How can couples improve communication?

Good communication is key to a long-lasting and healthy relationship , but sometimes maintaining that communication is easier said than done. Relationship books like the ones mentioned above are always a helpful place to start. You might also consider therapy, whether individually or as a couple, to gain tools and guidance for healing and improving your relationships.

What are the five love languages?

According to Gary Chapman's research, the five love languages are words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch, acts of service, and receiving gifts. Read " The 5 Love Languages " to learn more about each one, as well as how you personally feel and give love.

The 13 Best Relationship Books of 2023

Maintaining healthy relationships takes work. Not just romantic relationships, but those with children, relatives, and even friends. It's important to constantly nurture each relationship, communicate effectively, and learn conflict resolution, all while staying true to yourself and what you need emotionally.

"The people who you spend your time with are going to reflect your view of self," says Kelly Campbell, an associate professor of psychology. So the happier you are, the more fulfilling your other relationships can be. One way to improve relationships with others and with yourself is reading books by qualified authors that offer actionable tools for you to implement into your everyday life.

To gain insight into the best relationship books for effective communication, we asked Campbell for her top recommendations to foster healthy relationships and be a better partner, friend, family member, and overall person.

Read on for the best relationship books for effective communication.

You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life

$9 at Target

For those of us who cringe at the thought of reading a self-help book, Jen Sincero gets it. But she also knows that most people, especially when it comes to their relationships with themselves, could use a little advice. "You Are a Badass" will show you how to build self-esteem, which Campbell agrees is the bedrock of every other relationship in your life.

When Sorry Isn't Enough: Making Things Right with Those You Love

$14 at Amazon

There comes a time in every relationship when a screwup can't be covered by a simple sorry. Chapman and Thomas break down what makes for a meaningful apology, and how to potentially fix relationships—from romantic partners to friends and family—that feel strained. Can you guess what that includes? Yup, honesty, the trait that Campbell says is important in every bond we share.

Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar

$18 at Amazon

Cheryl Strayed may be most famous for writing "Wild," but before she had a recognizable name, she was the anonymous advice columnist for The Rumpus. Her book, "Tiny Beautiful Things," compiles the questions she received and the heartfelt advice she gave under the pen name, Sugar, as well as essays she wrote about her own experiences. It's a mix of memoir and universal self-help that'll inspire personal growth and empathy for others.

The Wisdom of Sundays: Life-Changing Insights from Super Soul Conversations

$28 at Amazon

Leave it to perennial self-help icon Oprah Winfrey to distill her favorite life lessons into one inspirational book. "The Wisdom of Sundays" condenses more than 200 hours of conversations she's had with like-minded public figures on her show, "Super Soul Sunday," to teach us how to live with more fulfillment, connection, and gratitude.

The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying

$25 at Amazon $18 at Barnesandnoble.com

In 2015, when Nina Riggs was 38, she was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. "The Bright Hour" is a memoir that she wrote in the last two years of her life to explore how death is a part of existence—and why that shouldn't be intimidating. It's a bittersweet read, but its greatest accomplishment is in teaching readers how to appreciate their closest relationships in the moment.

Tell Me More: Stories About the 12 Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say

$26 at Amazon

According to Campbell, you can figure out if your relationship is healthy if "you're happy or things are going well at least 80 percent of the time." Campbell does say that this isn't always easy to figure out, although journaling can help, and that's why a page-turner like "Tell Me More" can be comforting. The book uses a collection of essays to show how all the different relationships in our lives include one thing: complications. By showing us that she doesn't always get it right, either, Corrigan offers up a mix of hope, humor, and approachable lessons that make the many layers of our relationships feel universal.

Love, Sex and Staying Warm: Keeping the Flame Alive

$11 at Amazon

Everyone knows about the "honeymoon phase" of new relationships. And while that feeling transitions into something deeper as love develops, it shouldn't go away completely. Rosenthal teaches readers how to maintain that initial spark and strengthen it into a lasting partnership. Campbell also agrees with keeping the romance alive, even if it simply means "discovering a new neighborhood together." She says that a mix of predictability and novelty is important to a healthy romantic relationship.

The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts

$17 at Amazon $15 at Walmart

This popular pick among the best relationship books will help you figure out what your love language is—such as a preference for more physical touch—so that you can better communicate your wants and needs to your partner, according to Campbell. "What it comes down to is knowing how you feel loved, and [Chapman] has simplified it into five languages," she continues. "It's basic communication.

I'll Push You: A Journey of 500 Miles, Two Best Friends, and One Wheelchair

$18 at Amazon

Calling all friendships: Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck's lifelong relationship may be a new standard. This book follows Skeesuck, a wheelchair user who has multifocal acquired motor axonopathy, a neuromuscular disease, and Gray as they trek across Spain's challenging Camino de Santiago trail over 34 days. The two men exemplify the depth that can be found in friendship, which Campbell calls "the family we can create." She explains, "When things are going good, they're there to celebrate our successes. And when you're going through tough times, they're also there to support you through that.

Things I Wish I'd Known Before We Got Married

$15 at Amazon

Gary Chapman is appearing yet again on this list because of this reflective book on marriage. Similar to her thoughts on "The Five Love Languages," Campbell thinks that these types of books can be beneficial because they teach you how to figure out what you want before entering into a relationship—even one as serious as marriage. "You have to know yourself and know your boundaries because if you don't, you may end up in a situation that you're uncomfortable with and a choice that wasn't right for you," she says.

I Hear You: The Surprisingly Simple Skill Behind Extraordinary Relationships

$25 at Amazon

How much of your self-esteem comes down to simply wanting to be validated? That's the premise behind this book, which shows you how to communicate using one powerful skill: listening. And once you understand what a loved one is saying, you can practice using affirmations to prove it. It's especially important in romantic relationships, in which Campbell believes that "partners are sculpting one another into their ideal selves." She says that "each person has this individual view of who they want to become, and a healthy relationship is helping you get to be that person."

Happiness Is a Choice You Make: Lessons from a Year Among the Oldest Old

$26 at Amazon

In this charming book, Leland speaks to six New Yorkers to see what life lessons they would share with others about obtaining personal happiness. But there's a catch: Each of the people Leland speaks to is at least 85 years old. What they describe is similar to Campbell's advice that we have to show respect to ourselves first in order to be happy. "Treat yourself how you would treat a friend," she says.

Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find-and Keep-Love

$17 at Amazon

Those of us who are comforted by scientific facts and collections of data will get a kick out of "Attached." Campbell says that our attachment style, otherwise known as being insecure or secure, stems from our earliest relationships—and we have to know what style we gravitate toward in order to communicate those feelings to our partners. The good news? We can learn how to adopt healthier attachment styles with acknowledgment and practice. "It's a socialized thing; it's not a biological thing," she says.

Meet the Expert

Kelly Campbell is an associate professor of psychology at California State University, San Bernardino.

What to Look for in Relationship Books

Experienced Author

You don't want to take relationship advice from just anybody. If you're trying to improve or just learn more about your relationships, it's important to turn to the experts who work in the field and have conducted extensive research. Whether it's a psychologist speaking on the science of relationships or someone with vast life experiences who can effectively reflect on life's lessons in a memoir, look for books by reputable authors to ensure you're getting the best possible advice for your own life.

Specific Topic

Communication alone is an incredibly broad subject, so narrow down your book options by considering exactly what you'd like to focus on in your relationships. Do you struggle with setting boundaries? Do you want to make your partner feel more loved on a daily basis? Do you hope to improve your own insecurities in order to show up more fully in your relationships? Think about your specific needs, then go from there.

FAQ

How can couples improve communication?

Good communication is key to a long-lasting and healthy relationship, but sometimes maintaining that communication is easier said than done. Relationship books like the ones mentioned above are always a helpful place to start. You might also consider therapy, whether individually or as a couple, to gain tools and guidance for healing and improving your relationships.
What are the five love languages?

According to Gary Chapman's research, the five love languages are words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch, acts of service, and receiving gifts. Read "The 5 Love Languages" to learn more about each one, as well as how you personally feel and give love.

Why Trust Brides

Kelly Dawson has worked as a writer, editor, and content marketing specialist with a focus on relationships. Currently, she freelances from Los Angeles for publications such as MyDomaine, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Domino, Bon Appétit, McSweeney’s, Vox, Tastemade, and Thrillist.

Marriage Secrets From Couples Who Have Been Together 25 Years or More

Article Sources

Brides takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.