For every possible relationship stage, from nonexistent to stuck-together-like-glue, writers have created reams of pages full of advice, admonishments, consolations, gimmicks, gab-fests, testimonials and therapies.

Coincidentally, many of them get mailed to the Quick offices and passed along to me for column and podcast fodder. Most look kind of goofy at best. But every now and again, a few stick out. Especially when they're already on my Amazon wish list.

Both of the following are certainly books I would pass on to friends in dating distress, either from not getting into one or getting rejected from one.

Have any books you'd recommend for Leah? E-mail her at lashafer@gmail.com.

Kiss and Run: The Single, Picky, and Indecisive Girl's Guide to Overcoming Her Fear of Commitment
By Elina Furman
(Simon & Schuster, $13)

The message in a nutshell: Men used to be the only commitment-phobes. But single women are the fastest-growing segment of the population. (There are 47 million of us, with 22 million of us in the 25-to-44 range.) Author Elina Furman examines the reasons why, from increased earning power to divorced parents, but she nails the basic points.

Her style is light and readable, with "confessionals" from women, quotes from experts, quizzes and little worksheets to complete. I particularly enjoyed the "past-loves postmortems" that had me writing letters to my exes.

It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken: The Smart Girl's Breakup Buddy
by Greg Behrendt and Amiira Ruotola-Behrendt
(Random House, $12.95)

After I finished the 243-page "how-to-actually-get-into-a-relationship" book, I moved to the other end of the spectrum. This book, written by one of the co-authors of He's Just Not That Into You, is comforting, empowering, hilarious and wise. Reading it now, ages after my last significant dumping, I still felt like authors Greg Behrendt and Amiira Ruotola-Behrendt had the comforting ability of a pint of Häagen-Dazs. And the really fattening kind, too.

Their 276-page message is that you, recently dumped one, are a superfox. And that relationship you're weeping into your chardonnay for? It's broken. Kaput. Over. And someone as fabulous as you doesn't settle for some crappy, dead-end relationship. Who doesn't love that kind of message?

They've even got a toll-free number to call if you've just been dumped, are thinking of calling your ex (don't do it!), or have recently hacked into their voicemail/e-mail.