Book Review: Happily Ever After by Gary Chapman

Happily Ever After.  Doesn't it sound lovely?  That's one of the reasons I chose to read and review this book, but the real motivation was the author.  This book is written by Gary Chapman who is also the author of one of my favorite marriage and relationship books, The Five Love Languages.  Josh and I read The Five Love Language when we were dating and it has been a wonderful help to understanding each other for the last 10+ years.

Let me warn you:  The size of this book can be intimidating.  I'm an avid reader.  I'm a fast reader.  Even to me, 375 pages seemed daunting.  That many pages with such small print seemed even more daunting!  But, that said, don't let it deter you from picking up this book.  Here's why…

I love the format of this book.  It is really like six books in one.  There are six major parts of the book which are further broken down into short, easy to read chapters.  Each of those chapters has a very narrow focus with an application section at the end.  Each major section ends with a recap of the most important points.

I'm drawn to books that are conversational and this one definitely fits that description.  There are plenty of stories – both positive and negative examples – to illustrate the topics of “fighting fair, negotiating change, managing money, raising kids, maintaining a healthy sex life, and getting along with in-laws.”  Dr. Chapman makes it all seem so easy and in reality it can be when we approach issues with wisdom and a desire for mutual success.  This is a great book for those dealing with problems in these areas or desiring to see their relationships in these areas made even better.

 

{Material disclosure: I received this book in exchange for an honest review as a participant in the Tyndale Blog Network. No other compensation was received.}