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The Unexpected Joy of Being Single

Locating Happily-Single Serenity

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The Unexpected Joy of Being Single

By: Catherine Gray
Narrated by: Catherine Gray
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About this listen

Having a secret single freak-out? Feeling the red, heart-shaped urgency intensify as the years roll on by? Oh hi! You're in the right place.

Over half of Brits aged 25-44 are now single. It's become the norm to remain solo until much later in life, given the average marriage ages of 35 (women) and 38 (men). Many of us are choosing never to marry at all.

But society, films, song lyrics and our parents are adamant that a happy ending has to be couple-shaped. That we're incomplete without an 'other half'*, like a bisected panto pony. Cue: single sorrow. Dating like it's a job. Spending half our lives waiting for somebody-we-fancy to text us back. Feeling haunted by the terms 'spinster' or 'confirmed bachelor'.

Catherine Gray took a whole year off dating to find single satisfaction. She lifted the lid on the reasons behind the global single revolution, explored the bizarre ways cultures single-shame, detached from 'all the good ones are gone!' panic and debunked the myth that married people are much happier.

Let's start the reverse brainwash, in order to locate - and luxuriate in - single happiness. Are you in?

*Spoiler: you're already whole.

©2018 Catherine Gray (P)2018 Octopus Publishing Group Art & Literature Journalists, Editors & Publishers Love, Dating & Attraction Relationships Happiness

Critic Reviews

"This refreshing, unusual book needs to exist. A culture shift which repositions a single person as someone who is relationship-free, complete, and not lacking is long overdue." (The i )

"Absolutely f--king brilliant." (Florence Given)
All stars
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Really really loved the content of this book.

Was very funny, witty, informative and enlightening

The narration was a bit stilted, and only at the end I realised it was CG herself narrating it...surprising as I expected it would flow more naturally from the writer themselves.

I enjoyed it a lot more at 1.25x speed.

Really worth it nonetheless

Top tip, play at 1.25x speed

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I love this book and will likely listen to it again. My husband passed away 8 months ago and I have dabbled a little with dating a couple of times but it has not made me happy. This book has freed me up to realise I can be happy without a partner. Also yo not lower my expectations if/when I do meet someone else. Whether in a relationship or not this book is not only entertaining, it is empowering.

Simply brilliant

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I wish this book had existed when I was in my 20’s! So insightful for evaluating the conditioning imprinted upon us to get coupled up. I’m four years out of 15 yr marriage, initially was all about get out and date however after 40 first dates realised there ain’t a lot of benefits to me in hooking back up. So yeah, 44… and proudly reaffirmed what I’ve experienced, I’m joyfully single!! High recommend not just young singles but post marriage folk too.

Another mindset changer and freedom giver

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This book surprised me. Sadly I chose it because I found myself unexpectedly single but it is so much more than that. Its an uplifting, great advice book for all people and their friendships/ relationships/ self assessment and management strategies. I would happily recommend it to others. I'd like my daughters to read it.

Don't be put off by the title

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I feel so grateful for this book. I used to convince myself that I was happy being single but after listening to this book I now feel a complete relief, contentment and happiness being single. True single joy! I feel my mind completely shift! Thank you. (put speed a little faster as it's a little slow)

Read it!!!

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Lovely little book with some pearls of wisdom regardless of your relationship status. Great balanced content and a lovely conversational style BUT unfortunately the narration was painfully stilted and awkward! Very frustrating to listen to. A real shame as a professional narrator would go to town with the witty vernacular and boost this audio book significantly. Recommend reading the hard copy instead.

Enjoyable and validating

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I think anybody could find something in this book to relate to or make them feel better. I thought it was funny and honest.

Helpful and funny

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Loved this book! It has opened me up to a completely new perspective of being single. Its helped me see my life and situation in a more positive light. Its empowering, compelling and an easy listen, I'd recommend this to all of my single friends!

Life changing read

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Wonderful book that made me realise my own self-sabotaging love addictions. So good Catherine Gray!

Eye opening

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Really great advice and antidotes! Thank you for writing this book! Has caused a massive shift in perspective for me

Got me out of a mega funk

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