How to Really Prepare for Love (and Stop Chasing It), a new book by psychologist and love coach Monica Ricci

Summer is the season of new loves. We travel, we relax, we dream. For many, it is precisely during these months that the hope of a special encounter returns. According to a survey conducted by YouGov Italia for 'Meetic', 67% of Italian singles feel a greater desire to fall in love in the summer . But love, true love, isn't found only in the summer, by chance or luck. Love – healthy, deep, lasting – comes when we are ready to welcome it. From this awareness was born 'The Right Time. How to Get Ready for Your Date with Love' (Giacovelli Editore) , the new book by Monica Ricci , psychologist and love coach with a large following on social media, where she helps women suffering from love to stop suffering and build authentic and satisfying relationships.

With a direct, empathetic style rich in clinical insights, Ricci guides the reader on an inner journey of awareness, transforming the idea of love as 'something that has to happen' into an active path. It's not about finding someone who completes us, but about becoming complete ourselves first. " True love doesn't come when we're perfect, but when we're whole . The 'right time' doesn't depend on who you meet, but on how you get there," Ricci explains. "In therapy, I've seen too many people convinced there was something wrong with them, simply because they hadn't yet found 'the right one.' But often they weren't yet free, inside, to welcome the love they desired."

Summer can be the perfect time to prepare for love. "It's a time to slow down, listen to yourself, and make room for what you truly desire. In this book, I accompany women on an inner journey to leave behind unhealthy relationships and learn to recognize healthy love. And what better time than summer to begin this journey? Far from the routine, with more time to read and think, we can finally cleanse ourselves and reconnect with who we are and what we want," remarks the love coach.

What should you do if you're single or have recently gotten out of a relationship? "Being single in the summer can be a precious opportunity, not a void to be filled at all costs. You can use this time to get to know yourself better, work on your self-esteem, and prepare to welcome someone who truly chooses you," Ricci replies. "The summers after a breakup are the most difficult, but they can also mark a rebirth. In 'La Volta Giusta' I help readers make sense of the end of a relationship and transform pain into strength. Summer can become a turning point: the moment when you stop dwelling on the past and truly start focusing on yourself and looking forward."

Summer love: flash in the pan or the beginning of something real? In the book, the psychologist also explains how to distinguish between infatuation and genuine compatibility. "A summer encounter can be intense, but 'The Right Time' is recognized by how it makes you feel: respected, seen, free to be yourself. Not by the quantity of messages, but by the quality of the connection. And above all, 'The Right Time' is recognized by consistency," the author continues.

The book is structured in progressive stages. It helps the reader recognize recurring dysfunctional patterns, such as the tendency to be attracted to emotionally unavailable partners or to confuse intensity with love. It invites readers to make peace with their emotional past, working through wounds and disappointments, and building a healthy relationship with themselves: the only true starting point for authentic relationships. The book deconstructs many toxic myths of romantic love —dependence, the need for others to feel complete, the fear of being alone—and instead offers concrete tools to strengthen self-esteem, authenticity, and emotional freedom.

We often think that 'being ready' means above all looking our best: staying fit, looking good, staying young . But, as Ricci emphasizes, "it's not physical appearance that makes the difference in a healthy romantic relationship. What really matters is self-knowledge, awareness of one's needs, recognizing how one's past influences the present. Truly loving oneself means learning to be comfortable alone, learning to choose clearly and not out of fear of loneliness. It means knowing how to recognize a toxic relationship, but also knowing when it's time to trust and open up. Even in modern times, where dating apps and social media are part of the romantic reality, the difference is always made by the quality of the connection – not the quantity of messages."

At the heart of the book, the love coach also lists the six pillars of self-love: "Accepting yourself, taking care of yourself, recognizing your needs, cultivating self-compassion, writing a letter to yourself, and practicing gratitude." Each concept is accompanied by practical exercises and reflection questions, to turn reading into action.