Romances & Practicalities: A Love Story (Maybe Yours!) in 250 Questions

by Lindsay Jill Roth

Overview

A few months into Lindsay Jill Roth’s whirlwind transatlantic courtship with a handsome Englishman she’d dubbed “the Brit,” he made an off-hand comment that hit her like a gut-punch: “But I don’t know you well enough yet.” Despite hours on FaceTime and a series of swoon-worthy dates in London and NYC, Roth reluctantly realized that he was right: they didn’t know each other very well. And their budding relationship, while certainly romantic, was hardly practical. Did they have a shared vision for the future? Did he want kids? In what country would they live?

In the age of increasingly impersonal dating—where “ghosting” is the norm and “situationships” abound—how do you actually get to know someone? How do you get off the hamster wheel of first date after first date and advance a relationship along the path to commitment? How do you know if the person to whom you’re committing is really (or really might be) “the one?”

Where’s the guide?

Enter Romances & Practicalities, a set of 250 research-backed questions spread across twelve separate categories—from money to children to chores to sex—designed to help you identify your wants, needs, and non-negotiables, assess compatibility with a potential or current partner, initiate tricky conversations with grace, and build a deeper, stronger relationship. The questions range from seemingly light and casual to intimate and serious, including:

• How did your family members communicate, share, and argue growing up?
• How are we different? Do our differences complement each other or might they be a source of future conflict?
• How important to you is spending time alone?
• How do you show love to others?
• How important is your career in terms of your identity?
• How do you feel about debt? Mortgages?
• If we were stuck on that desert island together, what strengths and skills would you bring to the table to help us survive?

Roth weaves the questions and her approach to them with her own charming love story, provocative interviews with real-life couples who’ve used the system, and practical guidance from a diverse range of clinical and popular experts including psychotherapist and bestselling author Lori Gottlieb, the “holistic psychologist” Dr. Nicole LePera, Dr. Mark Hyman, sex therapist Dr. Emily Morse, Suze Orman, Nate Berkus, Justin Baldoni, Barbara Corcoran and many more.

For anyone who’s ever wondered—How could we have never talked about this?!—Roth’s wise and witty narrative explores the reasons we don’t often equate romance with practicality, and arrives at a surprising truth: healthy communication isn’t just vital, it’s sexy. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063339798
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/28/2025
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	128,894
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.40(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Lindsay Jill Roth is an award-winning television and live-events producer who has created and developed a wide variety of programming globally, including original content for NBC, BET, ESPN, Food Network, Billboard, The Masters, The Grammys, The TONYs, and the US Open. She is the former producer of Emmy-nominated Larry King Now and the creator and executive producer of Haylie Duff’s Real Girl’s Kitchen. She is also the author of the novel What Pretty Girls Are Made Of. Lindsay lives in New York and London with her husband and two young sons. 

Editorial Reviews

Romances & Practicalities is the kind of book I wish every rom-com heroine had in her back pocket. This refreshingly candid and relatable guide demonstrates that love isn’t just about passion—it’s about making choices that align with your heart and your future. If you’ve ever wondered how to make your love story last, this is your perfect starting point.” — Emily Giffin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Meant to Be

“The five most toxic relationship words are we will figure it out. In fact, we often need the opposite—clear, research-backed guidance—to move forward. Romances & Practicalities is the perfect road map to healthy relationships, and Roth is an honest and hilarious researcher and storyteller. A must-read for anyone looking for deeper connection and love.” — Eve Rodsky, New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play

“Romances & Practicalities takes you beyond the fairy tale, offering 250 essential questions that dive deep into the heart of what truly makes relationships work. Whether you’re seeking love, navigating a new romance, or strengthening a long-term commitment, this book will empower you to foster open communication and practical intimacy, transforming your romantic journey into a lasting, meaningful connection.” — Daniel G. Amen, MD, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Change Your Brain Every Day

“Reading Romances & Practicalities feels a little like eavesdropping—or just watching a really great rom-com. By sharing her love story with ‘the Brit’ (and offering a peek into the lives of dozens of other couples), Roth provides a template for having the conversations we know we should have but don’t know how to initiate. A fun and actionable approach to building a relationship that goes the distance.” — Jo Piazza, internationally bestselling author of The Sicilian Inheritance

“Romances & Practicalities is the pep talk we didn’t know we needed. So much energy is drained by what we don’t say, by decoding the smoke signals of others, by feeling utterly at the whim of fate. I’d like to say that Lindsay Jill Roth has done the work so you don’t have to, but her point (made delightfully and emphatically) is that you do—and that it’s doable and 100 percent worth it. A shockingly easy and fun read for such vital information.” — Emma McLaughlin, #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Nanny Diaries

“Romances & Practicalities offers a much-needed guidebook to empower us all to both know ourselves more deeply and bravely communicate what we want in all our relationships. Sharing her own personal journey, Lindsay Jill Roth gifts us with a compassionate look into the realities of developing and maintaining our connections with others.” — Dr. Nicole LePera, #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Be the Love You Seek

“In Romances & Practicalities, Roth strips away the clichés and reminds us that love isn’t just about who you dream of—it’s about who you build a dream with, one grocery run and plumbing repair at a time. A wake-up call and a love letter to what matters most in relationships.” — Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

“Reading Roth’s book feels like taking advice from your funniest but most sensible friend . . . Romances and Practicalities offers a warm, thoughtful and thought-provoking read, and easily proves Roth’s unofficial the­sis—communication is sexy.” — BookPage

From the Publisher