9 Best Books for Couples: Relationship Books You’ll Love

Discover the top recommendations of books for couples. Explore must-read works in our curated list for better relationships.

Relationships require effort to build and maintain. That’s why finding ways to strengthen it constantly is essential. Still, problems are inevitable when one is in a committed relationship. Especially if you’re a part of a married couple, it becomes crucial to work together, compromise, and find solutions.

You can reach out to friends, family, or professionals like Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists or LMFTs for help. Alternatively, you can prepare yourself to navigate the maze of relationships through reading. Interested in this topic? Check out our round-up of essays about relationships.

1. The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship: A Toltec Wisdom Book by Don Miguel Ruiz

Don Miguel Ruiz, inspired by Toltec Wisdom, created The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship: A Toltec Wisdom Book. He stresses the belief that we are the main characters of our life stories. We hold the pen to write our life scripts. Further, Ruiz delves into the impact of fear-based patterns on relationships and how these patterns hinder one’s ability to experience love fully.

The Mastery of Love uses stories, metaphors, and allegories to convey its messages poignantly. Through these narratives, Ruiz provides readers with the tools to heal emotional wounds and restore the sense of playfulness and freedom essential for loving relationships. It underscores the importance of mastering self-love as a foundation for building healthy, loving relationships with others. Read it on Amazon; click here.

“Finally, if you are aware that no one else can make you happy, and that happiness is the result of love coming out of you, this becomes the greatest mastery of the Toltecs, the Mastery of Love.”

Don Miguel Ruiz, The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship: A Toltec Wisdom Book

2. Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Dr. Sue Johnson

Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love is a mind-blowing guide to cultivating lasting connections in romantic relationships. Dr. Sue Johnson, a clinical psychologist and couples therapist, has leveraged her expertise to create this book. She presents advice and gives indispensable insights into building healthy relationships. Though it uses in-depth research and clinical studies, it’s still easy to understand. You might also be interested in our list of books to read after a breakup.

Dr. Johnson put forward the essential elements of a secure partnership. She also explores sensitive issues such as attachment cycles and unhealthy behaviors. Then, she offers practical strategies to break free from these patterns. Read it on Amazon; click here.

“When we feel safely linked to our partners, we more easily roll with the hurts they inevitably inflict, and we are less likely to be aggressively hostile when we get mad at them.“

Dr. Sue Johnson, Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love

3. The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert by John Gottman, Ph. D. and Nan Silver

Dr. John Gottman highlights emotional intelligence as a crucial element in marriage, further explained in his book The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert. His years-long research on couples’ dynamics has allowed him to pinpoint habits that can either strengthen or weaken a marriage. These provide readers with a clear understanding of what makes marriages thrive.

The book not only illuminates the potential pitfalls that couples can encounter, such as conflicts related to religion or work. It also offers concrete strategies and bonding activities to help resolve these issues and promote intimacy. Read it on Amazon; click here.

“Betrayal is, fundamentally, any act or life choice that doesn’t prioritize the commitment and put the partner ‘before all others.’”

John Gottman Ph. D. and Nan Silver, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert

4. The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts by Gary Chapman

Gary Chapman delves deep into the concept that love is fundamentally about communication, understanding, and the delicate balance of give and take within a partnership. The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts is a practical guide for couples to serve each other and build lasting relationships.

It’s also a fantastic preparatory guide for those considering marriage. The book offers wisdom on critical transitions from initial behaviors and expectations to the necessity of compromise. The 5 Love Languages isn’t limited to romantic relationships. It extends to helping individuals improve their network by teaching them how to identify and cater to various love languages. It’s a valuable resource for personal growth and building stronger connections with others. Read it on Amazon; click here.

“Our most basic emotional need is not to fall in love but to be genuinely loved by another, to know a love that grows out of reason and choice, not instinct. I need to be loved by someone who chooses to love me, who sees in me something worth loving.”

Gary Chapman, The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts

5. Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence by Esther Perel

In Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence, Esther Perel explores the interplay of sustaining and reigniting couples’ sexual spark amidst the routines of domestic life. Via case studies and candid discussions, she breaks down how sex within committed relationships can further evolve into something exciting and poetic.

The book offers readers a fresh perspective on relationships, including their sex life. It urges couples to welcome the complexities of eroticism within the context of love and bonding. It’s a witty, straightforward work that’s easy to digest. Perel fearlessly tackles subjects often considered taboo or challenging to discuss, clarifying the underlying dynamics that can hinder or enrich a couple’s intimate life. Read it on Amazon; click here.

“When people become fused — when two become one — connection can no longer happen. There is no one to connect with. Thus separateness is a precondition for connection: this is the essential paradox of intimacy and sex.”

Esther Perel, Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence

6. Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples by Harville Hendrix, Ph.D.

Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples offers realistic advice on strengthening relationships. In the book, Harville Hendrix presents a one-of-a-kind therapy program, providing couples with a detailed roadmap to navigate partnerships better. He draws inspiration from Freudian psychoanalysis, diving deep into the human mind, uncovering repressed childhood desires, and explaining how our partners often mirror certain aspects of our parents.

One of the non-fiction book’s central themes is that, over time, partners can unwittingly develop behavioral patterns similar to their parents. Some can lead to friction and emotional distance. Lovers then become enemies. Hendrix lays out actionable strategies to prevent this from happening. Read it on Amazon; click here.

“Accept the reality that your partner is not you.

Be an advocate for your partner’s separate reality and potential.

Make your relationship a sacred space by removing all negativity.

Always honor your partner’s boundaries.

Practice the Imago Dialogue until it becomes second nature and you can interact spontaneously once again.”

Harville Hendrix, Ph.D., Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples

7. Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find — and Keep — Love by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller

Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find — and Keep — Love uses science to untangle the complexities of human relationships. Authored by a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, the book dives deep into attachment styles. It also presents their influence on one’s ability to find and keep love. Readers get to identify their attachment style. They can also determine their current or potential partners’ styles for a fulfilling long-term relationship.

Though it uses science to resolve problems with one’s communication skills and other issues, Attached opts for simple language. This is a must-read self-help book for those who want to know more about themselves and understand their attachment styles. Dr. Amir Levine also hosts the “The Think Grow” podcast, where he dives deep into attachment theory. Read it on Amazon; click here.

“If you want to take the road to independence and happiness, first find the right person to depend on and travel down it with them.”

Amir Levine and Rachel Heller, Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find — and Keep — Love

8. A Year of Us: A Couple’s Journal: One Question a Day to Spark Fun and Meaningful Conversations by Alicia Munoz

A Year of Us: A Couple’s Journal: One Question a Day to Spark Fun and Meaningful Conversations offers an engaging way for couples to deepen their connection. Moreover, it’s a workbook you and your loved one can work on in just a few minutes daily. Alicia Munoz, a couples therapist and counselor, aims to simplify open communication and mutual understanding between partners.

The journal’s appeal lies in its simplicity and consistency. Each day, it presents a thought-provoking question encouraging partners to reflect on various aspects of their relationship. These questions cover a wide spectrum, ranging from light-hearted prompts to deeper emotional inquiries. Couples may reminisce about shared experiences or contemplate their future together. Read it on Amazon; click here.

“Taking time to reflect and make your motivations conscious will steer you in the direction of your relationship goals.”

Alicia Munoz, A Year of Us: A Couple’s Journal: One Question a Day to Spark Fun and Meaningful Conversations

9. I Said This, You Heard That – Workbook by Kathleen Edelman

The power of words can’t be overstated enough, especially in relationships. That’s what I Said This, You Heard That – Workbook highlights. Words can escalate trivial arguments, plant negative emotions no date night can erase, and many more.

Anyone who wants to improve their communication skills should have this book. It not only criticizes what we say but also the how and why. Note that I Said This, You Heard That is rooted in religious logic, making it one of the top book recommendations for those who wish to integrate faith into their practices. It comes with free online videos and quizzes that enhance readers’ learning experience. Read it on Amazon; click here.

“If you’ve ever said the wrong thing (or said the right thing the wrong way), you know how quickly your mouth can make a big mess. But it doesn’t have to be that way.”

Kathleen Edelman, I Said This, You Heard That – Workbook

To read more about this topic, check out the top essays about love and relationships!