{"product_id":"when-longing-becomes-your-lover-breaking-from-infatuation-rejection-and-perfectionism-to-find-authentic-love-a-true-story-of-overcoming-limerence-9781546008538","title":"When Longing Becomes Your Lover: Breaking from Infatuation, Rejection, and Perfectionism to Find Authentic Love: A True Story of Overcoming Limerence","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"Readers of Glennon Doyle will especially appreciate this.\" -- Publishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Author of the popular \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e articles \"Is It a Crush or Have You Fallen Into Limerence?\" and \"Does My Virginity Have a Shelf Life?\" Amanda McCracken shares her honest, funny, and at times heartbreaking story of learning how to seek true love and intimacy.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Journalist and late-in-life virgin Amanda McCracken dated over 100 men by the time she was in her late thirties. She was so certain she was doing everything she could to find the loving, lasting relationship she wanted. So why wasn't it working? After another breakdown in her therapist's office, she came to a startling realization: she was addicted to longing. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e This realization was part of a 10-year journey to understand the cultural, neurological, and psychological factors that shaped her beliefs about love, sex, and commitment. She began to understand that longing for someone feels good. It can even feel better than being in a secure relationship. Longing can provide a sense of control when life is uncertain and offers a safe place to hide from emotional vulnerability, especially in today's online dating and hookup world. But longing can trigger an addictive neurochemical boost that can derail us from forming healthy, intimate relationships. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In this searingly honest book, Amanda shares the crushes, relationships, situationships, travel, friendships, hookups, bad dates, wins, losses, and brushes with fate that came with her journey. Starting with her early childhood hero fantasies and how they evolved in her tween and teen years into a commitment to the purity movement espoused at her church, she chronicles her profound longing for love that led her to her lowest point. She provides a deep, exploratory look into the state of mind known as limerence: an obsessive rumination on an idealized version of someone. Amanda weaves together her personal journey with research, storytelling, soul-searching questions, and quotes from experts and nonexperts alike to reveal the addictive nature of longing while providing hope through her journey of breaking her patterns and ultimately choosing the path towards healthy, authentic intimacy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Amanda McCracken\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Worthy Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/10\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 224\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.83lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.21h x 6.39w x 0.90d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781546008538\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 12\/08\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAmanda McCracken \u003c\/b\u003eis an award-winning journalist passionate about experiences that highlight the intersection of wellness, travel, and relationships. Her work has appeared in \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eWashington Post\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eGuardian\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eVogue\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNational Geographic\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eElle\u003c\/i\u003e, NPR, \u003ci\u003eOutside\u003c\/i\u003e, ESPN, \u003ci\u003eSELF\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eRunner's World\u003c\/i\u003e, and many others. She published her first article about longing in 2013, which led to additional articles featuring personal anecdotes and deep research and interviews with the BBC and Katie Couric. She is now considered a \"limerence expert\" and intimacy advocate. Her 2023 TED Talk, \"How Longing Keeps Us From Healthy Relationships,\" and her podcast, \u003ci\u003eThe Longing Lab\u003c\/i\u003e, highlight how longing can become self sabotaging and shares how to change our patterns of longing. McCracken is also a part-time university instructor, massage therapist, triathlon coach, and competitive athlete. Raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, McCracken put down roots with her husband and daughter in Boulder, Colorado, after a trip around the world aboard the Peace Boat.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"booksdeli.com","offers":[{"title":"Amanda McCracken \/ Hardcover \/ English","offer_id":47659167711389,"sku":"9781546008538","price":49.71,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0619\/5648\/9373\/files\/img_c33ca12d-cbeb-4bf5-87d9-5247859f5f70.jpg?v=1771352180","url":"https:\/\/booksdeli.com\/products\/when-longing-becomes-your-lover-breaking-from-infatuation-rejection-and-perfectionism-to-find-authentic-love-a-true-story-of-overcoming-limerence-9781546008538","provider":"booksdeli.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}