About the Book
A frank and funny look at what to do when together is too close Two's company, especially for those who love each other. So what happens when--due to retirement, working from home, or even running a business together--spouses find that being in the same space all the time is awkward, complex, annoying, and just plain challenging? How can partners co-exist without co-exhausting each other?
Cynthia Ruchti and Becky Melby know all too well how adjusting to a new, all-the-time closeness can cause the bliss of marriage to form blisters. Drawing from their experiences, and from men and women across the country in the same situation, the authors take a deep breath and dive into the root causes of the discomfort. They dig into the ways God's Word addresses the topic, and they offer practical tips for learning the spiritual, emotional, relational, and even physical steps that can help readers replace irritation with peace.
For any Christian who wants their home to be a refuge of peace and serenity for all--not just themselves--and who wants to know they aren't alone in the mental and physical claustrophobia of too much togetherness, Spouse in the House is a vulnerable, charming, and pragmatic breath of hope.
About the Author :
Cynthia Ruchti tells stories of hope through novels, nonfiction, devotionals, and speaking events. She serves as the professional relations liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers and is a frequent speaker at writers conferences across the country. She married her grade school sweetheart, and the two live in the heart of Wisconsin, not far from their three children and five grandchildren. Becky Melby is an author and speaker, with more than twenty books to her name, including four cozy mysteries for Guideposts' Secrets of Wayfarers Inn series. She makes her home in the heart of Wisconsin with her husband, and is long-time BFF with co-author Cynthia Ruchti. Find out more at beckymelby.com.
Review :
"I've desperately needed this book for at least five years, since my sweet husband retired . . . and settled down at home. For good. We've both had to pivot to discover new ways to coordinate a homelife that no longer includes four children and two working parents. Thus, I'm absolutely delighted Cynthia Ruchti and Becky Melby have gifted those of us in the HHATT (He's Home All the Time) club with this perky and practical book. With their wise-friend-next-door tone, the authors cover hard topics with grace and mercy. If you're looking to build greater love and health into your marriage, begin with this fabulous book!"--Lucinda Secrest McDowell, award-winning author of Soul Strong and Life-Giving Choices (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"With their incredibly vulnerable, well-researched, and often mirthful writing, Cynthia Ruchti and Becky Melby provide a timely and timeless resource for anyone who wants to improve their relational life. The wisdom and practicality of Spouse in the House applies to more than just marriage, but to 'everything God wants to see happen in a church, in the world, . . . in families and couples.'"--Dr Patrick McLeod, Harvard chaplain and coauthor of Hit Hard (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"Yes, I have a spouse in the house--or rather on our eight-hundred-square-foot live-aboard boat. And during the pandemic, we lived in a three-hundred-square-foot RV so we could care for my ninety-two-year-old in-laws! All I can say is that the wisdom, advice, common sense, and practical help in this book took a very stressful circumstance and transformed it into an opportunity to dance lovingly with each other instead of dancing around each other. Couples can move from being mad to being madly in love again. And Bill, my HHATT (Husband Home All the Time), is equally grateful!"--Pam Farrel, codirector of LoveWise, coauthor of Men Are Like Waffles, Women are Like Spaghetti (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"Spouse in the House combines two of my favorite things--practical marriage advice and humor. Cynthia Ruchti and Becky Melby weave together wit, wisdom, and biblical principles in a relatable way to help everyone from newlyweds to long-marrieds have a marriage that is enriching and joyful. Married for over forty years with a SITH (spouse in the house) of my own, I found myself highlighting insightful tips and doable strategies, chuckling out loud, and nodding in agreement as I made my way through this enjoyable read."--Shel Harrington, humorist, family law attorney, and author of Over 50, Defined (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"I just finished Spouse in the House and wrote seventeen pages of application for our marriage of thirty-eight years! I wish I had this book in the early days of my marriage when I struggled to maintain togetherness without losing my individuality. Becky and Cynthia's authentic stories, as well as the attitude adjustments and practices they suggest, have moved me to action already. What a treat that the authors talk back and forth about common issues in marriage and have their husbands contribute too. This book is a sheer gift!"--Tammy McLeod, Harvard chaplain and coauthor of Hit Hard (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"Spouse in the House says it all. With honesty, humor, warmth, and wisdom, Cynthia Ruchti and Becky Melby share encouragement and practical suggestions for couples sharing the same space 24/7. They remind us that our spouse can't read our mind, respecting and easing the other's workload is a gift we can offer each other, and togetherness means more than our bodies being in close proximity. As someone who lives full-time aboard a sailboat with my hubby who works from home, I found this book incredibly insightful."--Grace Fox, codirector of International Messengers Canada, author of Finding Hope in Crisis (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"For twenty-three years, my husband and I have shared our work space as we've each run a business from home. I'm clear about the challenges our situation creates. Yet Cynthia Ruchti and Becky Melby's new book gave me renewed hope that perhaps we'll both make it out alive--and well. With candid humor, the authors share laugh-out-loud stories, great resources, and tips from a myriad of friends who know the life-sucking potential of all that closeness. Whether you're living the togetherness dream or anticipating it with dread, don't miss Spouse in the House!"--Deb DeArmond, coauthor of Don't Go to Bed Angry: Stay Up and Fight! (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"It's a rare book whose title makes you grin and whose content keeps you nodding in recognition on almost every page. Spouse in the House is the gift I want to give every couple trying to maintain a healthy relationship while navigating the uncertain terrain of two people coexisting in the same space. With wit and wisdom, Ruchti and Melby share insights from their own experience along with practical guidance on finances, communication, and a host of other issues confronting those who bump up against their spouse every loving day."--Maggie Wallem Rowe, author of This Life We Share (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
