Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review. Post contains affiliate links; opinions shared are mine.

I don’t  make this kind of wholehearted recommendation very often, but if there’s any book you need to read WITH your teenager, this is it!!!  in case I didn’t make that clear enough, let me reiterate…..A Teen’s Guide to the 5 Love Languages holds the kind of information that can impact a person in all areas of life, no matter their age.  

Some teenagers don’t realize it, but their behavior significantly impacts those around them.   This is partially because the teen years are such an egocentric part of life.  Many teens are discovering their own talents and skills. They are starting to dream dreams, experience new emotions, and embarking on life paths.  The eagerness to make a mark on the world is conflicted with the need to stay in the shadows sometimes. Just knowing the 5 love languages is valuable information. When taught how to use the languages to demonstrate love, however, it’s positively life changing.  This awareness, paired with action, can impact teens in every relationship — parents, siblings, classmates, work, and romance.  It can also empower teens to understand their own love language, and be able to verbalize what they need from others.

There are a couple of quirky things that made me raise an eyebrow (well, if I could raise one eyebrow.  Still working on that.)  The situations in the Teen’s Guide seem better suited to those in high school, particularly older kids. There are several mentions of boyfriend/girlfriend relationships that seem to be on a deeper level than just sitting together at lunch.  As an interesting contrast, the book dates itself by using some strangely out of place slang.  I presume this is an effort to appeal to teens; however, I think many teens will roll their eyes at the attempt.

There were so many pages of the book that I wanted to dog-ear and shove in my pre-teen daughter’s face.  That wouldn’t be a display of love, though.  Instead, I have been following the suggestions in the book and modeling the love languages for my kids.  And, hey!  It works!!   This morning we had a really interesting discussion about the way we feel loved.  My daughter said she felt loved when her aunt learned about the Greek gods (something my daughter is fascinated with) so that they could talk about it. My son said he feels loved when we spend time doing a fun activity together.   These ideas gave me something to work with!  Bonus: My daughter said she would like to read the book.  See how much more effective that strategy was?  Wink, wink.
Do you know a teen who would enjoy this book?

About the Book

In the new book, Chapman lays a foundation for what love really is (a choice) and how that translates into all relationships, and takes teens step-by-step through each of the individual love languages. He outlines the general characteristics of each love language, explains the various dialects within each language, and offers practical examples of how to communicate the love languages in the daily ups-and-downs of relationships. He also spends time focusing on helping teens navigate their relationship with their parents and siblings (it doesn’t have to be negative), shares how to handle anger and apologies, and encourages teens to focus on their “tribe.”

About the Author

Gary Chapman, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and counselor who has a passion for people and helping them form lasting relationships. He is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 5 Love Languages® and the director of Marriage and Family Life Consultants, Inc. Gary travels the world presenting seminars and his radio programs air on more than 400 stations. For more information, visit 5lovelanguages.com.