Relationship Rx: Prescriptions for Lasting Love and Deeper Connection

by Jessica Griffin, Pepper Schwartz

Offers a prescription for restoring the struggling relationship back to health. What if couples could take their relationship vitamins or medicine in order to prevent and treat problems in their relationships or restore their struggling relationship back to health? Here, two seasoned relationship experts address the top problems in relationships and provide simple strategies and exercises, grounded in relationship science, that couples can use to have the healthiest – and happiest – relationship of their lives. The reader will benefit from discussions about research on effective communication strategies, adult attachment styles, cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques, and lessons learned from decades of relationship research – all presented in an easy to digest fashion, making Relationship Rx an easy pill to swallow. As Griffin and Schwartz tackle the major issues most couples face (or will inevitably face), they offer a tiered approach to mild, moderate, or severe relationship symptoms – each requiring various levels of intervention . The reader is introduced to three new couples in each chapter – all struggling to some degree in their marriages or long-term relationships. Each chapter concludes with a series of practical relationship exercises or techniques that couples can do in their own homes. Any couple hoping to prevent or address those issues in their relationships that often derail couples will find a relatable resource here and easy-to-implement strategies for restoring even the most challenges relationships.

240 pages, Hardcover

Published February 13, 2023

Reviews

[Scout Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I thought this would be one of the better relationship books I picked up from the library. Once I started reading, my good first impression of this book deteriorated -the introduction was a bit too detailed, repetitive, boring; it's written as if you've never read a relationship book before. In the first chapter, there is again too much explaining the same things over and over again (e.g. repeating the explanation of mild medium severe issue couple stories). I knew the book had promise but it was off to a slow start.

Once the authors delved into the actual issue topics, my opinion skyrocketed. I loved the concise description/exploration of the issue, the look at 3 couples (dealing with the issue in varying severity) and the 'prescriptions' of exercises to do to help with each issue. I loved the approach of vitamins, medicine & CPR; how organized the book was and how smart many of the solutions were. I also liked that it wasn't bloated, and other than the first couple chapters, it was succinct.
The advice/exercises were overall sound, the book was organized well, the most common issues were all covered, and I liked the inclusivity of showing mild-medium-severe (a reminder of where you can end up if you don't deal with the issues sooner & in a healthy way!).

I will probably purchase/re-read this book in the future.

I would recommend this book - whether you are single and wanting to learn how to deal with/prevent future relationship issues, or if you're in a relationship or marriage and could benefit from improving your communication and dynamic. Just skip the boring introduction if you've ever read a relationship book before and you're good to go.

Pages (for me)
20: "The book got much better. Phew, it was only the introduction written like that!"
42: "Cognitive triangle"
61: "Vitamins: Vulnerability Exercise - Regrets & Struggles
63-64: Medicine: What I Miss About Us exercise & 'I feel' statements"
65-66: Medicine: Intentional Affirmations & Medicine: Cheerleader Role Play. 66 - example of the couple
189: Routine, structure, predictability & consistency are good for kids (good paragraphs)"
203: On appreciation

[MookNana · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of solid, useful information here, but the style in which it's presented may or may not work for all readers. Broadly broken up into relationship issues (trust, intimacy, finances, etc.) each potential pitfall is examined through the lens of 3 couples experiencing minor, moderate, or severe problems in that area. While the anecdotes are relatable, the lack of variety in both visual format and content makes this into a bit of a slog. It's a LOT of text without much in the way of breaks or summary. This is well-researched and cited, but probably used best in very small doses to help stay engaged with the message.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

[Karolina Przebinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really good and practical book about relationships. Jessica Griffin does a great job of breaking things down into clear, concrete, and actionable steps that actually feel doable in everyday life. I appreciated how grounded her advice was — it’s not just theory or vague encouragement, but real tools you can start using right away to improve communication, connection, and understanding in a relationship.
It’s a great read for anyone looking to strengthen their relationship, whether you’re struggling or just want to build on what’s already working. Insightful, practical, and genuinely helpful!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful resource for couples.

[Candy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of practical advice here... made me grateful for my husband!