cover image Love Sense: 
The Revolutionary New Science 
of Romantic Relationships

Love Sense: The Revolutionary New Science of Romantic Relationships

Sue Johnson. Little, Brown, $27 (352p) ISBN 978-0-316-13376-0

The bestselling author of Hold Me Tight makes an admirable attempt at exploring relationship dynamics through contemporary psychology and neuroscience, but the results at times are thin. . The first few sections, for example, are devoted to legitimizing emotions through facts and experiments, but despite piling up lots of data, Johnson rarely puts it to use in her analyses of some of the most common relationship problems couples face. She breaks down partner types into three categories: “secure, anxious, and avoidant.” Johnson deciphers the relationships of those who fall under these categories, encouraging those feeling insecure that they in fact can become stable partners, though it often feels like a partner is being blamed for their category diagnosis. She believes wholeheartedly in the flexibility of relationships and their vital role in a successful life, reaffirming the success of her own form of relationship therapy called Emotional Focused Therapy. As readers are slowly introduced to the specifics of this method, Johnson tries to convey its power and efficacy through stories of former patients. Unfortunately, the dialogue is too stilted to pass for real conversations. Nevertheless, the examples are varied and general enough to serve as conversation starters for those in need of relationship help. Agent: Miriam Altshuler, Miriam Altshuler Literary Agency. (Jan.)