Some women are forever attracted to jerks. Others are great at building healthy relationships with good guys. Still others are addicted to unrequited love. Everyone has a pattern. Me—I find myself, on repeat, forging relationships with men who don't think we're actually dating. In other words, I'm an expert at the "fakelationship." The Frisky: Six Lessons From My Last Breakup That Are Getting Me Through This One

So what exactly is a fakelationship, you ask? If you've ever been in one, you know it. It's a "friendship" where you text, email, talk on the phone, and hang out pretty much … Read More

On Friday, we discussed the predicament of a young woman who was wondering whether she should ditch a guy who told her he was into her, but not looking for a relationship (post hookup). I suggested she should hang out for a bit, spend some more time and figure out if he was the one for her and vice versa. This prompted lively posts from readers, which ran the gamut from "Get out of there!" to "Why burn a cute, fun bridge?" There was enough discussion I felt it deserved another post, so here we go: Read More

Ever found yourself circumventing a conversation you know you need to have with your partner? Or maybe you've rehearsed precisely what you want to say only to have it fall on deaf ears, or worse, defensive ears!

Every relationship encounters its share of tough issues. An unexpected change in circumstances, or feelings of dissatisfaction, or a desire for change, for example, may trigger an issue. How you view them depends on a number of factors including your stage of life and your ability to effectively manage the issues that arise in your relationship. Excelle: Quiz: Are You Ready To Get Married?

If you've … Read More

Five years ago, I woke up in my childhood bed. A full-sized bed, decked in faded flowers. The bed on which I used to scatter my notes to study. The bed on which I used to sit with friends and gossip. The bed which I used to share with Sister C every Christmas Eve. You see, when I went off to Yale, C inherited my room. When C went off to Yale, T inherited her room. One after one, we Donnelley girls graduated from that room full of old pictures and books and trophies to much smaller dorm rooms on … Read More

One of the most complicated aspects of life is romantic relationships. People stumble through so many before they find the one and settle down. But how do you have a successful relationship? What is the secret?
 
Through careful reflection of my relationship successes and failures, I discovered seven key commitment rules to live by.

1. Don’t Lose Who You Are: I know one of the biggest mistakes I have made in relationships in the past is to adapt myself to what my boyfriend needs. As a result, sometimes I tend to lose track of who I am and what I stand for. … Read More

Love: it's something that we all crave. We are wired to not just want it but to need it for survival. The English language only has one word assigned to convey multiple meanings of love. We use "I love you" with family, friends, and with the person we are in a relationship with. That one phrase holds many different meanings depending on who you say it to.

It's easy to understand what love for family means. The bond created by blood is intense and can never be broken. While sometimes you may not like your family and they may … Read More

Elizabeth Gilbert, the contemplative yogi, pasta lover and author of Eat, Pray, Love, surprised her adoring fans in 2007 when rumors circulated that she'd married her beloved "Felipe," the man she falls in love with at the end of her 2006 memoir.

Gilbert's international adventures in Eat, Pray, Love were born of her divorce from her first husband, and the book follows Gilbert's efforts to find herself outside her perceived constraints of marriage and baby expectations. Finally, with the release of Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace With Marriage (Viking), Gilbert's new book, we get the full story on Gilbert and … Read More

So, she dumped you. Sorry! Sometimes women do that sort of thing. Now, you want to know why? Your buddies say: "Who cares!" You want to know anyway. There are many reasons she may have thrown your heart out with the trash, but more likely than not it's one of the top 10 most common reasons that women dump men. Was it something you said? Was it something you did? Was it all that eating Cheetos in bed? After the jump, find out why she dumped you, but, trust us, the answer isn't always pretty.

1. You're Bad in Bed. It … Read More

On my very first date with my boyfriend, I didn't know if he was going to kiss me. I didn't know yet that he loves Concord grapes, plays the saxophone and has never seen a Woody Allen movie. But I did know for certain that I wanted this person with whom I'd just eaten dinner to be in my life, somehow. I remember sitting across from him at a table in a Portuguese restaurant, smiling, and thinking, "Whatever happens after this date, I really hope we become friends. You're cool." The Frisky: Pointless Questions To Ask Your Boyfriend

Flash forward six … Read More

When you think confirmed bachelor, you automatically think "Hugh Grant character," right? After which, you think, "Hey! Isn't Hugh Grant a bachelor in real life too? Sometimes life imitates art, right right?" Well, your second instinct is right on the enchilada, Hugh Grant does seem like a man who appreciates his space, his time and his options. But that may be in the past now. Read: Some Men Think They’re Better Off Alone

Hugh Grant as "complex bloke" who is "unlikely to take a wife" may not be as rock solid a bet as once thought. Per Parade … Read More