First published 2022
Kevin and Melissa Fredericks thought they knew how marriage worked. They followed all the rules about dating and relationships, became high school sweethearts, and married in college. Yet they found themselves struggling while other couples seemed to have perfect chemistry. Communication problems led to explosive fights, including the night Melissa kicked Kevin out of her car. Kevin nearly had an emotional affair early in their marriage. They discovered that the endless rules they learned growing up taught them nothing about what actually makes relationships function. Drawing from expert interviews and nearly twenty years of marriage, the Fredericks argue that compatibility gets overrated, communication involves much more than talking, and viewing divorce as an option can strengthen your bond. They tackle forbidden topics like jealousy and being both Christian and sex positive. Their approach combines brutal honesty with humor, acknowledging that real marriage requires constant work on difficult conversations that matter most.
Genres: christian-fiction, relationships, non-fiction, contemporary-romance
Vibes: honest, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, second-chance
256 pages · Hardcover · Convergent Books
Content warnings: emotional-abuse