Breakup Monologues: The Unexpected Joy of Heartbreak

'Piercingly honest. witty. wonderful' - The Observer

'My favourite way to learn is when a funny, clever, honest person is teaching me - that's why I love Rosie Wilby!' - Sara Pascoe

'Funny, sweet, entertaining, insightful, life-affirming...' - Viv Groskop

'Hilarious, honest and brilliant' - Helen Thorne

'Rosie Wilby unearths the hope and hilarity that can come from heartbreak' - Abigail Tarttelin

In 2011, comedian and podcaster Rosie Wilby was dumped by email... though she did feel a little better about it after correcting her ex's spelling and punctuation. Obsessing about breakups ever since, she embarked on a quest to investigate, understand and conquer the psychology of heartbreak.

This book is a love letter to her breakups, a celebration of what they have taught her peppered with anecdotes from illustrious friends and interviews with relationship therapists, scientists and sociologists about separating in the modern age of ghosting, breadcrumbing and conscious uncoupling.

Mixing humour, memoir and science, she attempts to assimilate their advice and ideas in order to not break up with Girlfriend, her partner of nearly three years. Will this self-confessed serial monogamist, and breakup addict, finally settle down?



We all know about the joys of love and relationships, but there's so much more to discover about the glorious benefits of breakups. Rosie reassures and entertains you through brilliant stories and fabulous facts, about what can be gained from the end of a relationship. This is a hilarious, honest and brilliant book! ― Helen Thorn, Scummy Mummies podcaster

Piercingly honest. witty. wonderful ― The Observer

For anyone who has ever been disenchanted by idealised romantic fairytales, this book will make you feel less alone. Rosie Wilby unearths the hope and hilarity that can come from heartbreak. ― Abigail Tarttelin

My favourite way to learn is when a funny, clever, honest person is teaching me - that's why I love Rosie Wilby! ― Sara Pascoe

Funny, sweet, entertaining, insightful, life-affirming... this book is all the things a breakup is not. Rosie's wisdom is balm for the soul for anyone who has ever been in love. ― Viv Groskop

[A] gem of a book ― Red Magazine

Comedian Rosie Wilby deftly blends her own experiences with insights from therapists, sociologists and scientists to explore why heartbreak can be so devastating. -- Therapy Today

If you've ever been heartbroken, this will help you heal. Plus it's FUNNY -- Nichi Hodgson

wise, funny and clever -- Lucy-Anne Holmes

I unexpectedly found this really brilliant. It's about how heartbreak can be a real turning point and the creativity that comes with the depths of depression. It's a really new take on it. -- Lorraine Candy

The smartest and most thought-provoking book about breakups in recent memory. expertly blends comedy, personal memoir and science to create the most essential book of the season ― The Maritime Edit

The Breakup Monologues is a book to go back to, again and again. It's smart, funny, and wise. Buy it for all your friends, single, coupled, or otherwise. ― Liza Delfouli, Arts Hub