In 2011, comedian Rosie Wilby was dumped by email. Obsessing about breakups ever since, she embarked on a personal quest to investigate, understand and conquer the psychology of heartbreak.

Part memoir, part investigation, The Breakup Monologues takes on the big questions about our life-changing separations in the modern age of ghosting, breadcrumbing and conscious uncoupling.

In Rosie's trademark immersive, investigative form, the self-styled 'lesbian Louis Theroux' puts her own relationship under the microscope in a 'sex lab' and explores how a split parallels the effects of withdrawing from a drug, why friendship breakups can feel like the worst endings of all, how polyamory changes the conversation about commitment, how breakups can sometimes be empowering and lead to exciting new life journeys... and how ultimately they can even help us to stay together.

The Breakup Monologues brings together all that she has learnt from her own life and from conversations with her podcast guests, friends, fans, relationship therapists, scientists and sociologists to create a wonder of humour, heartache and psychology that will strike a chord with all. The book features anecdotes and insights from Richard Herring, Dolly Alderton, Sofie Hagen and Ayesha Hazarika amongst others.

First published: Thursday 27th May 2021