Making Love Last: Divorce-Proofing Your Young Marriage

by Laura Taggart, Milan Yerkovich (Foreword), Kay Yerkovich (Foreword)

With thirty years of experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist, Laura Taggart understands the unique struggles of newly married couples who find marriage much more difficult than they imagined. Failed expectations, unanticipated conflict, and disagreements about money, sex, children, and more have many young couples assuming they made a mistake, married the wrong person, or just weren't ready. As a result, one-third of all married couples divorce before their ten-year anniversary.
In this practical and hopeful book, Taggart offers the wisdom and help she would share as a counselor with a couple beginning their marriage. She helps couples examine their true expectations for marriage, provides six action steps for improving the way couples relate, and gives couples a new picture of what it means to enjoy marriage for a lifetime.
Each chapter includes discussion questions for couples or small groups as well as additional questions for personal reflection.

Genres: Marriage, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

Published July 4, 2017

Reviews

[Suzanne Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful, readable book to help young couples weather the bumps of married life together. Much of Taggart's insights come from her 30+ year counseling practice, as well as from her own marriage. I highly recommend this book as must-read for engaged couples or newlyweds. To loosely paraphrase Erasmus: "Better prevention than cure...especially if the cure is a divorce."

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by NetGalley as well as Publisher

Definitely an easy read and applicable book for all who are in a relationship.

I found the insight and tools that the author suggested to be helpful, practical and realistic.
With her 30years of experience as a counselor, her interviews and data that she collected she was definitely knowledgeable and helpful as well as solid in her suggestions.

I read through this quickly and took away some great tools to help for my with my relationship. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to improve on what they have or help for a struggling relationship as well.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

see full review at: www.joyofreadingweb.wordpress.com

The coming together of two unique individuals, with their own thoughts, backgrounds and ideas isn't as smooth and seamless as Hollywood or popular sources would have you believe. Many young people jump into marriage without the benefit of positive role models and without the full knowledge of what it really takes to blend two lives. 

I appreciated the positive application of ideas and the thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter. I also appreciated the strong faith application and the reminder that Marriage is God's gift to us, and the reminder that by drawing closer to God we can draw closer with our spouse and have the marriage that God intended. This book is a wonderful resource for young married couples, and couples struggling to find their way back to each other.

(I received a complimentary digital copy of this book for review from Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)

[Teagan Darnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is daring, bold, and inspiring. It challenges millennials to think differently about marriage in a generation where divorce is commonplace. Laura gives us a gentle nudge and refreshing perspective on marriage and she dares us to lean into our relationships to make love last instead of finding replacements.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Making Love Last is an amazingly well written life changing book. Although its target is young marriages, it has relevance for all relationships. I am recommending it to parents, young married couples, and the many people actively searching for a soul mate. I've witnessed multiple struggling marriages and divorces during my 30 years of teaching children and the affect is painful. Making Love Last could have been a positive light for many of the parents who often share details of their struggles in light of their child's school progress. This book is an easy read, even for those who are shy of non-fiction or not avid readers...lots of metaphors, examples, and simple techniques. But Laura is realistic and doesn't shy away from the big problems encouraging some to get help beyond the pages of her book. Making Love Last should be required reading before marriage and re-read after being married. Laura Taggart is a gifted writer and communicator. This is a great reference to keep on your bookshelf.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when you think you have tried everything, here is a fabulous guide to encourage, support and offer you
strategies for getting through difficult seasons in your marriage. The advice, real stories, tools and transparency are helpful and practical. Although offered to help those in the first decade of marriage, this book offers advice for marriages of any length.

The chapters are well written, honest and are followed by questions for discussion to help reflect and better understand the issues. Laura invites us into her 30 years of working as a marriage family therapist and her own 40 years of marriage in a genuine and constructive way. This book shares best practices so that all who read it can make their marriage the best it can be! I am confident that you will benefit by taking the time to read this book. I highly recommend it!

[Kristin Pounds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend reading Making Love Last whether your marriage is 10 years young, 14 like mine or more! Laura's book is relatable, practical and meaningful. I've read through it once and will be reading it again! I read through each chapter, but will read again to take the time to truly, deeply and thoughtfully answer the questions she asks at the end of each chapter. Even my husband has agreed to answer these questions together! If you are struggling within your marriage or you are seeking to make some changes to grow as a couple, Laura's book is a wonderful way to help you understand how you and your spouse can achieve the lasting and thriving marriage you were made to have!

[Johnsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey all you Millennials...by now you know marriage is a little harder than you anticipated. Laura's book, Making Love Last will help you explore your beliefs about marriage, increase awareness of how you relate to one another and help you create a new vision for making your love last. It's not just theory...there are a lot of practical applications and discussion questions that will promote great conversations and help your marriage thrive.

[J Crossley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a good book for a young couple. There were solid ways to relate to one another. There are three parts: Changing the Way You Think; Changing the Way You Relate; and Changing the Way You Love.

By changing your mental views, you can catch errors in your thinking that will cause conflict with the other person. When you treat the other person with respect, you can take your young relationship into the golden years.

[Dorothy Greco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by a someone who has been a family therapist for more than 30 years, Making Love Last is thorough, practical, wise, and very accessible. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on conflict. Discussion and individual questions at the end of each chapter would make it doable for reading in the context of a small group.

[Margaret Cekis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that I didn't read the whole book. It arrived when I was preparing to travel to a family wedding. I skimmed through it , decided that the advice made a great deal of common sence to me, and I've been married a long time. So instad of finishing it, I wrapped it up and gave it to the hppy couple with the rest of my wedding gift..

[Phil Fay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever imagine your marriage is the best ever when you know it isn't? This described me. Making Love Last by Laura Taggert has given me a broader outlook on my own feelings and behaviors as well as understanding, teaching and desire to become the husband my wife deserves.
Phil Fay

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were many good points included, but this book read in a very textbook style, which made it less interesting and harder to read.

Overall, if you can overlook the textbook nature, this book is a good read for relationship building/maintenance.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Making Love Last” was filled with great advice. I found it so helpful I purchased a copy for my newly married son and his wife.

I received this galley from NetGalley.

[Alex Niehaus · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are recently married or about to be married I highly suggest this book. It discusses a lot of principals about foundational marriage thinking. I’ve been married 4 years and felt as though this book was less applicable to my situation.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

good. practical. worth a quick read.

[Michelle Castaneda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Making Love Last: Divorce-Proofing Your Young Marriage by Laura Taggart is a wonderful book from a marriage and family therapist. Laura Taggart goes through many different aspects of marriage and explains how to strengthen them. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to strengthen their marriage. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review.