Simmonds uncovers the forgotten world of breach‑of‑promise lawsuits, where jilted lovers took their ex‑partners to court for failing to marry them. Drawing on archives from the 19th and 20th centuries, she reconstructs dramatic cases involving seduction, betrayal, class conflict, and shifting social expectations. Through these stories, she shows how the law tried to regulate intimacy, protect women’s reputations, and enforce moral norms—while also revealing the emotional and economic stakes of courtship. The book becomes a witty, insightful exploration of how love has never been separate from law, and how the courtroom once served as a stage for heartbreak.