Try free for 30 days

  • Heartsick

  • Three stories about love and loss, and what happens in between
  • By: Jessie Stephens
  • Narrated by: Jessie Stephens
  • Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (458 ratings)

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
Heartsick cover art

Heartsick

By: Jessie Stephens
Narrated by: Jessie Stephens
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

'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.'

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

Patrick is a lonely uni 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 is a compelling narrative nonfiction 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. 

©2021 Jessie Stephens (P)2021 Macmillan Australia Audio

Critic Reviews

"Thought-provoking, highly original and beautifully nuanced. Jessie Stephens' journalistic skill shines as she weaves together true stories with a narrative as compelling as any novel." (Jane Harper)

"A remarkable longform journalism exploration of the human heart and how it breaks. Original, meticulous, marvellous. Stephens has such a handle on heartbreak here that you'd be forgiven for thinking she's had hers broken hundreds of times. But, of course, just once is more than enough for anyone. Dive in, soak up every word, and remember what it felt like to ache with the glorious sick." (Trent Dalton)

"Full of empathy and grippingly told, this is a book for anyone who has suffered a broken heart. Jessie Stephens perfectly captures the thrill of love, as well as the agony that sometimes follows. You'll care desperately for all these people, in all their damage and hope." (Richard Glover)

More from the same

What listeners say about Heartsick

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    320
  • 4 Stars
    94
  • 3 Stars
    29
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    250
  • 4 Stars
    78
  • 3 Stars
    32
  • 2 Stars
    24
  • 1 Stars
    9
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    276
  • 4 Stars
    73
  • 3 Stars
    28
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    4

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Narrating needed more emotion

I really quite enjoyed the book because I thought the concept was different to anything I have ever read before. I know that the author was the narrator which I usually love but in this case she was just so monotone and miserable sounding all the time. There were no peaks and troughs and while I understand the book is about being heartsick, not every single chapter was morose so it really needed to be read with more emotion.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Magnificent, emotional, raw, real.

Beautifully written and engaging, I became completely involved and invested in the lives of the characters. Hands down, the best book I've found in years.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this!

I was a little confused by the changing of people so regularly- but got used to it.
Jessie does a great job reading her own work.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

Absolutely loved this audio book and could not stop listening. Beautiful storytelling. Highly recommend this!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant story - poor narration

I listen to Jesse Stephens on Mammia Mia podcasts and she usually has such an expressive voice. Unfortunately this brilliant story is let down terribly by Jesse’s monotonous narration. Please, please get this re-recorded by a professional so the nuances and deeply personal stories can soar as they are meant to. Exceptional writing but such a shame about the delivery for audiobook.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing!

This book took me to more emotional places than I have been to in years. The complicated lives of these people, reminded me of my life and it's own complications. I wished for this book to never end!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Breakthrough

Thank you Jesse Stephens for writing a beautiful , yet heart breaking book, and narrating it too. Your voice is like the rain on warm summers eve.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic!

This book is absolutely fantastic. All 3 stories are captivating in different ways and I found myself totally hooked. Raced through it. This is definitely worth listening to!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing

So relatable and definitely helped feel noticed during dark and lonely times that I had experienced more than once. Great read for everyone.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully written & hard to let go of once it’s done

Started listening on a long car ride home then spent half a work day listening to the remainder instead of actually getting any work done!

This book made me reflect back on every relationship I’ve ever had and how I felt immediately after it ended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.