This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

The Ever After

Summary: In this intricate and enthralling domestic drama the author of the “gossipy page-turner” (Glamour) The Perfect Neighbors goes deep into a marriage in crisis, peeling back layers of secrets to discover where the relationship veered off course—and whether it is worth saving.

Josie and Frank Moore are happy… at least Josie thinks they are. As parents of two young girls in the Chicago suburbs, their days can be both busy and monotonous, and sometimes Josie wonders how she became a harried fortysomething mother rather than the driven career woman she once was. But Frank is a phenomenal father, he’s handsome and charismatic, and he still looks at his wife like she’s the beautiful woman he married more than a decade ago. Josie isn’t just happy—she’s lucky.

Until one Saturday morning when Josie borrows her husband’s phone to make a quick call—and sees nine words that shatter her world.

Now Josie feels as if she is standing at the edge of a sharp precipice. As she looks back at pivotal moments in the relationship she believed would last forever, she is also plunging ahead, surprising everyone (especially herself) with how far she will go to uncover the extent of her husband’s devastating secret.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I knew Sarah Pekkanen had plenty of solo stuff, but I’d never read anything by her till I read The Wife Between Us (the book she co-authored with Greer Hendricks).

Now, I knew from the back cover that this would be no The Wife Between Us, but I was curious about it- so I took a chance and requested this book.

Again, if you are expecting TWBU type story when you go into this book- you will be disappointed. And even if you aren’t expecting that- you still may be disappointed. I’m kinda iffy on this whole book.

Once Josie discovers those 9 words- she’s on a mission. Had there been other affairs? Was this one the first? Was he in love with her or was it just a fling?

I truly felt for Josie at times. Her world had been shattered- and I think that just punched me in the gut and made me want to cry for her.

I also think that if Josie had not had children- case closed. Over and out. She would have (figuratively) burned the bridge and moved on.

However, children complicate matters. While they may not be thought of as an affair begins- they generally are thought of quite frequently as an affair comes to light.

I was wanting Josie to be more active at times- to rip the bandaid, to make the choice to move on. However, this story is Josie’s journey- showing how she currently is, to flashbacks from the past- some showing that Frank is not the perfect man that she has wanted to act like he is at times. Josie’s journey is a necessary journey as she examines her marriage- but it does go on a tad long and the ending, while expected, did not give me the resolution that I had hoped for.

 

Bottom line: If you want a story about a marriage in trouble, a journey that a woman must take on her own to decide if her marriage is worth saving- this book is for you.

 

*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

 

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Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,

T @ Traveling With T