The month of February is a great month to focus on love, but what about its opposite - heartbreak? That's the focus of Florence Williams' new nonfiction book Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey.
Much like Lori Gottlieb's MaybeYou Should Talk to Someone, Heartbreak follows the author's emotional breakdown after her 25-year marriage ends in divorce and the research she does to try to understand what heartbreak is, how it affects those suffering from it, and how to make it go away.
It's not just a mental thing. Heartbreak manifests itself in physical ways. Williams herself developed diabetes. Other men and women have had heart attacks, depression, and PTSD.
So is there a cure for heartbreak?
You'll have to read Williams' book to find out. She turns herself into a guinea pig, trying everything from solo outdoor adventures (nature as catharsis) to tripping on mushrooms. I loved reading about her experiences, and though I have not experienced a divorce, I've certainly been heartbroken before, and probably most of us have at some point and for whatever reason. That's why I think this book will resonate with so many readers.
Heartbreak is published by W.W. Norton Company and is available to purchase now. I received a free e-ARC in exchange for this review.
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