6 Relatable Books About Dating in Berlin
Berlin is an artsy city. It’s no surprise that writers from all over the world come to experience its uniue vibe, at least for a while. There are plenty of recent contemporary hits set in Berlin – and of course, the legendary dating scene gets a mention*.
*We don’t know if books about dating in Berlin should be classed as horror or comedy.
The Instant by Amy Liptrot
British author Amy Liptrot left her live in London to live on a remote island to reconnect with nature and overcome her alcoholism. Now in her mid-30s, she wants to get her life back in order, and most importantly, find love.. so she moves to Berlin!? She only needs a little taste of Berlin dating apps to figure out this city is not the best place to go if you’re looking for something stable! Liptrot gets to know Berlin very well and spends a lot of time exploring different neighborhoods, as well as getting out in nature. You’ll recognize a lot of the spots she visits and maybe get a few tips!
Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler
This book begins with a bang. The extremely-online and highly anxious protagonist finds out her boyfriend Felix is not who he says he is – he’s actually a well-known conspiracy theorist, spreading wild theories online. She’s fully set on breaking up with him when his mom calls to tell her he was tragically killed while biking! Untethered and unsure what to do with her life, the protagonist moves to Berlin and dives into the art scene, casual work and trying out a new ‘persona’ on every man she dates. There’s a huge twist at the end you may or may not see coming.
Dating in Berlin by Lulu Johnson
Irish author and podcast host Lulu Johnson has been in Berlin since 2015 and has really seen it all! The author shares hilarious and depressing stories about her and her friends’ experiences, plus advice on how you can identify toxic relationships and protect yourself against the craziness that is Berlin dating. The highlight for me is probably the chapter where she goes on a date with someone who turns out to be an actual, convicted axe murderer. You couldn’t make this stuff up!
In The End, It Was All About Love by Musa Okwonga
Bisexual British author Musa Okwonga is nearing 40 and looking for meaning. He hopelessly tries to find a genuine connection while staying afloat as a freelance journalist in an increasingly competitive space. Over time, he learns the problems he left behind in London have followed him to Berlin…
Berlin by Bea Sutton
This novel about a privileged, bohemian Oxford graduate who moves to Berlin to learn German is one of the most realistic I’ve read. From the complicated love lives to the ghosting and just general phoniness of these ‘poor’ 20-somethings who somehow manage to stay afloat in Berlin (you guessed it, they have rich parents), this book is funny, thought-provoking and sad in equal measure. TW – eating disorders, mental health, and other heavy topics.
Slumberland by Paul Beatty
A disenfranchised Los Angeles DJ relocates to Berlin before it got so gentrified, back in the good old days those long-term Berliners always rave about. Goodreads summarizes it better than I could – “His quest brings him to a recently unified Berlin, where he stumbles through the city’s dreamy streets ruminating about race, sex, love, Teutonic gods, the prevent defense, and Wynton Marsalis in search of his artistic—and spiritual—other.”
Where can I buy these books?
You don’t need to line Jeff Bezos reptilian pockets at all. You have plenty of options:
Independent local bookstores: Another Country (Kreuzberg), Berlin Book Nook (Kreuzberg), Hundt Hammer Stein (Mitte), Love Story of Berlin (Prenzlauer Berg), Marga Schoeller Bücherstube (Charlottenburg), Shakespeare & Sons (Friedrichshain), She Said (Neukolln), St. George’s (Prenzlauer Berg) and The Curious Fox (Kreuzberg) are some good options.
Chain bookstores like Dussmann, Hugendubel, Thalia all stock some English books.
Libraries: Become a member of the public Berlin library system on voebb.de.
Online secondhand bookstores: Medimops and WOB.
Facebook groups: You can get lucky and find popular books for low prices (or even for free) on Facebook groups like Sell your books Berlin, Free Your Books, and Berlin Book Swap.