A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

Real Life Stories

You’ve got to read it to believe it! These true stories seem almost too good to be true, but we promise that we couldn’t make these up. From love to loss and from survival to unbelieavable coincidences—we’ve got the wildest stories to keep you informed, entertained, and inspired.

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8 Remarkable Stories of the Most Unlikely Friendships

Would you pal around with your spouse’s ex? Or buddy up to someone who put 
a foot in your face? These readers did—
and found lifelong companions.

My Best Friend Scammed Me Out of $92,000, Forcing Me into Bankruptcy

She swindled me out of $92,000, forcing me into bankruptcy and destroying my once sunny outlook. But I finally...


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16 Things We’re All Looking Forward to Once Social Distancing Ends

Real-people share stories about what they're most looking forward to doing after self-quarantine restrictions finally let up.

Men and Women Share the Sweetest Thing Their Partner Has Ever Said to Them

It may feel like romance can get lost in the shuffle of everyday life, but these couples remind us that...


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24 Summer Love Stories That Will Make You Swoon

According to these truly epic tales of romance, one way to find a love that lasts in summer is to...


Why Forgetting Their Anniversary Was the Best Thing This Couple Ever Did

This couple's "every-other-year" anniversary rule is the best idea ever.

I Was Afraid to Tell My Grandmother I Was Gay. Her Reaction Left Me Speechless.

For years, I lived in fear that my conservative grandmother would discover I was gay. Once she did, the reality...


How a Boy and His Telephone Operator Formed a Lovely, Lasting Friendship

In this Reader's Digest Classic, originally published in 1966 as "The Voice in the Box," a little boy forges a...


A Devoted Husband Confesses: Why I Wear Two Wedding Bands

A man explains to a stranger how wearing a second wedding band has changed his life.