The Happy Couple

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER A Most Anticipated Book of 2023 from: The Millions * LitHub * Electric Literature An intimate, sharply funny novel about a couple heading toward their wedding, and the three friends who may draw them apart Meet Celine and Luke. For all intents and purposes, the happy couple. Luke (a serial cheater) and Celine (more interested in piano than domestic life) plan to marry in a year. Archie (the best man) should be moving on from his love for Luke and up the corporate ladder, but he finds himself utterly stuck. Phoebe (the bridesmaid and Celine’s sister) just wants to get to the bottom of Luke’s frequent unexplained disappearances. And Vivian (a wedding guest) is the only one with any emotional distance and observes her friends like ants in a colony. As the wedding approaches and their five lives intersect, these characters will each look for a path to the happily ever after—but does it lie at the end of an aisle? In her wry, sprightly, and unmistakable voice, Naoise Dolan makes the marriage plot entirely her own in a sparkling ensemble novel that is both ferociously clever and supremely enjoyable.

Me and Will. Will and Me. A perfect match. He said he would always be there for me, but it’s been a year since he drained his coffee, walked out the front door and vanished. Did he leave me? Or did something terrible happen? I’m scared someone finally found out about what happened on the drive home that night… I lie awake at night trawling the internet for rental properties, desperate for an escape. Until I see my husband’s gorgeous face smiling back at me from a photograph on the fireplace in someone else’s home, and something inside of me snaps. At the house, I find no trace of him and the woman who lives there has no idea who I am. But I’m certain she’s hiding something behind the locked door upstairs. I know that if I want answers, I have to stay. You might think that what’s inside that room is the answer to all my questions and the end of all my pain. But it’s only the beginning… Nail-biting and completely gripping, The Happy Couple will make you question how well you really know the ones you love. Perfect reading for anyone who adored by The Wife Between Us, The Girl on The Train or Gone Girl. Readers are loving The Happy Couple: ‘I DEVOURED this book. I finished with my mouth hanging wide open. What did I just read? There were so many twists that you just couldn't even keep up at times. It was a thrilling rollercoaster ride… read it entirely in one sitting.’ Goodreads reviewer ‘OH MY LIFE! This book had me captivated from the very first page!... I LOVED THIS BOOK! There are some huge shocks and twists which will have you gasping!... Clever, captivating, devious, exciting and non-stop. I highly recommend this book!’ The Book Reviewing Mum Blog, 5 stars ‘I was hanging by the edge of my seat then BAM. Surprise! OMG what an ending!!! I loved, loved, loved it!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘OMG!... Hits you between the eyes with the most perfectly placed plot twist that had never even crossed your mind! You certainly won’t see where this one is going so just buckle up and enjoy the ride… A BRILLIANT page-turner! It has an incredibly satisfying ending that sent shivers down my spine AND an exquisite twist that made my heart sing! Loved, loved, LOVED it!’ My Chestnut Reading Tree, 5 stars

Bad habits: we all have them! But what happens when these bad habits extend to our relationships? Whether it's interrupting your partner mid-sentence, acting bored when they are speaking, or teasing them in hurtful ways—over time these bad habits can lead to resentment, and can mean the difference between a wonderful, close relationship, and one characterized by conflict or unhappiness. Fortunately, for all of us, good relationship habits can be learned (or re-learned), and bad habits can be un-learned. Named one of “America’s Top Therapists” by Cosmopolitan magazine, prominent Los Angeles-based psychologist and radio talk show host Barton Goldsmith, PhD, offers readers simple, accessible tips and tools for developing and strengthening positive relationship habits such as gratitude, humor, togetherness, and honesty. Habits can be hard to break, but if you love someone, you’ve got to make sacrifices. When you consider that 50 percent of marriages end in divorce, it becomes clear that many of us may need help in making a relationship thrive. The Happy Couple shows how simple acts of kindness and generosity can increase the likelihood of a relationship being happy, healthy, and long-lasting.

If you're about to walk down the aisle, you want every day to be as happy as your special day. However while there is lots of advice on planning a wedding, there's precious little to prepare you for the rest of your life together. If you're lucky your mother will offer a few tips and your father will makes some jokes but otherwise you're on your own. Perhaps it's some years since you promised to love and cherish each other and the pressures of everyday life have taken the shine off things. Throw in the sort of crises that everyone faces at some point—like financial problems, losing a parent, family rows and infidelity—and it's easy for the love between the two of you to be seriously damaged. So what are the secrets of happy couples that stay strong rather than grow apart? In this groundbreaking book, marital therapist Andrew G. Marshall, explains that it's not chemistry that keeps partners connected but skills. It's likely that you didn't learn these skills as a child because your parents didn't know them or couldn't explain them. Maybe they avoided conflict, fought like cat or dog or split up when you were young so never showed you to fall out safely, make-up and resolve differences. Fortunately, it's never too late to learn how to communicate better and repair your relationship—even if you're on the verge of splitting up. Marshall draws on thirty plus years working with over three thousand clients to give you his tried and test tool kit for a happy marriage. It includes: - The rules for constructive arguments. - How to be a better listener. - Use carrots rather than sticks. - How to forgive and move on.

Now here's something worth raising a glass to: the perfect how-to guide and resource for preparing, writing, and presenting the best wedding toast ever (butterflies not included). With clear explanations of who traditionally offers a toast and when, To the Happy Couple also gives useful information on fitting toasts for rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, and bachelor parties. Tips include avoiding the pitfalls of public speaking and advice on which topics work well and which should be avoided (don't bring up that first marriage...). There are plenty of suggestions for finding quotes, whether from song lyrics, poems, or other sources, examples of how to use them to enhance and personalize the message, plus a variety of quotes in the back of the book to provide additional inspiration. Beautifully illustrated throughout with whimsical drawings, To the Happy Couple is both a practical guide and a lovely gift for anyone who has ever had to say, "I'd like to make a toast..."

Secrets of Happy Couples is different from other books of the same subject because it is based on one basic truth--that all great relationships begin and end with yourself. Any relationship is the sum of its parts: individuals. This book explores how you, as an individual, can make the difference and create a happy and fulfilling relationship with your partner.

'A brilliant contemporary novel' Colm Tóibín 'I am fully in awe of Dolan's talent' Douglas Stuart 'I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed it' Marian Keyes 'Dazzling. Not a word is out of place' Katherine Heiny Meet Celine and Luke. To all intents and purposes, the happy couple. But Celine's more interested in playing the piano, and Luke's a serial cheater. And as their big day approaches, the complicated lives of the wedding party begin to unravel. A fed-up bridesmaid, a lovesick best man, guests and family members all find themselves searching for their own happily ever afters. From the author of Exciting Times, this is a sparkling ensemble novel about love and marriage, fidelity and betrayal.