The Breakup Doctor

The Breakup Doctor Series #1

By: Phoebe Fox

Narrated by: Joell A. Jacob

Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Call Brook Ogden a matchmaker in reverse. Let others bring people together; Brook, licensed mental health counselor, picks up the pieces after things come apart. When her own therapy practice collapses, she lands on her feet with a weekly advice-to-the-lovelorn column and a successful consulting service as the Breakup Doctor. But when her own relationship suddenly crumbles, Brook finds herself engaging in almost every bad breakup behavior she preaches against. And, worse, she starts a rebound relationship with the most inappropriate of men: a dangerously sexy bartender with anger-management issues who also happens to be a former patient.

As her increasingly out-of-control behavior lands her at rock bottom, Brook realizes that you can't always handle a messy breakup neatly, and sometimes you can't pull yourself together until you let yourself fall apart.

©2013 Phoebe Fox (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"[A] heartwarming and funny story about friendship, romance, and the heart-wrenching reality of break-up." (Liz Tuccillo, author of How to Be Single)

Mixed Blessing

While I enjoyed Phoebe Fox's dry wit, I had a difficult time connecting with the main character of Brook, a 30+ mental health care professional. She was never really described physically - I like to have a mental picture of each person in a story -even her best friend Sasha was given more of a background.

In spite of some humorous moments, the subject matter (recovering and dealing with difficult romantic break-ups) was rather depressing. It also didn't make sense that Brook was so devastated by a 4 or 5 month relationship with a man she didn't even love. It felt like there was a missing chapter or something.

I would try another book by this author although I did not find this one entertaining.

main character is obnoxious

It is very rare to read (listen to) a book and not root for the main character to have a happy ending... this is one of those books. The main character is self centered, obnoxious, whiney, and seriously crazy. I found her entirely unlikeable. The best friend is the true heroine. The main girl has magical healing powers and stops feeling pain way too quickly for the multiple injuries she receives throughout the story. I wanted to empathize with her, but honestly have no positive feelings. The narrator did a good job speaking, audio was great, but the voice can't save a poorly written main character.

Very Fun!!

Several times during this book I kept thinking something is going to happen and nothing happens. The humor and characters make up for what I missed in this book. The characters are so fun and real. It is different, there is no meeting Mr. Right and riding off into the sunset, it is a real break up and the search for her better side. I am not quite finished but am looking forward to the next in the series.

Relationship Bumps

The story wasn't quite what I was looking for. It was a struggle to finish it.

Not a bad story but long

This story was the same as others where someone who is supposed to know it all and give advice doesn’t follow their own advice when they fall into the same situation. Breakup advice given but not followed in her own life. Brook character felt self-righteous and fake. Of course story ends with her great revelation.

I enjoy it

Not judging is what I got for the book. I have a friend that try’s to keep her life prefect for many reasons, but one reason imparticular is to not make the same mistakes I’ve made.

The only thing I really didn’t like about this book was the extra times it was as summarized, I would’ve liked to see a little bit of the growing up she did in her new relationship. And the things she learned from her friend