Messy Beautiful Love: Hope and Redemption for Real-Life Marriages
by Darlene Schacht

In her book on marriage, Messy Beautiful Love, Darlene Schacht shares a testimony of grace.  She’s not a marriage counselor or the perfect wife who has always gotten it all right.  She starts the book off right away with a reminder that she’s struggled and messed it all up, but God redeemed her marriage and taught her so she could share with other women.

Better known as the popular blogger, The Time-Warp Wife, Darlene is a skilled storyteller who shares with open vulnerability.  This book reminds us that fairy tale marriages where everyone lives Happily Ever After without effort are just that–fairy tales.  Life happens.  Whether it’s because of everyday stress and the rush of jobs and kids or it’s the moments when the world just seems to crash down on you like illness, loss, bankruptcy, unemployment, no beautiful love exists without some mess.  But her book reminds us of how to respond, how to grow together, and how to be prepared for the best and worst that marriage and life might have to offer.

Ultimately, it’s mostly a book of practical marriage tips and covers things like “give up your right to be right,” “handle your conflict wisely,” “appreciate him for who he truly is,” “communicate with loving respect,” etc.  I especially appreciated that she focused on wives and what we can do as godly women to be obedient to God in our marriage.

The book is easy to read.  She uses mostly personal stories to convey her points, sharing occasionally letters from other women that she’s received through her blog, and some Scriptures.  It’s not my favorite marriage book.  I felt by the end that she hadn’t really said anything original, nothing I hadn’t read hundreds of times in every other marriage book.  But her book is unique in that she’s sharing out of her struggles instead of clinical expertise.  She also doesn’t give you cutesy slogans or communication exercises to solve your marriage woes.  This book is more about ‘getting real’ about marriage from a wife who has been there in the trenches and walked out stronger.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”