Best Relationships Books — 79 Honest Reviews
Every book below was read and judged on one question: will it change what you do on Monday morning? Each review tells you who should read it, who should skip it and the three ideas worth keeping.
Set Boundaries, Find Peace
Nedra Glover Tawwab · Relationships
Clear, specific and immediately useful; a workbook for the conflict-avoidant.
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The Good Life
Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz · Relationships
The science behind a truth most people already suspect; worth the reminder.
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Boundaries
Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend · Relationships
The foundational boundaries book; faith-based, broadly applicable.
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The Let Them Theory
Mel Robbins · Relationships
A useful two-word reframe wrapped in a long book.
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Nonviolent Communication
Marshall B. Rosenberg · Relationships
Demanding and transformative; the most useful communication method for close relationships.
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Attached
Amir Levine and Rachel Heller · Relationships
Clear and eye-opening; a strong first book on adult attachment.
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Hold Me Tight
Dr. Sue Johnson · Relationships
The best evidence-based book for couples; gentle and specific.
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Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
Lindsay C. Gibson · Relationships
Precise, validating and humane; a book, not therapy, and a good companion to it.
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The 5 Love Languages
Gary Chapman · Relationships
Simple, popular and useful as a conversation starter.
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The Power of the Other
Henry Cloud · Relationships
Persuasive and practical; a good case against going it alone.
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The Like Switch
Jack Schafer · Relationships
Practical and specific; useful tools, used with care.
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The Power of Moments
Chip Heath and Dan Heath · Relationships
Delightful and useful; a book about making life less flat.
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Big Potential
Shawn Achor · Relationships
Hopeful and practical; a collaborative view of success.
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Emotional Intelligence
Daniel Goleman · Relationships
Foundational, long and influential; the source text.
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How to Know a Person
David Brooks · Relationships
Gentle and humane; a book that makes you a better listener.
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How to Not Die Alone
Logan Ury · Relationships
Smart, practical and kind; the best modern dating book.
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Drama Free
Nedra Glover Tawwab · Relationships
Specific and compassionate; a useful guide for complicated families.
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Consider This
Nedra Glover Tawwab · Relationships
Light and pleasant; a companion, not a course.
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Platonic
Marisa G. Franco · Relationships
Researched and warm; an important book on adult friendship.
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Friendship
Lydia Denworth · Relationships
Engaging science; a good 'why' for a neglected part of life.
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The Book of Boundaries
Melissa Urban · Relationships
A practical script book; useful when words fail you.
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The Mastery of Love
Don Miguel Ruiz · Relationships
Simple and gentle; a parable on self-love.
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Why Marriages Succeed or Fail
John Gottman with Nan Silver · Relationships
Early version; still diagnostic.
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Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay
Mira Kirshenbaum · Relationships
Direct and useful for the stuck.
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Boundaries in Marriage
Henry Cloud and John Townsend · Relationships
Practical and widely used.
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The Highly Sensitive Person in Love
Elaine N. Aron · Relationships
Specific and useful for couples.
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How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age
Dale Carnegie & Associates · Relationships
Useful translation, lesser voice.
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Crucial Confrontations
Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler · Relationships
Broken promises, handled.
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Talking to Strangers
Malcolm Gladwell · Relationships
Compelling and humbling; a case for caution in judging.
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Captivate
Vanessa Van Edwards · Relationships
Tactical and friendly; a playbook for the socially reluctant.
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The Art of Communicating
Thich Nhat Hanh · Relationships
Short and serene; a different kind of communication book.
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Why You Will Marry the Wrong Person
The School of Life · Relationships
Short, dry, corrective.
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Ten Lessons to Transform Your Marriage
John M. Gottman, Julie Schwartz Gottman and Joan DeClaire · Relationships
The method, on transcripts.
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The Man's Guide to Women
John Gottman, Julie Schwartz Gottman, Douglas Abrams and Rachel Carlton Abrams · Relationships
The research, for men.
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Created for Connection
Sue Johnson and Kenneth Sanderfer · Relationships
Hold Me Tight, for Christians.
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Conscious Loving
Gay Hendricks and Kathlyn Hendricks · Relationships
Radical honesty, for couples.
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The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
John M. Gottman and Nan Silver · Relationships
Rigorous and warm; the marriage book.
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Eight Dates
John Gottman, Julie Schwartz Gottman, Doug Abrams and Rachel Carlton Abrams · Relationships
Practical and doable; conversations that matter.
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Getting the Love You Want
Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt · Relationships
Influential and useful; held as a lens.
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The Five Love Languages
Gary Chapman · Relationships
Simple and widely useful; take it as a tool.
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Running on Empty
Jonice Webb · Relationships
Clarifying and kind; names an invisible wound.
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Big Friendship
Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman · Relationships
Honest and warm; friendship taken seriously.
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We Need to Talk
Celeste Headlee · Relationships
Brief and useful; conversation rules that work.
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