In my time of pastoral marriage counseling, I have read quite a number of books on marriage and intimacy and conflict resolution. It is not often that you encounter something new and fresh, as many of these books seem to offer regurgitations of the same material or, frankly, shallow and trite actions to attempt. The Deep-Rooted Marriage, however, was incredibly refreshing. Its focus certainly was not on the shallow (as the title itself may suggest) but seeks to explore the traumas and family origins and overall causalities of present tension and conflict in marriage. The book offered the voices of each of the authors and spouses, which was incredibly helpful to hear the different perspectives. Their personal stories were very relatable, as well. And, while their advice and worldview are rooted within the gospel, I really did feel as if this was a marriage book that unbelievers could deeply benefit from, too.

Whether you are navigating through marital conflict or simply looking to increase your marital satisfaction, this would be an excellent resource replete with insights other marriage books may not offer. As the contents will deal with deep-rooted issues, doing the work along the way may not be easy, but I truly believe the wisdom in this book will be beneficial.

I'm thankful to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced readers' copy in exchange for my honest review.

Marriage is always going to involve "hard work" being put into it, so it's nice to have a reference for navigating some of the hard stuff like past trauma in order create a sense of safety and empathy to lead to a greater emotional intimacy.

This approaches marriage from a different angle than many other books, which is both helpful and insightful

(I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)