7 Relationship Books That Actually Work, According To Real People

But which ones actually work? We polled real people, and these are the books that completely changed their view of relationships:

"When people ask me about the benefits of meditating, I always say the No. 1 benefit is in my relationship, which is why 10% Happier was such a game-changer. When we fight, it's a lot easier for me to see the other perspective now, and I can be thoughtful and say sorry more easily. I definitely wasn't able to do any of those things before I meditated." —Skye, 31

"As someone who has always been in codependent relationships, this book opened up the idea that a healthy relationship can lead both partners to be independent as well as close and together by coming up with agreements that meet both people's needs by freeing up time for creativity. Co-commitment leads to co-creation." —Sara, 35

"It's not so much that men and women are from different planets, but people cope with emotions and challenges really differently. If you can learn how your partner responds to things and how to support them, that's a really amazing thing. My biggest take-home from this book is that women like to talk things out and discuss problems—it's how we cope. Men like to retreat and deal with things on their own. Neither way is 'right.'" —Gabby, 25

"This book helped me realize that the little things couples do over time can suddenly add up and lead to one big thing. The reality is, there are little things that happen over time—communications patterns, habits—they add up. This helps you sift through that." —John, 42

"I'd always thought of cheating as a deal-breaker, but Esther Perel's book made me rethink that. The truth is, human beings are complex—and Perel's book sheds light on how different each and every instance of infidelity is. I recommend this to anyone from single 20-somethings to couples who have been married for 40 years." —Louise, 37

"This book is not so focused on relationships in the typical sense; it's more focused on the one you have with yourself and how important it is to cultivate an understanding/acceptance of yourself before fully being able to be present in a relationship with another. It's only when you accept who you are and your past that you can embrace your future." —Kelly, 27

Want to read more in 2018? Here are seven books that will change the world.