Customer Reviews

Intercultural Marriage: Promises and Pitfalls

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I've always been very attracted to people from other cultures, and until I read this book, I relied a lot on these past relationships to guide me romantically. Multicultural relationships were never common subjects of conversation (even in my multicultural household growing up), so I picked up this book. It really spoke to a lot of my thinking and questioning swirling around my head---both as a product of and a partner in a multicultural relationship. Now in a serious, very happy relationship with someone from a different country, class, religion, language etc., I found this book to be invaluable in helping me approach tougher conversations with a clearer, fairer mindset. Also, this book isn't written in a voice that values any culture above another... something I greatly appreciate. I felt totally comfortable presenting it to my partner as something that can help us as equals in our relationship. I highly recommend it to anyone who in a multicultural relationship and interested in some sound advice in order to ride the waves.

For anyone contemplating marriage outside of familiar cultural boundaries, this book is an excellent road map on a path which will be full of unexpected challenges and rewards. Misunderstandings abound in marriage relations, but they can be compounded and made more complex by different cultures. Must read, before marriage, but after can't hurt.

This book is a must for clinicians working with families and individuals who have an intercultural marriage in their family system - more and more people fit into this category. It is equally helpful for people in those situations. The book is insightful and clearly written.

As an American woman dating a Colombian man, I've been looking for articles, books, and other resources to help us work through our cultural differences. My relationship with him is a huge blessing, but like any other couple we disagree at times. However, because of our different backgrounds, I am not always sure whether conflicts are due to gender, personality, or culture. We have talked through several things already, but I know that there are more differences waiting to be discovered. This book touches on many potential conflicts and how other couples have dealt with them, which is very helpful if only to realize that others go through the same things. I really appreciate the attitude throughout the book that every couple is different so you can't stereotype anyone, and that although intercultural marriages require more work they are often more rewarding. I stayed up till 3 reading the book the night it arrived and finished it the next afternoon...in short, I highly recommend this book!!

I have read many books on cross cultural matters and studied cross cultural business in school and I still found this book to be insightful and useful as I prepare for marriage. I highly recommend this book to all cross-cultural couples and think it would be useful for even non cross-cultural couples.

Romano meticulously defines and describes all the potentially problematic areas for the cross-cultural couple, from the seemingly mundane (food) and abstract (time) to perhaps the number one question: How are we going to raise the children? Her searching interviews with couples bring her discussion down to earth and give a vivid sense of how these issues play out in real life. Cross-cultural couples can benefit enormously from Romano's thoughtful approach, but even partners who grew up next door to each other can learn a lot here -- because we all have our differences.