Miriam Hampton’s A New Song is a deeply personal, spiritual, and practical guide to reviving love and connection within a Christian marriage. Drawing from her own journey through addiction, depression, and the slow rebirth of intimacy with her husband, Hampton delivers not just advice, but lived experience. The book is structured around three powerful phases: Refocus, Release, Renew, each meant to bring clarity, healing, and transformation. It’s not your usual “how-to” manual. It’s more of a heart-to-heart, with God right at the center.

One of the most striking aspects of Hampton’s writing is her unflinching honesty. From the very beginning, she invites readers into the idealistic early days of her marriage in the 1970s, an era of creativity and youthful optimism. Yet, she does not shy away from revealing how swiftly those dreams were tested by the realities of addiction, emotional isolation, and personal despair. Her vulnerability is both poignant and powerful. In the chapter titled “Our Past in Our Present,” Hampton recounts a moment so raw, admitting she sometimes wished her husband wouldn’t return home due to his drinking, that it’s impossible not to feel the weight of her anguish. And yet, the transformation that follows, born of faith, reflection, and persistent emotional work, feels deeply authentic and profoundly moving.

I also really loved the section about “refocusing.” Hampton goes deep into the psychology of our thoughts and emotions, especially our brain’s negativity bias. She writes, “What we focus on expands and creates the reality we live in.” It’s such a simple truth, but she explains it with warmth and clarity, not fluff or preachiness. The example she gives, where she catches herself in a negative thought pattern and instead chooses to respond with love, was practical and made me feel like I could do it too.

What surprised me was how seamlessly Hampton mixes neuroscience, scripture, and practical coaching tools. In “Your Brain and You,” she breaks down how subconscious programming affects marriage dynamics without sounding like a textbook. Her conversation around “ANTS” (Automatic Negative Thoughts), inspired by Dr. Daniel Amen, was spot on. I found myself underlining whole paragraphs, especially when she described the spiritual tug-of-war for our focus and how affirmations and gratitude can help us rewire our reactions. It’s the kind of stuff you want to stick on your fridge or journal about.

A New Song is as much about personal transformation as it is about marriage. I’d recommend it to anyone, especially women, who feel like they’re stuck in relational patterns that keep repeating. It’s faith-based, no doubt, but even if you’re not Christian, the emotional truths ring clear. This is for people ready to stop pointing fingers and start looking inward. It’s honest, hopeful, and filled with grace. It gave me not just insight, but courage.

Pages: 208 | ASIN : B0BRBKWP9N