My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Instead of being called "Relationships", the book could have been titled "Good Enough Relationships".
Not the worst read in the world, but a bit disappointing after reading a few other books by The School of Life: it get's really repetitive.
Though I appreciate the de-Botton-like optimism and author's pathological ability to see the bright side of the disappointing life-scenarios, some of the concepts may seem a bit overreached and self-serving. I couldn't shake the feeling the book was rationalizing some of the personal failures instead of researching the relationships in a greater depth, as the book doesn't mention focus, balance, or growth, though rightly emphasizes the value of conversation.
To conclude, it's all black and white according to this book - you're either a naive romantic doomed to failure on a grandiose scale or a practical mature individual with no concept of romantic expectations. But is it really that simple? Humans are complicated, they're rarely one or another. Can't one be both? Can't one romanticise their expectations and still be able to accept a practical reality? Will all relationships fail, no expectations will be met, and the only way to survive the process is to accept it? Honestly, I am too young to agree with this conclusion.
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