About the Book
On the same day in 2009, Ellen McCarthy was hired as the full-time weddings reporter for The Washington Post and began the process of breaking up with the man she d been dating for a year and a half. For McCarthy, the years that followed held heartbreak, tears, a lot of weddings, and, eventually, love (plus a wedding of her own). In this warm, witty, and wise book, McCarthy shares her own story, as well as those of the most memorable couples she has encountered thus far and the lessons they can teach us about finding love and happiness in our own lives. Betty and Edgar, both in their mid-80s and married for 65 years, scoff at the idea of the one they know kindness and hard work made their marriage last. And Nikki, whose only requirement for a partner was that he be tall, learned love and expectations don t always go together when she fell for Dan, who barely reaches her shoulders. Weaving these stories with the latest scientific research into romance and relationships, McCarthy has created for all of us single or otherwise a charming, clear-eyed map to the human heart.
About the Author :
ELLEN MCCARTHY is an award winning feature writer for The Washington Post. She joined the Post in 2000, covering local technology companies for the Business Section. For several years she wrote The Download, a weekly column about the D.C. tech scene. In 2006 she moved to the Weekend section to cover arts and entertainment. Since 2009 she has anchored the Style section s OnLove page, writing extensively about weddings, love and relationships. She lives with her husband and daughter.
Review :
A wise and compassionate look at how we love, along with some gentle suggestions for how we could get a little better at it . . . [Ellen] McCarthy has done something rare: She has written an optimistic book about love that is clear-eyed and unsentimental. "The Washington Post"
What a charming and captivating book this is! We never stop learning about love, and so many great lessons are within these pages. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of "Eat, Pray, Love"
My readers often say to me, If we lived next door to each other, we'd be best friends. That is precisely what I wanted to say to smart, funny, self-effacing Ellen McCarthy after I finished reading "The Real Thing." I loved every lesson laid out in a book that wouldn t dare to call itself a field guide to marriage but amounts to as much on every page. This is a deeply useful little book. Kelly Corrigan, author of "Glitter and Glue"
Ellen McCarthy is the real thing. She has the real take on life, falling in love, falling out of love, and working hard to get back into the game and make relationships go the distance. Anyone who wants to keep love alive long after the honeymoon is over needs to read McCarthy s wisdom. Iris Krasnow, author of"The""Secret Lives of Wives"
Reading "The Real Thing" is like sitting down with your smart, witty, honest friend for some amazing relationship advice. Ellen McCarthy is thoughtful and wise, and the stories she tells us about love and relationships are charming, entertaining, and (above all) really useful. I plan to give this book to all of my friends married, single, dating, divorced, and anything in between! Jennifer Close, author of" Girls in White Dresses"
A delightful, wise, and good-hearted guide to modern romance, with the perfect balance of real talk and sap, plus just enough happily ever after to send you away smiling. Rebecca Dana, author of "Jujitsu Rabbi and the Godless Blonde"
Upbeat and sweet . . . This rich collection of stories charms and edifies, is filled with quotes from couples as well as experts in the field, and serves as not just stories to sigh over but lessons to apply. "Booklist "(starred review)
A fun read full of wonderful stories . . . McCarthy delivers a welcome combination of cynicism and poignancy in this account, which reads with the ease and accessibility of a self-help book. "Library Journal"
A comforting, realistic, and endearing portrait of modern relationships . . . This book will not only charm those in decades-old marriages, but also inspire those afraid love will never arrive for them. "Publishers Weekly"
Straight-talking . . . dating advice for adults of all ages. "Kirkus Reviews""
Advance praise for "The Real Thing"
What a charming and captivating book this is! We never stop learning about love, and so many great lessons are within these pages. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of "Eat, Pray, Love"
My readers often say to me, If we lived next door to each other, we'd be best friends. That is precisely what I wanted to say to smart, funny, self-effacing Ellen McCarthy after I finished reading "The Real Thing." I loved every lesson laid out in a book that wouldn t dare to call itself a field guide to marriage but amounts to as much on every page. This is a deeply useful little book. Kelly Corrigan, author of "Glitter and Glue"
Ellen McCarthy is the real thing. She has the real take on life, falling in love, falling out of love, and working hard to get back into the game and make relationships go the distance. Anyone who wants to keep love alive long after the honeymoon is over needs to read McCarthy s wisdom. Iris Krasnow, author of"The""Secret Lives of Wives"
Reading "The Real Thing" is like sitting down with your smart, witty, honest friend for some amazing relationship advice. Ellen McCarthy is thoughtful and wise, and the stories she tells us about love and relationships are charming, entertaining, and (above all) really useful. I plan to give this book to all of my friends married, single, dating, divorced, and anything in between! Jennifer Close, author of" Girls in White Dresses"
A delightful, wise, and good-hearted guide to modern romance, with the perfect balance of real talk and sap, plus just enough happily ever after to send you away smiling. Rebecca Dana, author of "Jujitsu Rabbi and the Godless Blonde"
Upbeat and sweet . . . This rich collection of stories charms and edifies, is filled with quotes from couples as well as experts in the field, and serves as not just stories to sigh over but lessons to apply. "Booklist "(starred review)
A fun read full of wonderful stories . . . McCarthy delivers a welcome combination of cynicism and poignancy in this account, which reads with the ease and accessibility of a self-help book. "Library Journal"
A comforting, realistic, and endearing portrait of modern relationships . . . This book will not only charm those in decades-old marriages, but also inspire those afraid love will never arrive for them. "Publishers Weekly"
Straight-talking . . . dating advice for adults of all ages. "Kirkus Reviews""
Advance praise for "The Real Thing"
"What a charming and captivating book this is! We never stop learning about love, and so many great lessons are within these pages."--Elizabeth Gilbert, author of "Eat, Pray, Love"
"My readers often say to me, 'If we lived next door to each other, we'd be best friends.' That is precisely what I wanted to say to smart, funny, self-effacing Ellen McCarthy after I finished reading "The Real Thing." I loved every lesson laid out in a book that wouldn't dare to call itself a field guide to marriage but amounts to as much on every page. This is a deeply useful little book."--Kelly Corrigan, author of "Glitter and Glue"
"Ellen McCarthy is the real thing. She has the real take on life, falling in love, falling out of love, and working hard to get back into the game and make relationships go the distance. Anyone who wants to keep love alive long after the honeymoon is over needs to read McCarthy's wisdom."--Iris Krasnow, author of "The" "Secret Lives of Wives"
"Reading "The Real Thing" is like sitting down with your smart, witty, honest friend for some amazing relationship advice. Ellen McCarthy is thoughtful and wise, and the stories she tells us about love and relationships are charming, entertaining, and (above all) really useful. I plan to give this book to all of my friends--married, single, dating, divorced, and anything in between!"--Jennifer Close, author of" Girls in White Dresses"
"A delightful, wise, and good-hearted guide to modern romance, with the perfect balance of real talk and sap, plus just enough 'happily ever after' to send you away smiling."--Rebecca Dana, author of "Jujitsu Rabbi and the Godless Blonde"
"Upbeat and sweet . . . This rich collection of stories charms and edifies, is filled with quotes from couples as well as experts in the field, and serves as not just stories to sigh over but lessons to apply."--"Booklist "(starred review)
"A fun read full of wonderful stories . . . McCarthy delivers a welcome combination of cynicism and poignancy in this account, which reads with the ease and accessibility of a self-help book."--"Library Journal"
"A comforting, realistic, and endearing portrait of modern relationships . . . This book will not only charm those in decades-old marriages, but also inspire those afraid love will never arrive for them."--"Publishers Weekly"
"Straight-talking . . . dating advice for adults of all ages."--"Kirkus Reviews"
Advance praise for "The Real Thing"
"Charming and captivating! So many great lessons are within these pages."--Elizabeth Gilbert, #1 "New York Times" bestselling author of "Eat, Pray, Love"
"My readers often say to me, 'If we lived next door to each other, we'd be best friends.' That is precisely what I wanted to say to smart, funny, self-effacing Ellen McCarthy after finishing "The Real Thing." I loved every lesson laid out in a book that wouldn't dare to call itself a field guide to marriage but amounts to as much on every page. This is a deeply useful little book."--Kelly Corrigan, author of "Glitter and Glue"
"Ellen McCarthy is the real thing. She has the real take on life, falling in love, falling out of love, and working hard to get back into the game and make relationships go the distance. Anyone who wants to make love last long after the honeymoon is over needs to read McCarthy's wisdom."--Iris Krasnow, author of "Secret Lives of Wives"
"If you're not married by the end of this book, I will give you your money back (after I get it from the author)."--Patricia Marx, author of "Let's Be Less Stupid"
"Straight-talking . . . dating advice for adults of all ages."--"Kirkus Reviews"
Advance praise for "The Real Thing"
"My readers often say to me, 'If we lived next door to each other, we'd be best friends.' That is precisely what I wanted to say to smart, funny, self-effacing Ellen McCarthy after finishing "The Real Thing." I loved every lesson laid out in a book that wouldn't dare to call itself a field guide to marriage but amounts to as much on every page. This is a deeply useful little book."--Kelly Corrigan, author of "Glitter and Glue"
"Ellen McCarthy is the real thing. She has the real take on life, falling in love, falling out of love, and working hard to get back into the game and make relationships go the distance. Anyone who wants to make love last long after the honeymoon is over needs to read McCarthy's wisdom."--Iris Krasnow, author of "Secret Lives of Wives"
"If you're not married by the end of this book, I will give you your money back (after I get it from the author)."--Patricia Marx, author of "Let's Be Less Stupid"
"Straight-talking . . . dating advice for adults of all ages."--"Kirkus Reviews"
