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His Broken Words: A Wife Betrayed
Contains on-page cheating.
His Broken Words starts with a gut-punch betrayal that will leave you breathless.
When Emma lands a promotion she’s worked toward for years, she feels like everything in her life is finally falling into place—until she discovers her husband, Mark, has been unfaithful.
Determined to rebuild, Emma vows to never again settle for less than she deserves. But Mark, wracked with guilt and realizing too late what he stands to lose, isn’t ready to let go—even if it means groveling every step of the way to prove he’s worthy of a second chance.
His Broken Words starts with a gut-punch betrayal that will leave you breathless.
When Emma lands a promotion she’s worked toward for years, she feels like everything in her life is finally falling into place—until she discovers her husband, Mark, has been unfaithful.
Determined to rebuild, Emma vows to never again settle for less than she deserves. But Mark, wracked with guilt and realizing too late what he stands to lose, isn’t ready to let go—even if it means groveling every step of the way to prove he’s worthy of a second chance.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 5, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
November 17, 2025
Too many unanswered questions.
Spoilers…
I got the sentiment behind the story, the writing, the meanings and what the author was trying to convey, but for me the whole book was too introspective.
I appreciated how their story centered around the realisations from Mark and his inner monologue of mistakes, but I needed more balance. I know that Emma was able to concentrate more on her professional growth, but what about her personal growth?
We got everything thrown at us about Mark and how he realised his mistakes, but for me there wasn’t enough dialogue and hashing it out. Also it edged more towards it being about him working too much, finances and being an absent husband and father rather than his physical betrayals…..one doesn’t connect to the other rather than selfishness and needing a ‘release’ as he put it. It said a few times an affair, but wasn’t he was going out to hotels and having ONS….that was never really explained properly and no real dialogue between Mark and Emma about that side of it either…how long had he being doing it? Why did he feel empty after? Was he interacting by text with other women? How did his colleagues know? Did he have repeated intimacy with the same woman/women? Who were they? Women from work? Prearranged?? There were too many unanswered questions.
It was like reading the ‘how to’ guide for a man after betrayal. I needed more grit from Emma, more push back, her having asked more questions.
I didn’t want her to be someone she wasn’t but at the same time just something more than words and acceptance towards the end. I know Mark did change and ‘put the work’ in, but was it enough? I suppose Emma was allowed to make her own decisions but I think it was all too introspective and all about the forgiveness after betrayal and an overview of what to do and the best outcomes, rather than the nitty gritty and the extensiveness of his betrayal.
I guess that’s the reason why it felt to me like something was missing….if we actually read the enormity of the betrayal then there would be no way for forgiveness and that’s why it fell flat for me. The forgiveness and acceptance felt false because I felt she never knew the full extent of it…or at least it wasn’t written that she did.
Spoilers…
I got the sentiment behind the story, the writing, the meanings and what the author was trying to convey, but for me the whole book was too introspective.
I appreciated how their story centered around the realisations from Mark and his inner monologue of mistakes, but I needed more balance. I know that Emma was able to concentrate more on her professional growth, but what about her personal growth?
We got everything thrown at us about Mark and how he realised his mistakes, but for me there wasn’t enough dialogue and hashing it out. Also it edged more towards it being about him working too much, finances and being an absent husband and father rather than his physical betrayals…..one doesn’t connect to the other rather than selfishness and needing a ‘release’ as he put it. It said a few times an affair, but wasn’t he was going out to hotels and having ONS….that was never really explained properly and no real dialogue between Mark and Emma about that side of it either…how long had he being doing it? Why did he feel empty after? Was he interacting by text with other women? How did his colleagues know? Did he have repeated intimacy with the same woman/women? Who were they? Women from work? Prearranged?? There were too many unanswered questions.
It was like reading the ‘how to’ guide for a man after betrayal. I needed more grit from Emma, more push back, her having asked more questions.
I didn’t want her to be someone she wasn’t but at the same time just something more than words and acceptance towards the end. I know Mark did change and ‘put the work’ in, but was it enough? I suppose Emma was allowed to make her own decisions but I think it was all too introspective and all about the forgiveness after betrayal and an overview of what to do and the best outcomes, rather than the nitty gritty and the extensiveness of his betrayal.
I guess that’s the reason why it felt to me like something was missing….if we actually read the enormity of the betrayal then there would be no way for forgiveness and that’s why it fell flat for me. The forgiveness and acceptance felt false because I felt she never knew the full extent of it…or at least it wasn’t written that she did.
August 17, 2025
This was like a therapy session for cheating husbands. Also his whole reason for cheating was lame. When h walked in on him and he kept going at it and was mad yet a few pages later says he loves her so much — it just didn’t make sense. His thought process is: I’m a good provider and that means I love you. Nope not buying it when you’re sticking your dick in randoms constantly. Lame!
November 30, 2024
3ish Stars
I'm generously rounding up
This reminded me of Goalie
Some of it worked, most of it didn't. There was too much inner monologuing, and it was repetitive too. What I wanted was more confrontations, more hashing it out, questions answered, and generally, more drama. I felt the angst, it came like a sucker punch to the gut the moment the infidelity was discovered, but afterwards, the vibe was super mellow. The FMC was too civil considering she had caught her husband in bed with another woman. And then his complete indifference at being caught in the act, omg. How do you face him again and not want to k!ll him? I guess she's better than me. Despite how devastated she said she was (show us, don't tell us!), I thought she handled things too calmly, too nicely, too rationally. Who are these women?? He was a serial cheater for fuck's sake. A skillet to head is what he deserved. I also wanted actual grovelling from the MMC, him desperately begging, nonstop. I wanted to see him suffer more; for him to hit rock bottom—spectacularly. I mean, yeah, he tells us how much he's suffering, some of it is even shown, but it comes off subdued. Most of this is revealed in his repetitive introspections. I appreciated his epiphanies; that he finally realized how much he hurt his family and the immense regret that followed; that he went to therapy to fix himself. But idk, the way it plays out here, it wasn't enough. I'm not sure he deserved a second chance, the betrayal was too great. How the eff do you ever get that image of your husband screwing another woman out of your head? But hey, to each their own. Anyway, I did like that scene towards the end where he (finally!!) falls to his knees at her feet...I'll allow it LOL
The epilogue fell short. A glimpse much further in the future was needed to see if he had proved himself trustworthy.
(Kindle Unlimited)
I'm generously rounding up
This reminded me of Goalie
Some of it worked, most of it didn't. There was too much inner monologuing, and it was repetitive too. What I wanted was more confrontations, more hashing it out, questions answered, and generally, more drama. I felt the angst, it came like a sucker punch to the gut the moment the infidelity was discovered, but afterwards, the vibe was super mellow. The FMC was too civil considering she had caught her husband in bed with another woman. And then his complete indifference at being caught in the act, omg. How do you face him again and not want to k!ll him? I guess she's better than me. Despite how devastated she said she was (show us, don't tell us!), I thought she handled things too calmly, too nicely, too rationally. Who are these women?? He was a serial cheater for fuck's sake. A skillet to head is what he deserved. I also wanted actual grovelling from the MMC, him desperately begging, nonstop. I wanted to see him suffer more; for him to hit rock bottom—spectacularly. I mean, yeah, he tells us how much he's suffering, some of it is even shown, but it comes off subdued. Most of this is revealed in his repetitive introspections. I appreciated his epiphanies; that he finally realized how much he hurt his family and the immense regret that followed; that he went to therapy to fix himself. But idk, the way it plays out here, it wasn't enough. I'm not sure he deserved a second chance, the betrayal was too great. How the eff do you ever get that image of your husband screwing another woman out of your head? But hey, to each their own. Anyway, I did like that scene towards the end where he (finally!!) falls to his knees at her feet...I'll allow it LOL
The epilogue fell short. A glimpse much further in the future was needed to see if he had proved himself trustworthy.
(Kindle Unlimited)
November 23, 2024
Going for the bland 3 star rating as I am very conflicted about the story.
Heroine is tough as nails when she finds out her husband is cheating by catching him in the act. His complete and utter dismissiveness of her pain was a shocker, but well done for not going the obvious route.
My issue is just getting over the cheating. The author does an excellent job of showing his redemptive arc though. He actually goes to therapy and realizes that his father is a contributing factor.
His father...hoo boy. I hate to think that there are men that think like him...that woman are weak collateral, but I guess they are out there. I think of my dad, a Marine in WWII, worked oil fields, old school curmodgeon and would never have spoke about women the way the father did. I probably would have given an extra star if the H's mom had left her pathetic husband.
Heroine is tough as nails when she finds out her husband is cheating by catching him in the act. His complete and utter dismissiveness of her pain was a shocker, but well done for not going the obvious route.
My issue is just getting over the cheating. The author does an excellent job of showing his redemptive arc though. He actually goes to therapy and realizes that his father is a contributing factor.
His father...hoo boy. I hate to think that there are men that think like him...that woman are weak collateral, but I guess they are out there. I think of my dad, a Marine in WWII, worked oil fields, old school curmodgeon and would never have spoke about women the way the father did. I probably would have given an extra star if the H's mom had left her pathetic husband.
March 4, 2025
(This is more of rant than a review, so apologies in advance.)
I really wanted to like this book, but it just felt inadequate and read more like a manual for wayward husbands seeking to assuage their guilt, rather than a well-rounded story about a couple’s recovery and reconciliation after infidelity. It concentrated too much on the cheating MMC’s “healing”, as if though he was the victim and not the perpetrator of the betrayal. It left a really bad taste in my mouth.
There are several scenes in the MMC’s counseling sessions, but not a word about how the betrayed wife (MFC) actively worked towards her own healing other than crying or begging her estranged husband to fuck her. Yes, there’s BBS which made me really angry because it cheapened her character development. The MFC wasn’t given much importance. Her pain was often spoken about, but it was almost completely rug swept for the sake of the MMC’s spiritual journey of self-discovery. It’s kinda strange to say, but it almost felt like his serial adultery was glossed over for the sake of the redemption story arc. Sure, we got to see the painful D-Day scene at the hotel where the MFC catches the MMC thrusting into his affair partner, but even that seemed anti-climactic.
I really wanted to read about how the MFC dissected her husband’s betrayal and came to terms with the aftermath of their separation in her own individual counseling journey, but we were completely denied that. It’s so disappointing that she only spoke to her sister, work colleague, MIL, and her husband’s therapist (at one session only) about his infidelity, but she never went to therapy to learn how to cope. I mean, it appears that her husband had multiple affairs and many dirty hook-ups because he was an unapologetic SERIAL ADULTERER. Yet, we’re supposed to believe that she could magically forgive and forget without months (or years) of painful couple’s counseling, and a lot more work on his end?!
Working towards reconciliation after infidelity is difficult because everything has to be laid bare. The wayward spouse has to come clean about all their adulterous behavior (timelines, names, surrendering of all electronics, etc) and they have to be brutally honest and transparent. But we are never informed about the full extent of the MMC’s betrayal, nor how long it had all been going on, so there are too many questions left unanswered. I can’t suspend my disbelief enough to think that this couple’s HEA is truly genuine.
ETA for the safety gang: there’s never a mention about either MCs getting full STI/STD panels even though the husband was a dirty dog. That was a nope from me.
I really wanted to like this book, but it just felt inadequate and read more like a manual for wayward husbands seeking to assuage their guilt, rather than a well-rounded story about a couple’s recovery and reconciliation after infidelity. It concentrated too much on the cheating MMC’s “healing”, as if though he was the victim and not the perpetrator of the betrayal. It left a really bad taste in my mouth.
There are several scenes in the MMC’s counseling sessions, but not a word about how the betrayed wife (MFC) actively worked towards her own healing other than crying or begging her estranged husband to fuck her. Yes, there’s BBS which made me really angry because it cheapened her character development. The MFC wasn’t given much importance. Her pain was often spoken about, but it was almost completely rug swept for the sake of the MMC’s spiritual journey of self-discovery. It’s kinda strange to say, but it almost felt like his serial adultery was glossed over for the sake of the redemption story arc. Sure, we got to see the painful D-Day scene at the hotel where the MFC catches the MMC thrusting into his affair partner, but even that seemed anti-climactic.
I really wanted to read about how the MFC dissected her husband’s betrayal and came to terms with the aftermath of their separation in her own individual counseling journey, but we were completely denied that. It’s so disappointing that she only spoke to her sister, work colleague, MIL, and her husband’s therapist (at one session only) about his infidelity, but she never went to therapy to learn how to cope. I mean, it appears that her husband had multiple affairs and many dirty hook-ups because he was an unapologetic SERIAL ADULTERER. Yet, we’re supposed to believe that she could magically forgive and forget without months (or years) of painful couple’s counseling, and a lot more work on his end?!
Working towards reconciliation after infidelity is difficult because everything has to be laid bare. The wayward spouse has to come clean about all their adulterous behavior (timelines, names, surrendering of all electronics, etc) and they have to be brutally honest and transparent. But we are never informed about the full extent of the MMC’s betrayal, nor how long it had all been going on, so there are too many questions left unanswered. I can’t suspend my disbelief enough to think that this couple’s HEA is truly genuine.
ETA for the safety gang: there’s never a mention about either MCs getting full STI/STD panels even though the husband was a dirty dog. That was a nope from me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2025
Not as angsty as I expected - going by some reviews. Even the gut punch lacked gut punch for me. Lots of therapy for him. Lots of self reflection for her. The actual cheating isn’t addressed - quite a let down
November 17, 2024
Well done cheating husband story.
If you’ve ever visited the adultery subreddit, you know they’re all about OPSEC, keeping their behavior super secret. The husband in this story gets away with cheating for so long that he doesn’t think she may accidentally find him cheating through their location app. The confrontation in the hotel room is raw and ugly.
What magnifies the ugliness is his reaction when he gets home… get over it, it’s what men do. Recovering from this is what drives the story. She throws him out, and he realizes too late just what he’s lost. And he works to fix what’s broken in him and what he broke in his marriage and with his family. He understands his why, confronts it.
The process and storytelling is very low key, very little drama, small confrontations with one well done one with the husband and wife in his therapist’s office.
It’s really a 3 star story (not enough drama for me), but adding an extra star for the redemptive arc that works.
If you’ve ever visited the adultery subreddit, you know they’re all about OPSEC, keeping their behavior super secret. The husband in this story gets away with cheating for so long that he doesn’t think she may accidentally find him cheating through their location app. The confrontation in the hotel room is raw and ugly.
What magnifies the ugliness is his reaction when he gets home… get over it, it’s what men do. Recovering from this is what drives the story. She throws him out, and he realizes too late just what he’s lost. And he works to fix what’s broken in him and what he broke in his marriage and with his family. He understands his why, confronts it.
The process and storytelling is very low key, very little drama, small confrontations with one well done one with the husband and wife in his therapist’s office.
It’s really a 3 star story (not enough drama for me), but adding an extra star for the redemptive arc that works.
November 28, 2025
2.5 stars
A betrayal/grovel book with on-page cheating!
The plus points
🥿 New-ish author who tackles this favourite genre with verve! So yay on that!
🥿 I feared the grammar was going to be atrocious, but nope! Totally decent quality writing style. (Note: there were some inconsistencies, but those were minor enough - see also first point under Minus section)
🥿 The cheater H gets his come-to-jesus moment and starts on his grovelling path as from the 25% mark.
🥿 The h is no doormat, she clings to her hurt and puts her own sanity first and foremost. 👍
🥿 The consequences of the betrayal were thoroughly explored and felt very, very realistic, namely the deep regrets of the H and the confused feelings of the h.
The minus points
🎒 The story needed a good editor to condense the plot ideas and thus avoid ad nauseam repetition of similar thoughts over and over again. Okay I get it, the author probably wanted to hammer in how marriage in trouble can play out in RL i.e. messy, disjointed, inarticulate, not always rational, going in the same hurt cycles on repeat, difficulty in letting go etc. That is the reality and the book reflected that well if that was the aim. But this works less in romance fiction (or any fiction) because over-repetition actually breaks the pace of the story, which in turn agitates readers like me the wrong way.
🎒 The cheater's grovel was essentially (re: 75% of the book) self-flagellation, acknowledgment of damages inflicted and consistent modification in behaviour/ attitude to show the h how he is building himself as a better spouse and parent. I agree with that because in grovelling words can be so cheap. That said, there was not enough verbal apologies on page. I especially needed that when the cheater spent the first 25% of the book being highly dismissive of his wife's hurt. So as much as appreciated his efforts to show his redemption, I also needed his clear, verbal acknowledgment of what he did and why he did it.
🎒 In the same vein as my above point, I needed details on how long he has been cheating. Yes, even once is too much, but we do know he has cheated multiple times and yet the h, beyond a stray question at the very beginning, never sought those details from him. And worse, when she seeks him for physical pleasure only (with no forgiveness), she never wonders for one minute if he and herself should first get STD tested. 😵
I am rounding up because (a) I need to still applaud and encourage the author for tackling this genre, (b) I know that her latest book published to date is very much more polished in execution (it's in my TBR!) and so I have high hope for this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2026
4/5 🌟 stars
This book is really angsty and the scene with the fmc catches the mmc cheating in a hotel room with a random girl is just heartbreaking. I really didn't think it was possible for the author to redeem the mmc,he was just so cold. It's like he was a completely different man then her husband and father of her children.
I thought the angst was on point. I was glad that during reconciliation during the separation process that the mmc decided to see a therapist.
I agree with some of the reviews that pointed out that there is more introspection then conversation between the main characters or action taken by the mmc. I still really enjoyed the story though.
This book is really angsty and the scene with the fmc catches the mmc cheating in a hotel room with a random girl is just heartbreaking. I really didn't think it was possible for the author to redeem the mmc,he was just so cold. It's like he was a completely different man then her husband and father of her children.
I thought the angst was on point. I was glad that during reconciliation during the separation process that the mmc decided to see a therapist.
I agree with some of the reviews that pointed out that there is more introspection then conversation between the main characters or action taken by the mmc. I still really enjoyed the story though.
November 29, 2024
Unfortunately DNF
I really don't like to not finish a book. But this dragged looks real bad. My rating had nothing to do with the trope of the book. It was with the execution and it didn't deliver enough angst. It just got boring it felt to dragged out. Sorry.
I really don't like to not finish a book. But this dragged looks real bad. My rating had nothing to do with the trope of the book. It was with the execution and it didn't deliver enough angst. It just got boring it felt to dragged out. Sorry.
March 31, 2025
Everything but the actual cheating itself was addressed. It wasn't even angsty...
December 2, 2024
Repetitive and lays it on thick
If you want a morality tale where the husband breaks free of toxic masculinity, this book will work for you. This book isn’t bad. It just…wasn’t enough for me.
The premise of the story is familiar enough - a seemingly perfect family where the wife discovers the husband is cheating. He disregards her response, assuming life will continue as it had. She disabuses him of that notion by demanding a separation.
As their world collapses around them, the husband is forced to reevaluate his life and priorities. Through therapy, he realises his errors and decides to work at changing himself.
There is nothing wrong with the story, but it just didn’t work for me. It reads like a psychology text book and is very idealistic. It was great to see how it was linked to previous generations and how the husband started working on preventing the transfer to the next generation. It just didn’t click for me.
If you want a morality tale where the husband breaks free of toxic masculinity, this book will work for you. This book isn’t bad. It just…wasn’t enough for me.
The premise of the story is familiar enough - a seemingly perfect family where the wife discovers the husband is cheating. He disregards her response, assuming life will continue as it had. She disabuses him of that notion by demanding a separation.
As their world collapses around them, the husband is forced to reevaluate his life and priorities. Through therapy, he realises his errors and decides to work at changing himself.
There is nothing wrong with the story, but it just didn’t work for me. It reads like a psychology text book and is very idealistic. It was great to see how it was linked to previous generations and how the husband started working on preventing the transfer to the next generation. It just didn’t click for me.
November 14, 2024
okayyy 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
This book definitely did its job, yes he cheats and he does work on himself and he does work towards being better, I’m more of a crawl on your hands and knees and beg for forgiveness type person. But this book and how this author wrote it was how it was supposed to be and it panned out for the best. It was realistic and raw and gat damn hurtful but it was warm and beautiful as you kept on reading. Definitely give this book a chance, you won’t regret it ❤️
This book definitely did its job, yes he cheats and he does work on himself and he does work towards being better, I’m more of a crawl on your hands and knees and beg for forgiveness type person. But this book and how this author wrote it was how it was supposed to be and it panned out for the best. It was realistic and raw and gat damn hurtful but it was warm and beautiful as you kept on reading. Definitely give this book a chance, you won’t regret it ❤️
November 26, 2024
I liked the story somewhat but it missing pieces to make the story better.
February 2, 2025
I know I’m on the other side of the fence than my fellow AngstHos, but I really liked this.
So much of what I read this genre for is the cheater’s realization of what they did, what they lost, and the redemption needed to move forward.
That was here in spades.
This isn’t soapy angsty (which I also adore), but it was more about the growth the cheating hubby goes through. Damn, was it refreshing.
So much of what I read this genre for is the cheater’s realization of what they did, what they lost, and the redemption needed to move forward.
That was here in spades.
This isn’t soapy angsty (which I also adore), but it was more about the growth the cheating hubby goes through. Damn, was it refreshing.
March 3, 2026
Where's the angst?
March 24, 2026
Repetitive monologue. The MMC continues to cheat after their separation & then bam! Suddenly realizes his wrong doings? 🙄 the FMC dresses up one night, goes to the hotel to go “pick him up” for something “just physical” and it’s not addressed afterwards?! But also, why would she do that?!! She kept saying, is this what he was doing? But then subjects herself to the same way she got cheated on?!! Doesn’t make sense.
Then she finally unleashes all of her feelings after Mark asks her to go to therapy?! Why didn’t she say all of this before?! 🙄🙄🙄 then when she speaks to marks mom & marks mom literally says something along the lines of, I wish I was strong enough to walk away from George after all his bs… Emma goes back to mark?!! 🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️
Then she finally unleashes all of her feelings after Mark asks her to go to therapy?! Why didn’t she say all of this before?! 🙄🙄🙄 then when she speaks to marks mom & marks mom literally says something along the lines of, I wish I was strong enough to walk away from George after all his bs… Emma goes back to mark?!! 🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️
October 27, 2025
This could’ve been 75 pages shorter and dragged on less.
Mark was suitably horrible at first, and I did like the work he put in to change and address those issues. But once he started therapy, the book read like Groundhog Day - just a constant loop of the same conversations between Mark, Emma, and his therapist. Trim that down, and I think this would’ve been more memorable.
Mark was suitably horrible at first, and I did like the work he put in to change and address those issues. But once he started therapy, the book read like Groundhog Day - just a constant loop of the same conversations between Mark, Emma, and his therapist. Trim that down, and I think this would’ve been more memorable.
December 21, 2025
Emma and Tom
Wao. What a roller coaster of emotions in this one. Tom was terrible! He cgeated and expected Emma to just leave with it! When she packed his bags and kicked him out it was glorious.
I did enjoyed Tom's journey of redemption. The grovelling very nice.
Highly recommended
Wao. What a roller coaster of emotions in this one. Tom was terrible! He cgeated and expected Emma to just leave with it! When she packed his bags and kicked him out it was glorious.
I did enjoyed Tom's journey of redemption. The grovelling very nice.
Highly recommended
December 19, 2024
Too Woke
The premise of the book was spot on. But Geez, he lost this masculinity some getting caught cheating to cowering around his wife and peers. One good thing about this author, she knows how to write and edit.
How I "feel" about the storyline doesn't mean you have the same viewpoint. Definitely recommend.
The premise of the book was spot on. But Geez, he lost this masculinity some getting caught cheating to cowering around his wife and peers. One good thing about this author, she knows how to write and edit.
How I "feel" about the storyline doesn't mean you have the same viewpoint. Definitely recommend.
December 19, 2024
This was an emotional read. On page infidelity is hard to move past but I felt like this author gave us insight into the husband’s regret and remorse that I slowly thawed to him. Not a fun or happy read but I enjoyed it.
November 23, 2024
I got bored pretty much after he was caught red handed. I guess I like my cheating stories to have more dialogue between the H and h on the actual cheating like how long, where, when, with who, affair or ons. I believe those are realistic conversations to have had.
April 2, 2025
This book follows Emma and Mark, a married couple with two or three kids. Mark works in a high-pressure corporate job, always under stress, while Emma is either a stay-at-home mum or working part-time — either way, she’s the one doing everything for the kids, including all the school runs. At the start of the book, she senses something is off with Mark. He’s distant, emotionally checked out, and she can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong. So, she tracks him and ends up discovering him in a hotel room, having sex with another woman. That’s when everything starts to unravel.
What makes it even worse is that it’s not just one affair — Mark’s been sleeping with multiple women over time. His excuse? That it helped him relieve stress so he could come home and be the “perfect husband and dad.” He saw it as a coping mechanism, not something emotionally significant. At first, he’s completely unapologetic and genuinely can’t understand why Emma is so hurt. He even continues to sleep with other women after she kicks him out, which made it even harder to sympathize with him early on.
Eventually, Mark begins therapy, and we learn more about his past — his father was the same, constantly cheating while his mother looked the other way. It becomes clear that this behavior is something Mark grew up thinking was normal. Over time, he becomes more remorseful, and the writing does a good job of showing his guilt and regret. He never claims to have loved any of these women — it was always “just sex” — but that doesn’t make it any easier to digest.
Emma’s point of view was what really carried the story for me. She’s devastated, of course, but slowly starts to rebuild her life. She goes back to work, starts travelling, and focuses on herself. I really appreciated her journey and growth.
That said, I struggled with the idea of forgiveness here. Mark may have started to change, but I don’t think he grew enough. Emma seemed to forget — or maybe just minimize — the fact that this wasn’t a one-time mistake. It was ongoing and deliberate. I personally couldn’t get past that, and maybe that’s just my own bias, but it felt unforgivable.
And towards the end, there’s a scene where Mark is in a meeting and finds out one of his clients is someone he previously slept with. He doesn’t tell Emma about it, and that just rubbed me the wrong way. Even if he was ashamed, it felt like he was still hiding things, and given everything that had already happened, I think she had a right to know. There’s a real possibility that Emma could run into one of these women herself.
Overall, the story was engaging — I was never bored, and the writing was strong — but I just wish the ending had been different. For me, a better ending would’ve been Emma truly moving on and meeting someone who saw her worth and respected her. Mark might have said it was “just sex,” but the disrespect and betrayal ran deep. I wanted more for Emma, and I think she deserved better.
What makes it even worse is that it’s not just one affair — Mark’s been sleeping with multiple women over time. His excuse? That it helped him relieve stress so he could come home and be the “perfect husband and dad.” He saw it as a coping mechanism, not something emotionally significant. At first, he’s completely unapologetic and genuinely can’t understand why Emma is so hurt. He even continues to sleep with other women after she kicks him out, which made it even harder to sympathize with him early on.
Eventually, Mark begins therapy, and we learn more about his past — his father was the same, constantly cheating while his mother looked the other way. It becomes clear that this behavior is something Mark grew up thinking was normal. Over time, he becomes more remorseful, and the writing does a good job of showing his guilt and regret. He never claims to have loved any of these women — it was always “just sex” — but that doesn’t make it any easier to digest.
Emma’s point of view was what really carried the story for me. She’s devastated, of course, but slowly starts to rebuild her life. She goes back to work, starts travelling, and focuses on herself. I really appreciated her journey and growth.
That said, I struggled with the idea of forgiveness here. Mark may have started to change, but I don’t think he grew enough. Emma seemed to forget — or maybe just minimize — the fact that this wasn’t a one-time mistake. It was ongoing and deliberate. I personally couldn’t get past that, and maybe that’s just my own bias, but it felt unforgivable.
And towards the end, there’s a scene where Mark is in a meeting and finds out one of his clients is someone he previously slept with. He doesn’t tell Emma about it, and that just rubbed me the wrong way. Even if he was ashamed, it felt like he was still hiding things, and given everything that had already happened, I think she had a right to know. There’s a real possibility that Emma could run into one of these women herself.
Overall, the story was engaging — I was never bored, and the writing was strong — but I just wish the ending had been different. For me, a better ending would’ve been Emma truly moving on and meeting someone who saw her worth and respected her. Mark might have said it was “just sex,” but the disrespect and betrayal ran deep. I wanted more for Emma, and I think she deserved better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2024
Grovel for days
An interesting take on groveling to happily ever after. He royally screws up, the grovels to get back. More than half of the book was his introspection and inner turmoil, but only bare bones outward reactions. After a while it got to be a little too on the nose for me. Good book if you want to see the MMC really, honestly go through it. Three and a half stars rounded up to four.
An interesting take on groveling to happily ever after. He royally screws up, the grovels to get back. More than half of the book was his introspection and inner turmoil, but only bare bones outward reactions. After a while it got to be a little too on the nose for me. Good book if you want to see the MMC really, honestly go through it. Three and a half stars rounded up to four.
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December 20, 2024DNF @40%
I just couldn’t with the husband’s reasoning for his behavior. I just felt like this would be something they talked about before marrying about expectations, but maybe not. The only reason I even read to 40% is because the fmc had a backbone and packed his stuff for him.
I just couldn’t with the husband’s reasoning for his behavior. I just felt like this would be something they talked about before marrying about expectations, but maybe not. The only reason I even read to 40% is because the fmc had a backbone and packed his stuff for him.
July 19, 2025
I liked this book better second time around.
It’s a marriage in peril/second chance with lots of angst, a strong MFC and a clueless MMC.
It’s a marriage in peril/second chance with lots of angst, a strong MFC and a clueless MMC.
March 16, 2025
no backbone
She should have kicked his sorry ass to the curb. She needs to make him stay home and be a house husband. Keep his balls in her purse and give them back as needed .
She should have kicked his sorry ass to the curb. She needs to make him stay home and be a house husband. Keep his balls in her purse and give them back as needed .
June 18, 2026
I rated it 5⭐ because it was an entertaining read that played with my emotions, leaving me conflicted about forgiveness and justice, and encouraging me as a reader to reflect on my own feelings about moral dilemmas.
On the one hand, there is a woman, happily committed to a successful personal life and professional career, who experienced the collapse of her world when she discovered her husband's betrayal. The dilemma: how could she face this new challenge in front of her, the twist that shifted her from happiness to sadness in a matter of seconds? How could she erase her love for that man and dismiss him from their daily happy dynamic with their children? From the audience's point of view, there was probably a general agreement to execute a harsh life lesson punishment to this man, but would it be enough justice for her when, in fact, she was in love with him? This moral dilemma invited me to consider my own views on justice and forgiveness.
On the other hand, there was this hero raised in a family where men are misogynistic, and women are expected to obey. However, as a grown-up man, he had the choice to live his own life and bring love and respect to his marriage, but he chose not to, regardless, and the excuse for cheating is so vague that I felt nauseated while reading his thoughts. How smooth and nonchalant he said that having affairs with other women was a way to relieve tension before going home to his family with a better mood. Or blaming his father for learning such behavior. Really? SO ONE DAY, because she caught him red-handed destroying his ego bubble, he decided to change to bring those pieces back together. And the magical therapist? Please spare me! This moral conflict made me question what I would do in his place and how I feel about forgiveness and redemption.
I apologize to Elise Camden, but I did NOT feel any sympathy for this excuse of a man. You crafted a man with a sexualized view toward women, not for the respect they deserve as human beings. I didn't see how this man was capable of feeling love for only one. What I understood, however, was that having her back was a way to satisfy and stabilize his ego-world.
I also learned why this heroine brought the trash container back into her house, hoping it wouldn't have worms again, and to preserve her little world. I really sympathized with this character because I felt that her love for her family and her faith in second chances was stronger than living trapped in the pain, which resonated deeply with my own feelings about hope and resilience in challenging situations.
On the one hand, there is a woman, happily committed to a successful personal life and professional career, who experienced the collapse of her world when she discovered her husband's betrayal. The dilemma: how could she face this new challenge in front of her, the twist that shifted her from happiness to sadness in a matter of seconds? How could she erase her love for that man and dismiss him from their daily happy dynamic with their children? From the audience's point of view, there was probably a general agreement to execute a harsh life lesson punishment to this man, but would it be enough justice for her when, in fact, she was in love with him? This moral dilemma invited me to consider my own views on justice and forgiveness.
On the other hand, there was this hero raised in a family where men are misogynistic, and women are expected to obey. However, as a grown-up man, he had the choice to live his own life and bring love and respect to his marriage, but he chose not to, regardless, and the excuse for cheating is so vague that I felt nauseated while reading his thoughts. How smooth and nonchalant he said that having affairs with other women was a way to relieve tension before going home to his family with a better mood. Or blaming his father for learning such behavior. Really? SO ONE DAY, because she caught him red-handed destroying his ego bubble, he decided to change to bring those pieces back together. And the magical therapist? Please spare me! This moral conflict made me question what I would do in his place and how I feel about forgiveness and redemption.
I apologize to Elise Camden, but I did NOT feel any sympathy for this excuse of a man. You crafted a man with a sexualized view toward women, not for the respect they deserve as human beings. I didn't see how this man was capable of feeling love for only one. What I understood, however, was that having her back was a way to satisfy and stabilize his ego-world.
I also learned why this heroine brought the trash container back into her house, hoping it wouldn't have worms again, and to preserve her little world. I really sympathized with this character because I felt that her love for her family and her faith in second chances was stronger than living trapped in the pain, which resonated deeply with my own feelings about hope and resilience in challenging situations.
August 2, 2025
I have read quite of few Elise Camden books - right before this one I read The Yoga Teacher, and in the last 4-5 months I read His Wife’s Secretary and The Hotel Room. I enjoy this trope, but usually when it includes a redemption arc that is believable for me and justifies an HEA, or a new HEA for the h. While her writing is very good and enjoyable, I just couldn’t handle this particular story arc
This review will contain spoilers from this point forward.
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SPOILERS
the H is basically a serial cheater. He justifies it by compartmentalizing his life. Admittedly, he has a terrible role model in his dad who engaged in similar behavior. That said - his complete lack of remorse initially and for some time is pretty hard to get over.
(I feel that for the first 75% of the book his remorse is more about missing the family than what he did). The h catches him in the act; there is no question that he is a cheater but she doesn’t know the extent of it… and he certainly doesn’t fess up to it, either.
While I can handle redemption for a cheating H, and it takes some serious work by the author to show true remorse and cause for the H to be “forgiven” but it does happen (The Yoga Teacher), I just don’t like - ever - when there is body betrayal syndrome(BBS) by the cheated upon h. The h in this story is at one point portrayed as so incredibly desperate for intimacy that she thinks having impersonal sex with her cheating husband is ok. Sorry - there needs to be a modicum of self respect. She caught him “thrusting” into another woman. It would take A LOT for me to think that image can be erased simply because she is “horny”. Honestly, that really soured me on the rest of the book (25%) a bit and after having experienced a strong h in The Yoga Teacher, reading this story was an unfortunate disappointment by comparison.
I will continue to read this author; I like her writing and her usual handling of this particular trope. But my rating is based on my experience with this book. If you like the cheater trope but expect a redemption arc that does not include BBS and an h whose nostalgia allows her to overlook flagrant cheating with a relative pass (IMO), this book is not for you.
This review will contain spoilers from this point forward.
*
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SPOILERS
the H is basically a serial cheater. He justifies it by compartmentalizing his life. Admittedly, he has a terrible role model in his dad who engaged in similar behavior. That said - his complete lack of remorse initially and for some time is pretty hard to get over.
(I feel that for the first 75% of the book his remorse is more about missing the family than what he did). The h catches him in the act; there is no question that he is a cheater but she doesn’t know the extent of it… and he certainly doesn’t fess up to it, either.
While I can handle redemption for a cheating H, and it takes some serious work by the author to show true remorse and cause for the H to be “forgiven” but it does happen (The Yoga Teacher), I just don’t like - ever - when there is body betrayal syndrome(BBS) by the cheated upon h. The h in this story is at one point portrayed as so incredibly desperate for intimacy that she thinks having impersonal sex with her cheating husband is ok. Sorry - there needs to be a modicum of self respect. She caught him “thrusting” into another woman. It would take A LOT for me to think that image can be erased simply because she is “horny”. Honestly, that really soured me on the rest of the book (25%) a bit and after having experienced a strong h in The Yoga Teacher, reading this story was an unfortunate disappointment by comparison.
I will continue to read this author; I like her writing and her usual handling of this particular trope. But my rating is based on my experience with this book. If you like the cheater trope but expect a redemption arc that does not include BBS and an h whose nostalgia allows her to overlook flagrant cheating with a relative pass (IMO), this book is not for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2025
First book written by Elise Camden, but the last one I read. I had tried before and read about 50 percent of the book and abandoned it. After reading her two other books, that I enjoyed more, I decided to resume this book. It was ok. I mean the gut punch moment of being caught in the act was impactful, but then the book started to lose steam. I was bored at times. I felt like some things were glossed over while other things were gone over too much.
1. How long was he engaging in the affairs? The whole marriage? Were any of his hook ups ongoing or were they all one and done?
2. No couples counseling? She went to one session with him, but I would have needed a lot more.
3. Near the end, he comes in contact with one of his hook ups at a business meeting. All his coworkers know his history with other women. Shouldn’t he start with a new company? I know he changed positions somewhat in the company to accommodate the children’s schedules, but still for a fresh start, I think he needed to leave. I doubt his wife would want to do any company picnics etc…
4. I wish his mom was able to move on. But maybe this was the author’s way of showing that there are many times a woman stays. Maybe not as much anymore, because people have different ideas about marriage and how it looks. Some people agree to open marriages(this concept baffles me, but I am older and set in my ways 😂)
5. I would have been ok if the h had a hook up or two. (Since the H hooked up at least a couple more times after being caught, until he realized it was not filling his void)It might have added some angst that was missing. Maybe even have them part for a couple of years and let him be celibate.
In the end I do believed he changed, and he would never cheat on her again. I guess that is what you want if the h and H stay together in a cheating story. I think overall the author is doing a good job with her stories, although I feel she could probably cut them down a little. Her character’s thoughts can get a little redundant at times. However, I definitely have plans to read more of her books as she writes them, and hopefully she will be able to get a little more angst infused in them.
1. How long was he engaging in the affairs? The whole marriage? Were any of his hook ups ongoing or were they all one and done?
2. No couples counseling? She went to one session with him, but I would have needed a lot more.
3. Near the end, he comes in contact with one of his hook ups at a business meeting. All his coworkers know his history with other women. Shouldn’t he start with a new company? I know he changed positions somewhat in the company to accommodate the children’s schedules, but still for a fresh start, I think he needed to leave. I doubt his wife would want to do any company picnics etc…
4. I wish his mom was able to move on. But maybe this was the author’s way of showing that there are many times a woman stays. Maybe not as much anymore, because people have different ideas about marriage and how it looks. Some people agree to open marriages(this concept baffles me, but I am older and set in my ways 😂)
5. I would have been ok if the h had a hook up or two. (Since the H hooked up at least a couple more times after being caught, until he realized it was not filling his void)It might have added some angst that was missing. Maybe even have them part for a couple of years and let him be celibate.
In the end I do believed he changed, and he would never cheat on her again. I guess that is what you want if the h and H stay together in a cheating story. I think overall the author is doing a good job with her stories, although I feel she could probably cut them down a little. Her character’s thoughts can get a little redundant at times. However, I definitely have plans to read more of her books as she writes them, and hopefully she will be able to get a little more angst infused in them.
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