It’s Complicated: The new book from the viral sensation Instagram account Lockdown Love Stories: anonymous confessions navigating romance, heartbreak, friendships and sex

by Philippa Found

A mosaic of human connections in all their shades – from breaking up to making out, quiet contentment to agonising loneliness, sexting to ghosting, friendships to ‘fuckboys’, pregnancy loss to profound fulfilment.

‘🤌' – Maya Jama

‘Utterly fascinating’ – Bernardine Evaristo

‘Dolly Alderton for people who don’t just do missionary’ – Anon

‘Obsessed’ – Diana Vickers

If you’ve ever checked your ex’s social media at 2am – or their new partner’s LinkedIn (because it’s the only social profile you can access) – or if everyone thinks you’re the perfect couple but you’ve been drifting apart for years – then you’ve probably felt a smarting of shame. But let me tell you something your darkest secrets, your most repulsively shameful thoughts, feelings, and you’re not alone.

Featuring 250 real-life anonymous submissions, this book peels back the layers of modern relationships.

These aren’t love stories – they’re stories about love.

256 pages, Paperback

Published June 2, 2026

Reviews

[Kayleigh]

I felt so much nostalgia reading this book from when me and my friends would meet up, have a drink and dissect our relationships and bad online dating experiences. It felt like this in book form and I loved it.
I am one of the lucky ones as I fell in love with my husband when we were 20 and we’re closer than ever but some of the stories inevitably did make me reflect on my own relationships (mostly good but some cringy).
It’s made me realise that during relationships our feelings can sometimes feel isolated as though we’re the only ones that are feeling something at that particular time, but one thing this book does is make you realise our high emotions and expectations are a lot more common than you may realise.
I would definitely recommend reading this book wherever you are in your love life (or even if you’ve given up on love altogether- self love is also important)

[Immie Charnley]

I loved this instagram series (formerly Lockdown Love Stories), but now any reference to lockdown in any literature gives me trauma. Some of the most powerful stories I've read were the follow ups, whereas some of these seemed shoved in in the aim of theming the book (e.g. friends and family, self love). Maybe I just want to read the traumatic ones and that's my problem but anyways 3/5

[Abby Lewis]

Never one into ‘real life stories’ more of a fantasy book reader. Alls I can say is I enjoyed each and every story included. Ready to submit my own.

[toni]

Ganz süß für zwischendurch, zeigt gut das wir alle die selben Gedanken haben und nie alleine mit einer Situation sind

[Mercedes Jane]

Definitely let me feel less alone with my experiences and feelings