Lynne Walton Coles has released a book series that addresses social media-fueled emotional affairs as a distinct category of infidelity. The series, titled Love in the Times of Likes: The Danger of DMs, provides strategies to recognize, prevent, and recover from affairs that begin in direct messages.
Coles, based in Sacramento, CA, wrote the series after observing how social media has changed relationship dynamics. “I wrote the Love in the Times of Likes series because social media has completely changed the rules of relationships, and most people don’t realize it until it’s too late,” she said. “My books give readers the clarity and strategies to protect what matters most.”
Unlike most relationship books that address infidelity broadly, Coles focuses specifically on DM-specific emotional affairs. She notes that the psychology, patterns, and damage of these affairs are distinct from other forms of infidelity. Her work bridges clinical research and lived experience, drawing on sources such as Gottman, Esther Perel, and neuroscience.
The series covers three perspectives: the betrayed partner, the unfaithful partner, and the affair partner. This multi-perspective approach is rare and, according to Coles, makes the work more credible and complete. She emphasizes that most people who end up in a DM affair never intended to cheat. “That’s not an excuse, it’s a warning,” she said. “My series exists to help people recognize the patterns before they become a crisis and rebuild when they do.”
For couples and individuals seeking help with social media infidelity, the series offers actionable strategies. It is designed to read like a trusted friend who also did the homework, making complex psychological concepts accessible.
Coles’ work fills a gap in relationship literature by treating DM-specific emotional affairs as their own category. The series is available now and aims to help readers protect their relationships in the digital age.