The Unexpected Joy of Being Single Paperback – 27 Dec. 2018

Catherine’s book is a breath of fresh air!About half of the book is her telling her own story of her many relationships, which is interesting and funny/sad at times. She talks about her childhood and her struggles with being ‘addicted’ to love and to being in a relationship. Even if you can’t relate to being in lots of long terms relationships or being ‘addicted to love’, it’s still an interesting read.The other half of the book is her picking apart why we (and society) place such a premium on romantic love. As someone in their 20s who is single I could relate to so many of the frustrations she talks about around how other people ask about your love life constantly as if it’s much more important than anything else going on. This part is full of lots of studies, quotes from experts, sciencey bits and bobs etc.I would recommend it to anyone, either single or coupled up, as an interesting read which will get you thinking!

I just finished reading this book and it's changed my whole perspective! I married at 18 ... yeah, I know, nuts! But being brought up in a dysfunctional family, I fell for the first man that showed any interest in me. As it would, after 2 children and a lot of misery, it ended in divorce. Then followed 25 years, 3 more unhealthy relationships and 2 more children but always, ALWAYS, the feeling that I wanted/needed a man. 6 years ago I found myself single again and after lots of personal work, I am now at a stage where I don't NEED a man. But .. I realised I was actually scared to enjoy my singleness because of the pressure from myself that I didn't want to grow old alone and from society that I would now be a spinster. I wanted to change that feeling but I didn't know how. This book has helped me SO much!! I realised during reading it that I'm actually Catherine Gray's Vinyasa Flow Cheetara (read the book!!) 56 years old, solid yoga body, blonde hair, no tattoos 😀 and most importantly LOVING my single life!!! My own house, gorgeous car, great job, amazing grown up kids and fantastic friends!! I travelled to California this year with my 21 year old daughter and am planning a solo trip to Bali, joined a Rock Choir and enrolled on a vegan cooking course. Wow!!! This book so helped me to change my mindset about being single! It's wonderful and joyful and 'simple'!! Thank you Catherine Gray for bringing all the positives and possibilities into my life. ❤️

I'm always interested in books about being single because a large percentage of life has been spent that way and even when I was arrachwd it was a train wreck, dwspite it being aomething I thought I always wanted.So this book puts forward the idea that being single is absutelt fine and being single foes not meen you are missing out or that you are disadvantaged or some kind of single freak.The book also. Looks at tgw5perceptionn and diaceinmunatio by sociery on the single person.Many interesting surveys and polls in this book and probably worth a read if you find yourself single. It may also be a vook that is worth a read if you have single friends and you don't understand why they are happy in single city.Single people are now an huge demographic in our society which rightly or wrongly is being missed and ignored. Examples given were holiday companies who charge an hefty premium for singles, and everyday organisations Luke hotels, restaurants xommubity groups who don't cater for people who are on their own.The only downside to this book was the use of bad lamguage which I didn't think was necessary and the vicious, acidic tone and comments from the author which I found rather off putting.Nevertheless I I found this book interesting and I rate it a four star read.

I devoured this within 24 hours.. anyone going through a tough time break up wise will benefit from this!A lovely, comforting read packed full of insightful ideas I’d never thought of until now.Give it a read. It’s helped me no end!

Having previously read The Unexpected Joy of being sober, and bought many copies for my boozy friends, I was excited to await the delivery of Catherine's new book. The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober saw me through six months alcohol-free last year and was the one book on giving up alcohol that I kept referring to again and again like a good friend. When I picked up the wine glass again, it was because of confusion and sadness about my relationships. I quickly slipped back into drinking too much again. Well, 'Tadah' just in time for the New Year here comes my old friend and sober sister to the rescue, with a whole new book of wisdom perfect for me. I have read a lot of books about relationships and this has been the most illuminating. I particularly enjoyed the section on dog whistle politics seeing myself as clearly involved in this in my current relationship. Knowing that using alcohol as a crutch was deeply connected to my love life was my starting point for reading The Unexpected Joy of being Single. I am in a long term (28 years) relationship, but this book has cast a new lens for me to look through over my relationships history and has given me the confidence to seek what will ultimately be the healthiest option for me. I am 10 days sober, with the intention of making this permanent, and each evening when feeling sad and wanting to immerse myself in wine, I dig out Catherine's books and look to my future. I am now working my way through the extensive recommendations list provided. Thank you, Catherine.Buy this book, it could change your life as it has mine.