Best Sociology of Marriage & Family Books of 2025

The Fair Play Deck is a conversation deck designed for couples to prioritize what's important in their relationship. Based on the New York Times best-seller Fair Play, the card deck helps couples rebalance their to-do lists, reclaim their time, and rediscover their unique interests. The deck allows couples to choose tasks that apply to their family, claim Unicorn Space cards for personal development, and work towards success in their relationship and parenting. Written by Eve Rodsky, The Fair Play Deck is a must-read for couples looking for balance, efficiency, and peace in their home.

Fair Play by Eve Rodsky is a game-changing book for couples looking to find a better way to divide domestic responsibilities. The author provides a hands-on strategy that helps prioritize tasks and achieve household harmony. The book offers a completely new way to divvy up domestic responsibilities by identifying the issue of unequal labor and providing a solution to this universal problem. With easy-to-follow rules, conversation starters, and 100 household tasks, Fair Play helps rebalance home life, reignite relationships, and reclaim Unicorn Space. This impressive debut is highly recommended for couples searching for ways to better manage their families and achieve a balance of domestic work.

The book "Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love" is a must-read for couples who want to strengthen their relationship. Written by Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, two of the world's leading marriage researchers and clinicians, the book offers a step-by-step guide to communicating about essential topics such as money, sex, and trust. With interactive activities and prompts, couples can stay open, curious, and talking to each other. Whether you're newly together or a long-time couple, this book will help rediscover your partner and realize your hopes and dreams for the love you desire and deserve.

The Love Dare: New Revised Edition is a 40-day challenge for husbands and wives to understand and practice unconditional love. The book is a journey towards finding true intimacy and developing a dynamic marriage. The second edition features a special link to a free online marriage evaluation, a new preface by Stephen and Alex Kendrick, minor text updates, and select testimonials from The Love Dare readers. This marriage book is a must-read for couples looking to strengthen their relationship and build a more loving and fulfilling marriage.

Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Dr. Sue Johnson is a remarkable guide for couples looking to improve their relationship. Dr. Johnson's Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy program is a groundbreaking approach that focuses on the emotional attachment between partners. The book offers practical exercises and seven profound conversations to help couples recognize defining moments in their relationship and reshape them to create a secure and lasting bond. With illuminating advice and stories from Dr. Johnson's practice, readers will learn how to nurture, protect, and grow their relationship. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to strengthen their relationship.

Above Ground by Clint Smith is a remarkable poetry collection that explores the emotional landscape of fatherhood and how it shapes our sense of the world. The poems delve into personal and historical legacies, the wonder of discovering the world through a child's eyes, and the challenges of raising a family in a world filled with social and political turmoil. Smith's lyrical and narrative poems take readers on a journey through his children's early years and the changing world they are growing up in. Above Ground is a breathtaking collection that showcases Smith's abundant wisdom and generosity.

Polysecure by Jessica Fern is a groundbreaking book that explores attachment theory in the context of consensual nonmonogamy. The author offers a nested model of attachment and trauma that expands our understanding of how emotional experiences can impact our relationships. In addition to theory, the book provides six practical strategies to help individuals achieve secure attachments in their multiple relationships. The book is a must-read for anyone seeking emotionally intimate and securely attached relationships with multiple partners, and for clinicians working with individuals in polyamorous relationships.

The Ethical Slut, Third Edition is a comprehensive guide to non-traditional relationships that has been updated to reflect modern attitudes. It offers practical advice on communication, jealousy, and maintaining a relationship with integrity. There are interviews with poly millennials, tributes to polyamory pioneers, and tools for conflict resolution. The authors also address nontraditional relationships beyond the polyamorous paradigm of “more than two.” This book is a classic and a must-read for anyone interested in non-monogamy. It provides an excellent resource for those looking to explore ethical non-monogamy and offers a refreshing perspective on love, sex, and intimacy.

The Love Dare Day by Day: A Year of Devotions for Couples is a one-year devotional that provides 365 daily readings on the scriptural principles of love, 52 weekly dares, and specific prayers to enrich the relationship with God and one's spouse. Written by Stephen and Alex Kendrick, this book is an excellent resource for couples looking to strengthen their marriage. Its unique feature is the dozens of Go Deeper sections that enhance personal Bible study, making it more than just a devotional. Overall, The Love Dare Day by Day is a must-read for any couple seeking to deepen their love and commitment to one another.

The book "101 Questions to Ask Before You Get Engaged" by H. Norman Wright is a helpful guide for couples who are considering marriage. The author, a well-respected Christian counselor, provides a series of in-depth and personal questions to help couples discern if they've really found "the One." The book also addresses the delicate subject of calling off the wedding if necessary. Overall, this book is a great resource for couples who want to get to know each other better and make a more informed decision about their future together.