Home Song

by LaVyrle Spencer

LaVyrle Spencer explores the true meaning of unconditional love in this powerful New York Times bestseller. High school principal Tom Gardner feels a sense of shock when he sees Kent Arens, a new transfer student. With one glance, Tom can see that this teenager is the son he never knew he had-the result of a one-night stand on the eve of his wedding years before, now grown into an intelligent, athletic, and polite young man. But the boy's presence has a devastating effect on Tom's family. As the Gardners careen toward disaster, they test the foundation of trust and respect that their family was built on-and learn that love leaves no choice but forgiveness.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Drama, Family

366 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

LaVyrle Spencer is an American best-selling author of contemporary and historical romance novels. She has successfully published a number of books, with several of them made into movies. Twelve of her books have been New York Times bestsellers, and Spencer was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame in 1988.

Spencer is known for creating realistic characters and stories that focus on families rather than only the relationship between a man and woman. These "ordinary" men and women are warm and vulnerable and are always portrayed sympathetically.[1] Her heroines tend to be a mix of fire and warmth, strength, savvy and soft–heartedness who must overcome some sort of adversity, such as pregnancy, divorce, a lengthy separation, the loss of a loved one, and then undergo a catharsis. The stories center on themes of abiding love, family ties and strength in difficult times.

In the 1980s and 1990s Spencer wrote 12 New York Times Bestsellers. Her books have been sold to book clubs worldwide, and have been published around the world. Condensed versions of many of her novels have appeared in Reader's Digest and Good Housekeeping.

She retired from writing in 1997.

Reviews

[boogenhagen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read this a couple of times now and a few things stand out a little differently than when I first read it. Initially I was kinda irked by Claire and her attitude. Mainly because of her persistence in accusing Tom of currently having an affair with the mother of his illegitimate son Kent when she really did not have a lot to go on, and her continual protestations of not knowing what was happening to her mentally, and her absolute inability to even be remotely professional around Kent, who is the person least responsible for the whole situation.

Now on the reread I see things a bit differently, however I think LS missed the mark on this one, mainly cause she had a definite agenda in pushing the putting kids first in a marriage no matter what goes on in the relationship between the parents. Since this book was written in 1995 amidst a lot of culture wars about broken homes etc, this is an understandable agenda, no one likes to see the pain of divorce but in doing this LS missed an opportunity to really show the nuts and bolts of making a marriage work after a betrayal and in presenting Claire (the betrayed wife) as being irrationally jealous and angry, she denies a lot validity to the very real effects of betrayal (even 18 years later) and the pressure and strain it puts on people.

She also does a big disservice to her adult characters in not allowing the full spectrum of betrayal, anguish, remorse and redemption to occur over the course of the book. Instead it becomes all about Claire throwing Tom out of the house for no reason and pacifying her kids who want everything their own way. Not that I blame the kids, they're kids and can't help wanting their stable universe to continue, but now the sons have the idea that betraying your partner is okay as long as the partner doesn't know right away, and the daughter has the idea that when a man screws around on you, you have to take him back and continue your relationship because he wants that and your kids do too so your needs aren't important.

Mainly Tom's lack of development really disappointed me this time around. Tom freely admits he screwed Kent's mum cause he did not want to be married and he felt railroaded and he did not love Claire when he married her but he sorta "grew into it".

Actually what he grew into was his status and his lifestyle and the admiration of his family and peers as being the perfect stand-up father, husband and principal. At no time did Tom ever acknowledge that he was hurting for Claire the woman, his thoughts were all, "I miss my house and my kids and my wife" - even now 18 plus years later it isn't Claire the person he is missing, but the object "his wife" who completes his happy family, sterling character self image.

Tom just can't acknowledge that he has essentially lied to the one person who is supposed to matter most for 18 years and yet when he thinks Claire might be stepping out on him, his first thoughts are "If you have had him, I don't want you back", this makes absolutely no sense in his situation unless,(and sadly I have come to this conclusion), your a completely self-centered narcissistic ass. He has years of deceit and doesn't seem to understand how this makes him rather less than trustworthy - in his mind he "grew into it" so all is okay.

He dismisses his screwing around and getting another woman preggers 3 days before he slept with his wife on his wedding night as a youthful mistake. Claire is supposed to say let bygones be bygones and jump into bed with him and all will be well. Claire is supposed to have infinite compassion and understanding and forgiveness and his lies and betrayals aren't supposed to mean anything. In fact, that is exactly what he says "She didn't mean anything." Well, great I guess, not only does he betray his fiancee, but the woman he left pregnant and alone doesn't really matter at all, she was just roadkill on the highway of success.

What a prince and sterling character we have in Tom. Everybody has to be on his side cause he made a tiny little error and his ego has to be pandered to cause his feelings are the ones that count. Forget his abandonment and callous dismissal of a girl he used and forget that he only married Claire because he "had" to - (someone held a gun to his head?)- Tom is sad and hurt and devastated cause his mistakes have come home to roost and embarrass his kids and his wife - although I noticed he is very proud of himself for being the sperm donor for a pretty good 17 year old boy - Tom the stud, he thinks.

Another thing or rather a continuance of making Claire the bad guy here is the whole separation. Claire is very, very hurt, confused and angry. She has had 18 years of idolizing Tom, really loving him and knowing that she loved him more than he loved her and just in general being grateful that he married her and they had a good life. She is understandably devastated to realize that Tom never loved her, has had to force himself to "grow into love" - whatever the heck that means- and wants some time apart to sort herself out. Claire wants to move out but Tom vetoes this and moves out himself, thus making Claire the bad guy again cause "she kicked Dad out". Well, no she didn't, what she tried to do was give the adults some space to work out some very tangled and heavy emotions without traumatizing the kids too much. I think LS should have had Claire go, she needed the space but LS couldn't do that and still make Claire the bad guy. At the very least LS could have had Tom step out of his megalomania and self pity for a moment and explain to the kids that it was his idea for him to go, as they all need some space. However this would mean Tom might have to admit he did something wrong and this would not work for making Claire irrationally evil.

This continual villainization of Claire's POV got really old really quick this time. This could have been a marvelous opportunity for Tom to really prove his love and devotion to Claire, it could have been a great lead in to two people overcoming a absolutely devastating betrayal and come out stronger, better people with a real chance for happiness together. As it is the whole mess is resolved in two pages after the woman Tom slept with comes over and basically yells at Claire about ruining people's lives.

Forgive me here, but I just gotta say, Kent's mother did more than her part in messing up people's lives. She screwed a guy getting married in three days and then did not bother to tell him he was a daddy. Hello - who is she to be preaching anything? She essentially denied her kid a dad and a family for near 20 years, never been married but she is giving out advice? And she is presented as being this wonderful person. That scene was nauseating and really inappropriate and morally the woman doesn't have a leg to stand on.

I honestly don't see an HEA in this one, more like HFN. Claire is not going to forget that she is a burden to Tom and supposed to be forever grateful and adoring to an egotist. What are they going to do once the kids leave for college? Tom can't be trusted, he is only really concerned about how others see him and Claire's sense of devastation and loss is never really addressed. Tom does nothing to show that it is Claire he values and I just don't see Claire sticking it out now that she knows how callous and self-centered Tom really is.

Essentially Claire is guilted into staying cause it will cause untold devastation to her kids if she doesn't - heavens!?! they might become pregnant drug abusers or something because Daddy is gone and they will do whatever to get him back and make evil mummy feel bad- forget that they are almost college age and should understand adult relations a bit more, these were not sheltered Catholic school nunnery kids. Sadly though once the kids are gone, Tom and Claire will have no common bond. Claire can't continue in unadulterated idol worship, the scales have fallen from her eyes, and Tom really doesn't care about how Claire feels, otherwise he would have been a bit more cognizant of the pot, kettle, black situation when he though Claire might be thinking about someone other than him.

Since the foundations of this marriage are riddled with rot and there is no attempt to rebuild or repair the chasms created, the whole edifice is eventually going to fall and that is kinda sad. What could have been a great story of betrayal and redemption gets lost in the self-aggrandizement of an egotist and the unstanched wounds of a betrayed woman who makes the mistake of thinking her kids are more important than her self worth plus being able to look at her spouse with unalloyed respect and trust. I did not get a happy feeling at the end, just a sense of doom and waiting for the other shoe to fall, I hate to see the marriage three years from the end of the book, cause I don't think there will be one left.

[Vintage · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite my stance of never reading this, I read it. Oh Boogenhagen, why?

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I would love to say that the stance that it’s all on the little woman to be forgiving is as dated as this book, but reading more contemporary books shows that’s not the case. Why indulge in a little pouting that your husband cheated on you three days before your marriage when your kids, the teachers, and especially the mother of the bastard son think you are being selfish. The husband doesn’t even give her a day to “get over it”.

Luckily for everyone, the new addition to the family is a 4.0 GPA, football hero, walk on water Saint in the making. I wonder how the H would have felt if his new son was a leather wearing, smoking, school ditching juvenile delinquent?

[Elizajane40 · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is offensive. It’s not romance — it’s horror! You fall into an upside down world where being cheated on is worse than cheating. Every character (and I do mean every) gaslights the wife for her very normal reaction to finding out her husband cheated on her, didn’t want to marry her, and has a secret son. She’s the bad guy for questioning if they can stay married. The husband literally calls her aggressive more than once for just being cold to him. When she dresses up to meet a friend he goes on a jealous rant and throws her onto the bed. Oh and there is no grovel. Just some apologies followed immediately by a why are you being so mean to me. Then endless self-pity in his POV about how she won’t forgive him NOW. The children treat her like an emotional punching bag because apparently a divorce would ruin their lives forever; and mom only thinks another HERSELF. Honey, it’s HER marriage. The final straw for me was when the (female) school counselor is explicitly on the husbands side to the point where she shouts ‘I’m on Tom’s side’! This poop sandwich wraps up with the OW urging the poor wife back into her marriage. The wife is basically not allowed human feelings. It’s terrifying. Abuse is called love. Expressing valid hurt is called betrayal.

Beyond the f’d up anti-divorce, anti-woman agenda, I just don’t buy it. It fails as fiction. No way those kids blame their mom immediately and implacably. Then beg the ow to intercede on behalf of their dad. No way a therapist screams at her for needing some space to process. No way the ow goes on and on about what a great guy the dad is. Just none of it feels real. They feel like cut out figures in some after school special sponsored by focus on the family.

What happened to the writer who so sensitively built the love story of two loners in morning glory?
I can’t see reading any more books by LS. This was just too vile.

[BJ Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, storyline first. Tom & Claire have been happily married for 18 years, and have two teenagers who attend the same high school where Tom is principal and Claire teaches. Monica has just moved to town with her teenage son, and when she enrolls him in school, Tom discovers that Kent is the result of a drunken one-nighter at his bachelor party a week before his marriage to a pregnant Claire. Thus this story begins.

As with any Spencer story, this touches the heartstrings, although mine were resistant to sympathy for Tom and Claire. First Tom spends enough time feeling guilty for that indiscretion that Claire becomes convinced he's having an affair, so when she finds out the truth, she adds that incident to what she know is a current affair - well, he's gone almost every night, so of course he's having an affair and lying about it when he says he's at school. Here's where the reality of the situation got lost for me. Claire is a teacher! She brings her work home each night. Tom is a principal who must attend meetings & group events. Suddenly Claire is unaware of the parameters of his job??!! And she is forced to face his illegitimate son in her Honors English class each day, and it's too much to bear! (emphasis is all hers). So of course she kicks Tom out and makes life miserable for her kids, but she's hurting, so they have to understand, don't they?!

So why did I find this such a good story? It's so real! People do react emotionally, strike back when they're hurt, listen to the wrong people, etc. And when kids are hurt by the very people who are supposed to love and protect them, I have to get involved, even if it's only with a metaphorical slap upside the head to the selfish adult! Fortunately for Claire, her kids are much more grownup than she is.

[Deirdre · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book reads like a bad made-for-tv movie and was a complete waste of time. Spencer's grammatically shaky, over-emotional and adjective-laden prose made the book a pain to navigate and nearly impossible to enjoy, while her complete inability to draw a realistic human character forced the story into cliche after cliche. Her teenagers were wooden, drenched with sickly sweet kindness and school spirit and completely lacking any normal adolescent characteristics; her adults were erratic, frenzied and drawn without an ounce of realism.

I picked up this book at a used book sale and thought the story might have some interesting twists - there were none. I thought the plight of the characters, especially the principal's wife Claire, might resonate in some way - it did not. I suppose if nothing else, Home Song did evoke strong feelings in me as a reader: I was so angry with each of the characters and so bored by the non-existent plot that I couldn't wait to finish the book, review it and shelve it on the 'never to be touched again' pile.

[Bee Mills · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was going to write a whole entire review about this but then I realised that I hate it too much to give any more emotional energy to this entire pile of bullshit.

Instead, I'll link you to Boogenhagen's review, which says most of what I feel except with fewer threats of violence.

I will say that I don't think I've ever hated a book this much in my entire life.

The continual gaslighting and dismissal of Claire's very reasonable feelings of betrayal, insecurity, and anger make me wish I could un-read this book. Usually even the most horrible book has some kind of value to me, making me think of something I hadn't considered or see the world from a different point of view. But from the moment where Tom accuses Claire of pretending to be hurt, I was enveloped in a blinding fog of rage.

I hate everything about this book, from beginning to end. I hate smug Tom and whatsername (who had the absolute gall to accuse Claire of ruining her family - listen, lady YOU DO NOT HAVE THE MORAL HIGH GROUND HERE, you filthy cheater), I hate the horrible, selfish children, I despise Tom's father, and I feel incredibly sorry for Claire, who is stuck which this douchebag for at least another few years. She should have taken Haldeman up on his offer.

In conclusion, I hate this book and wish I had never read it.
...
...
...
I guess I had more to say than I thought. Anger is a hell of a writing fuel, I'll tell you that.

[Dallas Dallas · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sure glad I read the reviews before reading Home Song, because I don't want to read a story about a man who, one week before marrying his pregnant fiance, screws a one-night stand. And then, according to the reviews I read, when the other half of the one-night stand shows up years later with the man's teenage son, the wife is painted by Spencer as a nasty harpy. Every review I read agreed with Spencer, most saying that the wife should just get over a one-night stand because it happens all the time, completely missing that this was not just a one-night stand, it was a one-night stand on the eve of his marriage to his pregnant fiance! That is what caused so much pain to the wife! How come Spencer, who wrote the circumstances, didn't understand the wife's agony of betrayal and made the wife into a harridan? How come so many reviewers were so smugly heartless about the wife's pain?

[Alora · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is riddled with emotional abuse. I am heartbroken for women who have husbands like this.

[Bona Caballero · Rating 1 out of 5]

Novela detestable que tiene de romántica lo que yo de monja. Es sentimental de «matrimonio en crisis». Tenemos a la familia perfecta: papá Tom y mamá Claire, profesores de instituto, y su parejita de hijos. Llega un alumno nuevo, ¡y es clavadito a papá Tom! Sí, tiene un hijo de 17 años y no lo sabía. Kent resulta ser además, un chico ideal: guapo, respetuoso y con notazas. Todos se esfuerzan para que el reconocimiento de este secret baby crecidito sea lo menos traumático posible. ¿Todos? ¡¡No!! Porque Claire, simplemente, se desquicia. Detesta a Kent y, siendo su profesora, no es capaz de ser objetiva con él. ¡Qué falta de profesionalidad! Y encima Claire le da un tortazo a Tom (sí, eso también es violencia doméstica). De esto va la historia: de una mujer que está a punto de arruinar su matrimonio y a su familia, y de comportarse con poca profesionalidad, al descubrir que, cuando aún no estaban casados, su novio le fue infiel una noche.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.

[Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read. I think the heroine’s reactions were completely normal. Days before the wedding and while she’s carrying his baby, he’s getting it on—raw—with someone else? Years later here comes the child from the betrayal and she’s just supposed to get over it?! At least this heroine did make the hero suffer and grovel. That alone is worth a star! LOL!

It’s an emotional read and the author does a good job with the characters.

[wrkatreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t have said it better than this review from another reader.
I gave it 4 stars because it was a page turner.
I was furious how people admonished Claire for her feelings of betrayal and insecurities

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[mini ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

guys 😭 did i cry a lot (twice) yes. once when she told her children her pov and then on the last few pages. i guess the ending makes sense since the main aspect about their relationship is that they trusted each other and communicated really well before all of that happened but !!! i really liked how at the end he validated her feeling he told her it was ok and that he knew he messed up but didn’t know how to help and i like that he grovelled i think he grovelled enough. i do think people were super mean to her tho like honestly ?? and also i think it would have been more interesting if there was a teeeenny bit more focus on her insecurities about him not wanting to marry her. ok bye that’s all i stayed up late to finish the book i’m going to sleep now

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a powerful book, a little soapy, but you have to figure I am a grown adult man too. This book could be huge for anyone that has ever went through a divorce, had an affair, had a one night stand, or someone who just plainly made some bad decisions in their lives. This book unfolds and lets us know just what can come of those bad choices and how they can effect our lives and others forever! Just a few minutes or few hours can effect a whole live and possibly a number of lives from one indiscretion! I picked up this book, because like the main characters, I share the same last name Gardner so it intrigued me. Although I was married at one time and now divorced for over 8 years, and even though I wasn't the one that made that choice, this book hit home for me and how lives can come crashing down at any time. The premise is on a night of a bachelor party Tom Gardner made that bad choice and even though he was soon to be married, had a fling with a woman he had an attraction for in college. That night would effect his life in a big way years later down the road when thier paths cross again. Learning he had a grown son from that night, and how when the truth comes out, it can explode and spill over into other loved ones lives. I won't give away any of the story, but its a book if you have ever thought about stepping out or making some of those bad choices you should read and see what some of the consequenices could be. Its a book I would recommend for any man, woman, husband, or wife to pick up and read. This is my first book by LaVyrle Spencer, but may have to look for another that she has penned as I really enjoyed this one. A fast read for me and one that I enjoyed through all the lessons taught and to be learned!!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

What would I do? An unknown child from my husband's past shows up out of the blue. I have no idea how I would react but I like to think I wouldn't become like Claire - bitter and melodramatic. There was an emotional shallowness for the remaining characters. The school spirit rally was not real at all; there is no way high schoolers are that friggin happy - ever. Thankfully there is a happy ending (a bit sappy for my tastes) that delivers the unconditional love guaranteed on the book's jacket.

[Vikki Andrews]

date read unknown, excellent read

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like LaVyle Spencer in general, but I don't think this was her best book. It wasn't bad....an inteesting read. But it wasn't a great book either. The characters were for the most part likeable, if a bit unrealistic. The whole situation though, was a bit unrealistic. I mean, what are the chances that off all the schools in the US, you would move into the one at which your bio dad whom you never knew would be the principal? And really, would you leave your kid in that school. I mean, the mom obviously had money.....there are no private schools around?

But forgetting all that, because there would be no story if you didn't...it was entertaining, but a bit drawn out at times. No doubt Claire would be upset. But it seemed to take way to long to reach the conclusion you knew would come....that she would forgive and restore her family. And then, when she did....it came WAY too easily. Like BOOM.....I'm enlightened and all is well. After enduring chapters of her harshness and how the rest of the family coped, it just seemed like it should have taken a couple of chapters for her to think about what Monica said. And the most puzzling part was the last sentence. What was that about her 'liking' Monica. Was that a hint that Monica would become a good friend and part of the family? Or was that a threat.....Tom, I'm going to keep you on edge with this forever.

An interesting story, but maybe don't bump it to your 'must read' list.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

High School Principal Tom Gardner had the perfect life...a beautiful wife, two teenage children, and the respect of the community. But his world comes crashing down when he meets transfer student Kent Arens and his mother, Monica. Tom recognizes Monica has the pizza delivery girl he had a one-night stand with a week before his wedding to Claire eighteen years ago. He also does the math and realizes the teenager who looks just like him is his son. Tom's worst nightmare happens when the truth comes out and rips his family apart.

I didn't know if I would like this book because of the subject, but I have to say it was very hard to put down. Tom is torn between wanting to keep his illegitimate son a secret because he doesn't want to hurt his wife or family; yet he wants to get to know his son and be a father to him. Claire is devastated by the news and the kids are confused. Overall, I thought the characters and story were realistic, but the ending was tied up a little too neat for me. I understood why Claire was upset at the news but didn't quite grasp her reasoning for staying upset at her husband throughout the book, but other reviewers felt she was justified. My rating: 4.5 Stars.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

B+. I read this book 15 years ago, when it came out. Before she retired, Lavyrle Spencer was an automatic read for me. I've read them all and loved them all. I found this book in a box in the attic and decided to reread it.
It's interesting, there are things in her writing that were probably standard 20 years ago, but the POV changes pop out now. I liked this book, though. I wanted more time with the kids getting to know each other. I hated Claire and her craziness. And I know I read the book today, now as a divorcee, with a completely different attitude than I did 15 years ago. Each character goes through something different and completely understandable, although I thought Claire's reactions were a bit over the top and prolonged. But I cared about each character. I wanted so badly for there to be an epilogue, and was so disappointed there wasn't one. It ends so quickly and you know normality is going to return and strong relationships are going to build and rebuild, but I would have loved to have gotten just a taste of that.

[Cherice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I especially appreciate that from the very beginning the story is off and running. It doesn't take 6 chapters to "learn" about the characters or the story. It's right there, in your face, go! A father of 2 finds out he has another 17 year old son from a one night stand. His teenage daughter has already started falling for him and even shares her first kiss. The other son is jealous of his sudden presence on the high school football team. Of course the wife freaks out. Oh, and the wife is a teacher at their children's school and the father is their principal! Let the mayhem begin. I like stories about high school and I think Spencer gets to the realism of those chaotic years. Will the family be ripped apart by the shocking news or end with a happily-ever-after? That is the question... Can I just add that I think the name of the book is odd. But that's just me.

[Buscadora · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just came from finishing LaVyrle Spencer's Separate Beds which I really enjoyed. I jumped into this book thinking that there would be a romance story within the plot. There wasn't. No romance. No chemistry. This is a type of love story in which a long-standing marriage is put to the test. I just couldn't get into this storyline. The strength of marriage and family can be beautiful but in this novel, it was boring. The story dragged on and I finished this book just because I had already made it so far. I couldn't connect with Tom or Claire. Claire was way too righteous with her anger and frankly, she was cruel. Tom was way too much of a pushover and for such an "upstanding" guy, it sure took him a while to let the cat out of the bag. As for the rest of the cast, they were forgettable. At a minimum, I needed mystery, chemistry or at least some connection to the characters.

[Veronica Bareman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh.... It was an okay book, but a little dramatic for me. Claire, the female lead, aka wife, was a bit over the top.... So was the daughter, but then like mother, like daughter, I suppose... As a matter of fact, like father, like sons, too, because both boys were a little too in touch with their feelings and surprisingly mature and well-adjusted for high school boys. But then the male lead, aka husband, was also extremely in touch with his emotions. Certainly not my favorite read, but I powered through it and enjoyed it enough to finish.

[Jaime Stricklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book. I found this at a thrift store and picked it up because of who wrote it. I have never been disapointed by one of Spencer's books. This one was quite serious and emotional, but an awesome read. I laughed and cried and begged the characters to listen to my advice. That's always a sign of a good book, although they don't always listen to me......go figure.

[Rebecca Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way LaVyrle Spencer writes. I cherish each of her books. Her books are some of the only books that I keep, and that says a lot.

I read this book originally in April 1995, again in 2011 and again in July 2012.

Wonderful

Read again in 2012 and now again in 2019. Still fabulous!

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually love Ms. Spencer's works so it's a let down when I don't. The plot is good with real problem but the solution is too simple and unsatisfying. It's such a shame.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book isn't really a romance - it's a study of a marriage under pressure. Not usually my favourite trope, but I picked up this old Spencer paperback in a thrift shop and thought I'd try it anyway, as I really like some of this author's other books.

It turned out to be a very engaging read that sustained my interest all the way through. Spencer was a fabulous writer, who could create real, believable characters that you cared about. You really wanted to know what was going to happen to them. I made sure I didn't read any spoilers, and so not till very near the end did I know which way it was going to go. Would the marriage survive or not?

Tom and Claire had a long and happy marriage. Both busy working parents, with two teenagers. They really loved each other, even though they had been forced to marry very young due to an unexpected pregnancy. But as the years passed they grew to love and respect each other deeply, and to depend on each other.

But the proverbial spanner is thrown in the works when Tom is shocked to find out he has an illegitimate son, Kent, that he never knew about. Whoah. A drunken one night stand with another woman, Monica, on his stag night, when his fiancee Claire was pregnant with their future son. It had been a last act of rebellion at being forced to change his life plans and get married. Kent's mother had chosen never to contact Tom about the pregnancy. Both are completely shocked when she moves because of her job and finds out Tom is the principal at her son's new high school. And Kent is the spitting image of his father at the same age.

So now Tom has two sons both aged 17, as well as a younger (legitimate) daughter. And they all go to his school, where his wife also teaches. Oh dear. It's gonna get messy.

The book slowly works its way through all of the ramifications and effects of Tom and Monica's long ago mistake. The thoughts, feelings and reactions of all of the players, including the three teenagers, are teased out and explored. Because it's well-written, it didn't drag at all, and I wanted to keep on reading. There were a few points/coincidences that at times stretched credulity a little, but it made for a good story. The ending perhaps felt a little rushed, but ultimately it was satisfying and believable.

So, although it's not my favourite book by this author, and like her other 'contemporaries', it felt a little dated at times, (published 1994), it was still a very good read.

[Lillianrose · Rating 1 out of 5]

I agree with Boogie's review. I would also like to add, that the perfect teenager of the OW had a go at the H, saying he never checked to see if OW was pregnant, wtf. I mean really, where is his head with this, his mother knew the H was a couple of days away from marrying the h. Where is his moral compass set? His mother had sex with the H she knew he was marrying the h, she has NO moral compass, yet no blame has even touched this woman. Both the H and the OW are to blame. The OW doesn't tell the H that he has a child. I think society changed it's morality years ago by forgiving those that do wrong, giving them a pass at everything. This was wrong because it gave them an out because no matter what they did they knew they would be forgiven. This is why society is corrupt, why we have so many divorces, why everything is allowable. Not all is forgiveable and should not be. If a cheated on spouse can not forgive then she should not be bullied by the H and then the OW into just accepting it. Those that do harm should be held responsible. So I can't see anything but heartache for this h. And in reality I can't see anything but heartache for so many partners/spouses. What is so much worse is that they made this into a movie????

[Viktoriya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really emotional and nice contemporary. Tom Gardner's life is as perfect as it can be: he has a great job as a High School Principle, he has a great marriage to the girl of his dreams, their two kids are PERFECT - good students, athletes and involve with their school. Nothing can go wrong in his life, right? Nothing does, until one day his past comes crushing in: a woman he once had a one-night stand (a week before his wedding) comes to his school to enroll her son. Turns out, her son is a product of that one-night stand with Tom and he had no idea. This boy looks just like Tom. To complicate matters even more, Tom's wife is a teacher in this school and the boy is enrolled in one of her classes. Oh boy....Will Tom have the nerve to admit to his wife about his one-night stand? Will he acknowledge the boy? Will his wife forgive him? And what about Tom's kids? How will they take it?

The book is very emotional and raw.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. It made me want to keep picking the book up to read more. The story was beautifully written. This story follows the life of Tom who is a high school principal, his wife Claire who is an English teacher at the same school and there 2 kids Chelsea and Robby who attend the same high school their parents work at. One day a woman named Monic walks into the school with her son Kent to get him registered for school and they are introduced to the principal Tom. Tom notices right away that Kent looks a lot like him at 17. The story unravels when Tom finds out his one night stand at his bachelor party ended up producing a son. This is the story of how Tom and his family find out the news and how they deal and handle the situation.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always loved books by LaVryle Spencer. They are written in a way that you can imagine yourself in the world of the characters and want to be a part of their lives. This book was no different. Having been a high school teacher in a school where everyone (teachers and students) know about each others lives I could really relate to the story line and characters. There were times that it became a bit wordy, unnecessarily. I would have rather had more content about the characters than the scenery. The book was written in the early 1990s so a few things were out of date but again I related to it because I would have been a teenager at the time this book came out.

[Juliewheatcox.Net · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve owned this book for years, and this is probably the third time I’ve read it. But, I’ve decided that it’s my last time.

I love LaVeryle Spencer’s writing. That’s not the problem. The problem is that the majority of this story is angst.

It’s a story of a family that’s going through some very difficult times. That part was well written, and all too accurate on what can happen to a marriage. But, it would have made for a much better story it the problems had been resolved much earlier in the book, and continued with what we would hope the natural progression of the characters should have been.