Love Addict: Sex, Romance, and Other Dangerous Drugs

by Ethlie Ann Vare

Neuroscience now shows us--in living color, thanks to PET scans and fMRI technology--that falling in love affects our brains precisely the same way as snorting cocaine. Award-winning author and screenwriter Ethlie Ann Vare already knew that; she's been addicted to both. She survived to tell the tale . . . with humor, honesty, and hope.

Just because something is addictive doesn't mean that you will get addicted to it. But . . . if your stomach ties up in knots while you count the seconds waiting for a phone call from that special someone . . . if you hear a loud buzzing in your ears when you see a certain person's car (or one just like it) . . . if your eyes burn when you hear a random love song or see a couple holding hands . . . if you suffer the twin agonies of craving for and withdrawing from a series of unrequited crushes or toxic relationships . . . if you always feel like you're clutching at someone's ankle and dragged across the floor as they try to leave the room . . . welcome to the club.

With a light touch and a sharp wit, Ethlie has enlisted some famous love junkies--including supermodel Amber Smith, movie star William McNamara, and comedienne Margaret Cho--and the top therapists and researchers in the field to help lead you from the dark of despair into the dawn of recovery.

Genres: Relationships, Love

247 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

The wit behind Affection Deficit Disorder, the hot humor blog about behavioral addiction (yes, there is a funny side to addiction), Ethlie Ann Vare started out as a rock'n'roll disc jockey and became known as a camera-friendly expert on pop culture. That led to the internationally syndicated newspaper column ROCK ON, the founding of ROCK Magazine, and articles in everything from Billboard Magazine to the New York Times. She then became a sought-after lecturer on the college circuit talking about women's history, and later an award-winning TV screenwriter. Chalk it up to wide-ranging intellectual curiosity, ADHD, or a combination of the two.The much-lauded LOVE ADDICT: Sex, Romance and Other Dangerous Drugs was written about her own addiction and recovery, as well as providing a road map to relief for others. Other works include biographies of superstars (Stevie Nicks, Ozzy Osbourne, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand), adventures in distant galaxies (Andromeda: The Broken Places), and stories of women inventors and discoverers (Mothers of Invention and Patently Female.) She has written for TV shows from the ridiculous (Beastmaster) to the sublime (CSI). Her latest project is WOOF!, a children's picture book about a rescue dog who is actually a wolf mistaken for a dog. At least, he thinks he is.

Reviews

[Stacey Franklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book. The author should get a medal & lifetime's supply of chocolate for telling ALL with brutal honesty & whip-smart humor. Love that biochemistry is addressed here, & how compassionately this topic is handled.

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time with this book. I tried very hard to read it but I found there was a lot about the author's life, I just got tired of hearing about some of the things she did. I can understand providing examples but I just got tired of it. The parts that weren't about her life I found very clinical and unhelpful. I won't admit on the internet to having a love addiction but, if you are having problems, give it a try, can't hurt you right?

I liked the cover, it is pretty cute. I also like that the author had the cajones to put all this information about her life out to the world in order to help others, it is impressive, so props to that.

[Hilary Herman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I got that I don't have the addict bug, I still found the book extremely well written, very funny and informative. It also translates to all sorts of addictions, not just love and sex. Quick and engaging.

[Melanie Reno · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers invaluable insight into why we get so obsessed with the wrong guy or girl... we should all thank Ethlie for the extensive personal research she did on the subject!

[Loraine Despres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book and a must for anyone whose experienced the pains of love.

[Henriette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serious subject, a lot of thought provoking information and quite a few laughs, because the author is quite frankly hilariously funny and ironic in the midst of all that misery

[Laura Fascinating · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I could definitely relate to a lot of it. More than I'd like to admit sometimes. Haha. This is an enjoyable read because the author is able to use humor very well without trivializing the information given. I laughed, I cried, I nodded along... The only reason I went with 4 stars rather than 5 is I felt the book fell short toward the end on helpful recovery information. For further reading on this subject and more on getting to the root of the issues discussed I strongly recommend following up with Charlotte Kasl's Women, Sex, and Addiction (referenced in this book and listed under recommended reading in the back).

[Crystal Caldwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this book in 2 days, it was a good intro into love addiction and a lot of the feelings Ive experienced and didn’t associate with “addiction”.
The only reason for the 3 stars wasn’t the book or exactly the way it was written, but a lot of it didn’t apply to me. The sex addiction and the heavier parts of a love addict are not something I could relate too. Overall very good though. Makes me want to read more about love addiction and heal some old wounds.

[Cyn Posner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me realize I HAVE A PROBLEM.
I am a sex, love and romance addict.
I've wanted to die when I can't have my drug.
Thank you Ethlie, You made me want to deal with myself.