Love Letters

It’s common advice after a breakup: The best way to get over an ex is to get under someone new. But does it work? Is rebound sex empowering, or does …

Breaking up was easier before social media. Not the emotional part -- that was always hard -- but the mechanics of it. You broke up and just avoided each other at the mall. Today, disentangling is … complicated. Photos …

The worst kinds of breakups are the murky ones. You think maybe you've been dumped, but you’re not totally sure. Or you know you’ve been dumped but still have so many questions, starting with: Why? Meredith learns the …

So much evaporates after a breakup -- the sweet texts, the lazy brunches, the shared Hulu account you both used for the “The Handmaid’s Tale.” But …

The impulse to reinvent after a breakup can be strong. We want to run and chop our hair off. Or change careers. Or maybe climb a mountain. Meredith …

Meredith explores the healing power of music after a breakup. A lovelorn actress walks into a karaoke bar -- and finally finds peace. Hit songwriter Bonnie Hayes explains the universality of a good song. And a master …

Can you really get back together after a breakup? Does harboring that hope prevent you from moving on? Meredith tackles these often-asked questions …

Some people believe that establishing a friendship with your ex is the true sign you’ve moved on from the relationship. It’s not always that simple, though. In the final episode of Season One, Meredith explores …

In this special bonus episode of Love Letters, Meredith explores camp love and the end-of-summer goodbyes that inevitably follow. Summer romances can …

Is a breakup the end of something, or only the beginning? In Season One of Love Letters, Boston Globe advice columnist Meredith Goldstein explores …

On Season 2 of Love Letters, Boston Globe advice columnist Meredith Goldstein tackles one of love’s fundamental questions: How do you meet someone? …

In the first episode of the new season, Meredith Goldstein asks: Whatever happened to the good old-fashioned set-up? She talks to two friends with …

Meredith Goldstein tells the story of one of the riskier work crushes she’s come across. Because, really, what’s riskier than falling in love with …

Does where you live affect your dating life? Would it be easier to find a partner if you lived in another city? Meredith Goldstein investigates these …

Dating can feel like a second full-time job. You feel like you have to constantly check the apps, update your profiles, and swipe on new faces, lest …

Trust. Intimacy. Affection. They’re all key ingredients to a healthy romantic relationship. But what happens when pain, trauma, and memory get in the …

Everybody wants a meet-cute story. It’s like we’ve all watched so many rom-coms that anything less feels like a letdown. But what does a meet-cute …

Meeting someone takes work, time, and commitment. It can also take money. Sometimes a lot. In Episode 7, Meredith Goldstein explores what we spend on …

To find a partner, sometimes you’ve just gotta grab the moment. This is something Meredith Goldstein knows all too well. Because that guy she liked …

If you’re dating, it’s a thing you hear a lot: A good way to meet someone is to take a class or join a social activity. Like playing on a co-ed …

How do you build a relationship with someone who saved your life? In the final episode of Season 2, Meredith Goldstein shares stories of love that …

Meredith Goldstein and special guests take the stage at the Comedy Studio at Bow Market, in Somerville, Mass. Email us at loveletters@boston.com.

In this bonus episode, Meredith Goldstein talks to two people who met their partners in online communities — including one who found love in the …

Here’s a clip of a new show called The Moment, from our friends at Wondery. The Moment, hosted by newly engaged comedian and actress Ingrid Haas, tells stories about love, relationships, and dating in a fun, comedic …

How do you know when it’s true love? When to sleep together for the first time? When to leave someone? This season of Love Letters, Boston Globe …

Elizabeth and Dave are two Austin musicians who initially sought different things from their relationship. In time, both knew they were meant to be together. But how? What did that “knowing” look like? … Have a story of …

Lance was certain he and his wife would be partners for life. But it would take years for Lance to truly understand himself. What happens when you …

Anna Sale, host of the podcast Death, Sex & Money, talks about the time a stressful couch purchase forced her and her boyfriend to reexamine …

Meredith was the special guest on this recent episode of “Hot and Bothered,” a podcast about reading – and writing – romance novels. Hear Meredith …

One night on a dark dance floor, Douglass Williams bumped into the woman who would change his life. Not just because they went on to get married and …

Marlee and John’s relationship got serious fast after an a-ha moment at a Michigan bar. They got married and built a local arts community together. Ultimately, their marriage didn’t last. But their relationship did. …

Sometimes friendship is just friendship, and sometimes it’s meant to be more. But how do you know? Aubrey spent years trying to figure that out with …

What do pierced nipples and “Silent Night” have in common? In today’s stories, both were signs that a relationship had run its course. Jordan had to accept that his marriage was over. Allison had to listen to her gut. …

As a newly single mom, Lauren had to wrestle with two big questions. First, when to start dating again. Second, how and when to introduce her daughter to the men she was seeing. For Lauren -- and for anyone trying to …

Huda always knew her marriage would be supervised by her family. She accepted that, but she pined for romance: She wanted a love story worthy of the …

If you want a new relationship to last, how long should you wait to sleep together? There’s an old adage that says three dates. But is that right? In …

Lisa was just 34 when her husband died suddenly of a heart condition. As she came to terms with her grief, she confronted questions she never thought she’d have to answer: How do you know when to move past mourning and …

Jia Tolentino, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of the essay collection "Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion," joins Meredith to talk …

Introducing Motherhood Sessions, a podcast from our friends at Gimlet. Motherhood Sessions features emotionally honest conversations about being a mom. In this episode, Dr. Alexandra Sacks sits down with a couple that …

Meredith Goldstein talks to Boston Globe film critic Ty Burr about what to watch during stressful times, why people are drawn to disaster flicks, and …

Is he using the lockdown to ghost? Is it a good time to text your ex? Meredith invites her sister, Brette, onto the show to dish out advice to letter-writers dealing with pandemic-related relationship problems. Plus, …

Kim and Glenn Schryver are experts at coupling in isolation. For more than a dozen years, the Schryvers have managed a remote mountain reservoir in …

On Season 4 of Love Letters, host Meredith Goldstein explores love at every age — from the first stirrings of teenage infatuation to the hard-won …

When Jenni and Drew hit their 40s, Drew decides to build a ball pit in their house. Not for their kids -- for him. The splurge fulfills a lifelong …

Ian was going through a hard time, but his new boyfriend seemed just right. The guy was cute, and exciting, and didn't make Ian dwell on his problems. But just when Ian needs him most, he reveals his limits as a …

Introducing Mr. 80 Percent, a new six-part narrative podcast hosted by friend-of-Love-Letters Mark Shanahan. Mr. 80 Percent is a deeply personal, sometimes harrowing, often funny, always true story about Mark’s odyssey …

Monica grew up an Air Force brat, moving with her family from base to base in Europe, Asia, and the United States. She never stuck around long enough …

Over the three decades they've known each other, Jenny and Molly have been friends, more than friends, and everything in between. Along the way, …

How do you get through the hardest moments as a couple? By building a strong foundation. Writer and actress Marianne Leone Cooper reflects on her life with actor Chris Cooper, and how the two of them supported and …

How do expectations for love affect what we seek, and how we define relationship success? Sarah Huckman had grand expectations for her romantic life …

The thing about love is, we never stop learning. That’s a good thing. We’re supposed to be ever-evolving creatures, always working to be better. …

On today’s episode, three writers -- Alondra Bobadilla, Asiyah Herrera, and Meredith Russo -- talk about the relationship between art and love, and how they use their creative work to explore ideas about dating, …

Paul’s story is straight out of a rom-com. After his first marriage fell apart, he gave up on love. Then a woman walked into his life, and, well, she …

In this special live episode taping, Meredith is joined by her sister, Brette, and Elizabeth Segran, a journalist and author of the book "The Rocket Years." Their wide-ranging conversation dwells on love lessons at …

(In collaboration with and presented by the Boston Pops) Do good artistic partners make good romantic ones? In this special bonus episode, dancers …

All this season, hear stories of new beginnings, resets, do-overs, and fresh chapters. In the first episode, Meredith shares the story of Kristina Libby and Tim Cahill, a New York couple who -- despite all the …

When Paola Bayron first noticed the cute guy at work, she already had a boyfriend. Over the next four years, as she and her colleague began and ended …

A vow renewal is a special breed of new beginning. It’s not just a restatement of original promises; it’s about a couple reaffirming their love and mutual commitment after years of lived experience. Which is exactly why …

When Letitia needed inspiration for her new beginning, she found it in the most natural place: from her mother, who showed Letitia how to keep her heart open to new love. Even when it seemed so overwhelming. Email us at

It’s hard to not worry about the future. We all want to know how things are going to work out. For Meighan, her romantic path seemed clear. Until … it didn’t. That’s when she learned to let go of tomorrow and just live …

When a step-parent enters the picture, it can be an especially fraught new beginning -- for everyone involved. Stacie discovered this after she and …

Trenni used to pity the “boyfriend people” -- women she knew whose lives seemed to revolve around a guy. She valued her independence and wore it like …

Many of us have clear expectations for our romantic lives. We envision a certain kind of partner, a certain kind of relationship. But Nicole found …

Knowing whether your partner is "the one" can be hard. Especially when you meet earlier in life. It’s tough to know who is truly here to stay, and …

In the final episode of the season, Meredith turns hosting duties over to her sister, Brette. And for an important reason: It’s finally time for Meredith to share her own story -- her own new beginning. It’s a story …

Meredith has a glass of frosé with Erin, whose dating journey Love Letters chronicled in Season 2. Erin gives an update on her love life, shares what changed for her during the pandemic, and admits to crushing on a guy …

Meredith talks to fellow advice columnist John Paul Brammer on the occasion of his new book, “Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and …

Welcome to Season 6! Our theme for this season is “Breaking the Rules.” It’s all about people who went against the grain, challenged convention, or …

Naomi and Chandler didn’t know each other before deploying to the same air base in Afghanistan. But they had much in common — they both came from big families and small towns, and neither was looking for love. They also …

When Ian Coss talks about the legacy of divorce in his family, he’s not kidding. Everybody split up -- parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, …

Just about everybody in a long-term partnership worries they’re not having the right amount of sex. It’s easy to wonder: What is “normal?” For Katie and her husband, this became a central question in their marriage – …

When the pandemic hit, Iz was a junior in college with a vibrant social and academic life. They also had a serious partner, with whom they’d been in …

Ayesha Mattu was supposed to marry a man whose background mirrored hers: Pakistani, Muslim, and from a certain caste. For a time, that was the plan. Then, one night in a dimly lit club, she saw a cute guy dancing. And …

Meredith sits down with two smart people who have spent a lot of time studying relationships – how we make them, what we look for in other people, …

When Margaret hit her early 30s, she felt like one of those collectible toys you keep in a box – in mint condition, untouched. She wondered: What am …

Yes, Devin Tomb knows that TV isn’t real life. That “Sex and the City” never explicitly promised her anything. And yet, it was hard not to believe in …

For our final episode of the season, we collaborate with the podcast This Is Dating to bring you the story of Manny, a San Francisco thirty-something …

Sometimes life is about big change. You move across the world. Quit or lose a job. Suddenly get Internet famous. Decide you must join the circus. Maybe not that, but you get it. For the next season of Love Letters, …

We’re back with a bonus episode today. Meredith chats with writer Casey McQuiston about all the things: finding romance for yourself in times of uncertainty, how they get their work done, and what makes a really good …

Meredith chats with business writer and journalist Jon Birger about why he thinks we should get off the apps and seek connection in other ways. …

We're trying out this new thing today. It's called Sidebar. It's a snack-sized episode in which Meredith and producer Katelyn Harrop discuss their …

Our new season is launching soon. But first ... Meredith and producer Katelyn Harrop dish on letters to Meredith's Love Letters advice column. This …

All this season, we’ll be telling stories of big changes and how they reshape people’s romantic lives. In the first episode, Meredith shares the story of Bill and Jen, who did that thing many people fantasize about: …

Meredith and producer Katelyn Harrop take on two new letters, including one from a woman in her 40s who digs her new boyfriend but wasn't thrilled to learn that he'd previously hooked up with most of the women in his …

Michaela always craved the kind of life she didn’t have as a kid. She’d find a stable guy, settle down, and start a family. For several years, she seemed to be on her way. But then she discovered that, no matter how …

Love Letters producer Katelyn Harrop just saw "When Harry Met Sally" for the first time, which leaves Meredith (a WHMS superfan) with one burning question: Has it aged well? They discuss in this Sidebar mini-episode. …

In 2020, Somerville, Massachusetts became the first municipality in the country allowing polyamorous relationships to qualify for domestic …

Mel and Jay met way back in seventh-grade social studies class. Then in high school, they co-led the Gay Straight Alliance. Mel was straight; Jay was …

Meredith and producer Katelyn Harrop take up two letters to Meredith's Love Letters advice column. In the first letter, a man wonders if he should …

Ana’s first impression of Paris wasn’t very good. First of all, she was from Mexico. So she didn’t know a lick of French. She also hated the food. But she returned 10 years later and fell in love with the city – and …

Ever since he was young, Jared believed he had to choose between being gay and being Muslim. Because everyone around him was telling him he couldn’t …

There’s a reason Meredith and her friend Kumar hit it off when they first met. Well, two reasons. One, they’re both obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Plus, they both operate with expansive definitions of love, …

Pebbles is a well-known morning radio show host in the Boston area. Being happily single has long been part of her brand. But her story – how she came to understand her priorities and know her own heart – is far richer …

Meredith quizzes her sister, Brette, on the latest terms of art in dating and relationships. Plus, they discuss a letter from someone who's all …

Finding and sustaining love takes real work. It takes intention. But we never know when life is going to throw someone important in front of us. Then we’re forced to confront a big question: Is my heart open to love, or …

After years of being told she wasn’t enough – good enough, smart enough, pretty enough – Tooky Kavanagh discovered that, yeah, actually, she was …

Look, money is a hard thing to talk about -- especially in relationships. But it plays into so many of our decisions. For the next season of Love Letters, we're looking for stories about money in love and dating. How do …

Money is a hard thing to talk about – especially when there’s a partner involved. So, before we kick off a full season of stories about love and …

On Season 8 of Love Letters, host Meredith Goldstein explores all the ways money plays into love, dating, and relationships. What happens when two …

As a 20-something, Alex was determined to “win” at adulthood. And they did. They got a job, responsibly grew their savings, even bought a house. And …

Meredith and her sister, Brette, take on two letters, including one from a writer who’s happily coupled but still thinking about an ex. Not because the ex was so great, or because there’s any desire to get back …

A special visit from our friends at NPR’s Dear Life Kit podcast, where experts answer your most pressing and personal anonymous questions. In this bonus episode: A letter writer loves her boyfriend's parents, but their …

Meredith’s childhood friend Justin L. Wilson was standing at a funeral, listening to a eulogy, when he had an epiphany: I’m going to quit my job. …

No matter how much you might click with a potential partner, there will always be something you don’t quite see eye-to-eye on. Maybe it's religion. Maybe it’s kids. Sometimes? It’s money. In Vicki's case, she and her …

A story about partnership and compromise, told in two acts. Two working spouses — writer Kara Baskin and psychologist Sadé Soares — talk about how …

A portrait of two daters in their 20s — Jackie in Chicago, and Nick in Washington. Both of them have been on lots of dates; Nick went on 46 last year alone. When you date this much, the expenses add up quickly: drinks, …

Meredith is joined by two of her favorite Boston Globe colleagues, business reporters Diti Kohli and Dana Gerber, to chat about two things that have …

As a food and travel influencer, Anela Malik’s social media feeds used to be full of inviting dishes and beautiful vistas. Then, in the spring of …

It’s easy to understand why prenuptial agreements get a bad rap. We think of that rich guy, selfishly protecting his assets just in case wife No. 3 doesn’t work out. But it turns out that’s a pretty narrow view. There …

Meredith talks to Jenée Desmond-Harris, Slate’s Dear Prudence advice columnist and podcast host, about weddings, commitment, and whether it’s kosher …

Erica Spates and Sam Littenberg-Weisberg have been professional television writing partners for 13 years. Together, they’ve co-written dozens of TV episodes, pitched and run their own Netflix series, and even won a …

Meredith visits her sister, Brette, on the West Coast, where Brette is recuperating from knee surgery. Together they tackle a letter from a writer who, after a series of serious relationships, wants a year of just being …

Meredith makes a guest appearance on the podcast Meditative Story, a show that tells human stories but with meditation prompts. Vampires, naming squirrels, the death of her mother — it all comes out. Email us at …

Shirley Leung, a business columnist who hosts Say More — a new podcast from Boston Globe Opinion — sits down with Meredith for a few final …

On the next season of Love Letters, we’ll be featuring stories about the important role help and guidance from others plays in our relationship …