That Loving Feeling: A Couples Guide to Transform Hurt & Criticism into Kindness & Gratitude

The book starts with Sarah encouraging Gene, her partner, to do a couples’ workshop with her. They had been together for thirty-five years, and the marriage was starting to get weary, mostly due to a lack of communication. At the workshop, they befriend other couples, learn how to practice non-violent communication, and improve their marriage. The story is built around the different sessions they attend and the experiences of the other couples attending the workshop. Each couple has a peculiar story and difficulties that they hope to overcome through these workshops. While reading the book, you’ll not only be captivated by the storylines, but you’ll also learn a lot about how to make your relationships better.

Relationships these days have evolved from what they used to be. Unlike before, when people would accept anything their partner did without raising questions, these days people seek accountability. Experiencing past hurt is not an excuse for a failed marriage, since therapy is an option. Many people avoid relationships because they think they are synonymous with stress and emotional turmoil. However, finding the right partner makes it a beautiful thing.

Both parties in a relationship have to make efforts to make the relationship work. It is often said that you should be what you expect from your partner. Therefore, it is important to adopt skills that will make the relationship a smooth ride.

In this book, through the use of fictional characters, the author delves into what lack of communication does to most relationships and the best ways to tackle it. The couples gain skills like empathy, understanding, and patience toward their partner just by attending the workshop. The therapy sessions are enlightening, as they don’t hold anything back, and the lessons from them are very helpful. The takeaways at the end of each chapter were some of the best things about the book. It summarized the key points and made it easier to understand the book.

I loved reading this because it uses fiction to address major deal-breakers in relationships. It would have been boring if it were filled with steps and guidelines only. The story was engaging, and the message was passed across in a way that the reader could relate to and learn from. I love the approach; it seems I’m learning from these people’s experiences. And the book was worth the equivalent of attending marriage counseling. I recommend That Loving Feeling: A Couples Guide to Transforming Hurt and Criticism into Kindness and Gratitude by Rick Longinotti (MFT) to every couple out there.