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susandeathe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
sandygx260's review against another edition
3.0
This book promised to be more. No kidding, at times I thought I'd give this book a five star rating. The writing swept me along.
Until the story fell apart and wandered aimlessly.
The writing is aggressive, always pushing forward. The premise is simple: how does a talented woman who has sacrificed her career as a poet cope with her author husband telling her that his latest novel about infidelity is based on fact.
This 35 year old mother of two young children does not cope with the news. She rages, she falls into depression, she wonders how she will handle looking at her cheating bastard of a husband in the face every morning. She owns the high ground. The wife works at a job to make ends meet in order to allow her husband to work on his novels.
Still, the truth leaks through. Both characters are flawed, both are damaged. Both are annoying.
Then the wheel turns. We learn the scorned wife is no paragon of virtue.
That detail is where the book falls apart. The ending is a flat line truth.
The ending is not the stuff to spark reading devotion, which is why I give this three stars. Well worth reading for the writing. Still, by the end I wanted the wife and husband to be locked into a steel cage death match.
Until the story fell apart and wandered aimlessly.
The writing is aggressive, always pushing forward. The premise is simple: how does a talented woman who has sacrificed her career as a poet cope with her author husband telling her that his latest novel about infidelity is based on fact.
This 35 year old mother of two young children does not cope with the news. She rages, she falls into depression, she wonders how she will handle looking at her cheating bastard of a husband in the face every morning. She owns the high ground. The wife works at a job to make ends meet in order to allow her husband to work on his novels.
Still, the truth leaks through. Both characters are flawed, both are damaged. Both are annoying.
Then the wheel turns. We learn the scorned wife is no paragon of virtue.
That detail is where the book falls apart. The ending is a flat line truth.
The ending is not the stuff to spark reading devotion, which is why I give this three stars. Well worth reading for the writing. Still, by the end I wanted the wife and husband to be locked into a steel cage death match.
laila4343's review against another edition
4.0
This book really impressed me - adultery is not a subject I really want to delve into very much, thanks. But Leah Stewart is a skilled writer - she's fearless and honest in the best ways, and even though I didn't always like the main character, Sarah, or her choices, I empathized with her. It's a novel about marriage, motherhood, the writing life, and maintaining your identity as you get older. Anyone who has ever thought of themselves as a writer, however hesitantly, will appreciate this book.
lorbach's review against another edition
2.0
Husband and wife. Husband cheats wife reinvents herself. Seen in and in a better write format
susanthebookbag's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book! It sure didn't take me very long to devour it, if that is any indication.
Right from the beginning, when Nathan confesses to his infidelity and Sarah just wants to get to their friend's wedding, I was wondering how their relationship was going to get through this crisis. The whole story revolves around their searching for what is right for them as individuals and what is right, or wrong, about their relationship. Can it ever get back to what is was and ..... is that what they want?
There were parts of the book that had me frustrated at some of the decisions that were made but then there were parts that made me laugh. I especially got a chuckle over the scene in McDonald's when the baby has a blow-out. Been there, done that!
The book is about a very serious topic, infidelity in a marriage and how to go on from there, but it was written in such a way that I really cared about both Nathan and Sarah. I found myself wanting them to be happy with whatever decisions they made.
Right from the beginning, when Nathan confesses to his infidelity and Sarah just wants to get to their friend's wedding, I was wondering how their relationship was going to get through this crisis. The whole story revolves around their searching for what is right for them as individuals and what is right, or wrong, about their relationship. Can it ever get back to what is was and ..... is that what they want?
There were parts of the book that had me frustrated at some of the decisions that were made but then there were parts that made me laugh. I especially got a chuckle over the scene in McDonald's when the baby has a blow-out. Been there, done that!
The book is about a very serious topic, infidelity in a marriage and how to go on from there, but it was written in such a way that I really cared about both Nathan and Sarah. I found myself wanting them to be happy with whatever decisions they made.
emilyisreading2024's review against another edition
3.0
Husband and Wife was only okay, in my opinion. I thought it was very well written and I am happy to have discovered this author. I want to read more of her books. But, in this one, the main character irritated me and I didn't really identify much with her. I didn't feel that I got to know many (or any?) of the other characters either.
pattydsf's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know why it is taking me so long to write this book review. I did like this book, I think Leah Stewart is a good writer. Somehow the review is not coming together. I know part of the reason is I read this book while on an incredible trip and I don't find the book as compelling as the trip. However, no author could compete with my time in Vietnam with Habitat.
I will say that there were parts of this novel that did not draw me in. The main character seemed very worried about aging and from my perspective she is still quite young. It also took me awhile to relate to the way she coped with her problems. Her solutions would not have been mine.
However, Stewart is an excellent writer and she was able to draw me into a story that is not, and won't ever be mine. I like books where I learn to relate to those lives that are nothing like mine.
I would recommend this book to younger women, interested in realistic contemporary stories, but not to anyone dealing with infidelity herself. That would be much too difficult. I will look for another book by Leah Stewart for myself.
I will say that there were parts of this novel that did not draw me in. The main character seemed very worried about aging and from my perspective she is still quite young. It also took me awhile to relate to the way she coped with her problems. Her solutions would not have been mine.
However, Stewart is an excellent writer and she was able to draw me into a story that is not, and won't ever be mine. I like books where I learn to relate to those lives that are nothing like mine.
I would recommend this book to younger women, interested in realistic contemporary stories, but not to anyone dealing with infidelity herself. That would be much too difficult. I will look for another book by Leah Stewart for myself.
princesszinza's review against another edition
3.0
I chose to read this book because I really enjoyed "The Myth of You and Me" by the same author. Although I'm not a chick lit type of reader I enjoyed "The Myth of You and Me" because I related to a tale of lost friendship. It was more difficult for me to get into this story of a marriage broken by infidelity.
Leah Stewart is a fine writer who does an excellent job of exploring the psyches of her characters. In this book, the husband and wife are both writers (the wife writes poetry, the husband is a published novelist). They were both a bit too artsy fartsy for me to find common ground with. I did enjoy some of the revelations about living as a family with young children. I just found the characters and their friends a bit too young and hip for me to feel a strong connection with them. I'm sure this is a flaw in the reader and not the author.
Confession Time: I skipped the poetry the character Sarah wrote (poetry really isn't my thing) and the story that Nathan wrote about Sarah (tried reading it but just wasn't feeling it).
Leah Stewart is a fine writer who does an excellent job of exploring the psyches of her characters. In this book, the husband and wife are both writers (the wife writes poetry, the husband is a published novelist). They were both a bit too artsy fartsy for me to find common ground with. I did enjoy some of the revelations about living as a family with young children. I just found the characters and their friends a bit too young and hip for me to feel a strong connection with them. I'm sure this is a flaw in the reader and not the author.
Confession Time: I skipped the poetry the character Sarah wrote (poetry really isn't my thing) and the story that Nathan wrote about Sarah (tried reading it but just wasn't feeling it).
marbles66's review against another edition
2.0
I did not really like this book. I found that the way it was written was very hard to read.
thewellreadrunner's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0