiira Ruotola team up to give you a hilarious and painfully honest guide to getting over your ex.
This book is filled with “aha!” moments, hilarious anecdotes, and real-world advice that cuts through the BS. It’s especially great if you’ve been in a cycle of “but maybe if I just text them one more time…”
Spoiler alert: Don’t.
Why it works:
It doesn’t coddle you, but it also doesn’t make you feel like a failure. Instead, it reminds you that being single isn’t a curse—it’s a chance to reclaim your awesome.
📚 Pro tip: Pair this with your favorite comfort snacks and read it in bed on a Saturday night. Your future self will thank you.
3. Getting Past Your Breakup by Susan J. Elliott
💡 Best for: When you’re ready for serious emotional work
If you’re looking for something more structured and therapeutic, Getting Past Your Breakup is a true guidebook to healing. Susan Elliott is a grief counselor, and it shows—this book is compassionate, practical, and rooted in actual emotional psychology.
You’ll learn how to:
- Set boundaries with your ex (goodbye, toxic texts!)
- Rediscover your identity after the breakup
- Break patterns so you don’t end up in the same situation again
Real talk: It’s not as “fun” as some of the other books on this list, but it’s powerful. If your breakup left deep scars or triggered old wounds, this book can help you actually heal—not just slap a meme over it and hope for the best.
4. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
❤️ Best for: When you want your heart broken (and mended) through words
Before Cheryl Strayed was famous for Wild, she was writing anonymous advice as “Sugar” for The Rumpus. Tiny Beautiful Things is a collection of her most poignant, raw, and breathtakingly honest letters and replies.
And wow… it hits.
She writes about love and loss and heartbreak with such compassion and wisdom that even when she’s talking to someone else, it feels like she’s talking directly to you.
This is a book to read when you’re lying on the floor at 2 a.m. thinking about the good times. She won’t tell you to snap out of it—but she will walk you through it with grace.
📝 Bonus tip: Highlight your favorite quotes. You’ll come back to them more than you think.
5. BreakUp and BreakOut by Rachel Thomasian and Valentina Setteducate
🌱 Best for: When you’re ready to grow from the pain
Written by two licensed therapists, BreakUp and BreakOut is the ultimate workbook-meets-recovery roadmap. It’s packed with exercises, journal prompts, and actionable strategies for moving forward.
It helps you:
- Reflect without getting stuck
- Shift from victim mode to power mode
- Create a breakup recovery plan (yes, that’s a thing—and it works!)
What makes it stand out:
It’s interactive. You’re not just reading—you’re doing. You get to process your emotions, reframe your mindset, and slowly but surely step into your post-breakup glow-up.
Pair this one with Let That Sht Go* for a journaling power combo. One’s soulful, the other’s sassy. Together? Unstoppable.
6. Heartburn by Nora Ephron
🎭 Best for: When you need to laugh at love (and maybe cry too)
Not every breakup book has to be nonfiction. Heartburn is a fictionalized (but heavily inspired by real life) account of Nora Ephron’s own divorce, and it is deliciously savage.
She somehow manages to mix heartbreak, betrayal, and rage with humor, recipes (yes, really), and that unmistakable Nora Ephron charm.
This is a book for when you’re tired of crying and ready to laugh—maybe even snort-laugh while rage-eating spaghetti.
👀 Fair warning: It might make you want to start writing your own breakup novel. And honestly? You should.
Why Reading Helps You Heal
So, why does curling up with a book help when your heart’s in shambles?
- It validates your experience. Sometimes, just reading about someone else’s pain (and how they survived it) can make you feel less alone.
- It shifts your perspective. Good breakup books don’t just talk about pain—they talk about growth, freedom, and rediscovering your worth.
- It gets you out of your head. Instead of replaying the last conversation for the 97th time, you can focus your energy on something healing.
And sometimes, all you need is a journal, a pen, and a f*ck-it attitude.
Final Thoughts: Breakups Aren’t Endings—They’re Redirects
At the risk of sounding like a self-help cliché, the end of a relationship is often the beginning of something better. Maybe not right away. Maybe not even next month. But eventually, the pieces fall into place.
Until then? Let books be your guide. Let laughter be your medicine. And let yourself feel every messy, complicated emotion—then let that sh*t go.
Ready to start healing?
If you want a no-pressure way to start processing your emotions, journaling might be your best friend right now.
Grab a copy of Let That Sh*t Go and see what happens when you put pen to paper and give yourself permission to let it all out.
You’ve got this. And the version of you that’s waiting on the other side? They’re going to be just fine. Better, even.
