Limerence: Be careful what you tell yourself.

by Shira Block

Limerence Be careful what you tell yourself. Jackie Baker likes to pretend. She pretends she's happily married to her handsome, successful husband. She pretends she's the perfect mother to her two beautiful children. She even pretends that her secret job as a phone-sex operator is noble and fulfilling. But after years of pretending, Jackie's life is about to unravel. Her husband may be having an affair. Her mothering skills may be less than stellar, and her new client with the alluring voice is about to send her spiraling. As the line between reality and fantasy begins to blur, Jackie Baker becomes trapped in a cycle of obsession and lies. Now, she either has to get her life back on track, or it will spin out of control forever. Shira Block , MA Psychology and Counseling, is a popular lecturer, writer, and personal coach. She is the author of The Way Home, Step-by-Step A Practical Guide to Achieving Your Dreams, and co-author of When Your Parent Moves Every Adult Child's Guide to Living with an Aging Parent. She conducts workshops and seminars nationwide and guest blogs on relationship and family issues for popular publications. She currently lives in western Massachusetts with her husband and child.

246 pages, Paperback

Published October 18, 2016

Reviews

[Howard Odentz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. The psychology that motivates the main character is both interesting and layered. It is a classic example of the first world issues of the worried well. When we enjoy the blessings of a charmed existence, we often turn to the inner stories that we tell ourselves to place land mines in our lives. Limerence is a classic example of that phenomenon.

I've read Block's work before. Her fable, The Way Home, is a favorite on my book shelf.

[Debbie Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in a Goodread's Giveaway and I happy to receive this very interesting book into the mind and soul of a woman who was unraveling. I wasn't sure this was going to be a good read for me with the whole sex talk thing but I sat down one morning and pretty much finished before I went to bed. I was glad to be able to give "Limerence" a five-star rating. It was not at all a tawdry book about phone sex but about all the many layers that made Jackie Baker the person she was and how she was going to turn her life around. The characters were all about "real people" with real problems. It has been a long time since I have read a book where I understood the characters and liked them even with their flaws. I, even, told my bookclub about this one. The depth of the characters was what resonated with me. It wasn't so much about phone sex but about complex marital issues with a family history that wasn't pleasant for her at all. I liked the ending. I was rooting for her success all along and realized that I could actually like a woman whose daytime job was satisfying clients over the phone. She didn't like it but was compelled to continue doing it. She was so far into her fantasy toward the end that she thought she had no way to get out of her situation. We just don't always know what motivates good people to do bad things. Compassion for others and for oneself is essential. Thank you, Shira for your compassion to your profession, your own clients and your amazingly lovable characters.

[Carl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hardly Limerence At All.

Shira Block is an excellent writer.
However this book is quite misleading. I bought this because i wanted to read a book about the subject of Limerence. But it's hardly about Limerence at, it's only a very small part in the story.
Without spoiling it, this is a light story about Jackie's childhood past and how it affects her marriage and how she comes to terms with it all.
Even so, the outcome could've been much more interesting with a real missed opportunity.
Definitely worth reading as it's beautifully written but don't buy for the sole purpose of reading or learning about Limerence.
I'd give 5 stars for the writing but give 3 for the misleading title and it's content.

[Victor Acquista · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional freight train moves forward with mounting speed and failed brakes toward certain destruction. The main character has lost her internal controls and toys with a dangerous and destructive obsession. The psychology of rationalization is on full display in this provocative and tense story. Kudos to author Shira Block for her deep insights into human behavior, emotion, motivation, and desire. Memorable characters and masterful storytelling. Highly recommended!

[Michelle Scalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend gave me this book to read before I left for a trip. At first glance I thought Jackie reminded me of many of the moms that I would see picking their children up from school in my own affluent suburban town. The book had me rivitted from the first page. I could not put it down. It was an excellent read and very thought provoking. Leaving you to wonder are people really whom they seem to be.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because of the psychological profile of the main character, Jackie. I found her character to be complex, flawed and very human. The supporting characters including husband Jake, sister Missy, mother-in-law, therapist Linda, daughter Emmy, and Jackie's father were interesting as well, in a very real way. There were many other interesting characters, but I don't want to spoil anything... I also liked the story line and the way Jackie's present and past intertwined.

[Michelle Benyacar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I completely related to Jackie even though my life situation is completely different from hers. Really made me think.