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This Marriage?: The Question that Changed Everything
“Being vulnerable and honest in our marriage can be very difficult. But that is exactly what Lizzy and Dave have provided in This Marriage. ” —Todd Downing, Offensive Coordinator, Tennessee Titans Have you ever said to yourself “there has got to be more to marriage than this?” Nine years in, they could check all the a promising career in the NFL, two beautiful kids, fitness, friends, and financial security. It was picture perfect until one jarring question from a desperate wife shook the foundation of their marriage and exposed the truth. If these questions strike a chord with you, you’ve picked up the right book. You will find yourself here as Dave and Lizzy Canales recount their journey with poignant and often painful honesty. Whether you’re fighting to save your relationship, walking in redemption, or anything in between, This Marriage? is an invitation into the high-risk adventure of an authentic and thriving marriage.
192 pages, Paperback
Published September 13, 2022
40 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 8, 2024
The Canales’ are bold & courageous to share their marriage journey in such an open and public way. The honesty and transparency to show how broken a marriage can be(yes, even between two Christians believe it or not), but how God never walks away or turns his back.
This isn’t a clinical marriage book, nor a how-to, 5-steps to a perfect marriage, or the like. Instead it is a testimony of the goodness of God in the midst of our sin, brokenness, and pain.
If there is pain or brokenness in your marriage and you’re unsure if it’s salvageable or if there can ever be joy or healing again, this is one couple’s firm conviction (that I share as well), that YES, there can be.
P.S. I heard about this book after Dave’s hire as the Panthers HC, I’ll definitely be rooting for them, second only to my Bengals.
This isn’t a clinical marriage book, nor a how-to, 5-steps to a perfect marriage, or the like. Instead it is a testimony of the goodness of God in the midst of our sin, brokenness, and pain.
If there is pain or brokenness in your marriage and you’re unsure if it’s salvageable or if there can ever be joy or healing again, this is one couple’s firm conviction (that I share as well), that YES, there can be.
P.S. I heard about this book after Dave’s hire as the Panthers HC, I’ll definitely be rooting for them, second only to my Bengals.
March 4, 2024
Started because I wanted to learn my about my favorite NFL team's HC Dave. Finished with the upmost respect for Dave and Lizzy as people and Christ-Followers. A true display of boldness and vulnerability.
So glad they decided to share their story!
Keep Pounding!
So glad they decided to share their story!
Keep Pounding!
October 30, 2022
So much truth and bold honesty
Although my husband and myself have not gone through these same struggles, ie: infidelity, there was so much to appreciate about the Canales’ journey. I don’t think it’s too much to say that their marriage recovery was anything short of majestic and totally a God thing. The way they decided to approach saving their relationship as they chronicled in this book was one of the best I’ve read. The pov as written by them both and how they left them untouched even after they realized they each remembered events differently, well, I believe that is actually one of the best aspects of this book. Men and women are built very differently and this acknowledged that we each act and react to big things in our lives. I was almost thinking that it was going a little too light from Dave’s perspective towards the end. It was 18 months after the big ‘confession’ and Lizzy seemed to be bumping along with the expectation that, “hey, I told you what I did, confessed to God and all of our people, am being transparent. Boxes all checked. Enough time has passed. We are good, right?” Big fat no! Important attention is given to Lizzy to also address her grief, anger and lingering emotions. I’ve highlighted several passages. I have a passion for strong marriages (32 years and counting) and am always drawn to these stories (books if you will) in the never ending quest to do better. The examples of God’s extreme grace made me cry and just filled my heart. You never know who is watching you or who you might share something with how much it can impact/change their life. GREAT JOB!!!!
Although my husband and myself have not gone through these same struggles, ie: infidelity, there was so much to appreciate about the Canales’ journey. I don’t think it’s too much to say that their marriage recovery was anything short of majestic and totally a God thing. The way they decided to approach saving their relationship as they chronicled in this book was one of the best I’ve read. The pov as written by them both and how they left them untouched even after they realized they each remembered events differently, well, I believe that is actually one of the best aspects of this book. Men and women are built very differently and this acknowledged that we each act and react to big things in our lives. I was almost thinking that it was going a little too light from Dave’s perspective towards the end. It was 18 months after the big ‘confession’ and Lizzy seemed to be bumping along with the expectation that, “hey, I told you what I did, confessed to God and all of our people, am being transparent. Boxes all checked. Enough time has passed. We are good, right?” Big fat no! Important attention is given to Lizzy to also address her grief, anger and lingering emotions. I’ve highlighted several passages. I have a passion for strong marriages (32 years and counting) and am always drawn to these stories (books if you will) in the never ending quest to do better. The examples of God’s extreme grace made me cry and just filled my heart. You never know who is watching you or who you might share something with how much it can impact/change their life. GREAT JOB!!!!
January 17, 2026
heard that the Panthers football coach wrote about his marriage. enjoyed listening to how they got through his cheating from both perspectives. May read some of their book recommendations later on.
February 16, 2024
3.75 stars - might have been 4 if I had read it on paper/ebook vs. audiobook. The audiobook was a little clunky. 😬
March 10, 2024
Heard about this book during Dave Canales HC interview for the Panthers and it did not disappoint. To be transparent with my spouse is what I am striving to achieve. 100% recommend reading/listening
June 28, 2024
This book is incredible. The vulnerability is crazy and the love they have is amazing. Highly recommend
March 18, 2024
I listened to this book. Dave Canales is currently the head coach of the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, NC. Lizzy and Dave met in college. They are both Christians, they spent quite a bit of time together, before they decided to get married. Unbeknownst to Lizzy, Dave had three serious issues, infidelity, pornography, and alcoholism. Lizzy decided to stay. They both narrate different chapters in the book. When events came to light nine years ago, they had two small children. They now have four children. In the beginning of the book, I felt they were both authentic, at the end of the book, I felt they weren't talking about their current struggles. However, I do think it was incredibly brave of them to write this book.
May 27, 2024
Just an okay book for me
The author is Dave Canales, the new head coach for the Carolina panthers, and his wife Lizzie Canales.
I do want to praise Dave by being vulnerable to his friends, family, and the readers of the book about hanging out with other ladies during the beginning of his marriage
It felt like a surface level hit of the issues and that there were much deeper conversations that we had that were purposely left out.
They wrote it as a husband and wife writing the book together but I would have preferred it only have been written for the guys and gone into more details since I don’t recall hardly anything negative mentioned about the wife.
Overall, I only recommend this book for men who are success oriented to learn to slow down and take a look at their private life.
The author is Dave Canales, the new head coach for the Carolina panthers, and his wife Lizzie Canales.
I do want to praise Dave by being vulnerable to his friends, family, and the readers of the book about hanging out with other ladies during the beginning of his marriage
It felt like a surface level hit of the issues and that there were much deeper conversations that we had that were purposely left out.
They wrote it as a husband and wife writing the book together but I would have preferred it only have been written for the guys and gone into more details since I don’t recall hardly anything negative mentioned about the wife.
Overall, I only recommend this book for men who are success oriented to learn to slow down and take a look at their private life.
March 5, 2026
TL;DR the Carolina Panthers head coach cheated on his wife for 9 years, then wrote a book about it with her.
I thought this book would be in the category of “So bad that it’s good”, but it ended up being a very religious book about infidelity. This book is perfect for the person whose faith is always on display, whether it’s their social media bio or a Proverbs verse tattooed on their forearm. Would it surprise you that Russell Wilson endorsed this book?
I did get a few good laughs from lines such as “Only one thing is strong enough to free people from the bondage of sin, and that is the blood of Jesus, His work on the cross. My love was never going to be enough to free him from his slavery, but God’s love could”. PUKE. I’m going to hell.
I thought this book would be in the category of “So bad that it’s good”, but it ended up being a very religious book about infidelity. This book is perfect for the person whose faith is always on display, whether it’s their social media bio or a Proverbs verse tattooed on their forearm. Would it surprise you that Russell Wilson endorsed this book?
I did get a few good laughs from lines such as “Only one thing is strong enough to free people from the bondage of sin, and that is the blood of Jesus, His work on the cross. My love was never going to be enough to free him from his slavery, but God’s love could”. PUKE. I’m going to hell.
December 28, 2023
Interesting Read!
I thought that this was a great book on marriage and Christian Life.
I did not know going into this book but the book was heavily focused on infidelity (story of my Goodreads life - I don't read synopsizes for the most part, as I don't want to ruin books). I thought for that subject it was an excellent book, however I would not have picked up this book if I had known that due to its subject being irrelevant to me.
All that being said I thought that the couple were very candid and open about their relationship and their struggles. I thought that the way they handled things were very Christ-like and I was impressed with their life story.
3.9/5
I thought that this was a great book on marriage and Christian Life.
I did not know going into this book but the book was heavily focused on infidelity (story of my Goodreads life - I don't read synopsizes for the most part, as I don't want to ruin books). I thought for that subject it was an excellent book, however I would not have picked up this book if I had known that due to its subject being irrelevant to me.
All that being said I thought that the couple were very candid and open about their relationship and their struggles. I thought that the way they handled things were very Christ-like and I was impressed with their life story.
3.9/5
November 22, 2025
I read this book because Lizzy was one of my young life girls back in the 90’s. As I read this book I was in awe of her and Dave’s rawness. How hard it is to open up and share parts of your life that are broken. Especially when the world wants to see you fail, but God wants to help you heal. What I love of about this book is you got to hear both of their thoughts and emotions. This book is not like any marriage book I have read. If you are in a broken marriage, this is a book for you. Let God guide you to your truth in what is broken and allow His healing in your marriage or relationships by reading this book.
February 21, 2026
Initially I wanted to read this book because Dave Canales was an outwardly spoken Christian as the head coach for the Carolina Panthers. I did not know anything about Dave & Lizzy’s story prior to reading.
One of the biggest takeaways from the book for me was the importance of not doing life or marriage alone. You need people you can trust, that can hold you accountable, and that you can do life with. Often times people don’t want to have real conversations, but real conversations allow growth for themselves and their relationships.
“We may impress people with our strengths, but we connect with them through our vulnerabilities.”
One of the biggest takeaways from the book for me was the importance of not doing life or marriage alone. You need people you can trust, that can hold you accountable, and that you can do life with. Often times people don’t want to have real conversations, but real conversations allow growth for themselves and their relationships.
“We may impress people with our strengths, but we connect with them through our vulnerabilities.”
January 25, 2024
Brave reflection on prioritizing Faith and your spouse. While the topic discussed can be difficult, it allows for a lot of discussion on healthy relationships, emotional intelligence, the art of communication, and the beauty of merciful love and forgiveness.
May 10, 2024
Keep pounding 👊🏼
September 26, 2024
Insightful account of a marriage that went off track but a couple who worked to find a way back. Inspiring and relevant to anyone interested in strengthening their bond. Rooting for Dave and Lizzy.
August 9, 2025
Just learned the panthers HC wrote a book a few years ago and wanted to see what it was about. Probably 2.5
September 3, 2025
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
— Proverbs 28:13
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
— Proverbs 28:13
March 17, 2026
not sure about this one…
Counselors are divided over whether what Dave did was really correct in the situation. He was able to transfer his terrible bird onto his wife who went through so so much while he was able to carry on with his career. Not sure if I would agree with it.
Counselors are divided over whether what Dave did was really correct in the situation. He was able to transfer his terrible bird onto his wife who went through so so much while he was able to carry on with his career. Not sure if I would agree with it.
April 13, 2026
Dave and Lizzy are ever-so brave for being willing to share their story with others. I gained great respect for the coach of my favorite team, and his wife through reading this.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews