Is lasting love magic, logic or luck?

couple on roof at sunset with candles around Credit: Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

front cover of book

Does it matter how a couple met? Contented Couples, a new guide to long-term relationships, features candid, intimate interviews with eighteen couples, based in the UK and USA. Each pair tell of how they met, how they formed a relationship and how they've thrived to become a truly happy union.

One couple met and married within a month, whilst another two were thrown together repeatedly by a matchmaker who refused to give up - and it is not only guy meets girl either. The couples speak from an array of circumstance, culture and sexual orientations, including arranged marriage, friends-to-lovers and dating apps.

In the pages, couples (or those still hoping to find lasting love), will find real-life anecdotes, testimony and wisdom on every stage of long-term love from each partner. From their first meet and transition through the 'love bubble' of dating to selection, attachment and commitment, and woven throughout are jargon-free explanations of how couples form a bond from renowned couple therapist and writer on attachment styles, Anne Power. The interviews even recount examples of how the couples handled fights, money, relatives and sex in a way that isn't shared normally outside of a therapy session.

Each chapter ends with questions which invite us all to reflect on our own relationships and learn by eavesdropping on contented couples in a way that, for most of us navigating long-term relationships, is rare. Contented Couples has been prepared for anyone seeking lasting love, greater insight into their own coupledom, or indeed anyone who works with couples regularly and could use some more context on how this type of relationship actually works.

Anne Power is a couple therapist who writes and speaks regularly on attachment issues. She has clinical qualifications from The Bowlby Centre, Westminster Pastoral Foundation, Tavistock Relationships and Relate and she has experience with clients in the NHS, in prisons and in voluntary settings, including the Terrence Higgins Trust. 
Across three decades of practice as a therapist, she has written over twenty papers for publication in academic and professional journals, which all explore the meaning of attachment in the consulting room and in the supervision relationship. Her second book, Contented Couples: Magic, Logic or Luck? reflects on interviews with eighteen long-term couples for a general audience interested to know how attachment styles play out in our long-term relationships and marriages. Contented Couples: Magic, Logic or Luck? was published by Confer Books and it is on sale now.

You may also be interested in

What to do now to get your finances ready for 2027 

What to do now to get your finances ready for 2027 

Aileen Robertson, Tesco Bank's Head of Savings, has shared ways soon-to-be-wedded couples and newlyweds can build healthy savings habits and step into 2027 feeling more confident about their shared futures! Aileen Robertson, Head of Savings at Tesco Bank, comments: "The start of a new year often feels like the perfect opportunity for a fresh start, with people embracing resolutions and looking to turn over a new leaf. But creating new habits can take time as people settle back into their routines, and sometimes those good intentions never quite get off the ground. "If you're trying to stay on top of your finances in 2027, taking small steps now can make that journey much easier. It's important to remember that it's never too late, or too early, to start working towards your goals. Setting them is the first step, whether they're big or small, so think about what you want your money to do for you. From here you can start to work towards your goals, building good savings habits along the way, and see your money grow over time."

READ ARTICLE

Yankee Candle® launches limited-edition The Traitors collection

Yankee Candle® launches limited-edition The Traitors collection

Fans of the BBC's hit reality show The Traitors can bring a little intrigue into their homes this autumn with a limited-edition candle collection from Yankee Candle. Inspired by the BAFTA-winning series, the new collection features two Signature Large Jar Candles: Faithful and Traitor. Each fragrance represents a different side of the game, inviting fans to choose their allegiance while settling in for the latest round of suspicion, secrets and unexpected reveals. Faithful is designed to evoke comfort and calm, blending cashmere vanilla and rose with a warm amber base. Its soft, powdery fragrance is ideal for cosy evenings spent analysing clues and debating who can be trusted.

READ ARTICLE

Traitors, Bake Off and Strictly: the TV-inspired hen dos you can actually book

Traitors, Bake Off and Strictly: the TV-inspired hen dos you can actually book

With The Traitors, Strictly Come Dancing and The Great British Bake Off all back on our screens, hen and stag parties can take inspiration from some of the nation's favourite TV shows. Chillisauce is offering groups the chance to recreate the drama, dancing and baking challenges for themselves, with experiences designed to bring a little competitive spirit to pre-wedding celebrations. Whether you fancy uncovering a secret traitor, putting your baking skills to the test or learning a new dance routine, there are options to suit a range of groups and locations across the UK. Discover three TV-inspired hen and stag party ideas, from murder mystery experiences in 26 locations to baking challenges and themed dance classes....

READ ARTICLE

ALDI launches new wick-ed £4.99 confetti Halloween candles

ALDI launches new wick-ed £4.99 confetti Halloween candles

Aldi is getting into the Halloween spirit with its new Hotel Collection Halloween Confetti Candles, priced at just £4.99 each. The 180g candles feature colourful confetti patterns and come in three designs: Ghost, Pumpkin and Black Cat. Each candle offers an approximate burn time of 34 hours, making them an affordable way to add an autumnal touch to the home. Shoppers can choose from three seasonal fragrances, each with its own distinctive blend of notes.

READ ARTICLE

Submit your wedding to be featured in Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding Magazine

VISIT SITE

Follow Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding Magazine on Instagram

VISIT SITE

Follow Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding Magazine on YouTube

VISIT SITE

Subscribe to Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding Magazine for free

VISIT SITE