Finished 7-21-11, rating 4.75/5, fiction, 344 pages, pub. 2011
When Nathan and I married, I was a poet. When we met, I was a poet. When Nathan confessed, I was a mother, a business manager, a wife. I’m not saying I held this against him. I’m saying he held it against me.
Chapter 1
Nathan is a stay at home dad and author. Sarah works a 9-5 job to provide financial stability for their family. On the day the galleys arrive for his new book, Infidelity, Nathan confesses that he had cheated at a writer’s conference. Sarah tries to stay sane, but after only a few days she kicks Nathan out and finds herself a mostly single mother.
This book spoke to me. As a new mom, Sarah’s struggle to find her identity was one I could understand. I think any mom and wife, especially ones with young children now, will find themselves nodding in agreement with many of Sarah’s thoughts. I felt completely understood.
That being said, Sarah is no saint and some of the things she does are destructive and dangerous. But Stewart does such a good job of making me understand Sarah that I never totally wrote her off. I felt her pain. I didn’t like Nathan either, he seemed like a loser with a capital L, until I started to understand their relationship and marriage- the good, the bad, and the ugly.
I love stories about marriage and all the complications that inherently make themselves known. When one person cheats, can trust be restored? Can she stay in the marriage? When a woman becomes a mother, is she still the same woman she was before? Should she be? Is there a way to be a mother and retain your identity and your dreams? Again, the identity issues are ones I’m struggling with right now so I loved this book. As an older mom this passage made me nod my head,
“My mother was twenty-two when she had me.”
“My mother was twenty-five.”
“Can you imagine? That was when we were in grad school. Can you imagine having had kids at that age? I didn’t even know who I was.”
She settled back into the couch cushions. “Don’t you think knowing who you are makes it harder? I mean, you know who you are, and then it becomes really hard to be who you are.”
Chapter 16
For some reason this book inspired me. It made me take a step back to look at me, not just the mom or the wife. And then I had to go back to being mom, but those minutes mattered! I highly recommend it. I look forward to reading Leah’s other two books.
I bought this book on Tuesday night, read my post here.
Stacy's Books 
I can see why this would call to you. I really liked it and I’m in a completely different phase. I remember wanting to know Nathan’s side of the story when I finished the book. I like books that motivate me to look inward.
Isn’t it great when you really connect with a book/character.? This one sounds like it was just right for you.
I just read a book too about marriage that forced me to ask questions about myself. Hate that! heh!
Wow, it sounds like this book really struck a chord with you! I love books that examine marriage as well.
I’m not a mom but I can see how it’s so easy to lose ones self or identity when you become a mom. I think it’s a life lone struggle but one that women must make work. The balance between thier multiple selves. Plus it’s a good example for your kids to follow when they grow up. Always maintain a bit of yourself, because in the end regardless of everyone and everything, you always have yourself. Oh I must be deep thinking today 🙂
Great review and makes me want to read this book, even though it is not my usualy fare 🙂
Oh, I love books like that, when they resonate beyond telling a good story and inspire self-reflection. The subject matter is loaded but it sounds like it was balanced and above all, realistic.
Sounds like this would make a great book club discussion book. Thank you for the recommendation.
This sounds like a great book, adding to my Wishlist. I use to struggle with the identity but realised I want to be a career mom and having the balance is what makes me happy, I will not give that side up. It is a hard adjustment. I was 31 when I had my daughter and still felt ‘older’ at times, sheeesh 🙂
I have been curious about this book for quite a while. It’s great that you could relate to Sarah, and that you felt this book inspired you. I think I wouldn’t like Nathan either. Thanks for the review!
Any time a book resonate with me like this I am reminded of why I love to read so much. Sounds like a book and a story that many of us can relate to on some level. I’ll be adding it to my list to read.
This sounds really good. I like reading about marriages and motherhood and how people navigate all the complexities.
I think this one sounds excellent and I liked how your views on each character changed a bit as you were pulled further into their story!
There is alot I can relate to in this book, especially the identity issues. Couple that with the fact that drool worthy Naveen Andrews physical attributes are inspiration for Nathan and you have a winner!