In an interview with American Songwriter, "Someone Like You" co-writer Dan Wilson broke down how the song came to life. "[Adele] told me she wanted to write a song about her heartbreak ... that was how she put it. She told me a little bit about the guy who broke up with her, and I think maybe part of my contribution was to help keep the song really simple and direct — very personal," he explained.

Adele is a superstar notoriously private about her relationships, and instead, channels her experiences into her music. She's only dropped the first name of her ex — Alex — who inspired her hit breakup anthem once in an award show speech, but has left enough breadcrumbs in various interviews and live concert monologues that point to photographer Alex Sturrock, as reported by the Daily Mail. Adele and Sturrock dated between 2008-9, and in that time, he often posted pictures of the singer on his website (via HuffPost). 

The lyrics in the first verse of "Someone Like You" are very telling. Immediately, Adele confronts an ex-lover who has moved on from their relationship and is now married: "I heard that you're settled down / That you found a girl and you're married now" (via Genius). The significance behind these powerful opening lines is that in October 2009, just a few months after their breakup, the singer-songwriter found out that Sturrock got engaged (via the Daily Mail).