Books Like High Fidelity

Everyone loves a good love story, but unfortunately, fairytale endings are the exception and not the norm. Breakups are a natural part of life, albeit a painful one that most people try hard to avoid. Various factors can contribute to a breakup, and people have different ways of dealing with the aftermath. This subject has been tackled by many authors, such as Nick Hornby in his novel High Fidelity. His novel sees a pop music junkie named Rob feeling both miserable and relieved after his girlfriend, Laura, breaks up with him. For more novels that deal with breakups, check out the following books like High Fidelity.

Why We Broke Up

By Daniel Handler

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler is about the breakup of Min Green and Ed Slaterton. These two high-school students had a very brief but intense romance, and the book is framed as her breakup letter to Ed. With the letter, Min also gives Ed a box of objects, each of which was collected over the course of their relationship. Each object also holds some significance and contributed in some way to the relationship ending.

Audrey, Wait!

By Robin Benway

A breakup should be the end, but in Audrey, Wait! By Robin Benway, it’s just the beginning. After Audrey Cuttler breaks up with her boyfriend for being self-involved, he writes a song about it for his band, The Do-Gooders. Audrey finds herself unexpectedly famous as the song rockets up the billboard charts. With fans mobbing her and paparazzi following her every move, Audrey finds herself in the middle of the strangest breakup ever.

Two-way Street

By Lauren Barnholdt

Two-way Street by Lauren Barnholdt features Jordan and Courtney, an unlikely high school couple who are totally in love. The pair even decide to attend the same college and plan a cross-country driving trip together for the orientation. Then, all of a sudden, Jordan breaks up with Courtney for a girl who he met on the Internet. Courtney is heartbroken, but since it is too late to change their plans for the driving trip, she pretends not to care. However, Jordan does care, and there are some things he’s not telling Courtney about the breakup.

Out of Love

By Hazel Heyes

Out of Love by Hazel Hayes begins at the end of a breakup between a couple who have been together for nearly five years. From here, it moves backward in time as the young woman wonders how they could have spent so much time together and how they fell out of love. Each chapter is set further back in the relationship as the story moves from the the tragic ending to the very first magical kiss.

The Breakup Bible

By Melissa Kantor

The Breakup Bible by Melissa Kantor is the story of Jen Lewis, who is in shock and denial after her boyfriend, Max, breaks up with her. Before the breakup, Jen was having a great junior year working as the features editor of the school paper along with Max, the editor-in-chief. Of course, this means that Jen will see Max in school every day, which makes her even more miserable. Then, her grandmother gives her a book called The Breakup Bible, which claims that following its few basic commandments can help any woman get over a breakup quickly.

Really Good, Actually

By Monica Heisey

Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey sees twenty-nine-year-old Maggie find herself divorced after only 608 days of marriage. In the wake of this unexpected breakup, Maggie struggles to find joy and meaning again, but with the help of her academic advisor, Merris, her newly divorced friend, Amy, and others, she makes an attempt. It involves having to ask herself some tough questions along the way, but Maggie is determined to embrace her new life.

The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook

By Matt Dunn

The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook by Matt Dunn sees Edward Middleton facing an unexpected breakup with his girlfriend of ten years, Jane. According to Jane, Edward has let himself go, so she is letting him go too. However, Edward is determined to get her back, which means having to learn what it takes to be a good boyfriend again. Edward begins working his way through the makeover alphabet, but his journey of self-discovery might take him in a different direction than what he was planning.

16 Ways to Break a Heart

By Lauren Strasnick

16 Ways to Break a Heart by Lauren Strasnick is a breakup story that unfolds through letters, text, and chats. The couple, Natalie and Dan, had chemistry right from their first meeting, which made falling in love easy. Unfortunately, the relationship doesn’t last, and Natalie wants to ensure that Dan knows how much he broke her. She does this with sixteen letters that Dan finds secretly, hidden in places only he will find. Through these letters, Dan sees Natalie’s version of their love story.

The Places I’ve Cried in Public

By Holly Bourne

The Places I’ve Cried in Public by Holly Bourne is the tale of Amelie and Reese. Although Amelie loves Reese, she begins to realize that love isn’t supposed to hurt. Determined to figure out where it all went wrong, Amelie retraces their love story and revisits all the places where he has made her cry. Untangling what happened between them is the only way that Amelie can finally learn to get over Reese.