Last night I watched an interview between a marriage coach and a couple who’s relationship I really admire. Their overall message centered around the importance of continuously growing in your relationships, as well as general marriage advice. At the end of the interview, they challenged everyone to reflect on how they have grown in their own relationship this year. Shawn and I are in our first year of marriage. Because our relationship is still so new, I’d say we are in a big growing stage. We are still learning a lot about each other every day. But something that contributed a lot to our growth as a couple this year was two books I recently read. They made such a difference for us, I wanted to share with everyone these two books EVERY couple should read.

The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts

The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman has become my favorite book; one that I believe in so much, that I’ve started gifting a copy to all of my couples. Without giving too much away, the idea behind this book is that everyone has a primary love language – the way they best receive love. If you know how your partner best receives love, you will be able to better express love to them. It is such a simple concept, but if you haven’t given it much thought, there’s a chance you may not be giving your partner exactly what they need to feel loved. Both of you working at this concept will ultimately lead to a more fulfilling relationship. Recognizing in ourselves how we like to be loved on and discussing that together helped Shawn and I better understand each other this year. Read more about it and get your own copy here.

The Total Money Makeover

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey is another must read for couples. Unlike The 5 Love Languages, this book isn’t specifically about relationships, but it’s concepts definitely help couples have a stronger marriage. Finances are one of the top sticking points in marriages, and not being on the same page about money is one of the leading causes of divorce. If you’re not already familiar with Dave Ramsey, he’s basically become a guru on all things money, business, and investing. His books and resources help people get control of their money, get out of debt, and build wealth. Reading The Total Money Makeover prompted some good discussions between Shawn and I about money and our financial goals. Read more about it and get your own copy here.

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Photo of Shawn and me by the lovely Laurenda Marie Photography.