“In our culture, marriage takes a beating with more negative profiles than positive. But Claire Vande Polder teases out heartwarming stories that illustrate how real couples navigate year in and year out living together as one. It’s not about fairy tales but what it takes to build a foundation of friendship that helps endure the ups and downs of married life.”

–Michelle Singletary, The Washington Post, Nationally Syndicated Personal Finance Columnist

“Making Marriage Happy is a creative compilation of wonderful anecdotes and practical ideas on how to keep that long-term love affair we call ‘marriage’ alive and well.”

–Kristine Carlson, Co-author, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff book series

“Claire Vande Polder’s book is a triumph. She offers a couples’ roadmap to happiness imbued with the magic of humor, warmth, and companionable sensitivity. Want to be a happy couple? Making Marriage Happy is just what this doctor ordered–for singles and couples, happy or not.”

–Margarita Gurri, PhD, CSP, aka Dr. Red Shoe, Psychologist, Speaker, Author

“What I found most endearing about this book as a Christian faith leader is that humor is, in fact, the great equalizer. We all take ourselves too seriously, but stories like the ones in this book help humble us, teach us patience, and allow us to laugh through the challenges. Truth-telling at this level is what we need more of! It says to those trying to pursue a loving and healthy marriage that there is always hope, and that it isn’t a competition.”

–Rev. Rachel DeLaune, United Methodist Pastor

“…an insider’s guide to the learned and earned wisdom of couples who have figured out how to make it work.” 

–Roseann Pascale, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 

Why are some couples happy when so many others are not? Is it just the luck of the draw? Or do happy couples actually do things that make their happiness possible?

In this lively, encouraging, and occasionally irreverent book, author Claire Vande Polder interviewed real couples in happy marriages to learn what they do to make it work. What she discovered is collected here in short, readable segments on topics from romance to “roommate issues” like housekeeping and chores, conflict, money, life changes, gift giving, when to seek professional help, and more.

The individuals in the interview group represent 1,000 years of married life-in which they’ve acquired 1,000 years of wisdom. And since the identities of those interviewed were kept anonymous, they felt free to dish on intimate truths through confessions, advice, and stories that readers will find both entertaining and inspirational.

Whether you’re newly engaged, in a long-term relationship, or celebrating decades of wedded bliss, there’s something here for everyone. Making Marriage Happy is a collection of hard-won wisdom from real people, a fresh and often-funny take on the joys and challenges of being in it for the long haul.