Read this when
Smitten: Romantic Obsession, the Neuroscience of Limerence, and How to Make Love Last
If they live rent-free in your head, there's a name for that. 🧠💘
Who it's for
Limerence, the intense infatuation that brings intrusive thoughts, mood swings that follow every text and a tendency to see only the best in someone, can feel embarrassing or out of control.
Feelings it meets
What it is
Neuroscientist Tom Bellamy's book examines limerence, the term coined by psychologist Dorothy Tennov for an intense, obsessive romantic infatuation. It describes how to recognise the state (intrusive thoughts, fantasies, mood swings, overlooking the other person's flaws), when it becomes problematic, and how uncertainty and unpredictable rewards can intensify attachment.
Where to find it
Hardcover, ebook and audiobook from major retailers and libraries (US edition February 2026).
Before you start
Heads up: Romantic obsession and heartbreak.
Age: Adult nonfiction (suggested 16+)
I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights
