Books
Recommended Books for Couples
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
John M. Gottman, PhD
Summary: Dr. John Gottman, a leading relationship researcher, shares 40 years of insights with practical steps, exercises, and tools to help couples build stronger relationships.
Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love
Dr. Sue Johnson
Summary: Dr. Sue Johnson is a Canadian clinical psychologist and developer of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). This book teaches couples how to deepen their bond through emotional responsiveness and vulnerability.
Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find and Keep Love
Amir Levine & Rachel Heller
Summary: Dr. Amir Levine is a psychiatrist and neuroscientist. He and co-author Rachel Heller apply attachment theory to adult romantic relationships, helping readers identify their attachment style and navigate love more securely.
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life
Marshall B. Rosenberg, PhD
Summary: Dr. Rosenberg developed Nonviolent Communication (NVC) to help people connect with empathy and resolve conflict peacefully. Though not limited to couples, it's widely used in relationship counselling.
Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence
Esther Perel
Summary: Esther Perel is a Belgian-American psychotherapist and relationship expert. This book explores how to maintain desire in long-term relationships while fostering emotional intimacy.
Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples
Harville Hendrix, PhD & Helen LaKelly Hunt, PhD
Summary: Hendrix and Hunt are marriage therapists who created Imago Relationship Therapy. Their book helps couples understand childhood wounds and how they show up in adult relationships.
Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (And More Life to Live)
Eve Rodsky
Summary: Eve Rodsky is a Harvard-trained lawyer and time management expert. This book helps couples rebalance household and emotional labour with a practical card game system.
The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts
Gary Chapman
Summary: Dr. Gary Chapman, a counsellor and pastor, introduced the idea that people express and receive love in five key ways. The book helps couples understand and speak each other’s love language.