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Love's Labor: How We Break and Make the Bonds of Love
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5 copies available
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An acclaimed author and psychoanalyst shares moving true stories from his practice to expore the central question of our how do we find and keep love?
In these brief but powerful true stories drawn from his more than thirty-five years counseling patients, Stephen Grosz brings us into the lives of people who cannot fully connect with lovers, spouses, parents, or friends. With patience and compassion, Grosz helps each patient draw a map of their internal world in order to uncover the unconscious fears and desires sabotaging their relationships.
One man obsessively tends to everyone around him, hoping to avoid love’s end; another retreats from the world, unable to live fully until he’s able to confront a tragic romance; adultery and betrayal tear apart two married couples, but love persists between spouses in surprising ways. Each one works with Grosz to decipher the language of their heart and learns to surrender to the difficult reality of truly connecting with another person.
More than just case histories, these deftly rendered encounters of everyday suffering—and profound relief—are true short stories, marked by Grosz’s deep understanding of the human condition and of obstacles on the path to true connection.
In these brief but powerful true stories drawn from his more than thirty-five years counseling patients, Stephen Grosz brings us into the lives of people who cannot fully connect with lovers, spouses, parents, or friends. With patience and compassion, Grosz helps each patient draw a map of their internal world in order to uncover the unconscious fears and desires sabotaging their relationships.
One man obsessively tends to everyone around him, hoping to avoid love’s end; another retreats from the world, unable to live fully until he’s able to confront a tragic romance; adultery and betrayal tear apart two married couples, but love persists between spouses in surprising ways. Each one works with Grosz to decipher the language of their heart and learns to surrender to the difficult reality of truly connecting with another person.
More than just case histories, these deftly rendered encounters of everyday suffering—and profound relief—are true short stories, marked by Grosz’s deep understanding of the human condition and of obstacles on the path to true connection.
- GenresNonfiction
192 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 10, 2026
1398 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Grosz
12 books233 followersStephen Grosz is a practicing psychoanalyst—he has worked with patients for more than twenty-five years. Born in America, educated at the University of California, Berkeley, and at Oxford University, he lives in London. A Sunday Times bestseller, The Examined Life is his first book.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 11, 2026
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on February 10th, 2026.
This book follows a practicing psychoanalyst in his professional practice, his education, and his personal internal musings and growth.
I found the stories about patient interactions both interesting and moving, such as the man who felt he was dead, despite being very much physically alive.
What I found most enjoyable was the way Grosz walks us through how each session impacts the way he thinks, not only when treating patients, but also in how he lives his life.
This book prompted deep introspection and thoughtfulness in myself in a way I found quite valuable, which warrants 5 stars.
This book follows a practicing psychoanalyst in his professional practice, his education, and his personal internal musings and growth.
I found the stories about patient interactions both interesting and moving, such as the man who felt he was dead, despite being very much physically alive.
What I found most enjoyable was the way Grosz walks us through how each session impacts the way he thinks, not only when treating patients, but also in how he lives his life.
This book prompted deep introspection and thoughtfulness in myself in a way I found quite valuable, which warrants 5 stars.
November 9, 2025
Thank you to the publisher, Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House and the author, Stephen Grosz, for the privilege to read this advanced copy through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
This is a book of true stories from the author's work as a psychoanalyst. The challenges a psychoanalyst encounters during treatment of patients, such as identifying the root cause of problems. Examples include how a person's parents addressed issues during childhood (because of events in childhood, he dreaded the idea of surrender to someone else), or a girlfriend threatens suicide if there's a breakup. An interesting aspect of treatment is "if his psychoanalysis was to be a success, this was a mystery we would have to solve." I didn't realize the degree of sleuthing these clinicians had to do to help their patients.
There are numerous pearls of insight into the reasons this psychoanalyst's patients seek help. Such as, "Because love ends, Osman [the patient] avoided love." It is like a book of short stories about people in therapy. At times, patient sessions triggered memories and the psychoanalyst was even analyzing himself.
I found it interesting and an easy read. It gave me food for thought when trying to figure out somebody. This is not written like a textbook but like stories of people and their troubles. It also provides tips of the psychoanalyst's trade, that is, details a clinician looks or listens for, looking for "habits of mind." Topics include, in part, adultery, brokenheartedness, suicide, depression, drug addiction, guilt. It's not your typical nonfiction, but worth reading if it's an area you're interested in.
To summarize the book, "a journey to the underworld is a necessary part of every psychoanalysis: to see the light, you have to go down into the dark."
This is a book of true stories from the author's work as a psychoanalyst. The challenges a psychoanalyst encounters during treatment of patients, such as identifying the root cause of problems. Examples include how a person's parents addressed issues during childhood (because of events in childhood, he dreaded the idea of surrender to someone else), or a girlfriend threatens suicide if there's a breakup. An interesting aspect of treatment is "if his psychoanalysis was to be a success, this was a mystery we would have to solve." I didn't realize the degree of sleuthing these clinicians had to do to help their patients.
There are numerous pearls of insight into the reasons this psychoanalyst's patients seek help. Such as, "Because love ends, Osman [the patient] avoided love." It is like a book of short stories about people in therapy. At times, patient sessions triggered memories and the psychoanalyst was even analyzing himself.
I found it interesting and an easy read. It gave me food for thought when trying to figure out somebody. This is not written like a textbook but like stories of people and their troubles. It also provides tips of the psychoanalyst's trade, that is, details a clinician looks or listens for, looking for "habits of mind." Topics include, in part, adultery, brokenheartedness, suicide, depression, drug addiction, guilt. It's not your typical nonfiction, but worth reading if it's an area you're interested in.
To summarize the book, "a journey to the underworld is a necessary part of every psychoanalysis: to see the light, you have to go down into the dark."
November 14, 2025
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on February 10th, 2026.
This is a collection of client “stories” as told by Stephen Grosz, a psychoanalytic therapist in the Freudian school. I did enjoy some of the insights extracted from these encounters. Grosz comes up with the “actual” question buried in an initial complaint and these are both surprising and gut-feel correct. Unfortunately, I didn’t find the writing to be terribly engaging. It is the character’s neuroses that come to life, rather than the characters as whole people. But what is really missing for me is the journey. Some of these “stories” took literal years to achieve closure. I would have been far more interested in learning how the essential problem and possible resolution came to light. I have enjoyed books by Oliver Sacks, Irvin Yalom, and Lori Gottlieb quite a bit and was hoping to get some similar understanding from reading this book but it seemed to be missing the essential parts that would have led me to learn more about how human beings work and how people can solve their problems (the answer seems to be “spend several years in therapy” and I need a little more than that!
This is a collection of client “stories” as told by Stephen Grosz, a psychoanalytic therapist in the Freudian school. I did enjoy some of the insights extracted from these encounters. Grosz comes up with the “actual” question buried in an initial complaint and these are both surprising and gut-feel correct. Unfortunately, I didn’t find the writing to be terribly engaging. It is the character’s neuroses that come to life, rather than the characters as whole people. But what is really missing for me is the journey. Some of these “stories” took literal years to achieve closure. I would have been far more interested in learning how the essential problem and possible resolution came to light. I have enjoyed books by Oliver Sacks, Irvin Yalom, and Lori Gottlieb quite a bit and was hoping to get some similar understanding from reading this book but it seemed to be missing the essential parts that would have led me to learn more about how human beings work and how people can solve their problems (the answer seems to be “spend several years in therapy” and I need a little more than that!
November 26, 2025
📚Love's Labor
✍🏻Stephen Grosz
Blurb:
An acclaimed author and psychoanalyst shares moving true stories from his practice to expore the central question of our how do we find and keep love?
In these brief but powerful true stories drawn from his more than thirty-five years counseling patients, Stephen Grosz brings us into the lives of people who cannot fully connect with lovers, spouses, parents, or friends. With patience and compassion, Grosz helps each patient draw a map of their internal world in order to uncover the unconscious fears and desires sabotaging their relationships.
One man obsessively tends to everyone around him, hoping to avoid love’s end; another retreats from the world, unable to live fully until he’s able to confront a tragic romance; adultery and betrayal tear apart two married couples, but love persists between spouses in surprising ways. Each one works with Grosz to decipher the language of their heart and learns to surrender to the difficult reality of truly connecting with another person.
More than just case histories, these deftly rendered encounters of everyday suffering—and profound relief—are true short stories, marked by Grosz’s deep understanding of the human condition and of obstacles on the path to true connection.
My Thoughts
I loved every page and only wish it was longer. Such insights, such compassion, so much food for thought. I was especially captivated by the episodes from Grosz‘s training and his supervisions: he shows that he continuously learning and developing as a psychoanalyst and a human being, which in itself is such an encouraging perspective. There is a lot of hope in this little gem of a book.
Thanks NetGalley, Random House and Author Stephen Grosz for the advanced copy of "Love's Labor" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#RandomHouse
#Love'sLabor
#StephenGrosz
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️Trigger Warnings: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
✍🏻Stephen Grosz
Blurb:
An acclaimed author and psychoanalyst shares moving true stories from his practice to expore the central question of our how do we find and keep love?
In these brief but powerful true stories drawn from his more than thirty-five years counseling patients, Stephen Grosz brings us into the lives of people who cannot fully connect with lovers, spouses, parents, or friends. With patience and compassion, Grosz helps each patient draw a map of their internal world in order to uncover the unconscious fears and desires sabotaging their relationships.
One man obsessively tends to everyone around him, hoping to avoid love’s end; another retreats from the world, unable to live fully until he’s able to confront a tragic romance; adultery and betrayal tear apart two married couples, but love persists between spouses in surprising ways. Each one works with Grosz to decipher the language of their heart and learns to surrender to the difficult reality of truly connecting with another person.
More than just case histories, these deftly rendered encounters of everyday suffering—and profound relief—are true short stories, marked by Grosz’s deep understanding of the human condition and of obstacles on the path to true connection.
My Thoughts
I loved every page and only wish it was longer. Such insights, such compassion, so much food for thought. I was especially captivated by the episodes from Grosz‘s training and his supervisions: he shows that he continuously learning and developing as a psychoanalyst and a human being, which in itself is such an encouraging perspective. There is a lot of hope in this little gem of a book.
Thanks NetGalley, Random House and Author Stephen Grosz for the advanced copy of "Love's Labor" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#RandomHouse
#Love'sLabor
#StephenGrosz
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️Trigger Warnings: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
November 2, 2025
This was very much out of my comfort zone because I almost never read this kind of book. I got sent a Netgalley invitation from the publisher and don't regret reading the book at all. It is very insightful and pushes us gently to think about our hidden motivations and about what lies behind so many of our relationships issues. The author bases himself on cases from his long career and through stories digs deep into his own and his patients' inner life, concluding that we are often not aware of how our earliest experiences with people influence our actions throughout life. It's well written and you can read it in a weekend. Worthwhile.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews