Heartsick

The International Bestseller



‘Heartbreak does not seem to be a brand of grief we respect. And so we are left in the middle of the ocean, floating in a dinghy with no anchor, while the world waits for us to be okay again.’

‘Tackles heartbreak at its most real and raw’ – West Australian

‘A remarkable long-form journalism exploration of the human heart and how it breaks. Original, meticulous, marvellous’ – Trent Dalton

‘Jessie Stephens’ journalistic skill shines as she weaves together true stories with a narrative as compelling as any novel’ – Jane Harper



Claire has returned from London to the dust and familiarity of her childhood home, only to realize something is wrong with her partner Maggie.

Patrick is a lonely university student, until he meets Caitlin – but does she feel as connected as he does?

Ana is happily married with three children. Then, one night, she falls in love with someone else.

Based on three true stories, Heartsick by Jessie Stephens is a compelling narrative non-fiction account of the many lows and occasional surprising highs of heartbreak. Bruising, beautiful, achingly specific but wholeheartedly universal, it reminds us that emotional pain can make us as it breaks us, and that storytelling has the ultimate healing power.