The Dictionary of Failed Relationships: 26 Tales of Love Gone Wrong [Paperback]

Meredith Broussard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 27, 2003

FROM A TO Z—26 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER (OR HAVE HIM LEAVE YOU...)

When Meredith Broussard celebrated her 26th birthday and realized that she’d survived exactly 26 failed romantic entanglements, she reckoned it was high time to dissect this topic that had filled her life with so much . . . angst. With the help of 26 of today’s hottest young female writers, Broussard gets to the heart of the matter. The Dictionary of Failed Relationships is a hip collection of stories, all shedding light on the wide range of emotions (from anger to melancholy to rage supreme) associated with love gone wrong.

Ambivalence by Heidi Julavits • Berniced by Eliza Minot • Call-Hell by Amy Sohn • Dagenham by Anna Maxted • Etiquette by Thisbe Nissen • FAQ by Elizabeth Benedict • Green by Susan Minot • Honeymoon by Mary-Beth Hughes • Islands by Jennifer Macaire • Justice by Kathy Lette • Kid by Martha Southgate • LDR by Colleen Curran • Muay Thai by Rachel Resnick • Nightmare by Pam Houston • Orgasm by Darcey Steinke • Pain by Leslie Pietrzyk • Queer by Pagan Kennedy • Regret by Jennifer Weiner • Savage by Maggie Estep • Threesome by Dana Johnson • Underdog by Judy Budnitz • Vitriol by Shelley Jackson • Worship by Michele Serros • X by Suzanne Finnamore • Yuppie by Lucinda Rosenfeld • Zero by Erika Krouse

With tales both deliciously sassy and heartbreakingly true, The Dictionary of Failed Relationships will leave you laughing, crying, or asking that one key important question: Ain’t love a bitch?

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Broussard got the inspiration for this collection from having her heart trampled on. The result of that break-up (which she describes in the introduction) is this collection of 26 stories, an A-Z primer on heartbreak by a group of talented young women writers. Two couples meet while on vacation in Anna Maxted's "Dagenham," which leads to the break-up of one of the couples and the solidifying of a relationship between the other pair. In Mary-Beth Hughes' "Honeymoon," Isabel learns her new husband doesn't share her interests or sense of wonder. She finds herself lying to him in order to fulfill his expectations, which only increases his desire for her. Jennifer Weiner's "Regret" is a sad meditation on her father's failed relationships with his wives and family. In Lucinda Rosenfeld's "Yuppie," Rachel is horrified when her boyfriend's lack of political savvy embarrasses her in front of her family. A hip, smart collection that's perfect for anyone who is recovering from a broken heart or looking for a good sampler of some of today's hot young authors. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

MEREDITH BROUSSARD is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia. A literature and arts critic at the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia City Paper, she has also written for Philadelphia Magazine, the Hartford Courant, the Chicago Reader, and the New York Press.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press; 1 edition (May 27, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 060981009X
• ISBN-13: 978-0609810095
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.6 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #709,650 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best few bucks i ever spent to get over a man., May 27, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Dictionary of Failed Relationships: 26 Tales of Love Gone Wrong (Paperback)

This is one of those books you pass around to girlfriends like a life preserver. I think that if you lose your sense of humor in the love arena, you are in big trouble, so I loved this book's intent: to make women (and men?) laugh over the trials of Cupid and other such fantastic events. Many of the authors have written favorite books of mine, or short stories. Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh, it really is just like eating Grand Marnier truffles...., June 9, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Dictionary of Failed Relationships: 26 Tales of Love Gone Wrong (Paperback)

"Who needs Webster's? This dishy dictionary is so much more fun!" --Cosmopolitan.

Well, I had to check it out, and for the price I would say it is the best little book out there as a gift to any girlfriend or guy friend who wants to see how the other half thinks. A surprisingly gifted array of writers contributed to this -- and how wonderful that they did. Many,many laugh out loud passages and more than one enlightening moment. Just a delight!

3.0 out of 5 stars A few worthy stories, December 12, 2005

By 

E. Northrop (MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Dictionary of Failed Relationships: 26 Tales of Love Gone Wrong (Paperback)

Out of the 26 stories, there were but a few worth reading, including Jennifer Weiner's poignant tale. But it's the last story that made reading all the mediocre stories worthwhile - an excellent payoff.