The Best Relationship Advice for Happy Couples

bell hooks is considered one of the most brilliant writers about love and the power of community, and her recent passing is a great loss to the literary community. “All About Love” is required reading for anyone who wants to learn how to love without limits, be unafraid to ask for what they need, and show up fully and authentically in their relationships.

Before starting a conversation with someone, you have to be sure you’re communicating in the same language. The same goes for relationships: Are the things that make you feel loved the same as your partner’s? If not, do you know how to make your partner feel loved, and ask for the same in return? That’s where this book comes in. It easily breaks down the five things that people often need to feel loved, so you and your partner can be on the same page.

What exactly is love anyway? An anthropologist scanned the brains of people in love to find out. Her fascinating results shine a light on everything from love at first sight to the evolution of passion. Stimulating for both the romantic-at-heart and the scientifically-minded.

Representing your true self is key to proper communication, and thus relationships, according to Buddhist monk and Zen master Thich Nat Hanh. His impactful guide to communication is filled with examples from his work with everyone from couples to families, offering insights to the listening and speaking skills that will change the way you live.

In the day and age of Tinder and online dating (and COVID-19), finding “true love” seems more elusive than ever. Part memoir, part scientific investigation into how love works, Mandy Catron has advice on love that both hopeless romantics and jaded cynics need to hear.