This book centers around Julie, a woman in her late 40s, grappling with suspicious of her husband, Dan’s, infidelity. The book literally opens (page 1) with Julie finding a suspicious note in her husband’s home office, and the first quarter of the book revolves around her back and forth with her suspicions. She doesn’t confront Dan, but really gives him the cold shoulder. It has to be said that this is not the first time that Dan has been unfaithful in their 30 year relationship. Eventually she has had enough of Dan and the situation (after giving him the cold shoulder for over a year!) and flees the situation. The second part of the story discusses what happens after she leaves, and the situation that arises there, including another love interest.
Honestly, this book really just annoyed me. I didn’t like Julie’s personality. I realize some people don’t like confrontation, but sitting on something like this (especially when it has been a pattern of behavior for Dan) is just unacceptable. I just kept wanting to yell at her in the beginning to just confront your husband and work it out from there. Julie alternated between being angry for being cheated on, and then mooning over “letting Dan go, so he could be happy”. All the while, acting really weird and not actually telling Dan what was going on. I didn’t find it super realistic. Then Julie, after over a year of this weird behavior, picks up and leaves him. She sells all her assets, and just leaves, writing notes to say not to call the police or start a missing persons report. She does this so DAN can be happy…
That is a real theme throughout the book — Julie sacrificing her happiness for that of Dan. Dan’s feelings (although Julie is angry, and rightfully so!) taking a backseat to this need for Dan to be as happy as he can be. It annoyed me, especially when it is supposed to be a book about #strongwomen.
The book reads okay — dialogue is a little clunky and unrealistic, at times. The themes of God/being religious were touched on, but not overly delved into. It walked a line of wanting and not wanting to be a spiritual/religious book, but without really committing either way. I would have liked a commitment to it, or just leave it out altogether. The editing, also, needed some work. Many lines of the text skipped to the next line for some reason.
Honestly, this book really just annoyed me. I didn’t like Julie’s personality. I realize some people don’t like confrontation, but sitting on something like this (especially when it has been a pattern of behavior for Dan) is just unacceptable. I just kept wanting to yell at her in the beginning to just confront your husband and work it out from there. Julie alternated between being angry for being cheated on, and then mooning over “letting Dan go, so he could be happy”. All the while, acting really weird and not actually telling Dan what was going on. I didn’t find it super realistic. Then Julie, after over a year of this weird behavior, picks up and leaves him. She sells all her assets, and just leaves, writing notes to say not to call the police or start a missing persons report. She does this so DAN can be happy…
That is a real theme throughout the book — Julie sacrificing her happiness for that of Dan. Dan’s feelings (although Julie is angry, and rightfully so!) taking a backseat to this need for Dan to be as happy as he can be. It annoyed me, especially when it is supposed to be a book about #strongwomen.
The book reads okay — dialogue is a little clunky and unrealistic, at times. The themes of God/being religious were touched on, but not overly delved into. It walked a line of wanting and not wanting to be a spiritual/religious book, but without really committing either way. I would have liked a commitment to it, or just leave it out altogether. The editing, also, needed some work. Many lines of the text skipped to the next line for some reason.