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Books like The state of affairs
A compassionate, provocative exploration of the gray areas of human desire and the complex anatomy of betrayal. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with The state of affairs.
- intimate
- reflective
- emotionally charged
- 01
Mating in Captivity
Esther Perel · 2006
A provocative, paradigm-shifting exploration of why safety and desire are so often at odds in modern love.
- 02
Three Women
Lisa Taddeo
An intensely intimate, voyeuristic deep-dive into the raw and often destructive nature of female desire.
- 03
What makes love last?
John Mordechai Gottman
A scientifically grounded yet deeply compassionate roadmap to understanding the invisible forces that hold couples together or tear them apart.
- 04
Hold Me Tight
Sue Johnson · 2008
A compassionate, science-backed roadmap for turning relationship conflict into profound emotional connection.
- 05
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
Lori Gottlieb
A warm, witty, and profoundly human look in the mirror that makes you feel a little less alone in your messiness.
- 06
Behind her eyes
Sarah Pinborough
A claustrophobic domestic thriller that lures you in with a familiar love triangle before executing one of the most unhinged, rug-pulling twists in modern suspense.
- 07
Sex at Dawn
Christopher Ryan
A witty, paradigm-shifting exploration of human evolution that gleefully dismantles the standard narrative of natural monogamy.
- 08
The psychology of romantic love
Nathaniel Branden · 1980
A thoughtful, philosophical deep-dive into the mechanics of human connection and the conscious work of sustaining mature intimacy.
- 09
The truth
Neil Strauss
A brutally raw, voyeuristic plunge into the chaotic psychology of sex, addiction, and the terrifying vulnerability of true intimacy.
- 10
The Story of a Marriage
Andrew Sean Greer
A lyrical, quietly devastating exploration of the profound mysteries hidden within a seemingly ordinary marriage.
- 11
Why We Love
Helen Fisher
An illuminating dive into the human brain that decodes the ancient, biological machinery behind our most romantic impulses.
- 12
Attached
Amir Levine
A validating, science-backed decoder ring for the confusing dynamics of human love and intimacy.
