Dr. Alexandra Solomon opens by arguing that genuine readiness for healthy romantic relationships requires honest self-examination of your own patterns and needs before pursuing partnership, rather than assuming relationship health depends purely on finding the right partner.

Why this self-examination-first framing matters:

• Many people focus primarily on finding the right partner while neglecting genuine self-examination regarding their own patterns and needs that significantly affect relationship health regardless of partner selection
• Solomon's approach, grounded in her academic and clinical relationship psychology background, emphasizes this self-examination as foundational preparation for genuinely healthy partnership
• This opening establishes the book's foundational self-examination-first framework, motivating its subsequent detailed guidance

This opening establishes the book's foundational premise, emphasizing honest self-examination as necessary preparation preceding genuinely healthy romantic partnership.