After revealing to his sister-in-law how he and his wife fell in love gradually, Matthew Hess wrote Quiet Love (& Growing It). Hess shares fourteen rules and three key themes he feels will help individuals find a great partner, build a relationship with them, and maintain a great outlook on the connection. The first four rules examine how to prepare yourself for dating and how you might feel from the first date to when you start to fall in love. The fifth through eighth chapters explore differences between you and your partner, common hardships, and the reason you may need to argue. The remaining chapters help you draw closer to your chosen mate and round off everything you've learned so you can better navigate changes together.

It's hard to accept the starry-eyed versions of love on the big screen, and Matthew Hess only touches on them. Instead, using science, examples, and his own experience, he focuses on the way to establish a true relationship. The author's guidelines are easy to read and put into actionable steps to create a more balanced relationship. Your romance may not always look shiny on the outside, but, like a diamond, the pressure can create a connection just as strong as the precious gem. Hess shares his "quiet" love story and shows the way consistency, trust, and gratitude can build the foundation for a long-lasting relationship. I know my expectations are too high, and I finished reading with the feeling of personal responsibility and a less judgmental outlook. If you're ready to have healthier and happier outcomes when you make a connection, you will benefit from reading Quiet Love (& Growing It).

Quiet Love (& Growing It): 14 Rules to Find, Build, and Keep the Best Relationship of Your Life is a must-read book about the best approach to building a strong, loving, and long-lasting relationship. Matthew Hess introduces and explores the concept of "quiet love" and provides fourteen straightforward relationship rules to help you navigate relationships more effectively and confidently. Among many valuable relationship-related topics, this book offers scientific backing, actionable advice, research, and strategies to help you understand yourself and your relationship better. It discusses the importance of working on yourself before looking for love, practicing gratitude, common hiccups in relationships, when and why a relationship should end, rituals in relationships, and how they can strengthen a relationship. It shows you how to argue effectively, deal with differences and significant life changes, and the importance of self-confidence, self-reliance, and accountability in relationships.

Quiet Love by Matthew Hess is an easy-to-read yet comprehensive relationship guide. It doesn't overwhelm readers with impossible-to-follow rules. It offers them down-to-earth, actionable advice on quiet love—a love based on action rather than expectations—to better equip them to deal with the struggles and successes of their relationships. This book teaches you everything you can do today to have a happier, healthier relationship. If you are looking for love at first sight, expecting your significant other to fix your problems, have expectations on how your relationship should progress, and don't know what happens in your brain when you fall in love, which are the top five predictors for a healthy, long-term relationship, this book is for you. It paves the way for a future where your relationship flourishes and is free from unrealistic expectations.