WHOM NOT TO MARRY – Time-tested Advice from a Higher Authority
By Father Pat O’Connor
Available May 2010 (Hachette, $29.99)

A self-help book about how to pick a decent husband … written by a priest? I’m sure I’m not the first to think it’s a bit strange, a man of the cloth offering advice about marriage. After all, what would a priest know about good husband material versus blokes who, by law, should have a Run Now! warning tattooed on their charming little faces? Well, a lot as it turns out.
For anyone who’s getting married, wants to get married or assumes it might be something they might like to do in the near or distant future, Whom Not to Marry gives it to you straight up. As Father Pat says, infatuation trumps judgement when it comes to matters of the heart. Once we’re in love, it becomes very tricky to judge whether Mr Awesome-Right-Now will be Mr Thank-God-I-Picked-Wisely in years to come. Some of his better tips include giving a wide berth to blokes who have no friends (uh-huh), are nasty to you (well, duh) or can’t say the L word (major red flag). He also is a fan of the year-long engagement, and offers a list of questions you should ask your intended before you say ‘I do’. And if you’re still not sold on the priest-giving-marital-advice thing, don’t stress – Father Pat pads it out with plenty of wisdom from happily married couples, too.

RC Verdict? Sure to trigger warm-fuzzies for any soon-to-be-smug-married who’s pretty sure she’s struck gold on the groom front. But really essential if you’re even remotely worried about whether your future husband has the chops to make you happy for the next 50 odd years.

Related posts:

1. I want out of my marriage!
2. My marriage feels like a life sentence instead of a love match
3. I want marriage and kids, but can’t commit to guys
4. I say marriage, he says it’s over
5. From office mating … to marriage