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Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage
A gorgeous memoir about the sudden end to a seemingly happy marriage—an aching, love-filled, and transcendent account of surviving betrayal and discovering joy
On a chilly day in early spring, Belle Burden’s husband of twenty years announced, with no prior warning, that he was leaving her. Belle was shocked; he had always been a committed partner and a devoted father to their three children. She thought they were in love. She thought he—they—were living the life they'd always professional success, summers at their beloved beachside home, a vibrant social life. But overnight, her caring, steady husband became a man she hardly recognized. He exited his life with her like an actor shrugging off a costume.
In Strangers, Belle revisits her marriage, searching for clues that her husband was not who she always thought he was. As she examines her relationship through a new lens, she reckons with her own family history and the lessons she intuited about how a woman is expected to behave in the face of betrayal. Through all of it, she is transformed. The discreet, compliant woman she once was—someone whose nickname was “Belle the Good”—gives way to someone braver, someone determined to use her voice.
With unflinching honesty and profound grace, Burden charts a path through heartbreak to show the power of a woman who refuses to give up on love and rediscovers trust in herself. Strangers is a stunning, deeply moving, compulsively readable memoir heralding the arrival of a thrilling new literary talent.
On a chilly day in early spring, Belle Burden’s husband of twenty years announced, with no prior warning, that he was leaving her. Belle was shocked; he had always been a committed partner and a devoted father to their three children. She thought they were in love. She thought he—they—were living the life they'd always professional success, summers at their beloved beachside home, a vibrant social life. But overnight, her caring, steady husband became a man she hardly recognized. He exited his life with her like an actor shrugging off a costume.
In Strangers, Belle revisits her marriage, searching for clues that her husband was not who she always thought he was. As she examines her relationship through a new lens, she reckons with her own family history and the lessons she intuited about how a woman is expected to behave in the face of betrayal. Through all of it, she is transformed. The discreet, compliant woman she once was—someone whose nickname was “Belle the Good”—gives way to someone braver, someone determined to use her voice.
With unflinching honesty and profound grace, Burden charts a path through heartbreak to show the power of a woman who refuses to give up on love and rediscovers trust in herself. Strangers is a stunning, deeply moving, compulsively readable memoir heralding the arrival of a thrilling new literary talent.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 13, 2026
579 people are currently reading
17129 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
December 21, 2025
A couple of years ago, a friend of mine forwarded me an Essay in the New York Times Modern Love Series written by Belle Burden titled Was I Married to a Stranger. This friend raved for months about how affirming and connected to Belle she felt, since she had gone through a similar experience with her former husband. I too loved the article so, of course, I wanted to learn more about Belle’s story when I found out this memoir was being released.
Told with grace and vulnerability, Belle explains how blindsided she felt as her husband cruelly uprooted not only their life after two decades together but also their children’s. Belle describes how she navigated motherhood and other responsibilities while dealing with such devastating heartbreak.
Belle is such a talented author, and I found her debut to be very engrossing. I really enjoyed learning how Belle prioritized her children's emotional well-being during such a tumultuous time. I loved learning how Belle reclaimed her life and identity after the divorce. It also really surprised me to learn that some people in Belle’s circle reacted negatively and critically after her Essay in The Times was published.
I found Strangers to be an inspiring, poignant, and captivating memoir and I would highly recommend it. I listened to the audiobook version which is narrated by the author herself! If you decide to pick this one, I highly recommend this format.
Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden will be available on January 13. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
Told with grace and vulnerability, Belle explains how blindsided she felt as her husband cruelly uprooted not only their life after two decades together but also their children’s. Belle describes how she navigated motherhood and other responsibilities while dealing with such devastating heartbreak.
Belle is such a talented author, and I found her debut to be very engrossing. I really enjoyed learning how Belle prioritized her children's emotional well-being during such a tumultuous time. I loved learning how Belle reclaimed her life and identity after the divorce. It also really surprised me to learn that some people in Belle’s circle reacted negatively and critically after her Essay in The Times was published.
I found Strangers to be an inspiring, poignant, and captivating memoir and I would highly recommend it. I listened to the audiobook version which is narrated by the author herself! If you decide to pick this one, I highly recommend this format.
Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden will be available on January 13. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
November 8, 2025
This is a brilliant but, quite frankly, jaw-dropping account of the implosion of Belle Burden's marriage. It took my breath away.
Belle and her husband James had been married for 20 years. Three children, a big daft dog, a summer home and an apartment in the city seemed to signify to Belle that her life was all it could be. But at the start of the pandemic a phone call from another woman's husband explodes everything she believed about her marriage and the man she loved.
The writing in this memoir is superb. Part of me wanted to devour it in one sitting but I forced myself to slow down to take in every part of this marriage's sudden disintegration.
I'll be honest, I was absolutely horrified at the sheer callousness of James. Not only in his actions as he ended the marriage but his coldness towards his wife and children as Belle tries to come to terms with his abandonment (and I don't use that word lightly).
What Belle Burden has written is a touching and honest account of what it is like to find out that the person you think you've known for decades is, in fact, a stranger. It should also serve as a cautionary tale to anyone in any kind of partnership who doesn't keep a weather eye on the finances. As for love - noone can predict what may happen but make sure you read the bank statements.
An excellent memoir. It must have been painful to write. It was certainly hard to read but I would highly recommend it to anyone. I sincerely hope Ms Burden writes more books.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Ebury Publishing, Penguin Random House.
Belle and her husband James had been married for 20 years. Three children, a big daft dog, a summer home and an apartment in the city seemed to signify to Belle that her life was all it could be. But at the start of the pandemic a phone call from another woman's husband explodes everything she believed about her marriage and the man she loved.
The writing in this memoir is superb. Part of me wanted to devour it in one sitting but I forced myself to slow down to take in every part of this marriage's sudden disintegration.
I'll be honest, I was absolutely horrified at the sheer callousness of James. Not only in his actions as he ended the marriage but his coldness towards his wife and children as Belle tries to come to terms with his abandonment (and I don't use that word lightly).
What Belle Burden has written is a touching and honest account of what it is like to find out that the person you think you've known for decades is, in fact, a stranger. It should also serve as a cautionary tale to anyone in any kind of partnership who doesn't keep a weather eye on the finances. As for love - noone can predict what may happen but make sure you read the bank statements.
An excellent memoir. It must have been painful to write. It was certainly hard to read but I would highly recommend it to anyone. I sincerely hope Ms Burden writes more books.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Ebury Publishing, Penguin Random House.
January 9, 2026
3.75⭐️ rounded up — an emotional memoir about a 20 year marriage that ends abruptly. I thought it was beautifully told with just the right amount of detail and insight.
thank you PRH Audio for the ALC
thank you PRH Audio for the ALC
August 27, 2025
received an advanced copy of this book and couldn’t put it down! finished it in a day and can’t wait for the world to read this beautiful and heartbreaking memoir
June 28, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Absolutely loved this memoir and could not stop myself from consuming it in one sitting. It almost reads like a beautifully poetic literary fiction, so much so that I had to remind myself it actually is a memoir. This takes you from the day of the discovery through the dissolution of a marriage and what comes after. It is written so beautifully in a way that sets it apart from other memoirs. I felt like I actually walked this journey with the author the entire time. With vivid descriptions of her emotions in the aftermath of what happened, I was in my feels. There’s no wild salacious drama in this memoir which is what it makes it so relatable for so many of us.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Pre-Read Notes:
I'm a memoir fan, and the Joyce Carol Oates blurb sold me.
"It was three months after our first kiss. I felt it all: love, lust, joy, and a letting go of the anxiety, the gripping I’d felt since my father was found dead in his bed. James was here. He had arrived exactly when I needed him. It was the romance my favorite books, my favorite movies, and my family had told me to want and expect— he had swept me off my feet, quickly and completely. And, as he told me often, he was going to take care of me. The fatherless girl had found her knight." p45
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I'm a memoir fan, and the Joyce Carol Oates blurb sold me.
"It was three months after our first kiss. I felt it all: love, lust, joy, and a letting go of the anxiety, the gripping I’d felt since my father was found dead in his bed. James was here. He had arrived exactly when I needed him. It was the romance my favorite books, my favorite movies, and my family had told me to want and expect— he had swept me off my feet, quickly and completely. And, as he told me often, he was going to take care of me. The fatherless girl had found her knight." p45
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January 14, 2026
Heartbreaking and, painfully but truly, heart rebuilding.
I had read the “Modern Love” essay that Ms. Burden wrote, and looked forward to this memoir. It arrived on my Kindle at midnight, January 13. I began reading it early the 14th (today), and just finished it. If “James” were here in our family room, I would be tempted to slap him across the face. And not just once. Reading his insistence on changing the pre-nup right before the wedding 21 years earlier, to favor him financially in the event of divorce, I thought, UH-OH. And my fears were confirmed. I do fervently hope that the money Belle Burden makes from this book is in the many millions. She deserves it, and more. She chose her family over a slick, evil adulterer. I also ordered this book for my BFF, who is a retired therapist. I said, “I need a diagnosis of the man in this book.” So a copy is winging its way to her. But to Belle Burden, I say, “Please hang in there. Sorry to say, the pain will last for years. But the love of your children will fill your heart, over and over, as will the love from your extended family and the immigrants you help.” Please keep writing. As the author of 16 published novels, I have learned that there are many “Gregs” in this world. They are out there, and they are unfailingly cruel. Please ignore them, and know that you have many fans who will stick with you. I am one. —Diane Mott Davidson
I had read the “Modern Love” essay that Ms. Burden wrote, and looked forward to this memoir. It arrived on my Kindle at midnight, January 13. I began reading it early the 14th (today), and just finished it. If “James” were here in our family room, I would be tempted to slap him across the face. And not just once. Reading his insistence on changing the pre-nup right before the wedding 21 years earlier, to favor him financially in the event of divorce, I thought, UH-OH. And my fears were confirmed. I do fervently hope that the money Belle Burden makes from this book is in the many millions. She deserves it, and more. She chose her family over a slick, evil adulterer. I also ordered this book for my BFF, who is a retired therapist. I said, “I need a diagnosis of the man in this book.” So a copy is winging its way to her. But to Belle Burden, I say, “Please hang in there. Sorry to say, the pain will last for years. But the love of your children will fill your heart, over and over, as will the love from your extended family and the immigrants you help.” Please keep writing. As the author of 16 published novels, I have learned that there are many “Gregs” in this world. They are out there, and they are unfailingly cruel. Please ignore them, and know that you have many fans who will stick with you. I am one. —Diane Mott Davidson
September 12, 2025
This poetic, raw, and poignant memoir captures the shattering impact on a wife's life when, out of the blue, her husband asks for a divorce. Could hardly read through my tears but could not put it down due to its transformative message of hope. Wow!
November 23, 2025
3,5
Impressive and compelling, but in the end it got a bit repetative and it could maybe have been a bit shorter. Thank you Penguin random House UK and Netgalley UK for the ARC.
Impressive and compelling, but in the end it got a bit repetative and it could maybe have been a bit shorter. Thank you Penguin random House UK and Netgalley UK for the ARC.
September 8, 2025
Beautifully written and deeply honest, this memoir pulls you right into the heart of a complicated, emotional story. Belle Burden writes with such vulnerability and clarity that you can feel every high and low as if you were living it alongside her.
It’s raw and reflective but also full of moments that make you pause and really think about love, marriage, and identity. One of those memoirs that lingers in your mind long after you finish.
It’s raw and reflective but also full of moments that make you pause and really think about love, marriage, and identity. One of those memoirs that lingers in your mind long after you finish.
December 1, 2025
A memoir of the authors marriage that abruptly ended upon a finding out her husband was involved with another woman. I feel like much of this book was her processing her experience and trying to understand how her perceived successful marriage ended randomly one day.
The title of this book shows how she navigated her and her husbands past amongst their 25+ years together.
An easy listen, that kept me curious to know how certain things would shake out. Come to learn she comes from a wealthy and influential family made me wonder what of that allowed her to have this published voice. A raw and vulnerable book that I think readers will like but maybe not if you’re in the middle of a divorce?
The title of this book shows how she navigated her and her husbands past amongst their 25+ years together.
An easy listen, that kept me curious to know how certain things would shake out. Come to learn she comes from a wealthy and influential family made me wonder what of that allowed her to have this published voice. A raw and vulnerable book that I think readers will like but maybe not if you’re in the middle of a divorce?
January 16, 2026
A gut-wrenching memoir of marriage told without bitterness, resentment, or self-pity. My eyes roll at the haters who dismiss Belle Burden as too wealthy and privileged to show admirable strength in the face of adversity. I’m impressed by her self-knowledge and moved by her vulnerability.
October 14, 2025
Heart-wrenching, devastating, and triumphant - Belle Burden's memoir "Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage" was a beautifully crafted work that I was surprisingly drawn into, despite the fact that I had never been married before.
Shortly after the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Belle and her husband of over two decades are quarantined in their summer home at Martha's Vineyard with their three children when James delivers life-changing news: he's fallen in love with another woman and promptly leaves his family behind, returning back to Manhattan to continue the affair. In the days that follow, Belle attempts to make sense of this complete upheaval, looking back on their decades-long relationship, meeting and falling in love at a law firm in NYC and the countless memories and emotions that she holds from the years that follow. She questions herself - What did she miss? What did she do wrong? - while simultaneously trying to maintain structure for her children and understand how and when do break this news to them.
While this memoir is called a Memoir of Marriage, it's so much more. Belle dives into her and her ex-husband's backgrounds, noting how their own childhoods and family experiences shaped them into adulthood. She recalls their early years with love and fondness, painting a man who was loving, supportive, and kind - yet had his own demons and insecurities he battled with in secret. And she lays out the painful and difficult time that follows, including the legal consequences of divorce and the contentious separation of assets; the social repercussions she had to face when friends and acquaintances inevitably heard the news and inevitably chose a side or narrative to believe; and her own personal physical recovery, including diving back into writing as an opportunity to take back her voice and story. It is one woman's personal story and triumph, but also sheds a clear and glaring light at the misogyny and sexism still present today, at the immediate doubt cast on women and the expectation that they will bear the brunt of giving grace and forgiveness even when it's uncalled for.
The writing is enthralling, emotionally intricate and contemplative, which made it easy to finish this book within a day. I highly recommend "Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage" to anyone who has an opportunity to read it once it's published in January 2026!
Shortly after the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Belle and her husband of over two decades are quarantined in their summer home at Martha's Vineyard with their three children when James delivers life-changing news: he's fallen in love with another woman and promptly leaves his family behind, returning back to Manhattan to continue the affair. In the days that follow, Belle attempts to make sense of this complete upheaval, looking back on their decades-long relationship, meeting and falling in love at a law firm in NYC and the countless memories and emotions that she holds from the years that follow. She questions herself - What did she miss? What did she do wrong? - while simultaneously trying to maintain structure for her children and understand how and when do break this news to them.
While this memoir is called a Memoir of Marriage, it's so much more. Belle dives into her and her ex-husband's backgrounds, noting how their own childhoods and family experiences shaped them into adulthood. She recalls their early years with love and fondness, painting a man who was loving, supportive, and kind - yet had his own demons and insecurities he battled with in secret. And she lays out the painful and difficult time that follows, including the legal consequences of divorce and the contentious separation of assets; the social repercussions she had to face when friends and acquaintances inevitably heard the news and inevitably chose a side or narrative to believe; and her own personal physical recovery, including diving back into writing as an opportunity to take back her voice and story. It is one woman's personal story and triumph, but also sheds a clear and glaring light at the misogyny and sexism still present today, at the immediate doubt cast on women and the expectation that they will bear the brunt of giving grace and forgiveness even when it's uncalled for.
The writing is enthralling, emotionally intricate and contemplative, which made it easy to finish this book within a day. I highly recommend "Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage" to anyone who has an opportunity to read it once it's published in January 2026!
Read
January 9, 2026I'm beginning an experiment where I try to review what I read, and log things on time instead of retroactively panic-adding the last two months of books. I predict I'll remember to do it 3x before I give up, not unlike my relationship with "lifting weights."
Really liked this. Pretty direct prose, nice respite from the MFA-Wattpad-speak permeating a lot of modern writing. The subject matter would be affecting, startling, disturbing for anyone who hopes to fall in love with a person and not be horrifically misled. But I think the book goes beyond just preying on our collective fears about commitment -- it's uniquely compassionate. Also it's inspiring! We will be okay. Maybe? All that said, if I ever saw this woman's ex-husband I would hit him with a hammer I can tell you that much.
Really liked this. Pretty direct prose, nice respite from the MFA-Wattpad-speak permeating a lot of modern writing. The subject matter would be affecting, startling, disturbing for anyone who hopes to fall in love with a person and not be horrifically misled. But I think the book goes beyond just preying on our collective fears about commitment -- it's uniquely compassionate. Also it's inspiring! We will be okay. Maybe? All that said, if I ever saw this woman's ex-husband I would hit him with a hammer I can tell you that much.
September 22, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press for the ARC.
Please if you do anything, add this to your 2026 books you have to read.
I was hooked from the very page. I wish I could inject every word into my veins because it was THAT GOOD!!!
Imagine my shock when I read 20 pages in, this was Babe Paley’s granddaughter.
I absolutely loved this book.
Favorite book I read so far this year.
I want her to write a follow up book to this.
Please if you do anything, add this to your 2026 books you have to read.
I was hooked from the very page. I wish I could inject every word into my veins because it was THAT GOOD!!!
Imagine my shock when I read 20 pages in, this was Babe Paley’s granddaughter.
I absolutely loved this book.
Favorite book I read so far this year.
I want her to write a follow up book to this.
December 1, 2025
“He is not a villain. He is a man with his own wounds. He is my children’s father, the source of many years of love and happiness. He is someone who made decisions about his own life, his own future. He is someone I can survive without. He is someone I don’t know. He is someone who doesn’t know me.”
July 11, 2025
I received an advanced copy of this memoir, and I’m really glad I got the chance to read it.
It’s a very detailed and honest story about their divorce, the timing and the timeline, and it felt so real—like listening to someone open up about what they went through. I appreciated how personal it was.
You can feel how much emotion and thought went into every page.
I think a lot of people would connect with this book, whether they’ve been through something similar or just want to understand more about what it’s like. I’ll definitely be thinking about this one for a while.
It’s a very detailed and honest story about their divorce, the timing and the timeline, and it felt so real—like listening to someone open up about what they went through. I appreciated how personal it was.
You can feel how much emotion and thought went into every page.
I think a lot of people would connect with this book, whether they’ve been through something similar or just want to understand more about what it’s like. I’ll definitely be thinking about this one for a while.
October 5, 2025
I have very mixed feelings about this book.
I did enjoy reading it, it certainly kept my attention, but in some other way i found it boring.
It’s a story thousands of women could write, it is not that unique.
Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this.
I did enjoy reading it, it certainly kept my attention, but in some other way i found it boring.
It’s a story thousands of women could write, it is not that unique.
Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this.
September 26, 2025
This is a profoundly personal and introspective view of the end of a marriage. Belle Burden had everything: a very successful husband who she adored, three children who were doing well; a career; houses in NYC and Martha's Vineyard and plenty of money to enjoy life. Until her husband suddenly announced that he wanted a divorce and did not want custody of the children. This book accounts her life an emotions in sometimes excruciating detail as she worked through the process of reevaluating her future.
The author is a lawyer by training but a writer by passion. The book is very well written and absorbing. I usually do not read these types of books, but it drew me in and captivated me. The book is a warning of the destruction that happens when a spouse decides to walk away from a marriage.
The author is a lawyer by training but a writer by passion. The book is very well written and absorbing. I usually do not read these types of books, but it drew me in and captivated me. The book is a warning of the destruction that happens when a spouse decides to walk away from a marriage.
January 16, 2026
Reading this as a daughter who quite vividly remembers walking through her parents divorce was an interesting and rather moving experience. Belle writes incredibly well and sums up her life and what feels to be its end so succinctly yet poignantly. I feel a peculiar sort of hollowness in my gut; as Carrie said, “Things are good now. But I wish I was little again.”
January 11, 2026
4.5 stars rounded down
This is probably the most brutal divorce memoir I’ve ever read. Burden did such a graceful job gently telling you the story of her devastation. Hope her ex husband burns in hell!!!
This is probably the most brutal divorce memoir I’ve ever read. Burden did such a graceful job gently telling you the story of her devastation. Hope her ex husband burns in hell!!!
Currently reading
January 17, 2026This is so hauntingly similar to my experience of December 2025 (a man, also named James in this book, walks out on a marriage without warning or explanation) that I am SHOOKETH.
January 10, 2026
I couldn’t stop reading. What an honest, poignant memoir about rediscovery and rebuilding after betrayal and heartbreak.
December 29, 2025
I received an ARC of Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Belle, her husband, and 3 children are living a beautiful life of privilege. A home in Manhattan and a beach home on Martha's Vineyard. They have successful careers and a vibrant social life. One day, a phone call from a jilted husband uproots everything. Set during the pandemic, Strangers beautifully captures the devastation left in the wake of James' departure. Belle is left to pick up the pieces of their shattered family while trying to make sense of things and kick herself for not protecting her finances. James' icy detachment and apparent cluelessness of the pain he wrought upon the family couldn't help but make me wonder--did he plan this all along? The writing is beautiful, and I found it hard to put this memoir down.
Belle, her husband, and 3 children are living a beautiful life of privilege. A home in Manhattan and a beach home on Martha's Vineyard. They have successful careers and a vibrant social life. One day, a phone call from a jilted husband uproots everything. Set during the pandemic, Strangers beautifully captures the devastation left in the wake of James' departure. Belle is left to pick up the pieces of their shattered family while trying to make sense of things and kick herself for not protecting her finances. James' icy detachment and apparent cluelessness of the pain he wrought upon the family couldn't help but make me wonder--did he plan this all along? The writing is beautiful, and I found it hard to put this memoir down.
October 4, 2025
I read this in about 36 hours, the first book in quite awhile that I have been very motivated to finish quickly.
I’m not married and never have been and never will be so I wasn’t going to get this book when I was offered an ARC from Netgalley, but I did read the blurb and the quotes from readers and started recommending it to my friend who is about to go through a divorce. In discussing it, I became more interested and eventually requested the title, in part so I could test the water for her in case it would be difficult or triggering. Starting it in bed on the first night, I texted my friend saying ‘ I’m 30% in! It’s actually just a really good book!’
So that’s my review- as a reader with no frame of reference- it’s actually just a really good book.
I was really interested in the background stuff, about the authors family including her grandmother, Babe Paley, as I had watched the Truman Capote Feud series. Also fascinating to think about how the pandemic factored; how many lives switch to a new track when there are tectonic shifts in the world?
I’m not married and never have been and never will be so I wasn’t going to get this book when I was offered an ARC from Netgalley, but I did read the blurb and the quotes from readers and started recommending it to my friend who is about to go through a divorce. In discussing it, I became more interested and eventually requested the title, in part so I could test the water for her in case it would be difficult or triggering. Starting it in bed on the first night, I texted my friend saying ‘ I’m 30% in! It’s actually just a really good book!’
So that’s my review- as a reader with no frame of reference- it’s actually just a really good book.
I was really interested in the background stuff, about the authors family including her grandmother, Babe Paley, as I had watched the Truman Capote Feud series. Also fascinating to think about how the pandemic factored; how many lives switch to a new track when there are tectonic shifts in the world?
September 28, 2025
I have such mix feelings on this book.
First, it is so well written I could not put it down and I am very picky about what I read, especially when it comes to memoirs.
I come from a family with a dad that cheated on my mom (thankfully, she is not on social media, so I can say that). I saw firsthand what happens and it has left lasting impressions on me - some good
ones (my mother is such a strong person) to bad (wow, I did not matter to my dad, not really).
I will state this right now, that man is something else and he does not deserve his family - no question about that and he deserves whatever karma is coming to him.
When it comes to men and love, something seems to happen to many perfectly strong women, we get stupid (me included). It was so obvious that James had disconnected and was actually doing what was best for HIM. The whole prenup thing just got me mad. Yet. Belle said it herself, it was her fault, everyone told her about the prenup, but she was so in love she threw away all advice - See what I mean about smart women,,,
Her writing style is wonderful. You feel her pain. You feel her fear. She built James enough for many readers to have a strong opinion on this man and his actions. I found myself rooting for her at times and wanting to yell at her at other times. This is a direct testimony to the writing.
The pace was also excellent. She does not go deep into useless details. She tells us what we need to read. The story moves forward well.
This was a very frustrating read , but I loved it, and I hope she writes a follow up in a few years so we can follow her journey.
First, it is so well written I could not put it down and I am very picky about what I read, especially when it comes to memoirs.
I come from a family with a dad that cheated on my mom (thankfully, she is not on social media, so I can say that). I saw firsthand what happens and it has left lasting impressions on me - some good
ones (my mother is such a strong person) to bad (wow, I did not matter to my dad, not really).
I will state this right now, that man is something else and he does not deserve his family - no question about that and he deserves whatever karma is coming to him.
When it comes to men and love, something seems to happen to many perfectly strong women, we get stupid (me included). It was so obvious that James had disconnected and was actually doing what was best for HIM. The whole prenup thing just got me mad. Yet. Belle said it herself, it was her fault, everyone told her about the prenup, but she was so in love she threw away all advice - See what I mean about smart women,,,
Her writing style is wonderful. You feel her pain. You feel her fear. She built James enough for many readers to have a strong opinion on this man and his actions. I found myself rooting for her at times and wanting to yell at her at other times. This is a direct testimony to the writing.
The pace was also excellent. She does not go deep into useless details. She tells us what we need to read. The story moves forward well.
This was a very frustrating read , but I loved it, and I hope she writes a follow up in a few years so we can follow her journey.
October 20, 2025
This memoir will hands down be one of the best books of 2026. Reading this book felt like an intense experience, almost unbelievable at times, like witnessing an accident as it’s unfolding. I found myself gripped from start to finish, and am still reeling long after setting the book down.
The author’s way in which she shares her story is so clear and compelling, but what makes it stand out is her vulnerability. She writes as if she’s sitting with you over coffee confiding in the goings on of her life. I connected with this book over her raw honesty and reflections, and I appreciated the way in which she was able to reflect with humor and grace. It was very powerful.
I will be recommending this memoir to my friends and book clubs. It is one not to be missed.
Thank you to Belle Burden, Random House and NetGalley for a digital copy of the book for an honest review.
The author’s way in which she shares her story is so clear and compelling, but what makes it stand out is her vulnerability. She writes as if she’s sitting with you over coffee confiding in the goings on of her life. I connected with this book over her raw honesty and reflections, and I appreciated the way in which she was able to reflect with humor and grace. It was very powerful.
I will be recommending this memoir to my friends and book clubs. It is one not to be missed.
Thank you to Belle Burden, Random House and NetGalley for a digital copy of the book for an honest review.
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August 10, 2025I can’t wait for everyone to read this book. Loved it.
January 16, 2026
Whew. This memoir was a doozy for me.
This book is probably very niche reading for folks who have been through or are going through a (more) contentious (than not) divorce. Or for folks who were taken with the idea of the New York socialites known by Truman Capote as The Swans. The author is the granddaughter of Babe Paley, whose philandering husband’s reputation brought her unwelcome scrutiny and pity. Rubberneckers will likely be happy that Babe has a few mentions in the book.
Belle Burden’s rarified silver spoon upbringing isn’t debatable, but neither is the moving nature of her achingly emotional account of betrayal, separation, and a high profile divorce in which her ex held all of the legal and and most of the financial power. The emotional toll of living through such inexplicable behavior by a spouse of 20+ years rang so devastatingly true. The absolute mindfuck divorce can be is portrayed so vulnerably.
Belle herself admits her uber wealthy lifestyle removes her from many of the terrifying possibilities that less privileged folk (mostly women) rightfully fear when facing single parenthood. And yet many of the financial decisions she made, trusting in her confident Family Man spouse to support and care for her, sound just like the dumbass decisions so many of us make (when young, naive, and blinded by love) and then kick ourselves for later. Financial abuse has probably not Been written about before so eloquently.
Mostly, I connected with her descriptions of the massive internal shift in emotional landscape: from comfortable(ish) married to an incomprehensibly imbalanced and confusing separated singleness. Her descriptions the of the uncomfortable unpredictability and emotional fallout of post-separation encounters: when others engaged (or purposefully didn’t!) with her socially, the surprising folks in her network who circled their wagon in one direction or the other, the men who spoke of “playing hardball” in settlement negotiations as if betting on a game. Trying to figure out the post-divorce person is a hard but worthwhile task and she leads the reader through that.
I’ll read this again and likely be thankful all over again for her candor and vulnerability.
This book is probably very niche reading for folks who have been through or are going through a (more) contentious (than not) divorce. Or for folks who were taken with the idea of the New York socialites known by Truman Capote as The Swans. The author is the granddaughter of Babe Paley, whose philandering husband’s reputation brought her unwelcome scrutiny and pity. Rubberneckers will likely be happy that Babe has a few mentions in the book.
Belle Burden’s rarified silver spoon upbringing isn’t debatable, but neither is the moving nature of her achingly emotional account of betrayal, separation, and a high profile divorce in which her ex held all of the legal and and most of the financial power. The emotional toll of living through such inexplicable behavior by a spouse of 20+ years rang so devastatingly true. The absolute mindfuck divorce can be is portrayed so vulnerably.
Belle herself admits her uber wealthy lifestyle removes her from many of the terrifying possibilities that less privileged folk (mostly women) rightfully fear when facing single parenthood. And yet many of the financial decisions she made, trusting in her confident Family Man spouse to support and care for her, sound just like the dumbass decisions so many of us make (when young, naive, and blinded by love) and then kick ourselves for later. Financial abuse has probably not Been written about before so eloquently.
Mostly, I connected with her descriptions of the massive internal shift in emotional landscape: from comfortable(ish) married to an incomprehensibly imbalanced and confusing separated singleness. Her descriptions the of the uncomfortable unpredictability and emotional fallout of post-separation encounters: when others engaged (or purposefully didn’t!) with her socially, the surprising folks in her network who circled their wagon in one direction or the other, the men who spoke of “playing hardball” in settlement negotiations as if betting on a game. Trying to figure out the post-divorce person is a hard but worthwhile task and she leads the reader through that.
I’ll read this again and likely be thankful all over again for her candor and vulnerability.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2025
This memoir is not a “Poor me, my husband left” story; it is a story of the construct of relationships in all forms - and Belle represents a vast majority of women in the modern world still living fairly traditional marriages - but what happens when the marriage ends?
Strangers: A Memoir of a Marriage is raw and honest, it explores the ripple effects once the institution of a marriage falls - how to find your place in the world and navigate a loss whilst still functioning in a not-so-kind society + still offer love and support to your children.
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The memoir isn’t a ‘battle of the sexes’ type of story but heavily suggests that men and women are wired differently and there is a stigma as to how we as women should react and what we are allowed to speak openly about. It challenges narratives and how we seek validation and reassurance in the people around us. It also reminds us it is ok to stand your ground and not bow to social expectations.
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What I found most interesting about this book was the observations of community; who will reach out and who will turn away when you are hurting.
Also, how much of your identify is wrapped up in your role as a spouse, in this instance Belle as a wife?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, I was fascinated by living inside Belle’s mind whilst she was questioning, analysing and observing her life, her choices and her situation. Quite gripping and also very clever writing, a lot of suspense made me turn the pages faster than most books I’ve read recently.
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Thanks to NetGalley for a digital copy of this soon to be released memoir.
5/5 stars
Strangers: A Memoir of a Marriage is raw and honest, it explores the ripple effects once the institution of a marriage falls - how to find your place in the world and navigate a loss whilst still functioning in a not-so-kind society + still offer love and support to your children.
-
The memoir isn’t a ‘battle of the sexes’ type of story but heavily suggests that men and women are wired differently and there is a stigma as to how we as women should react and what we are allowed to speak openly about. It challenges narratives and how we seek validation and reassurance in the people around us. It also reminds us it is ok to stand your ground and not bow to social expectations.
-
What I found most interesting about this book was the observations of community; who will reach out and who will turn away when you are hurting.
Also, how much of your identify is wrapped up in your role as a spouse, in this instance Belle as a wife?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, I was fascinated by living inside Belle’s mind whilst she was questioning, analysing and observing her life, her choices and her situation. Quite gripping and also very clever writing, a lot of suspense made me turn the pages faster than most books I’ve read recently.
-
Thanks to NetGalley for a digital copy of this soon to be released memoir.
5/5 stars
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