Romantic Relationships in a Time of 'Cold Intimacies' : Palgrave Macmillan : 9783030292553 : 303029255X : 18 Nov 2019 : This book addresses the nature of intimacy and relationships in a time of what Eva Illouz characterizes as ?cold intimacies'. The contributors to this collection highlight the ambivalence and tensions contained in ?intimacy' by uncovering a nuanced and complex dynamic, in which interpersonal relations and the public sphere are mutually constituted. A range of topics areexplored, including the new conditions of ?choice', the abundance of partners, class and emotional competence, rational decision-making and the specific forms of ?love pain' which can emerge from cooled intimacy. The chapters also shed light on the limits of this theoretical contribution, highlighting the importance of parenting, violence, poverty, and other material constraints that continue to limit and frame individuals' romantic choices. Overall this volume presents an interpretation of intimacy tha