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The Good Enough Husband
I should have told Ben about Michael. I should never have told Michael about Ben…
One day I was watching one of my aunties battle cancer. She was older, never married—alone. That day I decided I never wanted to be like her.
So I looked around and there was Michael. He worked on Wall Street. He was available. Most of all, he was into me. I let him catch me, then I made the biggest mistake of my life: I married a guy I didn’t love.
Maybe if I’d loved him, we’d have connected in bed and I wouldn’t have woken in the mornings feeling exploited. Maybe if I’d loved him, our infertility would have been manageable.
But I didn’t love him, not like I should have. So I left. I needed to have some time alone to think.
I never thought I’d meet someone. I never thought a guy like Ben would come into my life. But he did, and I want with him all the things I should have wanted with Michael.
Ben is my future.
Unfortunately, Michael won’t stay in my past…
One day I was watching one of my aunties battle cancer. She was older, never married—alone. That day I decided I never wanted to be like her.
So I looked around and there was Michael. He worked on Wall Street. He was available. Most of all, he was into me. I let him catch me, then I made the biggest mistake of my life: I married a guy I didn’t love.
Maybe if I’d loved him, we’d have connected in bed and I wouldn’t have woken in the mornings feeling exploited. Maybe if I’d loved him, our infertility would have been manageable.
But I didn’t love him, not like I should have. So I left. I needed to have some time alone to think.
I never thought I’d meet someone. I never thought a guy like Ben would come into my life. But he did, and I want with him all the things I should have wanted with Michael.
Ben is my future.
Unfortunately, Michael won’t stay in my past…
394 pages, Paperback
First published January 19, 2014
11 people are currently reading
328 people want to read
About the author
Sylvie Fox
27 books185 followersSylvie Fox is the USA Today bestselling author of smart women’s fiction. She splits her time between Los Angeles and Budapest, where she enjoys yoga, knitting, farm-to-table cooking, and life with her son. When she’s not writing, her nose is stuck in a book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
March 18, 2014
*I was provided a copy via Netgalley/Penner Media in exchange for an honest review*
The premise of this book grabbed me and I was intrigued by how the author would develop the idea of not settling for "good enough" in a marriage.I thought maybe I would get to see a couple who decided that a comfortable relationship shouldn't be a substitute for a happy marriage. Or that "good enough" shouldn't be settled for because one or both of the people in the marriage is afraid of being alone. I went into this book thinking that it would be the story of a woman who discovers that somehow she has found herself in an unsatisfying marriage. That is not what I got. What Fox delivers in the character of Hannah is a self pitying, self centered and clumsily dishonest 35 year old woman who consistently made decisions and judgments that I would have expected from a 20 year old, not a woman with some maturity and depth of character. Believe me, Hannah has neither. Although I don't necessarily agree with the idea that a woman in her 30's "needs" to be married, I can empathize with someone who reaches their 30's and wants a partner to share their lives with. How Hannah comes to be married to Michael is no one's fault but her own. She was not forced into that marriage and after having known Michael for a good amount of time before the marriage she could not say that she didn't know that she was getting a marriage that was built on comfort and not passion. There didn't seem to be any interest on Hannah's part to solve any of her marital issues sexual, emotional, or otherwise.
Hannah's decision to flee her marriage and find herself is all well and good, but to bring someone else into your life and build it all on a lie that doesn't even make sense to create irritated me beyond belief. How old are you Hannah? For Hannah to continue to act as the injured party in this story made me even angrier as events unfolded. And the ending! What the heck Fox? It's as if someone just snatched the manuscript and said "That's enough, you're done." It was so abrupt and dissatisfying that all I could do was sit back and blink at my Kindle screen. I couldn't believe that that was it. The first three fourths of the book is written pretty well, but Hannah is wholly unlikable and the fact that Michael and eventually Ben are both vilified for not understanding Hannah's need to be a whiny baby of a woman who doesn't want to admit her own part in all of the mess that was created or work for her own happiness gave me no joy or pleasure in reading this book.
The premise of this book grabbed me and I was intrigued by how the author would develop the idea of not settling for "good enough" in a marriage.I thought maybe I would get to see a couple who decided that a comfortable relationship shouldn't be a substitute for a happy marriage. Or that "good enough" shouldn't be settled for because one or both of the people in the marriage is afraid of being alone. I went into this book thinking that it would be the story of a woman who discovers that somehow she has found herself in an unsatisfying marriage. That is not what I got. What Fox delivers in the character of Hannah is a self pitying, self centered and clumsily dishonest 35 year old woman who consistently made decisions and judgments that I would have expected from a 20 year old, not a woman with some maturity and depth of character. Believe me, Hannah has neither. Although I don't necessarily agree with the idea that a woman in her 30's "needs" to be married, I can empathize with someone who reaches their 30's and wants a partner to share their lives with. How Hannah comes to be married to Michael is no one's fault but her own. She was not forced into that marriage and after having known Michael for a good amount of time before the marriage she could not say that she didn't know that she was getting a marriage that was built on comfort and not passion. There didn't seem to be any interest on Hannah's part to solve any of her marital issues sexual, emotional, or otherwise.
Hannah's decision to flee her marriage and find herself is all well and good, but to bring someone else into your life and build it all on a lie that doesn't even make sense to create irritated me beyond belief. How old are you Hannah? For Hannah to continue to act as the injured party in this story made me even angrier as events unfolded. And the ending! What the heck Fox? It's as if someone just snatched the manuscript and said "That's enough, you're done." It was so abrupt and dissatisfying that all I could do was sit back and blink at my Kindle screen. I couldn't believe that that was it. The first three fourths of the book is written pretty well, but Hannah is wholly unlikable and the fact that Michael and eventually Ben are both vilified for not understanding Hannah's need to be a whiny baby of a woman who doesn't want to admit her own part in all of the mess that was created or work for her own happiness gave me no joy or pleasure in reading this book.
February 22, 2014
**reads last page** Surely I'm missing chapters in the end, right? **rereads last page looking for the rest**
**holds Kindle upside down and shakes in the hopes of finding the missing pages**
**holds Kindle upside down and shakes in the hopes of finding the missing pages**
March 16, 2014
2 1/2
The heroine was an immature brat. I don't think she deserved a HEA. I wanted to scream to Ben: "Run, Ben! RUN!"
I've read books where I didn't like the main character, but as the character progresses through the story, I expect them to grow and learn from their mistakes and redeem themselves. Hannah did not do that. Michael was not a totally bad guy, he had some faults, but it was obvious he loved her and was willing to do what it took to make it work.
Ben kind of had his head in the sand, I didn't get why he fell in love with Hannah, but everything became predictable for me.
I think this story had a lot of potential, but it fell flat for me. Sorry.
Is it evil that my favorite parts were all the times Ben hung up on her?
The heroine was an immature brat. I don't think she deserved a HEA. I wanted to scream to Ben: "Run, Ben! RUN!"
I've read books where I didn't like the main character, but as the character progresses through the story, I expect them to grow and learn from their mistakes and redeem themselves. Hannah did not do that. Michael was not a totally bad guy, he had some faults, but it was obvious he loved her and was willing to do what it took to make it work.
Ben kind of had his head in the sand, I didn't get why he fell in love with Hannah, but everything became predictable for me.
I think this story had a lot of potential, but it fell flat for me. Sorry.
Is it evil that my favorite parts were all the times Ben hung up on her?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2014
*warning: Brief plot spoilers discussed in this review. I received a copy of this book as part of the Early Reviewers program on LibraryThing in exchange for an unbiased review.*
To be honest, I found Hannah to be selfish and quite cowardly for much of the book and I just couldn't find much sympathy for her. She created her own problems, way before meeting Ben, and she continued to create more problems and involve more people in them instead of making things right before moving on. So many of her problems could have been avoided by just putting everything out there, yet she chose not to. While I understood some of her decisions, like her reasons for getting married, I still thought she could have made smarter decisions. Instead of trying to save her marriage, she selfishly decided that because she was done, it was done too but neglected to tell Michael any of that. Michael was no saint and wasn't all that likable himself, but both he and Ben got the short end of the stick where Hannah was concerned. Despite knowing how badly Ben had been burned, both by his father and his ex-wife, Hannah continued to let her lies sit between them and chose to keep allowing him to believe that she was the only bit of honesty in his life. Instead of dealing with any of her problems head-on, Hannah ran from them. It took her hurting both Michael and Ben and getting pregnant before I saw substantial growth from her. Unfortunately, the book ended before we could see this growth really being put to use in her relationship with Ben.
Despite the fact that I didn't really find any of the characters very likable, there were a number of things I enjoyed about the book. Firstly, I sort of enjoyed that I couldn't fully get behind any one character. While usually I try to find that character that I can get behind and root for, I couldn’t find one like that for this book but it suited the content. It was real. Everyone was flawed, in a big way, and the reality of it is that that's how the world works. Most of us are flawed, in a big way. Nobody's perfect and many of us make insanely shitty decisions. Even though I didn't like many of Hannah’s decisions and spent a lot of the time facepalming myself over them, sadly they too were pretty realistic. I also liked that Hannah was half Black but it wasn't stereotypically weaved into the larger plot of the story. I liked that Ben and his family saw her, not her color. I also enjoyed that after awhile, Hannah finally came around and allowed herself to grow a little bit. Unfortunately, it came after she'd already hurt both Ben and Michael and ended up pregnant, but this proves that it's never too late to grow. Ben grew some as well; as much as Hannah's betrayal hurt him, I think it set the wheels in motion for him to look at his family situation in a new light and stop being so closed off. I won't say Michael grew per se because just as I was about to say that he had, he'd do something completely ridiculous and change my mind, but he did have moments in which he showed that he truly grasped what was going on.
There were a couple of spots in the book that could have used some continuity. In one scene towards the beginning, Hannah and Ben are in the car, but about a paragraph or two after setting the scene, Hannah's dipping her toe into some water. Now unless there's a leak in the footrest, I don't think there should be any water in the car. Throughout the book, Michael's stance on Hannah's singing changes a few times. He starts out in the book as being the one to have killed her dreams, saying they weren't practical. Later, he was the only one of his family who didn't think her dreams were dumb and made a grand gesture that made Hannah remember who she'd married, then he was back to not supporting her dreams. His stance changed depending on how he was supposed to be seen at that time, whether it was in a good or bad light. It wasn't consistent and I think this affected how I saw him overall, because at the end of it I wasn't quite sure what to make of him. I didn't like that we weren't able to see what came of Hannah and Ben; he came to her in Copenhagen but the events after their reunion are where the real work for their relationship would have kicked in. I would have liked to see that. Some of the scene changes as well as the ending felt rather rushed and this was a little jarring for me, but otherwise I'm glad I read this book. I like that it wasn't a perfect romance and didn't have this perfect neat little ending.
To be honest, I found Hannah to be selfish and quite cowardly for much of the book and I just couldn't find much sympathy for her. She created her own problems, way before meeting Ben, and she continued to create more problems and involve more people in them instead of making things right before moving on. So many of her problems could have been avoided by just putting everything out there, yet she chose not to. While I understood some of her decisions, like her reasons for getting married, I still thought she could have made smarter decisions. Instead of trying to save her marriage, she selfishly decided that because she was done, it was done too but neglected to tell Michael any of that. Michael was no saint and wasn't all that likable himself, but both he and Ben got the short end of the stick where Hannah was concerned. Despite knowing how badly Ben had been burned, both by his father and his ex-wife, Hannah continued to let her lies sit between them and chose to keep allowing him to believe that she was the only bit of honesty in his life. Instead of dealing with any of her problems head-on, Hannah ran from them. It took her hurting both Michael and Ben and getting pregnant before I saw substantial growth from her. Unfortunately, the book ended before we could see this growth really being put to use in her relationship with Ben.
Despite the fact that I didn't really find any of the characters very likable, there were a number of things I enjoyed about the book. Firstly, I sort of enjoyed that I couldn't fully get behind any one character. While usually I try to find that character that I can get behind and root for, I couldn’t find one like that for this book but it suited the content. It was real. Everyone was flawed, in a big way, and the reality of it is that that's how the world works. Most of us are flawed, in a big way. Nobody's perfect and many of us make insanely shitty decisions. Even though I didn't like many of Hannah’s decisions and spent a lot of the time facepalming myself over them, sadly they too were pretty realistic. I also liked that Hannah was half Black but it wasn't stereotypically weaved into the larger plot of the story. I liked that Ben and his family saw her, not her color. I also enjoyed that after awhile, Hannah finally came around and allowed herself to grow a little bit. Unfortunately, it came after she'd already hurt both Ben and Michael and ended up pregnant, but this proves that it's never too late to grow. Ben grew some as well; as much as Hannah's betrayal hurt him, I think it set the wheels in motion for him to look at his family situation in a new light and stop being so closed off. I won't say Michael grew per se because just as I was about to say that he had, he'd do something completely ridiculous and change my mind, but he did have moments in which he showed that he truly grasped what was going on.
There were a couple of spots in the book that could have used some continuity. In one scene towards the beginning, Hannah and Ben are in the car, but about a paragraph or two after setting the scene, Hannah's dipping her toe into some water. Now unless there's a leak in the footrest, I don't think there should be any water in the car. Throughout the book, Michael's stance on Hannah's singing changes a few times. He starts out in the book as being the one to have killed her dreams, saying they weren't practical. Later, he was the only one of his family who didn't think her dreams were dumb and made a grand gesture that made Hannah remember who she'd married, then he was back to not supporting her dreams. His stance changed depending on how he was supposed to be seen at that time, whether it was in a good or bad light. It wasn't consistent and I think this affected how I saw him overall, because at the end of it I wasn't quite sure what to make of him. I didn't like that we weren't able to see what came of Hannah and Ben; he came to her in Copenhagen but the events after their reunion are where the real work for their relationship would have kicked in. I would have liked to see that. Some of the scene changes as well as the ending felt rather rushed and this was a little jarring for me, but otherwise I'm glad I read this book. I like that it wasn't a perfect romance and didn't have this perfect neat little ending.
February 24, 2014
And to think I almost passed up on this engrossing story!
I was prepared to dislike this book, I don't enjoy reading a book with anything to do with cheating. To me, cheating on your boyfriend/girlfriend or spouses is the lowest and abhorrent kind. This is different and I would have sorely miss a great read had I passed up on it.
I was prepared to dislike this book, I don't enjoy reading a book with anything to do with cheating. To me, cheating on your boyfriend/girlfriend or spouses is the lowest and abhorrent kind. This is different and I would have sorely miss a great read had I passed up on it.
June 2, 2014
**I received from Net Galley in exchange for honest review**
I suppose The Good Enough Husband was a good enough book. I actually got through the whole book because it was pretty well written but I also wanted a resolution and the entire book felt like a conflict with no reprieve. None of the characters came off as particularly likable. I wasn’t able to connect with anyone in particular. The only thing I liked about Hannah was what was meant to be a likeness of her on the cover. The model is beautiful and the cover is enticing.
Hannah is a 30-something year old woman but she was incredibly immature and indecisive throughout this story. All she did was run, avoid, make awful decisions, repeat. It took her forever to make her confessions to Michael and Ben. So I spent the entire book being frustrated with her choices, and/or lack there of. The story lacked internal dialogue about Hannah’s guilt and conflicts. A lot of the times, particularly closer to the beginning of the story, she didn’t seem bothered by the truths she was omitting.
I didn’t dislike Michael as much as I possibly should have. After several of Hannah’s various indiscretions, I decided she should just stay with Michael. If she couldn’t be honest with anyone she deserved whatever problems she had with him. I actually applaud my conflicted emotions about Michael because to me that meant he was a well-written character. My feelings for Hannah and Ben didn’t really conflict. I had a steady stream of issues with both of them.
Ben was relatively dull. I didn’t get a passionate vibe from him so I was lost on how Hannah got it. I also found him unlikable because he was super judgmental in kind of a childish goody-two-shoes kind of way. I understood the backstory and why he reacted that way but it was annoying and kind of bitchy. I don’t want to think of the guy that we, as readers, are supposed to fall for along with our heroine as bitchy.
Overall, again, I thought the book was pretty well-written. It ended on a SUPER abrupt note. The way it dragged on in conflict, we could have had a little more time to live in the resolve at the end.
January 5, 2020
frustrating
I just got so frustrated with this book. Hannah had so many opportunities to tell Ben that she had lied. To explain about her husband Michael. About her marriage. Well about anything really but I just didnt feel it. Especially when it was obvious that Ben didnt like to be lied to She just kept adding to the false story she had made up it was embarrassing.
Not a good read
Im really sorry but I promised to leave my honest review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I just got so frustrated with this book. Hannah had so many opportunities to tell Ben that she had lied. To explain about her husband Michael. About her marriage. Well about anything really but I just didnt feel it. Especially when it was obvious that Ben didnt like to be lied to She just kept adding to the false story she had made up it was embarrassing.
Not a good read
Im really sorry but I promised to leave my honest review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 3, 2014
Review coming 3/3/2014. Stop by Books & Chocolate and read my review. http://books2chocolates.blogspot.com. Will post on Goodreads 3/3/2014 as well.
My Review
The Good Enough Husband really got my attention by its title. It really peaked my interest Hannah is a thirty something year old woman who feels trapped in a marriage that brings her no happiness. Okay, she decides to marry Michael, someone she has known for a while. Knowing that she was not marrying for true love, but for comfort. Fox, created an unstable character, whom I really became frustrated with I assumed Hannah would mature up and realize she took vows, for better or for worse, but she decides to run off with her dog, and then pursue another man"Oh man, this girl is a piece of work Michael should have just forgot about her and went on with his life Hannah meets Ben, another potentia victim, and now believes he is the man of her dreams. I tried to like Hannah, but I couldn't. I felt bad for Michael, for having to go through this, and for Ben because he had already been hurt before. Hannah cared more about finding herself rather than being mature and talking this marriage out. Selfish Selfish Now Fox the ending was a bit disappointing. A real bummer, but the first half of the book had me turning the pages wanting to know what happened next I gave this book ***3 chocolate stars I gave it 3 stars, only because of the way the book ended. I felt when it got to the end, Fox gave up.
I was given this book free for an honest review.
My Review
The Good Enough Husband really got my attention by its title. It really peaked my interest Hannah is a thirty something year old woman who feels trapped in a marriage that brings her no happiness. Okay, she decides to marry Michael, someone she has known for a while. Knowing that she was not marrying for true love, but for comfort. Fox, created an unstable character, whom I really became frustrated with I assumed Hannah would mature up and realize she took vows, for better or for worse, but she decides to run off with her dog, and then pursue another man"Oh man, this girl is a piece of work Michael should have just forgot about her and went on with his life Hannah meets Ben, another potentia victim, and now believes he is the man of her dreams. I tried to like Hannah, but I couldn't. I felt bad for Michael, for having to go through this, and for Ben because he had already been hurt before. Hannah cared more about finding herself rather than being mature and talking this marriage out. Selfish Selfish Now Fox the ending was a bit disappointing. A real bummer, but the first half of the book had me turning the pages wanting to know what happened next I gave this book ***3 chocolate stars I gave it 3 stars, only because of the way the book ended. I felt when it got to the end, Fox gave up.
I was given this book free for an honest review.
April 12, 2014
The Good Enough Husband was a well-written, thought-provoking examination of a complicated love triangle. There are no heroes here. There are no villians, merely flawed individuals. Each of these people are emotionally scarred and scared, which exacerbates the situation. Their secrets and avoidance of important conversations practically guarantees there will be injuries after the smoke clears. Not knowing if there's any way to salvage what is left, or how these people can mend and move on is where the real drama kicks in and forces the reader to hang in there to the end.
August 17, 2014
****4- Avoidance, thy name is Hannah- Stars****
~this review contains minor spoilers~
She'd married Michael hoping to create the stability she'd never had as a child. If the world wasn't going to give her fireworks and sparks, at least she could have good enough.
I am still kinda on the fence with this one. On the one hand, the story captured me, it had everything I love in a romance-angst, steam, combustible chemistry, and interesting secondary characters. On the other hand, I really did not find much to like about the main characters, for many reasons. I mean, Hello severe lack of communication and stubbornness to the extreme.
She'd thought choosing a man for whom she'd felt no passion, but for whom she'd had warm fraternal feelings would be the best way to go. Because he couldn't break her heart. Because he didn't have it to begin with.
Hannah has had enough of her life-a job she hates, and a marriage she just can't live with anymore. She has had her heart broken so badly in the past that when she married, she chose her husband Michael with her head, not her heart. She wanted a family and was afraid of dying alone, but she never wanted to give another man that much power over her again. She thought being friends, with minimal passion and sparks would be enough for her-and it was....for awhile, but she can't do it any longer. So she packs her bags and her dog Cody, into the back of her BMW and leaves-she needs time away to figure out what she wants in life and where she goes from here. When Cody gets sick, she finds the closest Vet in a little rural town to get him checked out. It should only have been a pit stop, but when she meets the local Veterinarian, Ben Cooper, her plans quickly get thrown out the window.
Until now, the idea of a soul mate had been a cliché. In a few seconds, that cliché had become a very real possibility. The sense that she needed to touch this man was spilling over her again like an ocean wave.
Hannah's attraction to him had hit her upside the head like a cartoon anvil. She needed time for the stars to fade.
Ben has been betrayed and deceived so much in his life, most recently by his materialistic cheating ex-wife, that he turns his back on women completely. Moving to a small secluded town, he now lives a little like a recluse. No woman has even stirred his interest in over two years and trusting someone again seems impossible. When he first meets Hannah he can't deny she turns him on like no one has for a very long time, but he's quick to judge her-believing she is no different than his ex-wife.
She was getting under his skin. Maybe if he touched he once, or kissed he twice, he would have enough to take to bed and fantasize about. Kissing or a little making out did not mean he'd have to walk down the aisle.
Hannah intrigues him enough that he ignores his flight instinct and tries to get to know her, he quickly realizes she is nothing like any woman h has ever met before. The more time they spend together, the harder they fall. Hannah feels like she can just be herself with Ben and for the first time in a ling time, she is willing to put her heart on the line. Ben is thrilled to have finally found a woman who can hold her own in a relationship, he is getting too old for games and wants an equal partner. Plus, he has finally found someone who is completely honest with him, he can't handle another person in his life lying to him...
Hannah had given herself to Ben in a way she hadn't with any other man. It had been at once deeply moving, and liberating. It was the first time she hadn't held anything back. He knew without a doubt how much she wanted him. She was sure it had been written all over her face every time she'd come. But she'd let down her guard because she had nothing to lose, and so much to gain.
...only Hannah isn't being completely honest with him. When she decides to make her stay a permanent one and files for divorce so she can pursue things with Ben, she never expects her husband to show up and fight for her. Now she has to decide between the one she loves and the one she's built a life with. But fate may end up making that decision for her.
This book tore me in so many different directions. There was some definite insta-love in here, which generally drives me insane, but these two still had so much standing in their way that it was easy to overlook. I did have a hard time liking Hannah much at all, between her choices and her allergy to the truth, it was just hard. Ben was sweet, sexy, and understandably gun-shy, but the guy was pig-headed to the extreme. Once you wronged him in his eyes, nothing anyone could say to him would make him even consider seeing things in another light, he just completely shuts down. His expectations of the people in his life were damn near impossible to live up to. Michael I felt bad for because he truly seemed to love Hannah and she destroys him when she leaves, but at the same time the guy came across as such a tool sometimes that I didn't understand why she even married him in the first place, even is she was settling. And the ending was so abrupt I felt like I was missing something, there were so many questions left unanswered I felt no real resolution. But overall, I still enjoyed the story. It was emotional and not all fluff which is what I look for in a romance, so I would recommend this to anyone who leans in that direction. I look forward to checking out more from this author, she likes some meat in her stories and doesn't hold back on the drama, and that is right up my alley.
Hannah's stomach clenched. She was giving up something that had been good enough for years, for the unknown.
“Life is full of regrets, Hannah. You and I have our fair share. I don't want to add this to the list.”
Check out my FULL Blog Post here
Happy Reading xo Jenn
August 17, 2014
****4- Avoidance, thy name is Hannah- Stars****
~this review contains minor spoilers~
She'd married Michael hoping to create the stability she'd never had as a child. If the world wasn't going to give her fireworks and sparks, at least she could have good enough.
I am still kinda on the fence with this one. On the one hand, the story captured me, it had everything I love in a romance-angst, steam, combustible chemistry, and interesting secondary characters. On the other hand, I really did not find much to like about the main characters, for many reasons. I mean, Hello severe lack of communication and stubbornness to the extreme.
She'd thought choosing a man for whom she'd felt no passion, but for whom she'd had warm fraternal feelings would be the best way to go. Because he couldn't break her heart. Because he didn't have it to begin with.
Hannah has had enough of her life-a job she hates, and a marriage she just can't live with anymore. She has had her heart broken so badly in the past that when she married, she chose her husband Michael with her head, not her heart. She wanted a family and was afraid of dying alone, but she never wanted to give another man that much power over her again. She thought being friends, with minimal passion and sparks would be enough for her-and it was....for awhile, but she can't do it any longer. So she packs her bags and her dog Cody, into the back of her BMW and leaves-she needs time away to figure out what she wants in life and where she goes from here. When Cody gets sick, she finds the closest Vet in a little rural town to get him checked out. It should only have been a pit stop, but when she meets the local Veterinarian, Ben Cooper, her plans quickly get thrown out the window.
Until now, the idea of a soul mate had been a cliché. In a few seconds, that cliché had become a very real possibility. The sense that she needed to touch this man was spilling over her again like an ocean wave.
Hannah's attraction to him had hit her upside the head like a cartoon anvil. She needed time for the stars to fade.
Ben has been betrayed and deceived so much in his life, most recently by his materialistic cheating ex-wife, that he turns his back on women completely. Moving to a small secluded town, he now lives a little like a recluse. No woman has even stirred his interest in over two years and trusting someone again seems impossible. When he first meets Hannah he can't deny she turns him on like no one has for a very long time, but he's quick to judge her-believing she is no different than his ex-wife.
She was getting under his skin. Maybe if he touched he once, or kissed he twice, he would have enough to take to bed and fantasize about. Kissing or a little making out did not mean he'd have to walk down the aisle.
Hannah intrigues him enough that he ignores his flight instinct and tries to get to know her, he quickly realizes she is nothing like any woman h has ever met before. The more time they spend together, the harder they fall. Hannah feels like she can just be herself with Ben and for the first time in a ling time, she is willing to put her heart on the line. Ben is thrilled to have finally found a woman who can hold her own in a relationship, he is getting too old for games and wants an equal partner. Plus, he has finally found someone who is completely honest with him, he can't handle another person in his life lying to him...
Hannah had given herself to Ben in a way she hadn't with any other man. It had been at once deeply moving, and liberating. It was the first time she hadn't held anything back. He knew without a doubt how much she wanted him. She was sure it had been written all over her face every time she'd come. But she'd let down her guard because she had nothing to lose, and so much to gain.
...only Hannah isn't being completely honest with him. When she decides to make her stay a permanent one and files for divorce so she can pursue things with Ben, she never expects her husband to show up and fight for her. Now she has to decide between the one she loves and the one she's built a life with. But fate may end up making that decision for her.
This book tore me in so many different directions. There was some definite insta-love in here, which generally drives me insane, but these two still had so much standing in their way that it was easy to overlook. I did have a hard time liking Hannah much at all, between her choices and her allergy to the truth, it was just hard. Ben was sweet, sexy, and understandably gun-shy, but the guy was pig-headed to the extreme. Once you wronged him in his eyes, nothing anyone could say to him would make him even consider seeing things in another light, he just completely shuts down. His expectations of the people in his life were damn near impossible to live up to. Michael I felt bad for because he truly seemed to love Hannah and she destroys him when she leaves, but at the same time the guy came across as such a tool sometimes that I didn't understand why she even married him in the first place, even is she was settling. And the ending was so abrupt I felt like I was missing something, there were so many questions left unanswered I felt no real resolution. But overall, I still enjoyed the story. It was emotional and not all fluff which is what I look for in a romance, so I would recommend this to anyone who leans in that direction. I look forward to checking out more from this author, she likes some meat in her stories and doesn't hold back on the drama, and that is right up my alley.
Hannah's stomach clenched. She was giving up something that had been good enough for years, for the unknown.
“Life is full of regrets, Hannah. You and I have our fair share. I don't want to add this to the list.”
Check out my FULL Blog Post here
Happy Reading xo Jenn
~this review contains minor spoilers~
She'd married Michael hoping to create the stability she'd never had as a child. If the world wasn't going to give her fireworks and sparks, at least she could have good enough.
I am still kinda on the fence with this one. On the one hand, the story captured me, it had everything I love in a romance-angst, steam, combustible chemistry, and interesting secondary characters. On the other hand, I really did not find much to like about the main characters, for many reasons. I mean, Hello severe lack of communication and stubbornness to the extreme.
She'd thought choosing a man for whom she'd felt no passion, but for whom she'd had warm fraternal feelings would be the best way to go. Because he couldn't break her heart. Because he didn't have it to begin with.
Hannah has had enough of her life-a job she hates, and a marriage she just can't live with anymore. She has had her heart broken so badly in the past that when she married, she chose her husband Michael with her head, not her heart. She wanted a family and was afraid of dying alone, but she never wanted to give another man that much power over her again. She thought being friends, with minimal passion and sparks would be enough for her-and it was....for awhile, but she can't do it any longer. So she packs her bags and her dog Cody, into the back of her BMW and leaves-she needs time away to figure out what she wants in life and where she goes from here. When Cody gets sick, she finds the closest Vet in a little rural town to get him checked out. It should only have been a pit stop, but when she meets the local Veterinarian, Ben Cooper, her plans quickly get thrown out the window.
Until now, the idea of a soul mate had been a cliché. In a few seconds, that cliché had become a very real possibility. The sense that she needed to touch this man was spilling over her again like an ocean wave.
Hannah's attraction to him had hit her upside the head like a cartoon anvil. She needed time for the stars to fade.
Ben has been betrayed and deceived so much in his life, most recently by his materialistic cheating ex-wife, that he turns his back on women completely. Moving to a small secluded town, he now lives a little like a recluse. No woman has even stirred his interest in over two years and trusting someone again seems impossible. When he first meets Hannah he can't deny she turns him on like no one has for a very long time, but he's quick to judge her-believing she is no different than his ex-wife.
She was getting under his skin. Maybe if he touched he once, or kissed he twice, he would have enough to take to bed and fantasize about. Kissing or a little making out did not mean he'd have to walk down the aisle.
Hannah intrigues him enough that he ignores his flight instinct and tries to get to know her, he quickly realizes she is nothing like any woman h has ever met before. The more time they spend together, the harder they fall. Hannah feels like she can just be herself with Ben and for the first time in a ling time, she is willing to put her heart on the line. Ben is thrilled to have finally found a woman who can hold her own in a relationship, he is getting too old for games and wants an equal partner. Plus, he has finally found someone who is completely honest with him, he can't handle another person in his life lying to him...
Hannah had given herself to Ben in a way she hadn't with any other man. It had been at once deeply moving, and liberating. It was the first time she hadn't held anything back. He knew without a doubt how much she wanted him. She was sure it had been written all over her face every time she'd come. But she'd let down her guard because she had nothing to lose, and so much to gain.
...only Hannah isn't being completely honest with him. When she decides to make her stay a permanent one and files for divorce so she can pursue things with Ben, she never expects her husband to show up and fight for her. Now she has to decide between the one she loves and the one she's built a life with. But fate may end up making that decision for her.
This book tore me in so many different directions. There was some definite insta-love in here, which generally drives me insane, but these two still had so much standing in their way that it was easy to overlook. I did have a hard time liking Hannah much at all, between her choices and her allergy to the truth, it was just hard. Ben was sweet, sexy, and understandably gun-shy, but the guy was pig-headed to the extreme. Once you wronged him in his eyes, nothing anyone could say to him would make him even consider seeing things in another light, he just completely shuts down. His expectations of the people in his life were damn near impossible to live up to. Michael I felt bad for because he truly seemed to love Hannah and she destroys him when she leaves, but at the same time the guy came across as such a tool sometimes that I didn't understand why she even married him in the first place, even is she was settling. And the ending was so abrupt I felt like I was missing something, there were so many questions left unanswered I felt no real resolution. But overall, I still enjoyed the story. It was emotional and not all fluff which is what I look for in a romance, so I would recommend this to anyone who leans in that direction. I look forward to checking out more from this author, she likes some meat in her stories and doesn't hold back on the drama, and that is right up my alley.
Hannah's stomach clenched. She was giving up something that had been good enough for years, for the unknown.
“Life is full of regrets, Hannah. You and I have our fair share. I don't want to add this to the list.”
Check out my FULL Blog Post here
Happy Reading xo Jenn
September 1, 2020
What if your marriage was over, emotionally... and you met The One? This unconventional love story gives us Hannah, a gorgeous, talented anything-she-wants-to-be biracial woman with a carsick dog, and the vet she meets along the way. Ben is all the things she was starving for, but Michael isn't ready to let go.
And he's not a BAD guy. He loves her, and she loves him... but he's only a good enough husband.
Disclaimer: I'm acquainted with the author on social media.
I really like that this is NOT trope romance, there aren't bad guys, there's just emotional situations that aren't easy to deal with. Feels very real. And yes, there's still a happily ever after.
And he's not a BAD guy. He loves her, and she loves him... but he's only a good enough husband.
Disclaimer: I'm acquainted with the author on social media.
I really like that this is NOT trope romance, there aren't bad guys, there's just emotional situations that aren't easy to deal with. Feels very real. And yes, there's still a happily ever after.
January 8, 2020
I am not a fan of cheating of ANY kind, not even in checkers. This book hasn’t changed my mind about it. But has enlightened me to see that even in my own past relationship I have a choice to lay down and take it or get up and change it.
This the first time I have ever read anything from this author. I am looking forward to seeing more from Sylvie Fox.
I voluntarily received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and any opinions expressed within this review are solely and uniquely made by me and I am happily leaving this review.
This the first time I have ever read anything from this author. I am looking forward to seeing more from Sylvie Fox.
I voluntarily received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and any opinions expressed within this review are solely and uniquely made by me and I am happily leaving this review.
December 28, 2019
The Good Enough Husband was a complicated and well written book. It had strong characters and a great word and storytelling. The characters were well rounded and developed, and was an emotional roller coaster. This was my first book by Sylvie Fox and it won't be my last. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 22, 2020
After realizing her marriage of 5 years was a terrible mistake. Hannah packs her bags and leaves her husband Michael. While on her way to figure things out her dog suddenly gets sick and they take a detour to take him to the vet.It is during this time when Hannah meets Ben and sparks unlike any other fly between these two.And Hannah realizes what was missing from her marriage all those years.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 19, 2019
This was a really great book and I really enjoyed reading it even though it had cheating in it and I definitely don't agree with it. Sylvie is a great author and talented writer and her books and stories are varied and that is why I like her books. I recommend you read this book if you like this type of situation.
I Voluntarily Reviewed an ARC Copy Of This Book.
I Voluntarily Reviewed an ARC Copy Of This Book.
January 12, 2020
Hannah is unhappily married and is contemplating leaving her husband Michael. She meets Ben and sparks fly between them, giving her the nudge to finally leave Michael. This book is full of twists and turns just like in real life.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 22, 2020
This is the 2nd book I've read written by Sylvie Fox; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I can’t wait to read more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
May 2, 2020
On & On & On
When I started I liked it, scenery, woman making choices. All of that. Then for so many, so very many chapters it was phone calls, hang ups, more phone calls, more hang ups. I cannot forgive you, I won’t forgive you over & over. After awhile I didn’t want to know the predictable abrupt ending, because I just couldn’t care.
When I started I liked it, scenery, woman making choices. All of that. Then for so many, so very many chapters it was phone calls, hang ups, more phone calls, more hang ups. I cannot forgive you, I won’t forgive you over & over. After awhile I didn’t want to know the predictable abrupt ending, because I just couldn’t care.
January 3, 2020
This was a great book with an interesting storyline. The characters are well developed and engaging and drew me in from the start. What happens when a person makes a wrong choice?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 5, 2020
The Good Enough Husband by Sylvie Fox. I’ve read a few books by this author and I found this one to be good. Overall, plot was unique and characters were well developed. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 4, 2018
Love.
Wanted to become friends with Heroine.
Real feelings. Tough decisions. Review to follow.
Wanted to become friends with Heroine.
Real feelings. Tough decisions. Review to follow.
January 19, 2015
Would you be willing to sacrifice true love for companionship? Would you be willing to settle for less if it would provide you with the future you hoped to have? Do you really need to be in love to have it all? These are just a few of the questions that are answered in The Good Enough Husband.
Meet Hannah a women who married her best friend Michael. Marriage for Hannah meant putting her dreams and desires aside, after all Hannah was married and that should have been good enough.
Meet Michael. He married his best friend and the women he fell in love with years ago. He knows Hannah is more than good enough for him. The question is does Hannah believe good enough is all she needs?
Let me introduce you to Ben. Ben is the breath of fresh air that Hannah so desperately needs to breath. He is beautiful, smart, caring, and honest. Ben is the man who could quite possibly be exactly what Hannah needs to achieve the life she longs for.
This is a beautifully written story of what happens when we settle in life. Pushing aside hopes, dreams and desire to settle for good enough out of fear of being alone and unloved.
It was easy to form a connection with the characters in this story as the details provided by the author were spot on. We are treated to a full view of not only the characters physical sense but emotional as well.
The storyline though intense at times was a joy to read. Filled with love, doubt, yearning, desire and confusion we travel down a path of discovery of what it takes to achieve what everyone really wants in life unconditional love and acceptance.
We are treated to the story of Hannah and Michael, Hannah and Ben, Ben and Michael and the other family members who add a unique insight into the storyline.
With the story weighing heavy on the wants, needs and desires of the characters we experience an array of emotions. Some characters you fall for immediately, some take a bit more time and others provide the reader a chance to view the story from an outside perspective.
With each chapter you read the author continues to provide a deeper look into the characters thought process. In doing so you find that characters that did not sit well when you started reading now hold a piece of your heart. Fierce determination is shown throughout the story and it had me holding out hope for the outcome I desired.
This is a wonderful story, written with beauty, love and heartfelt emotion.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book directly from the author. I was not paid to read or review this book. All opinions are my own, and I was never influenced by anything or anyone.
Meet Hannah a women who married her best friend Michael. Marriage for Hannah meant putting her dreams and desires aside, after all Hannah was married and that should have been good enough.
Meet Michael. He married his best friend and the women he fell in love with years ago. He knows Hannah is more than good enough for him. The question is does Hannah believe good enough is all she needs?
Let me introduce you to Ben. Ben is the breath of fresh air that Hannah so desperately needs to breath. He is beautiful, smart, caring, and honest. Ben is the man who could quite possibly be exactly what Hannah needs to achieve the life she longs for.
This is a beautifully written story of what happens when we settle in life. Pushing aside hopes, dreams and desire to settle for good enough out of fear of being alone and unloved.
It was easy to form a connection with the characters in this story as the details provided by the author were spot on. We are treated to a full view of not only the characters physical sense but emotional as well.
The storyline though intense at times was a joy to read. Filled with love, doubt, yearning, desire and confusion we travel down a path of discovery of what it takes to achieve what everyone really wants in life unconditional love and acceptance.
We are treated to the story of Hannah and Michael, Hannah and Ben, Ben and Michael and the other family members who add a unique insight into the storyline.
With the story weighing heavy on the wants, needs and desires of the characters we experience an array of emotions. Some characters you fall for immediately, some take a bit more time and others provide the reader a chance to view the story from an outside perspective.
With each chapter you read the author continues to provide a deeper look into the characters thought process. In doing so you find that characters that did not sit well when you started reading now hold a piece of your heart. Fierce determination is shown throughout the story and it had me holding out hope for the outcome I desired.
This is a wonderful story, written with beauty, love and heartfelt emotion.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book directly from the author. I was not paid to read or review this book. All opinions are my own, and I was never influenced by anything or anyone.
July 15, 2014
Hannah Morrison Keesling married Michael because she didn’t want to grow old alone. But what started as a marriage that was just good enough, no longer works for Hannah. A trip north to put distance between herself and her unhappy life leads to a small time veterinarian named Ben Cooper. Ben is the guy that she should have met first. He’s perfect for her, even if he’s gun shy after being lied to by his ex-wife. While Hannah tries to move on with Ben, her husband refuses to let go. She must make a choice: to be the good wife or to be with the man she loves. And her decisions, she quickly learns, will ripple into everyone else’s lives.
Hannah was a refreshing take on the typical romance main character. Half African American and half Danish, she’s not the short blonde/brunette that I often see in books. I especially enjoyed how Danish words were included in the dialogue and narration without making too big of a deal out of them. It made their presence natural. That’s how I felt a lot of Hannah’s identity was conveyed through the novel. It was simply a fact, and I loved that.
Her identity helped me to understand Hannah’s choices. As a writer, I understood why she chose to hide her husband from Ben. However the reader in me disagreed with her decision. I watched helplessly as things got out of control, and I had several “I told you so” moments. It left me frustrated. While I didn’t really enjoy the lingering guilt over an unnecessary situation, another reader might enjoy it.
I had a hard time “falling for” Ben. I know that this book isn’t technically a romance novel, so I shouldn’t expect to fall in love with him. But I found him to be a bit too generic. My first impression of him was of a nice guy who liked animals and was burned by his ex-wife. He did become more interesting as the novel progressed when his half brother was introduced. I just felt like his character didn’t really come into his own as a person until the final pages of the book.
This book would be great for someone looking for a drama filled book about the consequences of the choices we make in haste.
Rating: 4/5
The Good Enough Husband by Sylvie Fox is published by Penner Media and is available as an Ebook.
*I received an advanced copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
Hannah was a refreshing take on the typical romance main character. Half African American and half Danish, she’s not the short blonde/brunette that I often see in books. I especially enjoyed how Danish words were included in the dialogue and narration without making too big of a deal out of them. It made their presence natural. That’s how I felt a lot of Hannah’s identity was conveyed through the novel. It was simply a fact, and I loved that.
Her identity helped me to understand Hannah’s choices. As a writer, I understood why she chose to hide her husband from Ben. However the reader in me disagreed with her decision. I watched helplessly as things got out of control, and I had several “I told you so” moments. It left me frustrated. While I didn’t really enjoy the lingering guilt over an unnecessary situation, another reader might enjoy it.
I had a hard time “falling for” Ben. I know that this book isn’t technically a romance novel, so I shouldn’t expect to fall in love with him. But I found him to be a bit too generic. My first impression of him was of a nice guy who liked animals and was burned by his ex-wife. He did become more interesting as the novel progressed when his half brother was introduced. I just felt like his character didn’t really come into his own as a person until the final pages of the book.
This book would be great for someone looking for a drama filled book about the consequences of the choices we make in haste.
Rating: 4/5
The Good Enough Husband by Sylvie Fox is published by Penner Media and is available as an Ebook.
*I received an advanced copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
August 4, 2014
Source: ARC provided courtesy of LibraryThing Member Giveaway.
Sometimes you just have get away. Pack some things, get in your car, and drive. That’s exactly what Hannah Keesling does when she finds herself contemplating whether to walk away from her marriage to her husband Michael. She’s trapped in what she considers a passionless marriage with someone who doesn’t understand her. Her getaway is supposed to give her a chance to really think about what she wants, not just with her marriage, but also with her life, with solitude. However, a carsick dog puts her squarely in the path of veterinarian Ben Cooper in a small town in Oregon – just a pit stop on her path. For her dog’s benefit, she’s forced to spend her down time in the coastal town and has an unlikely opportunity to get closer to the doctor.
This isn’t a clean, safe romance. It’s incredibly messy, drama-filled, and downright embarrassing at rights. It’s wrought with conflict and confusion between Hannah, her love interests, and their families. Hannah is conflicted when considering her marriage and the passion she finds with Ben. As luck would have it, Michael is pretty bent on maintaining his marriage, so he certainly doesn’t make it easier for her. I actually found this aspect of the story refreshing. The conflict is nuanced and authentic; the characters’ reactions are what I would expect in the real world.
To some degree, the story is frustrating. Hannah’s actions come across as poorly thought out at best and completely selfish at worst. She often fails to see the big picture and how her actions drag so many others into her drama. It becomes difficult to see her spiral in some ways, but then defiantly try to maintain control over such a complicated situation.
With “The Good Enough Husband,” Fox has presented a solid book. She tells a realistic situation in a way that allows you to get into the heads of most characters. Their interactions are believable and interesting. More than that, she keeps a good pace throughout the book, such that you’re still wondering what the outcome will be until the very last minute. This will not disappoint.
Sometimes you just have get away. Pack some things, get in your car, and drive. That’s exactly what Hannah Keesling does when she finds herself contemplating whether to walk away from her marriage to her husband Michael. She’s trapped in what she considers a passionless marriage with someone who doesn’t understand her. Her getaway is supposed to give her a chance to really think about what she wants, not just with her marriage, but also with her life, with solitude. However, a carsick dog puts her squarely in the path of veterinarian Ben Cooper in a small town in Oregon – just a pit stop on her path. For her dog’s benefit, she’s forced to spend her down time in the coastal town and has an unlikely opportunity to get closer to the doctor.
This isn’t a clean, safe romance. It’s incredibly messy, drama-filled, and downright embarrassing at rights. It’s wrought with conflict and confusion between Hannah, her love interests, and their families. Hannah is conflicted when considering her marriage and the passion she finds with Ben. As luck would have it, Michael is pretty bent on maintaining his marriage, so he certainly doesn’t make it easier for her. I actually found this aspect of the story refreshing. The conflict is nuanced and authentic; the characters’ reactions are what I would expect in the real world.
To some degree, the story is frustrating. Hannah’s actions come across as poorly thought out at best and completely selfish at worst. She often fails to see the big picture and how her actions drag so many others into her drama. It becomes difficult to see her spiral in some ways, but then defiantly try to maintain control over such a complicated situation.
With “The Good Enough Husband,” Fox has presented a solid book. She tells a realistic situation in a way that allows you to get into the heads of most characters. Their interactions are believable and interesting. More than that, she keeps a good pace throughout the book, such that you’re still wondering what the outcome will be until the very last minute. This will not disappoint.
December 31, 2015
Actual Rating 3.5 Stars
I won't lie, I don't like cheaters. I wanted to read this book because it looked to be a bit different to other books I've read involving cheating. I won't totally dismiss a book due to its content, but I go into it wanting to have my mind changed. Even now I have finished this book I'm not sure if my mind has been changed or not.
"She'd married Michael hoping to create the stability she'd never had as a child. If the world wasn't going to give her fireworks and sparks, at least she could have good enough."
This is the basis of the start of the story. Hannah realises that having a 'good enough' marriage isn't what she wants anymore. She goes on a road trip and finds herself in a small town. She becomes attracted to the local vet, Ben. And therein lies the first problem I had with this story.
How easy is it to say to someone 'I'm married, I've left him, but I'm not divorced yet.' It's that easy. Instead Hannah begins with a lie, and those lies grow. She finds herself in a situation she can't where she can't backtrack even if she wanted to. She even lies to herself in justifying what she's doing at times.
When everything comes out the story changes totally. Hannah finds herself in a situation of her own doing, but I did feel sympathy for her.
The ending? Mmmm I'm not too sure how I feel about it. The build up to the ending is good, but then you are left wondering what happens. As much as I didn't love this story I'd like to read a sequel and see where the author takes the characters.
The story itself is written very well. I just didn't find myself having my mind changed about cheating. Hannah continues to make mistakes throughout the story which I honestly can't believe she did.
I won't lie, I don't like cheaters. I wanted to read this book because it looked to be a bit different to other books I've read involving cheating. I won't totally dismiss a book due to its content, but I go into it wanting to have my mind changed. Even now I have finished this book I'm not sure if my mind has been changed or not.
"She'd married Michael hoping to create the stability she'd never had as a child. If the world wasn't going to give her fireworks and sparks, at least she could have good enough."
This is the basis of the start of the story. Hannah realises that having a 'good enough' marriage isn't what she wants anymore. She goes on a road trip and finds herself in a small town. She becomes attracted to the local vet, Ben. And therein lies the first problem I had with this story.
How easy is it to say to someone 'I'm married, I've left him, but I'm not divorced yet.' It's that easy. Instead Hannah begins with a lie, and those lies grow. She finds herself in a situation she can't where she can't backtrack even if she wanted to. She even lies to herself in justifying what she's doing at times.
When everything comes out the story changes totally. Hannah finds herself in a situation of her own doing, but I did feel sympathy for her.
The ending? Mmmm I'm not too sure how I feel about it. The build up to the ending is good, but then you are left wondering what happens. As much as I didn't love this story I'd like to read a sequel and see where the author takes the characters.
The story itself is written very well. I just didn't find myself having my mind changed about cheating. Hannah continues to make mistakes throughout the story which I honestly can't believe she did.
May 4, 2014
The Good Enough Husband tells of a situation a lot of woman may find themselves in, i.e. settling to marry in hopes it will be enough for the rest of her life. In Hannah’s case, it wasn’t enough and she knows it and doesn’t think she can fool herself any longer. She realized her mistake, realized there’s more to life than staying married to a man that’s good enough, but not enough for her. When Hannah leaves Michael to get a better perspective, very close to the verge of leaving him for good, she meets Ben and sparks fly. The idea of Ben and what could be gave Hannah the final impetuous she needed to move on from her husband, Michael. Maybe Hannah should have waited to end things with Michael before starting a relationship with Ben, but life is full of twists and turns and we can’t always predict how these things work out. Not even Hannah could predict how things unfolded. Hannah makes plenty of mistakes, but who wouldn’t when confronted with one of the biggest decisions of her life.
Ms. Fox gives us solid characterization in a well-written book. With an interesting and all too real premise, you feel the pain and emotion from all the characters from the beginning to end. I highly recommend The Good Enough Husband to all fans of women’s fiction or those who are thinking of or who might have married their good enough husband.
Ms. Fox gives us solid characterization in a well-written book. With an interesting and all too real premise, you feel the pain and emotion from all the characters from the beginning to end. I highly recommend The Good Enough Husband to all fans of women’s fiction or those who are thinking of or who might have married their good enough husband.
June 11, 2014
Good Enough Husband by Sylvie Fox is a love story with strong feelings between Ben and Hannah. When Hannah wants to leave her husband Michael she decides to leave for Oregon. Only she ended up in a small seaside town when she needed treated for her sick dog, Cody. The last thing Hannah expected was to be instantly attracted to the vet, Ben. Ben decided to join a life of solitude when he found out his ex wife was having an affair. He has lost all hope of love, then Hannah came into his life. They decided to trudge with caution but the electricity keeps pulling them together. Hannah has found a man who is she can truly love with her whole heart but she still needs to tell Michael she wants a divorce. Ben finally has found a women he can truly trust, the only thing is Hannah hasn't been completely honest. When Hannah finally tells Michael she wants a divorce she heads back to Ben. But can she trust that Michael will let her go without a fight. How will the lies about already being divorced hurt her relationship with Ben? Ben and Hannah have finally found the person they can be with forever, how will this end for them. Sylvie Fox has written a great story with many emotions, you love and hurt with all three characters involved. Great read!
March 14, 2014
Let me start off by saying that the title alone caught my attention. I could not wait to see why Michael was “the good enough husband” to Hannah. Hannah is in a marriage that has lasted five years and I though oh she must have gotten bored or fallen out of love with her husband. That is totally not the case!! You find out early on that Hannah married Michael not because she was in love with him but because she was getting up there in age and felt it was time to settle down and start a family. You and I know that not being in love with someone and getting married to them or staying married to them is a recipe for disaster.
Hannah decides that she no longer wants to be married to Michael and decides that she is going to go on a trip to find a way to let Michael know that their “marriage” is over. I personally thought she should have let him know before she even left!!!! Well wouldn’t you know on her way to her trip she has to make a detour because her dog Cody gets sick and in that little town at the vet she meets her “Soul Mate” What do you do when you meet your soul mate but you are already married? Read this book to find out what Hannah decides to do …..
Hannah decides that she no longer wants to be married to Michael and decides that she is going to go on a trip to find a way to let Michael know that their “marriage” is over. I personally thought she should have let him know before she even left!!!! Well wouldn’t you know on her way to her trip she has to make a detour because her dog Cody gets sick and in that little town at the vet she meets her “Soul Mate” What do you do when you meet your soul mate but you are already married? Read this book to find out what Hannah decides to do …..
April 4, 2014
Five years ago Hannah married her good friend Michael. It was a marriage of convenience because she didn't want to end up 40 and alone with no children. She loved him as a friend and he was in love with her. Sex was terrible! He treated her like a possession and she wanted out. She left him a note and took off driving down the coast. Her dog got sick on the drive and she ended up in a little seaside town at a veterinarian's office. Dr. Ben Cooper was his name and he was her dream man. She knew instantly he was her soul mate.
Great story! Very well put together. I felt so bad for Hannah because she was so miserable in her marriage. The lesson here is that sometimes you need to hold out for the ONE. Michael was a little whiny but he was in love and his marriage was falling apart. So, I forgive a little of the whining but only a little. The story was moving along smoothly and then BAM! It was over. It wasn't a bad ending but just too fast. I do like the writing style of Sylvie Fox and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Great story! Very well put together. I felt so bad for Hannah because she was so miserable in her marriage. The lesson here is that sometimes you need to hold out for the ONE. Michael was a little whiny but he was in love and his marriage was falling apart. So, I forgive a little of the whining but only a little. The story was moving along smoothly and then BAM! It was over. It wasn't a bad ending but just too fast. I do like the writing style of Sylvie Fox and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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