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love & lust

Photograph:

ASHISH SHAH

When to

Let an Ex

Back In—

an d When

Not to

Is your old flame really worth it, or are you

trying to hold on to something that’s long

gone? By Jessica Goodman

A

fter breaking up more than three

years ago, the hottest celeb couple is

officially back on...and smouldering.

Of course, we’re talking about Liam

Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus, aka Miam. But

wait, you thought we meant Chloë Grace

Moretz and Brooklyn Beckham? Or maybe

Chris Evans and Jenny Slate?

Yeah, lately there seems to be lots of former

couples, famous and not, who’ve rekindled

their love (even temporarily). In fact, one study

found nearly 45 percent of people aged 17 to

24 have gotten back together with an ex at least

once. But how do you know if backsliding is a

good or bad idea?

Despite that depressing old adage about

people never changing, evidence suggests that

your connection with someone from the past

actually can transform, given the right set of

circumstances.

In fact, exes who reunite tend to have a

higher level of “intimate self disclosure” than

couples who are making it official for the first

time, says Sarah Halpern-Meekin, PhD, an

associate professor in the School of Human

Ecology at the University of Wisconsin at

Madison. “They’re more likely to share

thoughts, fears, hopes, and feelings and feel

bonded in an important way,” she explains.

Here’s how to size up whether your happily-

ever-after, version 2.0, is a go.