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Fault Lines
Book One in the Fault Lines duology.
Fault Lines is an emotional exploration of love, loss, and the heart-wrenching choices that follow when everything you thought you knew about your life starts to crumble.
When the doctor tells me I'm infertile, my world shatters. The dream of raising children, of hearing little feet run through the house, evaporates in the span of twenty minutes. I thought that was the worst day of my life. But Cam, my husband—who wanted it even more than I did—promised we’d weather the storm together. We didn’t.
Instead, Cam spirals into a personal crisis, unable to cope with the pain of our unfulfilled dream. And despite my best efforts to be strong for both of us, I am powerless to keep him afloat. The next blow comes when he asks for an open marriage. I never imagined I'd hear those words, much less have to make a choice: Say no, and lose him completely—or say yes, and lose myself.
Reluctantly, I agree, telling myself that maybe this will fix things, that maybe this is how we’ll both find happiness again. But as Cam pulls further away, each night he spends with someone else takes a little more of me with it. I withdraw into silence, my world shrinking to the hours between his absences, until I take a job just to fill the void.
That’s when Nate enters my life—a man with a love for books, an infectious laugh, and a kindness that feels like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. With Nate, I find something I thought I’d lost: connection. But as the emotional distance between Cam and I widens, the pull between Nate and me becomes harder to ignore.
As love and betrayal intertwine, the ground beneath me begins to tremble, and the cracks in my life grow deeper. When everything I thought I understood comes crashing down, I must choose who to become—and who I can trust—to help pull me out of the rubble.
Fault Lines is a raw, heartbreaking look at the fragility of love and identity, the pain of unmet expectations, and the unexpected ways we find redemption—even in the most broken pieces of ourselves.
Fault Lines is an emotional exploration of love, loss, and the heart-wrenching choices that follow when everything you thought you knew about your life starts to crumble.
When the doctor tells me I'm infertile, my world shatters. The dream of raising children, of hearing little feet run through the house, evaporates in the span of twenty minutes. I thought that was the worst day of my life. But Cam, my husband—who wanted it even more than I did—promised we’d weather the storm together. We didn’t.
Instead, Cam spirals into a personal crisis, unable to cope with the pain of our unfulfilled dream. And despite my best efforts to be strong for both of us, I am powerless to keep him afloat. The next blow comes when he asks for an open marriage. I never imagined I'd hear those words, much less have to make a choice: Say no, and lose him completely—or say yes, and lose myself.
Reluctantly, I agree, telling myself that maybe this will fix things, that maybe this is how we’ll both find happiness again. But as Cam pulls further away, each night he spends with someone else takes a little more of me with it. I withdraw into silence, my world shrinking to the hours between his absences, until I take a job just to fill the void.
That’s when Nate enters my life—a man with a love for books, an infectious laugh, and a kindness that feels like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. With Nate, I find something I thought I’d lost: connection. But as the emotional distance between Cam and I widens, the pull between Nate and me becomes harder to ignore.
As love and betrayal intertwine, the ground beneath me begins to tremble, and the cracks in my life grow deeper. When everything I thought I understood comes crashing down, I must choose who to become—and who I can trust—to help pull me out of the rubble.
Fault Lines is a raw, heartbreaking look at the fragility of love and identity, the pain of unmet expectations, and the unexpected ways we find redemption—even in the most broken pieces of ourselves.
- GenresContemporary
484 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2025
123 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 14, 2025
the worst book I’ve ever read
What—and I can’t stress this enough—the f*ck. The MMC is the worst kind of man. Abusive but it’s never addressed, 90%of the horrible things he did wasn’t addressed because the FMC is the weakest one I think I’ve ever read. Doormat would actually be an upgrade. The new love interests storyline was lazy. And if you’re reading this for a grovel you won’t find it. Again, weak FMC. This was not a romance I’m not sure why it is classified as one. It’s torture porn. Written by someone who hated her main character. If the authors goals were to make you feel something she succeeded. No one of those things however, were good.
What—and I can’t stress this enough—the f*ck. The MMC is the worst kind of man. Abusive but it’s never addressed, 90%of the horrible things he did wasn’t addressed because the FMC is the weakest one I think I’ve ever read. Doormat would actually be an upgrade. The new love interests storyline was lazy. And if you’re reading this for a grovel you won’t find it. Again, weak FMC. This was not a romance I’m not sure why it is classified as one. It’s torture porn. Written by someone who hated her main character. If the authors goals were to make you feel something she succeeded. No one of those things however, were good.
October 19, 2025
First of all this is a lot of pages for this type of a book. So
I skimmed through a lot of the working in the bookstore etc. The mcs are desperate for a baby but find out the h has fertility issues and they won’t be able to conceive. This sets off the H into wanting to have an open marriage to help him deal with his depression. This is a rage read and you will hate the H. He has a lot of sex with a lot of different women and it’s in your face cheating to
Me because he forced the fmc to agree at risk of losing her marriage right after the emotional trauma of several miscarriages and finding out there are serious fertility issues. She eventually gets enough of his ways and starts a relationship with OM. The H in this book sucked and all the counseling on earth couldn’t redeem
Him to me. This book did keep me turning the pages to find out but I also Did a ton of skimming. If you’re in the mood for a long ass rage read give it a try.
I skimmed through a lot of the working in the bookstore etc. The mcs are desperate for a baby but find out the h has fertility issues and they won’t be able to conceive. This sets off the H into wanting to have an open marriage to help him deal with his depression. This is a rage read and you will hate the H. He has a lot of sex with a lot of different women and it’s in your face cheating to
Me because he forced the fmc to agree at risk of losing her marriage right after the emotional trauma of several miscarriages and finding out there are serious fertility issues. She eventually gets enough of his ways and starts a relationship with OM. The H in this book sucked and all the counseling on earth couldn’t redeem
Him to me. This book did keep me turning the pages to find out but I also Did a ton of skimming. If you’re in the mood for a long ass rage read give it a try.
November 18, 2025
What the fucking fuck is this?
The FMC is such a DOORMAT and I don’t even want to call her naive because she’s just UGHHHHHHHHHH!
And WHY WHYYYYYYY!!!! Did the author have to ruin Nate and then have the FMC go back to her bastard of a husband!?
Fuck this book. Fuck the characters.
The FMC is such a DOORMAT and I don’t even want to call her naive because she’s just UGHHHHHHHHHH!
And WHY WHYYYYYYY!!!! Did the author have to ruin Nate and then have the FMC go back to her bastard of a husband!?
Fuck this book. Fuck the characters.
October 15, 2025
ok
I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if the MFC hadn’t been such a doormat until 60% of the book. At least she finally grew a backbone and wasn’t celibate during their breakup. It was a believable ending but I wish there were authors who would write a strong, independent MFC - which this one wasn’t. Worth reading I guess?
I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if the MFC hadn’t been such a doormat until 60% of the book. At least she finally grew a backbone and wasn’t celibate during their breakup. It was a believable ending but I wish there were authors who would write a strong, independent MFC - which this one wasn’t. Worth reading I guess?
October 27, 2025
This fucking book. Where do I begin!
After being caught sexting his secretary , the MMC conveniently uses the opportunity to force his wife into an open marriage, blaming her inability to give him children and his 'depression' as the reason in the process 🤢
At this point ,he hasnt touched his wife in six months. So this is less an open marriage and more a request to just outsource sex entirely.
There's clearly no actual consent to the open marriage on his wifes part - just resignation. After all, coercion is not consent.
It is heavily implied that if she said no, he would do it anyway. So really hes just saying. Im gonna fuck other people. Stay or go.
He is very aware of how much she loves him. knows she wont sleep with other men, and knows she doesnt have the strength to leave him. He uses all that to consciously manipulate her into letting him have his cake and eat it, too.
He is clearly aware of hurting her. He repeatedly clames he loves her and does WANT to hurt her. But he just wants that a lot less than he wants sex with other women. The emotional abuse and manipulation is off the charts from the beginning.
What follows for the next 50 % of the book (200 some odd pages) is some of the most unhinged behavior I've ever read in a betrayal story. From both MCs. They were giving mental health check. both of them.
He's flirting openly in front of her, he's sexting in front of her, he's oogling women. Hes coming home to try and fuck her after going down on another woman. Hes fetishizing his wife's doormat energy. Getting off on all the things he can do while she stays loyal. Even bragging to one of his regulars about it.
I started a checklist at one point and had to stop because there were just too many crazy things to track!
It's NON STOP brutality. All while they 'rekindle' their relationship on the days not designated to his escapades.
Ew David!
50% she finally leaves him. And his character does a 180 so fast your head spins.
Suddenly, this was all a big mistake on his part. Of course. He does therapy, and it's a study in how to avoid real self reflection . He repents and gives her space.
His redemption arch is hollow and disappointing because it never actually addresses the specifics of his behavior. Which like ?? after all that. I need specifics lmao
There's another man - of course - who has his own issues. Of course.
There's an affair child, of course, that turns out wasnt even his. Of course.
And there's an OW character that is revealed in the end to be a relentless femme fatal type that really just forced him into breaking the rules of his arrangement. OF COURSE. The convenient plot devices just keep rolling in. But they explain none of what we actually witnessed as the reader.
That being said. it was 400 pages. I gobbled it up with my mouth agape and my rage burning red hot.
So three stars for the ride and the fury I guess??? 😂😂😂
Tops the wtf list.
After being caught sexting his secretary , the MMC conveniently uses the opportunity to force his wife into an open marriage, blaming her inability to give him children and his 'depression' as the reason in the process 🤢
At this point ,he hasnt touched his wife in six months. So this is less an open marriage and more a request to just outsource sex entirely.
There's clearly no actual consent to the open marriage on his wifes part - just resignation. After all, coercion is not consent.
It is heavily implied that if she said no, he would do it anyway. So really hes just saying. Im gonna fuck other people. Stay or go.
He is very aware of how much she loves him. knows she wont sleep with other men, and knows she doesnt have the strength to leave him. He uses all that to consciously manipulate her into letting him have his cake and eat it, too.
He is clearly aware of hurting her. He repeatedly clames he loves her and does WANT to hurt her. But he just wants that a lot less than he wants sex with other women. The emotional abuse and manipulation is off the charts from the beginning.
What follows for the next 50 % of the book (200 some odd pages) is some of the most unhinged behavior I've ever read in a betrayal story. From both MCs. They were giving mental health check. both of them.
He's flirting openly in front of her, he's sexting in front of her, he's oogling women. Hes coming home to try and fuck her after going down on another woman. Hes fetishizing his wife's doormat energy. Getting off on all the things he can do while she stays loyal. Even bragging to one of his regulars about it.
I started a checklist at one point and had to stop because there were just too many crazy things to track!
It's NON STOP brutality. All while they 'rekindle' their relationship on the days not designated to his escapades.
Ew David!
50% she finally leaves him. And his character does a 180 so fast your head spins.
Suddenly, this was all a big mistake on his part. Of course. He does therapy, and it's a study in how to avoid real self reflection . He repents and gives her space.
His redemption arch is hollow and disappointing because it never actually addresses the specifics of his behavior. Which like ?? after all that. I need specifics lmao
There's another man - of course - who has his own issues. Of course.
There's an affair child, of course, that turns out wasnt even his. Of course.
And there's an OW character that is revealed in the end to be a relentless femme fatal type that really just forced him into breaking the rules of his arrangement. OF COURSE. The convenient plot devices just keep rolling in. But they explain none of what we actually witnessed as the reader.
That being said. it was 400 pages. I gobbled it up with my mouth agape and my rage burning red hot.
So three stars for the ride and the fury I guess??? 😂😂😂
Tops the wtf list.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2025
I don’t know how to even feel
I have never read a book that I wanted to rate 5 stars and 1 star at the same time. This book???? Best way to describe it is pure, unadulterated rage. That is all this book brought out in me. From the moment the cheating was revealed to how it was handled all I wanted to do was crawl into these pages and smack some sense into the FMC. Then I learnt a bit of empathy that when you think you’re not enough you sometimes reinforce that notion by letting people treat you that way. This is my first book by this author and I’m not sure how her other books will measure up. But when a writer can invoke this much of a visceral reaction from you by the words that they are putting on the page? It’s a definite win in my book. May I never be this woman (FMC) and learn to never let people dictate my life for me
I have never read a book that I wanted to rate 5 stars and 1 star at the same time. This book???? Best way to describe it is pure, unadulterated rage. That is all this book brought out in me. From the moment the cheating was revealed to how it was handled all I wanted to do was crawl into these pages and smack some sense into the FMC. Then I learnt a bit of empathy that when you think you’re not enough you sometimes reinforce that notion by letting people treat you that way. This is my first book by this author and I’m not sure how her other books will measure up. But when a writer can invoke this much of a visceral reaction from you by the words that they are putting on the page? It’s a definite win in my book. May I never be this woman (FMC) and learn to never let people dictate my life for me
October 25, 2025
May this love never find me! I can’t believe this is even marketed as romance. This is the stuff of so many Reddit posts out there.
October 24, 2025
This just straight up pissed me off. I can't believe she took him back and that they conviently turned Nate into a horrible person.
2 this is bullshit stars
2 this is bullshit stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2025
The author did a good job on winning me over in the end
I was unsure where the ending would go as I read the book, but I feel that it ended the way it deserved to. The ending made perfect sense once we had all of the pieces. The ending was a bit jarring and abrupt. I was wanting to see a bit more of the happy ending. After I finished reading, a suggestion popped up for the next book and I read the blurb for it. I have to say, I’m a little bit disappointed that the story wouldn’t keep the peace that it ended with. I feel like it built up the love story and the feelings so much that it made sense in the end. I think would read the author’s work again, but I don’t think I will read the next book since it will undo the ending of this one. I feel like the ending was hard earned, and I’m not sure why the author changed her mind afterwards. I would have read a next book if the couple had been just figuring it out together.
I was unsure where the ending would go as I read the book, but I feel that it ended the way it deserved to. The ending made perfect sense once we had all of the pieces. The ending was a bit jarring and abrupt. I was wanting to see a bit more of the happy ending. After I finished reading, a suggestion popped up for the next book and I read the blurb for it. I have to say, I’m a little bit disappointed that the story wouldn’t keep the peace that it ended with. I feel like it built up the love story and the feelings so much that it made sense in the end. I think would read the author’s work again, but I don’t think I will read the next book since it will undo the ending of this one. I feel like the ending was hard earned, and I’m not sure why the author changed her mind afterwards. I would have read a next book if the couple had been just figuring it out together.
November 1, 2025
What a fuc*ing gut punch! Man the angst and pain in this is just raw and jaded. I’m finding it hard to describe. I may change my rating to 4⭐️. I usually give that rating for books that I fall in love with but this one would be for the way it just consumed me. I guess we all read for an escape and this one did that it just hurt. The writer made me feel all the pain of the FMC. I do with she would have stood up for herself more and maybe that she would have let her husband go after his multiple betrayals. I still don’t trust Cam with Livi but not all stories and like I think they should. I don’t judge Livi for her reactions to her husband actions but my heart breaks for her.
October 22, 2025
The amount of rage I feel for this book I haven't felt since I forced myself to finish the literary abortion that is devil's pawn by raven dark(if you think that is too harsh a critism, check out my review on that book and you will underatand). The main character is such a pathetic doormat, the love interests are both complete assholes. One a selfish cheating asshole(one who emotionally blackmailed and gaslit her I might add), the other an abusive asshole. I kept thinking how I so badly wanted her to say eff off to both of them, but instead she took the cheating asshole back. What a waste of time. Gross.
October 17, 2025
I hate Cam. I really do. I was rooting for Livi to leave him and not go back.
Emotional turmoil, gut wrenching.
Emotional turmoil, gut wrenching.
November 13, 2025
This may be an unpopular opinion, but yes I gave this 5⭐️
This book is so MESSY. It’s one gut punch after another, and I doubt you’ll find a likable character.
That being said it’s everything I want in a marriage in trouble ,infidelity fueled by a narcissist MMC and what some people would call a very weak FMC and an even weaker 2nd MMC. But I think that’s why I liked it so much. It was real, there was no knight in shining armor, it was just a series of choices made while trying to survive living inside a hurricane.
The original couple go through some difficult times and end up making bad decisions. This is a where many would call the FMC weak because she agrees to something no one should (in my opinion). But I understand why she would. I think that when you’re in the middle of a devastating, possible trauma related situation, you’re not thinking clearly, your just trying to survive living inside an abusive relationship, and yes she was continuously being gaslighted by her narcissistic husband who was dealing with his own trauma.
People also feel that the second MMC deserved better. I don’t agree. He pushed himself on her and made it almost impossible for her to say no and then became abusive. Someone please help this woman out. Find her some therapy on why she continues to not identify toxic relationships but then again isn’t that half the population, especially women, we’re always trying to fix the people/ problems. And I think that’s why I liked this so much. It’s definitely a rage read and I still have a difficult time trying to forgive the MMC. But I’m interested to see how this plays out.
The book ends in a happy for now and in a little bit of a cliff. But that just makes book two so anticipatory.
My biggest gripe is that the writing especially towards the end was driving me crazy. The book is meaty. And maybe too long. It felt like she was trying to hard. And to me details matter. Sometimes it was called a house. Sometimes an apartment you could never tell the timeline. The seasons went from a sliver of summer to perpetual winter. He ran out of the house in the poring rain in NY in what I think was winter and then to the hospital still barefoot???? Also she dressed business casual and walked out 10 blocks in winter in New York City and then 10blocks back with a husband that was in jail all night. IF ANYONE HAS WALKED 10 blocks in NY. Like it was nothing especially when theirs no need to raise your hand 🙋🏼♀️ Oh well that’s just a few Examples,but like many new to me authors I try to be a little forgiving.
This book is so MESSY. It’s one gut punch after another, and I doubt you’ll find a likable character.
That being said it’s everything I want in a marriage in trouble ,infidelity fueled by a narcissist MMC and what some people would call a very weak FMC and an even weaker 2nd MMC. But I think that’s why I liked it so much. It was real, there was no knight in shining armor, it was just a series of choices made while trying to survive living inside a hurricane.
The original couple go through some difficult times and end up making bad decisions. This is a where many would call the FMC weak because she agrees to something no one should (in my opinion). But I understand why she would. I think that when you’re in the middle of a devastating, possible trauma related situation, you’re not thinking clearly, your just trying to survive living inside an abusive relationship, and yes she was continuously being gaslighted by her narcissistic husband who was dealing with his own trauma.
People also feel that the second MMC deserved better. I don’t agree. He pushed himself on her and made it almost impossible for her to say no and then became abusive. Someone please help this woman out. Find her some therapy on why she continues to not identify toxic relationships but then again isn’t that half the population, especially women, we’re always trying to fix the people/ problems. And I think that’s why I liked this so much. It’s definitely a rage read and I still have a difficult time trying to forgive the MMC. But I’m interested to see how this plays out.
The book ends in a happy for now and in a little bit of a cliff. But that just makes book two so anticipatory.
My biggest gripe is that the writing especially towards the end was driving me crazy. The book is meaty. And maybe too long. It felt like she was trying to hard. And to me details matter. Sometimes it was called a house. Sometimes an apartment you could never tell the timeline. The seasons went from a sliver of summer to perpetual winter. He ran out of the house in the poring rain in NY in what I think was winter and then to the hospital still barefoot???? Also she dressed business casual and walked out 10 blocks in winter in New York City and then 10blocks back with a husband that was in jail all night. IF ANYONE HAS WALKED 10 blocks in NY. Like it was nothing especially when theirs no need to raise your hand 🙋🏼♀️ Oh well that’s just a few Examples,but like many new to me authors I try to be a little forgiving.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2025
This is the
epitome
of a rage read.
I don't shy away from books with betrayal because sometimes the payoff is so satisfying for my angsty-wanting, gut punch-craving, grovel-loving heart. However, they have to be executed just right, and I find that it is nearly impossible for me to enjoy these types of books with a pathetic FMC. And this FMC had such low self-esteem, and a horrifically delusional idea of love and soulmates, that it physically pained me to read this book.
Synopsis: the FMC and her husband are experiencing infertility issues, and this prompts her husband to go through some form of identity crisis where he needs to find himself... and the discovery process is in other women's vaginas. The FMC reluctantly agrees to an open relationship where the husband partakes in getting some strange on Thursdays only. There are ground rules and he breaks all of them. He tells her he won't bump uglies with other people forever but tortures the FMC by being evasive about when his self-appointed sex therapy will end. There is an OM and guess where that leads... if you guessed nowhere and he'd end up being terrible then *ding**ding**ding* you are correct. Also, guess what the husband finally does when the FMC at long last leaves him (only because she finds out that one of his living blowup dolls is pregnant)... therapy. The therapy bandaid to a HEA or HFN irks me so bad. No amount of his reported trauma can justify the psychological torment this woman experienced by this man. Which a HFN is where the story ends for the couple.
There's going to be another book, Aftershocks, following the aftermath of this shitshow. I'm planning on reading it but my expectations are on the floor.
My thoughts: It was brutal reading about her being so thoroughly disrespected without any real retribution executed by her. To read pages upon pages of her refusing to love herself more than she loves a man that does not care about her well-being was so depressing. One of her husband's conquests said it best..
This is between 2 to 2.5⭐s and not 1⭐ because even though the story made my BP spike to stroke levels, the writing was pretty good (which I find is few and far between with cheating books), and it did give me that feeling of anxiety that I like with this trope. I just didn't need my sympathetic nervous system activated throughout the entire reading experience.
I don't shy away from books with betrayal because sometimes the payoff is so satisfying for my angsty-wanting, gut punch-craving, grovel-loving heart. However, they have to be executed just right, and I find that it is nearly impossible for me to enjoy these types of books with a pathetic FMC. And this FMC had such low self-esteem, and a horrifically delusional idea of love and soulmates, that it physically pained me to read this book.
Synopsis: the FMC and her husband are experiencing infertility issues, and this prompts her husband to go through some form of identity crisis where he needs to find himself... and the discovery process is in other women's vaginas. The FMC reluctantly agrees to an open relationship where the husband partakes in getting some strange on Thursdays only. There are ground rules and he breaks all of them. He tells her he won't bump uglies with other people forever but tortures the FMC by being evasive about when his self-appointed sex therapy will end. There is an OM and guess where that leads... if you guessed nowhere and he'd end up being terrible then *ding**ding**ding* you are correct. Also, guess what the husband finally does when the FMC at long last leaves him (only because she finds out that one of his living blowup dolls is pregnant)... therapy. The therapy bandaid to a HEA or HFN irks me so bad. No amount of his reported trauma can justify the psychological torment this woman experienced by this man. Which a HFN is where the story ends for the couple.
There's going to be another book, Aftershocks, following the aftermath of this shitshow. I'm planning on reading it but my expectations are on the floor.
My thoughts: It was brutal reading about her being so thoroughly disrespected without any real retribution executed by her. To read pages upon pages of her refusing to love herself more than she loves a man that does not care about her well-being was so depressing. One of her husband's conquests said it best..
...“every Thursday night he’s over, and his girlfriend or wife or whatever just waits at home. He says she’s too in love with him to see anybody else. So obsessed that she lets him fool around while she sits home alone. She must be so weak.”
This is between 2 to 2.5⭐s and not 1⭐ because even though the story made my BP spike to stroke levels, the writing was pretty good (which I find is few and far between with cheating books), and it did give me that feeling of anxiety that I like with this trope. I just didn't need my sympathetic nervous system activated throughout the entire reading experience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2025
The h takes back the cheating H, unfortunately.
Unable to handle their infertility, a husband decides a lot of sex with other women is the solution to how he feels. So, after some clandestine cheating, he demands an open marriage, where he’s with other women on Thursday nights. Months and months of this. And he berates his wife for her emotional reactions and inability to get on board with this great plan. Of course, the Thursday rule gets broken and she even meets a few of his affair partners. He believes the h loves him too much to take advantage of the open marriage, and that she needs to sit quietly — alone — and accept this. Sadly, he’s not wrong. She tolerates all of it for a long time.
Eventually, instead of sitting home alone crying, she starts crying elsewhere, including a friend’s place, a bar or two, and the apartment of a man interested in her. After another long period of time, she finally kisses and eventually has sex with the other man. Of course, her relentlessly unfaithful husband *flips out* that she now has Thursday partner. It takes one of the husband’s affair partners announcing her pregnancy to finally, finally, finally get her to pack her bags.
A whole lot of drama follows… subplots… side character stories. It’s complicated and convoluted. It’s too bad the h couldn’t end up finding someone who actually loves her. Unfortunately, she doesn’t divorce the cheater and the vague ending I guess is supposed to tidy up months and months and months of the husband’s infidelity and selfish actions. Hint: it does not. It falls ridiculously short.
The writing itself is well done, and I truly hate to disparage an author’s hard work because the writing talent is there! Unfortunately, this h is one of the worst doormats I have ever read. “I still love him” when he’s blatantly and unapologetically ruining your life, your self-esteem, your mental (and possibly physical) health is not romantic, it’s idiotic. And him basically getting a free pass after treating her like crap the entire book was unacceptable. There was no great I love you scene. In fact, the ending was a massive letdown after the relentless emotional turmoil. I doubt they love each other at all… they just didn’t want to be alone so they settled.
It was a well-written but extremely depressing story.
Unable to handle their infertility, a husband decides a lot of sex with other women is the solution to how he feels. So, after some clandestine cheating, he demands an open marriage, where he’s with other women on Thursday nights. Months and months of this. And he berates his wife for her emotional reactions and inability to get on board with this great plan. Of course, the Thursday rule gets broken and she even meets a few of his affair partners. He believes the h loves him too much to take advantage of the open marriage, and that she needs to sit quietly — alone — and accept this. Sadly, he’s not wrong. She tolerates all of it for a long time.
Eventually, instead of sitting home alone crying, she starts crying elsewhere, including a friend’s place, a bar or two, and the apartment of a man interested in her. After another long period of time, she finally kisses and eventually has sex with the other man. Of course, her relentlessly unfaithful husband *flips out* that she now has Thursday partner. It takes one of the husband’s affair partners announcing her pregnancy to finally, finally, finally get her to pack her bags.
A whole lot of drama follows… subplots… side character stories. It’s complicated and convoluted. It’s too bad the h couldn’t end up finding someone who actually loves her. Unfortunately, she doesn’t divorce the cheater and the vague ending I guess is supposed to tidy up months and months and months of the husband’s infidelity and selfish actions. Hint: it does not. It falls ridiculously short.
The writing itself is well done, and I truly hate to disparage an author’s hard work because the writing talent is there! Unfortunately, this h is one of the worst doormats I have ever read. “I still love him” when he’s blatantly and unapologetically ruining your life, your self-esteem, your mental (and possibly physical) health is not romantic, it’s idiotic. And him basically getting a free pass after treating her like crap the entire book was unacceptable. There was no great I love you scene. In fact, the ending was a massive letdown after the relentless emotional turmoil. I doubt they love each other at all… they just didn’t want to be alone so they settled.
It was a well-written but extremely depressing story.
October 25, 2025
I went into this book hoping for a raw, emotional exploration of a marriage strained by infertility and grief. What I got was a slow-motion implosion of a relationship where the male lead weaponizes an “open marriage” to mask his unchecked selfishness, and the female lead is left to absorb the emotional fallout. It’s a story that promises complexity but delivers a gut-punch of despair, with a reconciliation that feels more like surrender than healing.
The setup is brutal: after multiple losses and mounting tension, the husband proposes an open marriage—his solution to their pain. They set rules: no coworkers, Thursdays only. But the rules are a farce. He breaks them almost immediately, parading his affairs in front of his wife while berating her for not being “evolved” enough to accept it. She’s unemployed, emotionally depleted, and clinging to the wreckage of their marriage like it’s the last lifeboat on a sinking ship. Her compliance isn’t consent—it’s survival.
And yet, she stays for months. While he indulges himself, she sits alone, unraveling. When she finally finds comfort in someone else’s arms, he explodes. The hypocrisy is staggering. His rage isn’t about betrayal—it’s about control. It takes one of his many partners announcing a pregnancy for her to walk away finally. But even then, the story doesn’t let her have that win. The narrative bends over backward to villainize the man who showed her kindness, to make the husband’s redemption arc more palatable.
But here’s the thing: there is no arc. There’s no reckoning, no growth, no moment of clarity. He doesn’t earn forgiveness—he expects it. And she gives it. Not because he’s changed, but because she’s convinced herself that love means enduring pain. The ending is vague, but the message is clear: they didn’t heal, they just stopped fighting. It’s not a love story—it’s a cautionary tale.
The writing itself is strong—there’s no denying the author’s talent. But the emotional payoff never comes. The heroine is so passive, so endlessly forgiving, that by the final chapter, I felt more pity than hope. This wasn’t a story of rebuilding—it was a story of erosion. Of a woman who deserved more, and a man who never had to become better to keep her.
The setup is brutal: after multiple losses and mounting tension, the husband proposes an open marriage—his solution to their pain. They set rules: no coworkers, Thursdays only. But the rules are a farce. He breaks them almost immediately, parading his affairs in front of his wife while berating her for not being “evolved” enough to accept it. She’s unemployed, emotionally depleted, and clinging to the wreckage of their marriage like it’s the last lifeboat on a sinking ship. Her compliance isn’t consent—it’s survival.
And yet, she stays for months. While he indulges himself, she sits alone, unraveling. When she finally finds comfort in someone else’s arms, he explodes. The hypocrisy is staggering. His rage isn’t about betrayal—it’s about control. It takes one of his many partners announcing a pregnancy for her to walk away finally. But even then, the story doesn’t let her have that win. The narrative bends over backward to villainize the man who showed her kindness, to make the husband’s redemption arc more palatable.
But here’s the thing: there is no arc. There’s no reckoning, no growth, no moment of clarity. He doesn’t earn forgiveness—he expects it. And she gives it. Not because he’s changed, but because she’s convinced herself that love means enduring pain. The ending is vague, but the message is clear: they didn’t heal, they just stopped fighting. It’s not a love story—it’s a cautionary tale.
The writing itself is strong—there’s no denying the author’s talent. But the emotional payoff never comes. The heroine is so passive, so endlessly forgiving, that by the final chapter, I felt more pity than hope. This wasn’t a story of rebuilding—it was a story of erosion. Of a woman who deserved more, and a man who never had to become better to keep her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2025
Cheating = H gives h ultimatum that they open their marriage or he will do whatever he wants anyway without her input. So really no choice. h loves the H that she unwillingly agrees with a list of non-negotiable rules to which the H agrees….then breaks every single agreed upon rule, thus the cheating.
h sees H with OW = h is sent a picture of the H getting cozy with OW (H’s assistant and one of the rules was he could not hook up with her…spoiler, he did and OW claimed H got her pregnant which broke many other rules)
OW/OM drama = see above for OW drama, comeuppance? H finds out OW lied about pregnancy being his and OW meets with h to lay out her side of the affair, then OW slinks off into the ether…OM (guy h started out as friend with but later got into relationship) ends up becoming abusive (emotionally, verbally and eventually physically). Comeuppance? H puts a smack down on OM who goes into rehab after the hospital, then leave h alone.
Grovel = H had so much to make up for…h was not a doormat but she was also not a strong person either….h was a people pleaser who always looked after everyone’s needs but her own. H ended up in intense therapy and does free the h, but makes sure she knows he still loves her. Some of the chapters from his perspective changed a lot because only reading her side for 80% of the book painted him very poorly. Eventually, with the plot twist of h getting beat down by OM, H gets to be the hero for the h.
A truly complex look into an “open” marriage and the destruction it causes for this couple. The open marriage was fueled by infertility and insecurity. A bandaid over a severely bleeding wound. Interesting read.
h sees H with OW = h is sent a picture of the H getting cozy with OW (H’s assistant and one of the rules was he could not hook up with her…spoiler, he did and OW claimed H got her pregnant which broke many other rules)
OW/OM drama = see above for OW drama, comeuppance? H finds out OW lied about pregnancy being his and OW meets with h to lay out her side of the affair, then OW slinks off into the ether…OM (guy h started out as friend with but later got into relationship) ends up becoming abusive (emotionally, verbally and eventually physically). Comeuppance? H puts a smack down on OM who goes into rehab after the hospital, then leave h alone.
Grovel = H had so much to make up for…h was not a doormat but she was also not a strong person either….h was a people pleaser who always looked after everyone’s needs but her own. H ended up in intense therapy and does free the h, but makes sure she knows he still loves her. Some of the chapters from his perspective changed a lot because only reading her side for 80% of the book painted him very poorly. Eventually, with the plot twist of h getting beat down by OM, H gets to be the hero for the h.
A truly complex look into an “open” marriage and the destruction it causes for this couple. The open marriage was fueled by infertility and insecurity. A bandaid over a severely bleeding wound. Interesting read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2025
This h was so weak that at some point I stopped caring what would happen to her next. It was so pathetic and disgusting. I think the author simply hated h for putting her through that. I don't think marriage in the modern world, with all its possibilities, should be like this: the husband goes after every woman, and the wife sits at home and stupidly tolerates it all. Marriage is a partnership and trust. If that's not there, then it should end. I got to chapter 23 and realized enough was enough. This book simply isn't worth my time and attention. I can accept this kind of thing in the Regency books, where the woman simply had no choice or opportunity to leave such a marriage. But in our time, tolerating and accepting such a thing is simply unacceptable. The writing was good, but the plot is an acquired taste.
November 12, 2025
I want to b*tch slap both main characters. Congratulations for the author🥳 You managed to write the worse male and female lead characters EVER! Great accomplishment.
But it had potential…you could have turned this book into something realistic and morally good, but you still managed to bring out the worse from it. I mean can it go worse than this?? I didn’t even finish it but I couldn’t continue from the disgust.
Also an afterthought: I don’t understand how does this book have so many five stars, are they even real readers or just bots? If they are real, it’s unbelievable that they’ve read how the female lead suffers because of Cam and they still thought, oh they deserve their happy ending, what happy ending for fucks sake🧐🤦♀️🤦♀️
But it had potential…you could have turned this book into something realistic and morally good, but you still managed to bring out the worse from it. I mean can it go worse than this?? I didn’t even finish it but I couldn’t continue from the disgust.
Also an afterthought: I don’t understand how does this book have so many five stars, are they even real readers or just bots? If they are real, it’s unbelievable that they’ve read how the female lead suffers because of Cam and they still thought, oh they deserve their happy ending, what happy ending for fucks sake🧐🤦♀️🤦♀️
November 24, 2025
This might be the biggest mess I’ve ever read. A love triangle with one man who is the biggest loser—like he spends the 80% of the book sleeping with other women and his excuse? He’s lonely—and the other MMC the author made a violent drunk so she could justify the FMC going back to the original loser once he go drunk and raised his hand to her. The story ended where it should’ve began and with NO EPILOGUE. The FMC had no backbone, like had spent 80% of the book justifying her husband sleeping around and the other 20% trying to fall for the other MMC. She should’ve moved on her own and got her own life together. This book didn’t have a HEA. It’s a cautionary tale of what will happen when a woman allows a man to run all over her. I wouldn’t doubt this author hates women.
October 17, 2025
Great premise
I gave this book 3 stars for the writing and the plot. What wasn't great was the FMC character had no redeeming qualities. I felt fir her for the first 20% of the book then rolled my eyes the rest of the time. There was no time where I was like "yes, that's what you should do. Good for you" instead all I kept thinking was she needs intensive therapy and not because of her husband's betrayal. The MMC needed to be heard throughout the book, it came very very late in the novel. Not much in the traditional sense of groveling but, I believed he was remorseful and realized what he did.
Overall a decent read, but expect the FMC to annoy the heck out of you.
I gave this book 3 stars for the writing and the plot. What wasn't great was the FMC character had no redeeming qualities. I felt fir her for the first 20% of the book then rolled my eyes the rest of the time. There was no time where I was like "yes, that's what you should do. Good for you" instead all I kept thinking was she needs intensive therapy and not because of her husband's betrayal. The MMC needed to be heard throughout the book, it came very very late in the novel. Not much in the traditional sense of groveling but, I believed he was remorseful and realized what he did.
Overall a decent read, but expect the FMC to annoy the heck out of you.
December 7, 2025
Don’t waste your time
Doormat playing the pick me dance while her husband screws other women.
Spoilers:
She finds out he’s having an affair, he lies to her, then asks her to open the marriage. Which she is against but instead of saying no, she agrees then cries daily about it while he’s out having his fun. She then tries her hardest to make him want just her by going the extra mile for him while he’s keeps telling her he’s not giving up his other women. It always baffles me how writers can write women in such a pathetic light instead of lifting them up. I guess you can’t write what you don’t know.
Doormat playing the pick me dance while her husband screws other women.
Spoilers:
She finds out he’s having an affair, he lies to her, then asks her to open the marriage. Which she is against but instead of saying no, she agrees then cries daily about it while he’s out having his fun. She then tries her hardest to make him want just her by going the extra mile for him while he’s keeps telling her he’s not giving up his other women. It always baffles me how writers can write women in such a pathetic light instead of lifting them up. I guess you can’t write what you don’t know.
October 18, 2025
Good read.
What I disliked was how MFC was so weak at first and how she made excuses for her husband for an open marriage while she was dying inside. My heart hurt for her and I was raging inside. My heart broke for the MFC due to MMC and how he used excuses to have an open marriage. At the end I am grateful to still kept on reading because when you actually think of yourself in their shoes. In reality you would be just like the two MCs and the ending was beautiful. I recommend this book.
What I disliked was how MFC was so weak at first and how she made excuses for her husband for an open marriage while she was dying inside. My heart hurt for her and I was raging inside. My heart broke for the MFC due to MMC and how he used excuses to have an open marriage. At the end I am grateful to still kept on reading because when you actually think of yourself in their shoes. In reality you would be just like the two MCs and the ending was beautiful. I recommend this book.
October 19, 2025
made me want to scream
Looked all,over for the name of this book. It’s on Instagram as what is Betrayal, really? Luckily after days of searching, I found it in a comment on some post. Really glad I did. Cam is an @$$ and doesn’t deserve a wife as forgiving as Livie. Yet, she made me want to pull my hair out for not demanding the respect she deserved as his wife. I would have spied on him and called him out. That’s where the screaming came in for me. Ugh… I’d loved to have had a second book on these characters and how the progressed. Definitely a good read.
Looked all,over for the name of this book. It’s on Instagram as what is Betrayal, really? Luckily after days of searching, I found it in a comment on some post. Really glad I did. Cam is an @$$ and doesn’t deserve a wife as forgiving as Livie. Yet, she made me want to pull my hair out for not demanding the respect she deserved as his wife. I would have spied on him and called him out. That’s where the screaming came in for me. Ugh… I’d loved to have had a second book on these characters and how the progressed. Definitely a good read.
October 22, 2025
Surprising
A story of three parts I think: The marriage, the other and the renewal . I felt Cam was a completely different character by the third part, totally removed from what I felt was a sleazy self important man at the start. I'm unsure of what Nate's purpose within the story other than to give Olivia space and and support then remove it again. I think this could make an interesting film if properly done and not just for the sex and violence aspect of which so many modern films seem to consist.
A story of three parts I think: The marriage, the other and the renewal . I felt Cam was a completely different character by the third part, totally removed from what I felt was a sleazy self important man at the start. I'm unsure of what Nate's purpose within the story other than to give Olivia space and and support then remove it again. I think this could make an interesting film if properly done and not just for the sex and violence aspect of which so many modern films seem to consist.
October 30, 2025
Nathan deserved better
Olivia is a weak woman (pathetic) allowing Cam all the power in order not to have to choose to divorce him right from the start. I think she was cruel to Nathan making him feel as he was not enough & just a place holder for Cam, she kept going back & forth about her feelings for Nathan. It destroyed Nathan. Cam inflicted ungodly pain & misery & got away with it. Cam was not the good guy & sometime the HEA ending is not what I would like to have read. But good story about how loving someone too much is not good enough
Olivia is a weak woman (pathetic) allowing Cam all the power in order not to have to choose to divorce him right from the start. I think she was cruel to Nathan making him feel as he was not enough & just a place holder for Cam, she kept going back & forth about her feelings for Nathan. It destroyed Nathan. Cam inflicted ungodly pain & misery & got away with it. Cam was not the good guy & sometime the HEA ending is not what I would like to have read. But good story about how loving someone too much is not good enough
November 4, 2025
Just a few adjectives to describe Olivia, the FMC:
Useless, stupid, naive, gullible, simple, pathetic, eternal-victim, child-like, denial-queen, doormat, delusional, spineless, helpless, insecure, indecisive, dependent, fragile, needy, desperate, and idiotic.
If reading a book with a FMC like that sounds appealing, then this book is for you.
Ps- “coffee” is mentioned 171 times in this book. Holy repetition, Batman!
Useless, stupid, naive, gullible, simple, pathetic, eternal-victim, child-like, denial-queen, doormat, delusional, spineless, helpless, insecure, indecisive, dependent, fragile, needy, desperate, and idiotic.
If reading a book with a FMC like that sounds appealing, then this book is for you.
Ps- “coffee” is mentioned 171 times in this book. Holy repetition, Batman!
October 15, 2025
Realistic
I found this book through a Facebook group,and to say it’s just another betrayal story,would be an injustice to this author. The characters are relatable, and the story just sucks you in from the start. The strength of Olivia,and her emotions or just as real as if you going through all of it yourself. Definitely will be reading more from this author….loved it.❤️
I found this book through a Facebook group,and to say it’s just another betrayal story,would be an injustice to this author. The characters are relatable, and the story just sucks you in from the start. The strength of Olivia,and her emotions or just as real as if you going through all of it yourself. Definitely will be reading more from this author….loved it.❤️
October 16, 2025
Wow, a PPC a found on KU that just really made me feel this one in my soul - I laughed, I cried, I stopped reading often to think about what was just said and how that reflected in my own life… Not because my story is similar but because the emotions were… May Cam and Livi have their happily ever after… <3
October 17, 2025
Struggle
It was a struggle to complete this book! The plot was terrific and I enjoyed it. However the MFC was the worst enabler of all time! That was the struggle. She was all over the place and never made a solid decision until the last half of the last chapter! I don’t even know what to say about the MMC. 🤦🏾🤷🏾
It was a struggle to complete this book! The plot was terrific and I enjoyed it. However the MFC was the worst enabler of all time! That was the struggle. She was all over the place and never made a solid decision until the last half of the last chapter! I don’t even know what to say about the MMC. 🤦🏾🤷🏾
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