This weekend “He’s Just Not That Into You” topped the box office charts with a whopping $27,465,000. Dismissed as “puerile” by the New York Times and called “charming” by E!, the star-studded ensemble flick (Drew Barrymore, Scarlett Johansson, Ben Affleck and more) may not be Oscar material. Still, it pays satisfying homage to the books that have guided us through dating hell.

Whether you’re agonizing over that first date with the first class schmuck or you’re an old hand at husband hunting, reading has always been fundamental to decoding love. We break down the five essential and endlessly enlightening dating guides of all time, so you don’t have to.