Dear John, I Love Jane: Women Write About Leaving Men for Women

This book of essays from various women is a gem. It reminded me that I’m not alone in my circumstances, nor is my experience of falling in love with a woman while married to a man, invalid. These stories resonated down to my bones and within my soul. The feeling of being found when not being aware that you were lost or misplaced is something that one simply cannot truly understand unless you’ve experienced it, personally.I’m eternally grateful for the beautiful woman who held my heart. I believe that’s the moment that truly brought me to life. As if I was merely walking around this world simply existing before she shocked my soul into rhythm. That experience was full of joy, pain, elation, awe, disappointment, freedom, isolation, fear, revelation, growth, and most importantly, love. I would not give it up for anything.If you or a loved one is experiencing some confusion or any of these feelings, I recommend reading Dear John, I Love Jane, as it is refreshing to know you’re not alone and gives numerous perspectives on how love can present itself in our lives.Thank you for this wonderful book.

I was expecting great things from this book, and it certainly delivered! Each essay has been carefully selected from what the editors referred to as a "deluge" of women's responses, and it shows. The general style is obviously different from essay to essay, but all are beautifully written and very emotive.The stories themselves offer a variety of perspectives: from those who have realised they were always lesbians to those who were knocked off their feet by same-sex attraction. Some have left their husbands and never regretted it; some mourn the lives they have lost even as they celebrate their newfound sexuality. Some label themselves as gay; some freely admit they don't know what their label is. To someone whose sexuality seems to shift from year to year, sexual fluidity in a real-life context is a fascinating subject with which I can readily identify.This book reminds us all that sexuality is both important and irrelevant: important in that being honest with yourself about what makes you happy is key; irrelevant in that not everyone has to slot neatly into binary labels of gay/straight or women/men. Highly recommended for the LGBTQ community, or anyone who is interested in sexual fluidity.

Women who leave their men for other women (real or potential) don't really have a voice in contemporary literature, fictional or otherwise. It can quite a lonely and forlorn time if this is something that affects you. The LGBT community can be notoriously unwelcoming and suspicious of women who identify as bisexual; or lesbian after a long heterosexual relationship. Therefore, this book is truly a comforting yet illuminating read, when you realise women both just like you and very different to you, have shared similar stories. The book contains a collection of 1st person stories from women who have found themselves in the situation of the title. I felt it was representative of women from many classes and cultures.

I am a happily married straight woman and can STILL say that many of these stories resonated very deeply with me. I began reading with a somewhat detatched interest, but was quickly drawn into these women's lives. I feel there is a far more universal theme here than "woman leaves man for another woman." What I took away from it was a great exploration of why we as women so often put everyone else's wants and needs before our own. The authors bare their souls in a way that, I think, makes any woman- gay or straight- do a bit of introspection as well. These courageous woman decided to take the reins when it came to their hapiness and, while perhaps not as "tidy" and "conforming" as before, their lives are the better for it. We could all learn a little something from that!

Really enjoyed reading this book. It's well written, honest and a must for any woman going through this transition. Would recommend.