About the Book

The perfect Valentine’s Day or anniversary gift: An illustrated collection of love and relationship advice from New Yorker writer Patricia Marx, with illustrations from New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast.

Everyone’s heard the old advice for a healthy relationship: Never go to bed angry. Play hard to get. Sexual favors in exchange for cleaning up the cat vomit is a good and fair trade.

Okay, not that last one. It’s one of the tips in You Can Only Yell at Me for One Thing at a Time: Rules for Couples by the authors of Why Don’t You Write My Eulogy Now So I Can Correct It: A Mother’s Suggestions. This guide will make you laugh, remind you why your relationship is better than everyone else’s, and solve all your problems.

Nuggets of advice include:

If you must breathe, don’t breathe so loudly.

It is easier to stay inside and wait for the snow to melt than to fight about who should shovel.

Queen-sized beds, king-sized blankets.

Why not give this book to your significant or insignificant other, your anti-Valentine’s Day crusader pal, or anyone who can’t live with or without love?

Review

This was an immediate first sight grab. The title caught my attention immediately without a second glance to what the book was about. This might not be for everyone but the humor and wit will bring out a smile. The illustrations complement the advice and tips given throughout the book. This is one that couples can share among each other with some laughs and hopefully realize being with each other isn’t so bad.

Overall, this was a quick read that was witty with great illustrations. Couples might enjoy it together but the romantic advice is relatable to everyone even if you’re not with anyone. You can still enjoy the intent of the book.

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