Best Friends Forever: Surviving a Breakup with Your Best Friend

From Publishers Weekly

Levine's first book is a formidable resource for negotiating the ending of women's friendships. The author, a journalist, psychologist and professor at NYU Medical School, affirms that the grief of ending a close friendship can be as potent as that of a dying romantic relationship. But the former rarely garners the same social support as a divorce or romantic breakup. Levine cites studies indicating that women's friendships are more intense than men's, nurtured through shared intimacy and reciprocity. But friendships are not static, she explains—over time, they can wax and wane and end. Levine's seven stages of grief are loosely reminiscent of the Kübler-Ross grief model, but include new elements: Self Blame, Embarrassment and Shame and Relief. Full of hints for being a consistently thoughtful friend, for resuscitating your closest friendship or knowing when to end it, this book is part etiquette guide, part grief manual. Whether your friendship sputtered because of physical distance or your best friend slept with your boyfriend, Levine deftly assures us that although the pain can be strong, the sorrow will pass. (Sept.)
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Product Description

For the first time, a guide for women recovering from a breakup with their best friend-an indispensable addition to every woman's library
Men, jobs, children, personal crises, irreconcilable social gaps-these are just a few of the strange and confusing reasons that may cause a female friendship to end. No matter what the circumstances, the breakup of a female friendship leaves a woman devastated and asking herself difficult questions. Was someone to blame? Is the friendship worth fighting for? How can I prevent this from ever happening again?
Psychologist Irene S. Levine, Ph.D., offers this groundbreaking and heroically honest book for abandoned friends seeking solace. Perfect for women of all ages and from all walks of life, "Best Friends Forever" covers:
Why friendships fall apart
Coping with getting dumped
How to end a friendship that can't be fixed
Moving forward after a traumatizing breakup
Dr. Levine draws from years of research and the personal testimonials of thousands of women to provide anecdotes and solutions to these complicated situations. Full of tools for personal assessment, case stories, and actionable advice for saving, ending, or re-evaluating a relationship, "Best Friends Forever" is an indispensable addition to every woman's library.

Review

"For anyone who has ever had a friend, but especially for those who've ended close relationships, Irene Levine has written a beautiful guide to recovery and healing. It's a book filled with honest reflections and heartfelt advice." -Jeffrey Zaslow, New York Times bestselling author of The Girls from Ames and co-author of The Last Lecture

"Finally, a book that helps you get through the other type of breakup." -Andrea Lavinthal and Jessica Rozler, authors of Friend or Frenemy?

"The end of a friendship is painful and sad, regardless of the circumstances. Dr. Irene Levine explores this difficult subject with insight and heart, plus a look at the latest research. Her guidance is especially interesting and helpful regarding Facebook and other new developments that are changing the meaning of friendship in today's world." -Florence Isaacs, author of Toxic Friends/True Friends and What Do You Say When...

"Dr. Irene Levine's Best Friends Forever: Surviving a Breakup with Your Best Friend should be every woman's BFF! Written in a breezy yet thoughtful style and peppered with stories from real-life best friends, this guide shows that female friendships are rich, life-affirming, joyful-but often very complicated too. We women love our friends, but we feel completely alone and confused when those friendships get troubled or even disappear. In her unique self-help guide, Dr Levine gives essential advice and tips for navigatin