So, picture this. You’re single, you just got ghosted again by a guy who told you he “wasn’t ready for something serious” two days after helping you plan your Knott’s Berry Farms getaway, which was secretly a cover-up for a chance just to see him again. Now, you’re curled up in your Hogwarts pajamas, halfway through a (second) chocolate frog, wondering if your soulmate got stuck on Platform 9¾.
I’ve been there. I live there. And if you’re anything like me — someone who’d rather stand in a three-hour line for the Ministry of Magic than go on one more awkward date — then Love Life by Matthew Hussey might just be your new favorite travel companion.
When I picked up this book, I was expecting standard dating tips — “Be confident, smile more, text him first but not too soon” — but Hussey delivers something much better. This isn’t about playing games or performing for affection. This book is about reclaiming your self-worth, recognizing your patterns, and learning how to actually live a love-filled life, with or without a partner.
The Book Report
And because I was that straight-A student who did book reports for fun, I’ll share my breakdown of the book and some of my favorite quotes. Like this one:
“Most of us have been living life waiting for other people to educate us on what our worth is.”
I mean… oof! That one hit like the double-launch on VelociCoaster. How many times have I sat around waiting for some guy to notice me or choose me, like Hagrid barging into my house and declaring, “You’re a wizard, Jane!”
But Hussey is saying “Stop!” You’re the one who gets to define your worth. Not your ex, not some guy who’s “too busy” to text you back, but still watches all your Instagram stories. Living this advice means not shape-shifting into the “cool girl” who doesn’t ask for much because she doesn’t want to scare someone off. It means showing up as your full, roller-coaster-obsessed, vacation-overplanning self and letting that be enough. Because it is!
“I wince at the lack of compassion I showed myself…”
Hussey holds up a mirror here — and not the magical “fairest one of all” kind. Living this advice looks like checking in with yourself. Are your needs being met? Are you actually happy, or are you just hanging on because it’s better than being alone? (Spoiler: being alone is underrated, especially if it means more solo trips to Epic Universe.)
“The love of your life can only ever be the person who chooses you for their life.”
As a hopeless romantic who literally cries every time Snape says “always,” I’ve had to learn this one the hard way. You can’t manifest someone into loving you with enough loyalty, patience, or sacrifice – moving the goal post every time you unconsciously lower your standards to meet him. If they don’t choose you every day, without hesitation, it’s not love. It’s wishful thinking.
Living this means walking away from half-love. It means reserving your energy for someone who meets you at your level, not someone who makes you feel like an NPC in their story. Speaking of stories…
Also, shoutout to this gem:
“…you’d need a Time-Turner clock from the Ministry of Magic in order to see other people.”
10 points to Hussey for the perfect Harry Potter reference. The book’s tone walks that perfect line — smart, heartfelt, and occasionally cheeky in a way that makes you feel like you’re getting advice from a charming British friend over mugs of foaming butterbeer.
This quote is both hilarious and accurate. It hits on that awkward middle ground where things feel exclusive, but no one’s actually said it. Hussey’s advice? Don’t rely on assumptions. Get clarity. Have the DTR (Define The Relationship) conversation. Living this means being brave enough to ask: “What are we doing here?” Not in a clingy, ultimatum-y way — just in a “my time is valuable and I’m not playing Goblet of Fire hide-and-seek with my heart” kind of way. If he doesn’t give a clear answer, that is your answer. Period.
What really blew my mind was this little truth-bomb:
“Don’t invest in someone based on how much you like them; invest in someone based on how much they invest in you.”
I used to think the more I felt something, the more real it was. But feelings aren’t the currency of healthy relationships — reciprocity is. Hussey’s advice here is like budgeting for a vacation: don’t spend your emotional savings on someone who’s not booking a ticket to the same destination. Living this means stepping back and asking, “Is this mutual?” not “Can I make this work if I try a little harder?”
And don’t even get me started on the heartbreak chapter.
“50 percent of what they miss about that relationship is themselves.”
Read that again – I did several times. As I read this, I immediately thought about all the times I’ve romanticized a past relationship or situationship, only to realize I wasn’t actually missing him. I was missing me — the bright, adventurous, fully-alive version of myself who laughed more, dressed up for date night, and believed in the magic of romance.
Hussey helps us remember. That old version of you? Yeah, it’s still here. Still whole. Still worth showing up for. You just have to do a little soul-searching to find it again. Live that advice by planning that solo trip to that park you’ve never been to, buying yourself another wand from Olivanders, or riding Guardians of the Galaxy alone and singing September at the top of your lungs. You are the magic. You always have been.
My Final Thoughts
Love Life isn’t just another dating book — it’s a permission slip for single people (especially us theme-park-loving nerds) to stop shrinking ourselves for the sake of “maybe.” It’s about stepping fully into your worth, setting boundaries like a boss, and remembering that the happiest endings start with you, not some guy who texts “u up?” at midnight.
And until the right person shows up — someone who really sees you and is ready to lock in for a wild ride — well, you’ll be out here living, laughing, and having solo adventures like the main character you are.
See you in Single Rider Line 😉