The Dictionary of Failed Relationships: 26 Tales of Love Gone Wrong

by Meredith Broussard (Editor)

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?


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Anthologies, Relationships

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 27, 2003

Reviews

[Jennifer Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this anthology. Some stories are sweet, some are intense, some are uproariously funny, some will make you cry, some will make you angry and some will make you remember parts of your own failed relationship attempts. But all of them make you think. No matter where you are in life; whether you're in love, newly single, in a long term relationship, in a new relationship or even if you've been single and happily so for a long time I promise that you will find at least one story in this series of 26 short stories that resonates with you. I identified with quite a few of the stories, so much so that I typed up favorite quotes and put them on my walls.

[Bveselsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second to last chapter, "Yuppie," was definitely my favorite. Hilarious.

[Raquel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like some of the stories e.g. FAQ, Savage, Threesome, X and Zero.
I did not like others, e.g. Ambivalence, Pain, Yuppie.

[szymborskalyte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm. It’s much better at funny than poignant, to be honest. It also reminds me that it’s much easier to be funny than poignant when penning love stories. Humor’s an easy coping mechanism. But to write something poignant when so much ink has already been spilt over love, that’s much different. It’s little sweat to have the reader cough up a laugh, not so easy to summon the heartthrob, I suppose is what I’m saying. I also suppose that I’ve been saying the same thing for five sentences. I’m not one for conciseness clearly.

What’s good? Well: Dagenham (the British-isms tickle me), FAQ (plain funny), Honeymoon (best of the lot, reminds me of a Yates story) LDR (a girl and her closest girlfriend navigate the tumult of 20s love-life), Savage (Murakami-esque short feat. manic pixie dream girl).

[Chris Gleck]

This anthology was published in 2003 and I purchased it new about that time due to my interest in relationship success and failure. The book contains 26 short stories by 26 different writers each with a theme using a word from each letter of the alphabet. I read one story a day for 26 days to complete reading the book. The stories ranged from interesting to entertaining and none were bad, but I can't say I have better insight to relationships either. The subjects of the stories and presumably the writers all appear to be in their 20s or 30s, so it was interesting to get the perspective from a different generation of women writers. The book is in excellent condition so I will be donating it.

[Aqeelah · Rating 4 out of 5]

These little short stories were so fun to read! Each one had their own flavor. One of my favorites was the Ambivalence and Yuppie was good too.

[Dana Petrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting collection of modern short stories by women authors, about different aspects of relationships. An enjoyable read.

[Marcella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the stories are over the top. All are dated in technology (lots of reference to answering machines). But more or less its an okay collection covering all sorts of failed relationships - romantic, platonic, familial. I think different stories will resonate with different people. The standout stories for me are below with the rest very take it or leave it. Sadly the whole reason I read the collection was to read the Heidi Julavits story, which was far too pretentious for me.


The Good:
* FAQ - Elizabeth Benedict
* LDR - Colleen Curran
* Muay Thai - Rachel Resnick
* Pain - Leslie Pietrzyk
* Regret - Jennifer Weiner
* Savage - Maggie Estep
* X - Suzanne Finnamore

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't think that I would like this book because I'm not much into the whole "chick literature" scene, but it was very amusing. Each short story focused on a different aspect of relationships and why they usually fail. I particularly liked the "Call Hell" story. I don't think there is a woman out there who can't relate to most of these stories. It's a great book to have when you just break up with someone or are thinking of a past boyfriend/girlfriend. I also particularly enjoyed the stories written from the guy's point of view, there are too few of them out there!

[Zarya Rubin]

Despite the unfortunate title, this is a great little collection of short stories written by fabulous contemporary women writers on the subject of relationships and their myriad pitfalls, from A-Z!
From the snippy epithets in "FAQ" to Susan Minot's deft turn in "Green," to the achingly awful "Call Hell" these stories are real, raw, thought provoking, and page-turners all!

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

not the greatest book I ever read by far, but it was ok. some stories i enjoyed, some were kinda stupid and others hit really close to home. over all not something i would suggest purchasing, but borrow it if you know someone who has it.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories are uneven, but some are really good.

[Vic · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew a few of the authors in this anthology, but not all of them. Some of the stories I skipped, but it's kind of a neat conceit and I'd recommend it as a library read.

[Janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

Came across this when searching Suzanne Finnamore's name on the library catalog. Since I enjoyed Split so much this might hold some little breakup nuggets as well!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some were better than others.

[Julia Hilton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories; about five of them are worth reading and only two were really enjoyable.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wretched.