Dumped : Stories of Women Unfriending Women

Candid, relatable stories by established and emerging women writers about being discarded by someone from whom they expected more: a close female friend. There are 161 million women in America today, and our friendships are still as primary and universal as back when Ruth and Naomi, Elizabeth and Susan B., and Thelma and Louise made history. When a romantic relationship breaks up, no problem—there’s an Adele song for that. Health concerns; problems in school; issues at the workplace? We’ve got our chums to prop us up. Until we don’t. When our most sustaining relationships dissolve—those with the women friends in our lives—there’s never been the fanfare that accompanies the loss of other relationships society deems “more important.” Until now. In Dumped: Stories of Women Unfriending Women , twenty-five established and emerging writers—including Jacquelyn Mitchard, Ann Hood, Carrie Kabak, Jessica Handler, Elizabeth Searle, Alexis Paige, and editor Nina Gaby—explore the fragile, sometimes humorous, and often unfathomable nature of lost friendship. These, like your own, are stories that stay with you—maybe for a lifetime. Part one: When the herd turns. The hate note -- Lindsey Kemp Off the line -- Julie VanDeKreke High school never ends -- Susan Cushman Breaking omertà -- Alexandria Goddard Literary lessons and a circle of crones : the evolution of a women's group -- Elayne Clift Sealed with a kiss -- Elizabeth Searle -- Part two: It's not always about you. Keeping secrets -- Carol Cassara All talk and trousers -- Carrie Kabak Foundation -- Rachel Ambrose The professional critic -- Diane Spodarek Boring baby -- Louise Krug -- Part three: Blurred lines. After Criselda -- Kristabelle Munson Le cahier de Fabienne -- Jennifer Lang A snowball's chance -- Penny Guisinger Just say no -- Melody Breyer-Grell Ten days -- Suzanne Herman -- Part four: Women remember. How I lost her -- Ann Hood Never can say good-bye -- Jessica Handler Since I don't have you -- Jacquelyn Mitchard I hate your boyfriend -- Erin Eramia -- Part five: Making sense of it. Notes on being dumped : aid for the perplexed -- Judith Podell Bridezilla or chill bride? Which one are you? Take this quiz to find out! -- Alexis Paige Maybe after December -- Heidi Griminger Blanke Out of the blue -- Mary Ann Noe Simple geometry : the art of war for girls -- Nina Gaby. There are 161 million women in America today, and our friendships are still as primary and universal as back when Ruth and Naomi, Elizabeth and Susan B., Lucy and Ethel, and Thelma and Louise made history. And that s what makes being dumped by a woman friend so excruciating: you expect romantic relationships to break up eventually but you don t expect it from your friendships. And when it happens, you feel as though there should be an Adele song for you but there isn t. Dumped: Women Unfriending Women fills that void, exploring the universal experience of being discarded by those from whom you expected more. The essays in Dumped aren t stories of friendship dying a mutually agreed upon death, or of falling out of touch and reconnecting years later to find you haven t missed a beat. These are stories by established and emerging authors who, like you, may have found themselves erased, without context. These, like your own, are stories that stay with you, maybe for a lifetime."