HarperCollins scoops Shetty's latest work on developing and deepening relationships

HarperCollins has scooped Jay Shetty’s latest work on developing and deepening relationships. 

Oliver Malcolm, executive publisher, acquired UK and commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, to 8 Rules of Love from Anna Carmichael at Abner Stein on behalf of Jim Levine at Levine Greenberg Rostan. It will publish on 31st January 2023. 

Shetty’s debut Think Like A Monk (Thorsons) was a New York Times and Sunday Times number one bestseller, as well as being translated into 47 languages. It also won Audiobook of the Year at the 2020 British Book Awards. 

His new book, 8 Rules of Love, is described as “an intentional and focused guide to developing and deepening your relationships”. The publisher said: “Sharing insights on how to win or lose together, how to define love, and why you don’t break in a break-up, Jay Shetty shows readers that they can love themselves, their partner, and the world better than they ever thought possible.” 

As in Think Like a Monk, Shetty draws on his time as a monk in the Vedic tradition, as well as his specific coaching practice and modern social science, to bring profound insight to the universal condition of loving and being loved in eight simple steps.  

The book is focused on embracing your preferences and hopes, so you don’t waste time on people who aren’t good for you. Shetty lays out specific, actionable steps to help readers develop the skills to practise and nurture love. He tackles the entire relationship cycle, from first dates to moving in together, marriage, having kids, breaking up and starting over. And he shows how to avoid falling for false promises and unfulfilling partners, helping readers recognise when it’s time to let love go. 

Shetty said: “This book is not about finding the perfect person or relationship and leaving the rest to chance. I want to help you intentionally build love instead of wishing, wanting and waiting for it to arrive fully formed. 

“Nobody sits us down and teaches us how to love, so we’re often thrown into relationships with nothing but romance movies and pop culture to help us muddle through. I want to help you deal with the challenges and imperfections we encounter on the journey to love. I want you to create a love that grows every day, expanding and evolving rather than achieved and complete. We can’t know where and when we’ll find love, but we can prepare for it and practise what we’ve learned when we find it. Love is about learning to love ourselves in order to love others. I hope this book helps you do just that.” 

Malcolm added: “Jay Shetty’s first book Think Like A Monk was not only a commercial phenomenon but an incredibly important crutch for so many readers worldwide during the pandemic. As we slowly return to normal life, Jay’s new book 8 Rules of Love addresses the critical challenge of finding, maintaining and optimising our relationships, and reminding us all that genuine self-fulfilment doesn’t come from frequency of contact, but from depth of sentiment.”