Time of Grace Ministry has released Newlywed: A Christian Guide for Loving Year One, a new book by Pastor Mike Novotny that helps couples navigate the critical first year of marriage. The book focuses on the daily conversations, expectations, and spiritual habits that shape a marriage after the wedding, covering topics such as communication, intimacy, finances, household responsibilities, in-laws, conflict, faith, and shared expectations. By addressing these issues early, the book aims to prevent frustration, silence, or resentment from becoming ingrained patterns.
The importance of this resource is underscored by research. A study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family found that negative communication patterns in the newlywed years predict steeper declines in marital satisfaction over time. Additionally, data from Barna's The State of Today’s Family Reports shows that while 81 percent of Gen Z say they value marriage, that figure is lower than every other generation Barna surveyed, indicating a cultural hesitation about marriage's value. Novotny responds directly to that trend: “Marriage is one of God’s best earthly gifts. It shows up on the first pages of the Bible in the Garden of Eden. So don’t let the culture tell you that it’s some lesser thing when it deserves to be a priority.”
Rather than idealizing marriage, Newlywed offers honest, grace-filled guidance for loving each other in everyday life. The book’s practical chapters and biblical encouragement are designed to help couples address real-life issues before they escalate. It is especially timely for newly married and engaged couples, as well as pastors, premarital counselors, and family members seeking a meaningful wedding gift.
Novotny is promoting the book on national radio and podcast programs, including Chris Fabry Live, The Reconnect with Carmen LaBerge, The Bill Arnold Show, Faith in Culture Podcast from CBN News, American Sunrise from Real America’s Voice, GoodLife, and Author’s Corner. Readers can learn more about the book and access interview links through the Newlywed resource page, which also offers a free chapter download and ordering options.
Pastor Mike Novotny serves as lead speaker for Time of Grace and is a pastor at The CORE in Appleton, Wisconsin. He has been in full-time ministry since 2007 and has written multiple books on faith, suffering, relationships, and difficult questions. Time of Grace is a digital ministry based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, reaching people nearly six million times per month through television, radio, social media, devotions, and print publications in multiple languages.
For those interested in the research behind the book’s insights, the study on marital satisfaction is available at https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00757.x. Newlywed: A Christian Guide for Loving Year One is published by Straight Talk Books, released on May 26, 2026, and is 176 pages long (ISBN: 1965694500).
