Smitten
Romantic Obsession, the Neuroscience of Limerence, and How to Make Love Last

This is a book I wish I’d had available to me earlier in life when I was prone to developing impossible infatuations. As it is, this is still a fascinating read. Neuroscientist Dr Tom Bellamy examines the phenomenon known as ‘limerence’ - the tendency among some people to develop obsessive, passiona......more

While the author appears to make a sincere attempt to offer insights into the neural mechanisms and definitions of “limerance”, the book falters when interpreting emotional, relational, and therapeutic dynamics that are best understood through lived clinical practice. Neuroscience explains how the b......more

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an ARC of Smitten by Tom Bellamy in exchange for honest feedback. This was an incredibly interesting read. Would highly recommend reading this to that anyone that tends to overthink their interactions during the dating process. There are so ma......more

Definitely intrigued by the initial premise of limerance as a psychological term encapsulating how some experience 'falling in love', but there are some glaring gaps in the research here. For one thing, half of what the term is meant to describe (according to Bellamy) has already been established as......more

3.75/5. I listened to the audiobook and so I appreciate I might have got more out this book if I'd been reading it the more traditional way. Even so, I found it a great summary of the neuroscience behind limerence, as well as including various limerents' first-hand experiences in their own words, cog......more