The Remarriage Blueprint

Book excerpt: It is estimated that forty percent of new marriages are remarriages, but the survival rate of second marriages is alarmingly low. Many remarrying couples set out with a sense of optimism, a belief that this marriage will usher in a life of happiness and family unity. But complicated family dynamics can often strain new partnerships to the breaking point. The challenges of remarriage are pervasive, but little guidance has existed until now. Based on more than a decade of candid, revelatory interviews, this book provides a crucial framework for the obstacles to re-marriage and the secrets to overcoming them. The author plumbs the everyday workings of shared life to illuminate the emotional preconceptions, social pressures, and perpetuated fantasies that confound re-marriage. Through cautionary tales and stories of hope, the author offers guidance for handling everything from children who reject the new family dynamic to the thorny issue of money. Loaded with practical wisdom and searing accounts, this is a definitive roadmap to a happy, thriving, integrated household.