Sign up for The Ethicist newsletter, for Times subscribers only. Advice on life’s trickiest situations and moral dilemmas from the philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah. Emely Rumble, a therapist in New York City who brings literature into her practice, knows that reading can help people reflect on their lives. In the summer of 2024, she hosted a book group discussion on “Fighting for Our Friendships,” by Danielle Bayard Jackson. As the group analyzed how someone in the book handled a challenging...

There’s evidence that strong relationships are central to our happiness and well being. But getting along with others is complicated, and maintaining healthy romantic partnerships in particular can be challenging. Therapy can help couples examine “the dance, the pattern, the cycle, the choreography” of their relationship, but it’s not accessible to everyone, said Alexandra Solomon, a psychology professor at Northwestern University and host of the “Reimagining Love” podcast. Books often serve...