Halaina Mae's Bookshelf 📚

I've read a lot of dating and relationship books over the years. Some gave me one good idea. Some made me think for a few days. And a few genuinely changed the way I date.

What did these books actually teach me?

Click a book below to read the lesson, story, or dating tool that stuck with me. ❤️

The Book That Taught Me How Relationships Grow

How to Avoid Falling in Love with a Jerk

This one gave me the RAM Model—and once I understood Know → Trust → Rely → Commit → Touch, I started looking at almost every relationship differently.

It made me realize that sometimes my feelings had moved forward faster than my actual knowledge of the person had. And yes... a few Dating Detours suddenly made a LOT more sense. 😂

SEE WHAT THIS BOOK TAUGHT ME →

The Book That Made Me Get Specific

Date...or Soul Mate?

For years, I had a general idea of what I wanted in someone. Kind. Faithful. Funny. Someone I could build a life with.

This book made me actually write it down—and separate what would be nice from what genuinely matters. That's where my 10 Must-Haves + 10 Cannots came from.

READ ABOUT MY MUST-HAVES + CANNOTS →

The Book That Made Me Think About Intentions

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man

This one made me think more about the way men may approach dating, commitment, communication, and relationships differently than I do.

I didn't agree with every single thing—and honestly, I don't think that's required for a book to teach you something. 😂 But it gave me questions I hadn't thought to ask before.

SEE WHAT I TOOK FROM THIS ONE →

The Book That Helped Me Think About Differences

Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti

This book gave me a funny visual for something I've seen over and over: two people can experience, process, and communicate about the exact same situation very differently.

And sometimes the goal isn't deciding whose way is “right.” Sometimes it's learning how the other person's brain works.

SEE WHAT THIS ONE TAUGHT ME →

The Book That Changed How I Think About Showing Love

The 5 Love Languages

This one helped me understand something that sounds obvious now: loving someone and making them feel loved aren't always the same thing.

The way I naturally show care may not be the way another person receives it. That idea has followed me into dating, friendships, and family relationships too.

READ WHAT STUCK WITH ME →

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