There’s no companion like a good book.
Be it fiction or non, books have the ability to transport you to a whole new place, making them perfect for a brief break from real life – often, exactly what you need after a break-up.
Watch: Mamamia staff confess the worst reasons we’ve broken up with someone. Post continues after video.
So whether you need to laugh or cry, we’ve put together a list of some of the best break-up books to get you through.
Break Up Boss – Zoë Foster Blake
Break-up Boss, by the one and only Zoë Foster-Blake, empowers those experiencing heartbreak by giving them the tools and techniques to cope with a relationship breakdown.
With Foster-Blake's signature flare, it's a positive outlook on what can no doubt feel like a harrowing time.
One colleague of mine, who has previously spoken of her unexpected breakup and subsequent heartbreak, wrote of this book: "THIS. BOOK. CHANGED. EVERYTHING. If you are currently heartbroken, and can’t see a light at the end of this tunnel, you need to get your hands on this book."
Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert
You can't have a book list about break-ups without referencing Eat Pray Love.
Published in 2006, Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love has inspired and empowered millions of readers to search for their own best selves – perfect for after a break-up.
The best-selling author had a husband, home, and a successful career, yet she still felt unfulfilled. Fresh from a divorce, Gilbert's memoir recounts her travels in Italy, India and Indonesia she goes on a journey of self-discovery.
The Lonely City - Olivia Laing
This book is part break-up memoir, and part exploration into how loneliness impacts us.
Olivia Laing, a UK author, seamlessly weaves copious amounts of research in with her own story of moving to New York, and the loneliness she experienced after her heartbreak.
The Break - Marian Keyes
The Break follows a woman whose husband has told her he wants a six-month break from their marriage. He doesn't want a divorce, he assures her. Just a break, not necessarily a break-up.
They share children, making his decision to leave their family even more heart-wrenching.
The Pisces - Melissa Broder
Lucy is living in Phoenix when she hits rock bottom after a break-up. After moving towns, she meets a swimmer and has a sexual awakening at 38. She goes on a journey from being a distraught, depressed millennial to a woman in touch with her passion for life.
Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding
Bridget Jones's Diary is a staple in every woman's post-breakup kit.
Bridget Jones is 30-something, single, and a hopeless romantic.
Over the course of a year, she records her yoyo-ing weight, her alcohol and cigarette intake, and her hopes and dreams when it comes to her charming boss, Daniel Cleaver.
This is Where I Leave You - Jonathan Tropper
Judd Foxman's wife has just left him when his father dies. In line with their Jewish faith, his mother summons all the children home to sit shivah, with disastrous consequences. A powerful and funny portrait of divorce, death, grief and, above all, family.
Feature Image: Getty.
Sign up for the "Mamamia Daily" newsletter. Get across the stories women are talking about today.