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Breaking Us: A Marriage in Crisis Romance
Mark and Tessa were each other's firsts. Married young with three kids and a stressful job, Mark feels like he skipped a chapter in his life, and Kate is there to fill it in for him. Tessa has her own news for Mark, but is blindsided before she has a chance to tell him.
Can Tessa forgive Mark's betrayal, and can Mark experience the grace to become the husband and father his family needs? Breaking Us explores a marriage in crisis, and a difficult journey toward faith and healing.
Can Tessa forgive Mark's betrayal, and can Mark experience the grace to become the husband and father his family needs? Breaking Us explores a marriage in crisis, and a difficult journey toward faith and healing.
- GenresChristianSecond Chance
123 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 2, 2025
366 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 15, 2025
I honestly don’t know why I do this to myself. I can’t give this book a low rating because the writing itself isn’t bad—it’s just really not my kind of story. It leans heavily into religion, and while I know books like that exist and plenty of people love them, it’s simply not what I gravitate toward.
The story follows Mark and Tessa, high school sweethearts who’ve been married for just over ten years. They were each other’s first and only, and their life together started fast—graduation, an unexpected pregnancy, marriage, and eventually two more kids. Mark starts feeling stuck and resentful, like he never really got to live his life before settling down.
Enter Kate, a younger associate he works with. What begins as an emotional affair—him confiding things he should have been sharing with his wife—slowly escalates. Eventually they kiss. Mark panics, goes home, and instead of taking accountability, basically tells Tessa he’s not sure he loves her anymore and thinks he has feelings for Kate. She immediately tells him to leave, and that whole scene is absolutely gut-wrenching.
He moves into a flat, and during another confrontation with Tessa, Kate calls him. Tessa tells him not to answer, but he still does. I hated this part. After everything he’s already put her through, he still picks up the phone. Later, alone in his car, Kate calls again—and he actually goes to her flat. They kiss again before he finally pulls away and ends things. That’s the last time anything happens between them.
From there, it’s the typical “realization of mistakes” arc. He cuts things off with Kate for good, begs Tessa for forgiveness, starts going to church, finds a love letter she wrote, feels broken and remorseful, and so on. Eventually they reconcile, Tessa pursues fashion design school, and they move toward a happy, God-guided ever after.
Here’s why I couldn’t rate the book higher: I never felt like Mark was genuinely remorseful. I don’t mind cheating in books—I actually enjoy the emotional punch when it’s written well—but Mark made choices that were just… baffling. Answering the phone when his wife explicitly told him not to? Then going to the other woman’s flat after seeing how deeply he’d hurt his wife? I couldn’t respect him after that. Even when his friend confronted him, he couldn’t take accountability. It wasn’t until church counselling that he suddenly “saw the error of his ways,” and honestly, he’s a grown man—he should have realized that long before.
On top of that, the lack of spice and the strong religious tone made it hard for me to connect to them as a couple. I think that aspect just isn’t for me, and that definitely influenced my reading experience.
So, while the writing isn’t terrible, the story didn’t resonate with me at all, and I didn’t like Mark enough to root for their relationship. That’s ultimately why this won’t be a high-rating book for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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November 26, 2025out of all cheating books i think i hate religious ones the most cause fym you cheat repeatedly and then read some bible verses about forgiveness and all’s well again. she should’ve slept with that single dad pregnant and all but ofc she has to be the one to still stick to their vows, the moment he looked at another women they didn’t exist no more
January 3, 2026
Ex Wattpad. Nice one. Very real and relatable.
Wattpad author @Whoops61
Mark and Tessa are married with kids.
She’s a SAHM, pregnant and about to tell him the news when he blindsides her with his own news.
He might not love her anymore and he’s met someone at work etc etc
The man is cuckoo, because within a few minutes of telling her, he realises he made a big mistake. LOL.
He’s like a lost fart after that. She’s adamant he moves out.
The idiot doesn’t know what to do on his own.
I actually felt sorry for his silly ass.
They eventually get back together after some hard long work on his side and she also makes positive moves forward.
Cheating:
Basically, he’s bored, the ow is interesting.
He’s already kissed the ow and confided in her about his personal life. Including Tessa and their kids.
Ow is a weirdo
I’ve read it twice and will read it again.
It’s just so natural and I’m crazy about the slice-of-life trope
Wattpad author @Whoops61
Mark and Tessa are married with kids.
She’s a SAHM, pregnant and about to tell him the news when he blindsides her with his own news.
He might not love her anymore and he’s met someone at work etc etc
The man is cuckoo, because within a few minutes of telling her, he realises he made a big mistake. LOL.
He’s like a lost fart after that. She’s adamant he moves out.
The idiot doesn’t know what to do on his own.
I actually felt sorry for his silly ass.
They eventually get back together after some hard long work on his side and she also makes positive moves forward.
Cheating:
Basically, he’s bored, the ow is interesting.
He’s already kissed the ow and confided in her about his personal life. Including Tessa and their kids.
Ow is a weirdo
I’ve read it twice and will read it again.
It’s just so natural and I’m crazy about the slice-of-life trope
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2025
I hate cheaters
And he was a cheater. Emotionally, kissing, touching, etc no sex but it was painful to read about. I'm shocked he didn't go all the way based on his selfish thoughts. I felt so bad for Tessa when he told her. When she fell apart my heart just broke but Bravo for her for kicking him out. He betrayed something special. They were each others firsts and onlys. But then he kissed another woman with the same mouth he spoke his vows with. That destroyed me when she asked him about that. I really hated him. I only gave it three stars because of Tessa. And yes he was sorry almost.immediately. when he went to the OW's apartment! I thought for sure he was going to cheat. But he felt nauseous instead and left. She was so fake too. I'm glad he ended it before he found out that his wife was pregnant. Made me feel better. His reaction to that was throwing up when he realized how badly he destroyed her that day.
And he was a cheater. Emotionally, kissing, touching, etc no sex but it was painful to read about. I'm shocked he didn't go all the way based on his selfish thoughts. I felt so bad for Tessa when he told her. When she fell apart my heart just broke but Bravo for her for kicking him out. He betrayed something special. They were each others firsts and onlys. But then he kissed another woman with the same mouth he spoke his vows with. That destroyed me when she asked him about that. I really hated him. I only gave it three stars because of Tessa. And yes he was sorry almost.immediately. when he went to the OW's apartment! I thought for sure he was going to cheat. But he felt nauseous instead and left. She was so fake too. I'm glad he ended it before he found out that his wife was pregnant. Made me feel better. His reaction to that was throwing up when he realized how badly he destroyed her that day.
November 28, 2025
2.5-The subtitle of this book should have been: HE’s just not that into you. The H is having a kissing, touching, emotionally unloading,spending time affair with ow. After he gets the tingles and belly flops after kissing the ow in his office, he decides to break the news to his wife of 10 years who gave up her career to be a housewife to him and his 4 kids— one on the way. He also tells the fmc he doesn’t think he loves her anymore and he may be in love with ow. The h kicks him out- he wasn’t expecting that—- what kind of idiot is this guy? Meanwhile his wife is admittedly a faithful long legged blonde bombshell. He’s confused poor guy. So he continues to kiss and tell with ow. He starts to think he may be making a mistake and decides to have another heart to heart with his wife to semi try to Keep her in the holding pattern but wait the ow calls right in the middle of their heart to heart and the scum bag takes Her call and makes a date for later… oops but he did that accidentally he didn’t mean to
Answer or say see you later….oh well ..since he said it …he may as well go over to her house for a tete a tete and some more kisses. He’s thinking he wants his wife back but then goes strolling through the farmers market ala Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks…. This guy spends most of the book romancing and kissing this chick meanwhile the wife is playing second fiddle. I
Just don’t buy all his lame excuses BUT—I don’t t have to
Because the fmc did. I didn’t believe all Of his excuses for how he felt nothing special happened when kissing the ow because he had already told us how he felt in the first half of the book. He felt tingly and almost in love. To me this dude was a liar and untrustworthy. He should have just told the truth— He saw that the grass wasn’t greener on the other side and wanted his wife back. She made his life comfortable. The writing was okay but it sort of reminded me of a cheesy hallmark movie.
Answer or say see you later….oh well ..since he said it …he may as well go over to her house for a tete a tete and some more kisses. He’s thinking he wants his wife back but then goes strolling through the farmers market ala Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks…. This guy spends most of the book romancing and kissing this chick meanwhile the wife is playing second fiddle. I
Just don’t buy all his lame excuses BUT—I don’t t have to
Because the fmc did. I didn’t believe all Of his excuses for how he felt nothing special happened when kissing the ow because he had already told us how he felt in the first half of the book. He felt tingly and almost in love. To me this dude was a liar and untrustworthy. He should have just told the truth— He saw that the grass wasn’t greener on the other side and wanted his wife back. She made his life comfortable. The writing was okay but it sort of reminded me of a cheesy hallmark movie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2025
3 solid stars for this marriage-in-trouble book about betrayal by (mostly) emotional cheating. This is a Christian novel, but not, imo, written with a heavy evangelical hand, which I appreciated. This couple married very young after falling pregnant. More kids and lean, hard years followed, but the FMC felt like life was just rolling along. Meanwhile, MMC feels resentment about how quickly he had to grow into the responsible breadwinner and finds his head turned by the shiny new office toy. They have a mostly emo affair, with kisses, and MMC’s guilt drives him to confess.
A lot of the book is about the repair work and refreshingly, the wife doesn’t take on the lion share of culpability! She stays strong! His grovel has Christian overtones, but I didn’t find it too patronizing or judgmental.
A lot of the book is about the repair work and refreshingly, the wife doesn’t take on the lion share of culpability! She stays strong! His grovel has Christian overtones, but I didn’t find it too patronizing or judgmental.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2025
So this book was well written. I got about halfway through and enjoyed it to some extent.
The problem was the chemistry between the main couple. Well. One of the main problems.
They had been together since highschool and known eachother even longer. So the lack of love and history you felt between the characters was really odd. It was like the length of the relationship was doing all the heavy lifting. I felt almost nothing real or romantic from the husband towards his wife.
The husband just staight up didnt really seem to be in love with his wife anymore.
Theres so many times the mmc ALMOST gets the gravity and weight of his actions. So many times were he is so close to being self aware and genuinely reflective....
But then he just misses the point completely. And that becomes frustrating and disappointing to a reader trying to root for his redemption.
For example. When Mark is trying to talk to his wife Tess about their issues after the start of their seperation , he makes it seem like he really wants this opportunity. That maybe he wants to save his marriage.
But then when the other woman Katie calls him while he is still talking to his wife. (who sees her name on the screen) He fucking answers it!!
He tells the other woman he cant talk and he will see her later
Thats actually insane... first off.
But then, upon reflecting and realizing this was a no good very bad move... he never comes to the conclusion that just the act of answering the phone instead of ignoring it is the problem. That that itself showed his wife where his priorities are. He seems to think answering the call was nbd. Just saying "ill see you later" when really he just meant at work looked bad.
Then after that (almost) realization he still goes to Katie's that night. Still kisses her. Still talks about how tempting a life with her is.How easy it would be to start over with her and drop everything else. Even if he doesnt sleep with her. That's where his head is at. Hes just conflicted due to guilt.
Theres nothing he really seems to miss at home except maybe not feeding himself. (he mentions never having to fill a pantry himself before). He doesnt really seem to grieve his marriage or even his time with his kids. But just the version of himself that wasn't feeling guilty about no longer wanting to be with his wife.
He seems to want to just move on with Katie but he is unable to get past the guilt of it. And the social implications of his decision.
Which, I mean im glad he has the capacity for guilt but idk if thats a solid reason to stay married at this point.
He continues to hang out with Katie. Going to the farmers market even. And his disenchantment with her has nothing to do with the love for his wife but just the fact that she turns out to be a bit of a bitch. If she had been the woman he let himself assume, if she had met his expectations - would his contact with her have ever stopped? Who's to say .
On top of all that, after all there years together mark seems to have very little appreciation for the wife he's had for 10 years and the girl he knew since he was young. None of his memories are romantic per say. Or about her as a person. Just appreciative of her supporting him, taking care of him and being a mother to his children, and being nice.
He seems to appreciate that she may be desirable to other men but there's no hint that HE still desires her. Just that he is aware that he should. Because objectively he knows she is attractive.
His road to redemtion is fuiled by guilt and the fact that everyone thinks he's being an idiot. Not his genuine love for his wife and fear of losing her.
That coupled with the genuine lack of chemistry between them is what made me DNF at 50% . Im just not invested in his redemption. Nor do I have any reason to believe that these two people are meant to be together besides the fact that they always have been.
The problem was the chemistry between the main couple. Well. One of the main problems.
They had been together since highschool and known eachother even longer. So the lack of love and history you felt between the characters was really odd. It was like the length of the relationship was doing all the heavy lifting. I felt almost nothing real or romantic from the husband towards his wife.
The husband just staight up didnt really seem to be in love with his wife anymore.
Theres so many times the mmc ALMOST gets the gravity and weight of his actions. So many times were he is so close to being self aware and genuinely reflective....
But then he just misses the point completely. And that becomes frustrating and disappointing to a reader trying to root for his redemption.
For example. When Mark is trying to talk to his wife Tess about their issues after the start of their seperation , he makes it seem like he really wants this opportunity. That maybe he wants to save his marriage.
But then when the other woman Katie calls him while he is still talking to his wife. (who sees her name on the screen) He fucking answers it!!
He tells the other woman he cant talk and he will see her later
Thats actually insane... first off.
But then, upon reflecting and realizing this was a no good very bad move... he never comes to the conclusion that just the act of answering the phone instead of ignoring it is the problem. That that itself showed his wife where his priorities are. He seems to think answering the call was nbd. Just saying "ill see you later" when really he just meant at work looked bad.
Then after that (almost) realization he still goes to Katie's that night. Still kisses her. Still talks about how tempting a life with her is.How easy it would be to start over with her and drop everything else. Even if he doesnt sleep with her. That's where his head is at. Hes just conflicted due to guilt.
Theres nothing he really seems to miss at home except maybe not feeding himself. (he mentions never having to fill a pantry himself before). He doesnt really seem to grieve his marriage or even his time with his kids. But just the version of himself that wasn't feeling guilty about no longer wanting to be with his wife.
He seems to want to just move on with Katie but he is unable to get past the guilt of it. And the social implications of his decision.
Which, I mean im glad he has the capacity for guilt but idk if thats a solid reason to stay married at this point.
He continues to hang out with Katie. Going to the farmers market even. And his disenchantment with her has nothing to do with the love for his wife but just the fact that she turns out to be a bit of a bitch. If she had been the woman he let himself assume, if she had met his expectations - would his contact with her have ever stopped? Who's to say .
On top of all that, after all there years together mark seems to have very little appreciation for the wife he's had for 10 years and the girl he knew since he was young. None of his memories are romantic per say. Or about her as a person. Just appreciative of her supporting him, taking care of him and being a mother to his children, and being nice.
He seems to appreciate that she may be desirable to other men but there's no hint that HE still desires her. Just that he is aware that he should. Because objectively he knows she is attractive.
His road to redemtion is fuiled by guilt and the fact that everyone thinks he's being an idiot. Not his genuine love for his wife and fear of losing her.
That coupled with the genuine lack of chemistry between them is what made me DNF at 50% . Im just not invested in his redemption. Nor do I have any reason to believe that these two people are meant to be together besides the fact that they always have been.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2025
Originally read on Wattpad.
Not really different from any other cheating (emotional) husband story, but what does work is his why—not justified, but he eventually has a clear understanding of why resentment and entitlement built up.
Not really different from any other cheating (emotional) husband story, but what does work is his why—not justified, but he eventually has a clear understanding of why resentment and entitlement built up.
December 28, 2025
I don't know why I do this to myself. I know I love cheating, marriage in trouble books etc. - so why do I read about them so much? Oh.......wait......that's normal. Reading about what I like, snort. They don't hate cheating books, they just think the like button means rl friends. And they have way too much time on their hands.
As for this, it's more of the same. For me it wasn't woven together that well. It takes more than just a bunch of gratuitous kissing and clandestine meet ups to make a good cheating book. We need a story, a good reason for the break down of the marriage. We need depth. This one was ok, but it feels like we just got all the cheating with none of the story to make us care about the couple. I need a story, too. Giving it a 3 for support.
If you have KU and like cheating, angsty, marriage in trouble books - you might try it. It may pull your heartstrings, we all like different types of writing. Some of my faves are hated by GR friends that love this trope. You never know.
As for this, it's more of the same. For me it wasn't woven together that well. It takes more than just a bunch of gratuitous kissing and clandestine meet ups to make a good cheating book. We need a story, a good reason for the break down of the marriage. We need depth. This one was ok, but it feels like we just got all the cheating with none of the story to make us care about the couple. I need a story, too. Giving it a 3 for support.
If you have KU and like cheating, angsty, marriage in trouble books - you might try it. It may pull your heartstrings, we all like different types of writing. Some of my faves are hated by GR friends that love this trope. You never know.
November 20, 2025
Well written book about a man who (mid-life crisis?) starts to yearn for all of the things HE has missed while fulfilling the role of husband and father. Emotionally immature but is kicked in the posterior by his more mature wife. He does grow up, does grovel and does earn back his wife's trust. Emotional affairs can be much more destructive than physical flings in my opinion.
January 5, 2026
He hit the TSTL motherlode, glad she made him work for it
December 27, 2025
Breaking Us was about 29-year-old Mark Collins, an architect, and his wife, 28-year-old Tessa Collins.
This book was about a couple who had gotten married at 19 and 18 because the girl had gotten pregnant with their first child before they were ready. They both had plans to attend college and earn degrees in their respective fields, and the boy had other dreams he wanted to fulfill before settling down. However, once she became pregnant, they set their respective dreams aside, married without hesitation, and both took on responsibilities they were neither of them ready for. While he worked two jobs and attended night classes, Tessa put aside her dreams of becoming a fashion designer and instead became a stay-at-home mom.
Ten years later, they were the parents of three young children: Michael, Chrissy, and Luke. However, somewhere along the way, their marriage had hit a snag, and they were starting to suffer for it. Mark seemed to be increasingly caught up in work, and Tessa had the larger share of household responsibilities and childcare, so they didn't spend a lot of one-on-one time as a couple.
The day she learned she was pregnant with their fourth child was also the day Mark came home from work early and told Tessa he was confused about his feelings, that he didn't know if he was in love with her anymore, and that he was beginning to have feelings for Kate, a 24-year-old woman with whom he worked. He told her that two-to-four months earlier, he had started entertaining thoughts about Kate, spending more time away from home to be with her, and even exchanging text messages, both during and after work. In that time, there had been multiple kisses and intimate touches shared between the two coworkers (although they had not yet crossed the line into actually going to bed together), but the moment that hit the hardest was the day when she kissed him at work and told him she believed she was falling in love with him and wanted to "take things to the next level" (although he didn't tell Tessa that last portion. While he didn't start it, neither did he tell her no. All he said was he needed to figure things out with his wife first. They had even shared personal information with each other, things he never shared with Tessa, and although he knew he was being dishonest with his wife, he was too addicted to the attention he was getting from Kate.) Once he had admitted to the affair, Kate kicked him out without telling him about her pregnancy.
The next day, Mark took off work, hoping to talk more with Tessa, but all she did was tell him he could come get some things and to explain to the kids why he wouldn't be around much anymore. He hadn't expected that, and it had been a difficult thing to do. Two days after his confession, he told Kate he had moved out, after which she began putting Tessa down and saying it was for the best. He didn't like that too much. Then they shared another kiss, although he ended it quickly. He silently began wondering why Kate thought it was okay to put his wife down, but the answer was immediate...because all he had shared with her were the things he found lacking in his own wife.
Once he moved into his own place a mile from his family, Mark's relationship with the other woman began to unravel, and his eyes slowly started to open to the truth, although he fought it tooth and nail. The more time he spent with Kate, the more he began to have doubts about being with her. But he wasn't yet ready to admit how wrong he was regarding his feelings for the other woman. That began the first weekend he had the kids visit his apartment. That was when he started to realize just how much his estranged wife did for their family. During his marriage, Mark never cooked, never shopped, or helped the kids with all of the schoolwork and projects each child had. He didn't even know what snacks they liked to have after school. Reality began to set in very quickly. When he took the kids back home, they finally talked, but it didn't go well. He told her that he "never had the chance to be young and free", and her response was, "And where was I during all that time?" which served to remind him that she hadn't had the chance either. They both had to grow up fast. She also took advantage of the moment to let him know that she never felt the entitlement to find out what else was out there, even though other men had hit on her quite often over the ten years of their marriage, and that she had never once wavered in her loyalty to her husband. What he hadn't expected to feel upon hearing that...was jealousy and possessiveness at the thought of any other man hitting on his wife...and right in the middle of their conversation, Mark's phone went off with a call from Kate...and he answered. After Tessa told him to leave, he drove around for a while, stopped at a park, then answered the phone call from Kate...again, which led to him going to her place..." just to talk". However, everything he poured out to her was returned to him in negativity towards Tessa and pushing him to "evolve" and leave his wife to "start the next chapter" in his life. Then she kissed him again, but this time all he saw was Tessa's tear-stained face, causing him to suddenly become nauseous, and he told her he couldn't do it, that he wasn't ready for more with her. He left soon after, with her words of "I'm here when you're ready" echoing in his ears.
Over the next several weeks, they began to settle into an uncomfortable routine of co-parenting. During that time, Mark stopped spending time with Kate outside of work, even though she frequently invited him out. He even put an end to the kissing. One of the few times he allowed her to convince him to spend time with her outside of work, Kate had nothing good to say about Tessa...and that irked him and didn't sit well at all. Other signs were starting to show that, perhaps, Kate wasn't as good a person as he had allowed himself to believe. When he used the excuse of needing to shop before his oldest son's soccer game, Kate said she could help him, and that it would be a good thing because "it would be good" for her "to know what kind of snacks the kids liked". When he asked her why that was, she said because they would all be spending more time together, but he cut her off and said that wouldn't be happening...because suddenly, he couldn't see him ever introducing his kids to her since they had no place in each other's worlds. All of a sudden, Mark's eyes started opening to the truth about his relationship with Kate. Any time he talked about his kids, she used it as a way to spout hateful things about his wife. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that, even if Tessa never forgave him or took him back, his relationship with Kate was at an end. He simply no longer liked what he saw or heard around her. Later, at his son's soccer game, Mark witnessed (and heard) another man asking his estranged wife out, and he heard her decline. But it still made him feel jealous...and shame for not having been just as loyal to her as she was to him, especially as she had every right to turn to someone else after what he had put her through (that was his thought process...not mine). It took another man's words to put the final nail into Mark's "confusion". He told him to imagine being at a wedding of a young bride and groom, only the bride in the story was Mark's daughter. Then years later, that groom no longer felt he could be faithful to his wife...and Mark felt his gut turn into knots, because that's what he had done to his own wife. The other thing the man said was that, if he was, in fact, done with Kate, to do it face-to-face and not avoid her. So he did. And then he learned about Tessa's pregnancy by finding a letter she had written to him somewhere along the way, and self-loathing swamped him.
As the story continued, there was plenty of angst and drama, with an emotional rollercoaster that had a lot of twists and turns. While there wasn't any spiciness (other than the kisses between the affair partners), the book still had a good sense of cohesion and contention. Some readers may (or may not) be turned off at the thought that this was a "clean Christian" romance, but in all honesty, that wasn't so prevalent in the book. Sure, they relied on counseling from church-based therapists, but it wasn't a "Bible-thumping, in your face with scripture" kind of story. It was more about how the church people she had befriended (and eventually he did too) had been there for them when things got hard.
The two main characters were well developed and mature, with a lot of room for them both to do some much-needed growing. It was nice to read how both of them did the work that was necessary for them to either heal their marriage...or to walk away forever.
I gave this a four-star rating because it actually earned it. As a general rule, I don't read books with cheating, but this one appealed to me because of how quickly the MMC turned things around, and how much the FMC stood her ground and didn't forgive him immediately.
This book was about a couple who had gotten married at 19 and 18 because the girl had gotten pregnant with their first child before they were ready. They both had plans to attend college and earn degrees in their respective fields, and the boy had other dreams he wanted to fulfill before settling down. However, once she became pregnant, they set their respective dreams aside, married without hesitation, and both took on responsibilities they were neither of them ready for. While he worked two jobs and attended night classes, Tessa put aside her dreams of becoming a fashion designer and instead became a stay-at-home mom.
Ten years later, they were the parents of three young children: Michael, Chrissy, and Luke. However, somewhere along the way, their marriage had hit a snag, and they were starting to suffer for it. Mark seemed to be increasingly caught up in work, and Tessa had the larger share of household responsibilities and childcare, so they didn't spend a lot of one-on-one time as a couple.
The day she learned she was pregnant with their fourth child was also the day Mark came home from work early and told Tessa he was confused about his feelings, that he didn't know if he was in love with her anymore, and that he was beginning to have feelings for Kate, a 24-year-old woman with whom he worked. He told her that two-to-four months earlier, he had started entertaining thoughts about Kate, spending more time away from home to be with her, and even exchanging text messages, both during and after work. In that time, there had been multiple kisses and intimate touches shared between the two coworkers (although they had not yet crossed the line into actually going to bed together), but the moment that hit the hardest was the day when she kissed him at work and told him she believed she was falling in love with him and wanted to "take things to the next level" (although he didn't tell Tessa that last portion. While he didn't start it, neither did he tell her no. All he said was he needed to figure things out with his wife first. They had even shared personal information with each other, things he never shared with Tessa, and although he knew he was being dishonest with his wife, he was too addicted to the attention he was getting from Kate.) Once he had admitted to the affair, Kate kicked him out without telling him about her pregnancy.
The next day, Mark took off work, hoping to talk more with Tessa, but all she did was tell him he could come get some things and to explain to the kids why he wouldn't be around much anymore. He hadn't expected that, and it had been a difficult thing to do. Two days after his confession, he told Kate he had moved out, after which she began putting Tessa down and saying it was for the best. He didn't like that too much. Then they shared another kiss, although he ended it quickly. He silently began wondering why Kate thought it was okay to put his wife down, but the answer was immediate...because all he had shared with her were the things he found lacking in his own wife.
Once he moved into his own place a mile from his family, Mark's relationship with the other woman began to unravel, and his eyes slowly started to open to the truth, although he fought it tooth and nail. The more time he spent with Kate, the more he began to have doubts about being with her. But he wasn't yet ready to admit how wrong he was regarding his feelings for the other woman. That began the first weekend he had the kids visit his apartment. That was when he started to realize just how much his estranged wife did for their family. During his marriage, Mark never cooked, never shopped, or helped the kids with all of the schoolwork and projects each child had. He didn't even know what snacks they liked to have after school. Reality began to set in very quickly. When he took the kids back home, they finally talked, but it didn't go well. He told her that he "never had the chance to be young and free", and her response was, "And where was I during all that time?" which served to remind him that she hadn't had the chance either. They both had to grow up fast. She also took advantage of the moment to let him know that she never felt the entitlement to find out what else was out there, even though other men had hit on her quite often over the ten years of their marriage, and that she had never once wavered in her loyalty to her husband. What he hadn't expected to feel upon hearing that...was jealousy and possessiveness at the thought of any other man hitting on his wife...and right in the middle of their conversation, Mark's phone went off with a call from Kate...and he answered. After Tessa told him to leave, he drove around for a while, stopped at a park, then answered the phone call from Kate...again, which led to him going to her place..." just to talk". However, everything he poured out to her was returned to him in negativity towards Tessa and pushing him to "evolve" and leave his wife to "start the next chapter" in his life. Then she kissed him again, but this time all he saw was Tessa's tear-stained face, causing him to suddenly become nauseous, and he told her he couldn't do it, that he wasn't ready for more with her. He left soon after, with her words of "I'm here when you're ready" echoing in his ears.
Over the next several weeks, they began to settle into an uncomfortable routine of co-parenting. During that time, Mark stopped spending time with Kate outside of work, even though she frequently invited him out. He even put an end to the kissing. One of the few times he allowed her to convince him to spend time with her outside of work, Kate had nothing good to say about Tessa...and that irked him and didn't sit well at all. Other signs were starting to show that, perhaps, Kate wasn't as good a person as he had allowed himself to believe. When he used the excuse of needing to shop before his oldest son's soccer game, Kate said she could help him, and that it would be a good thing because "it would be good" for her "to know what kind of snacks the kids liked". When he asked her why that was, she said because they would all be spending more time together, but he cut her off and said that wouldn't be happening...because suddenly, he couldn't see him ever introducing his kids to her since they had no place in each other's worlds. All of a sudden, Mark's eyes started opening to the truth about his relationship with Kate. Any time he talked about his kids, she used it as a way to spout hateful things about his wife. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that, even if Tessa never forgave him or took him back, his relationship with Kate was at an end. He simply no longer liked what he saw or heard around her. Later, at his son's soccer game, Mark witnessed (and heard) another man asking his estranged wife out, and he heard her decline. But it still made him feel jealous...and shame for not having been just as loyal to her as she was to him, especially as she had every right to turn to someone else after what he had put her through (that was his thought process...not mine). It took another man's words to put the final nail into Mark's "confusion". He told him to imagine being at a wedding of a young bride and groom, only the bride in the story was Mark's daughter. Then years later, that groom no longer felt he could be faithful to his wife...and Mark felt his gut turn into knots, because that's what he had done to his own wife. The other thing the man said was that, if he was, in fact, done with Kate, to do it face-to-face and not avoid her. So he did. And then he learned about Tessa's pregnancy by finding a letter she had written to him somewhere along the way, and self-loathing swamped him.
As the story continued, there was plenty of angst and drama, with an emotional rollercoaster that had a lot of twists and turns. While there wasn't any spiciness (other than the kisses between the affair partners), the book still had a good sense of cohesion and contention. Some readers may (or may not) be turned off at the thought that this was a "clean Christian" romance, but in all honesty, that wasn't so prevalent in the book. Sure, they relied on counseling from church-based therapists, but it wasn't a "Bible-thumping, in your face with scripture" kind of story. It was more about how the church people she had befriended (and eventually he did too) had been there for them when things got hard.
The two main characters were well developed and mature, with a lot of room for them both to do some much-needed growing. It was nice to read how both of them did the work that was necessary for them to either heal their marriage...or to walk away forever.
I gave this a four-star rating because it actually earned it. As a general rule, I don't read books with cheating, but this one appealed to me because of how quickly the MMC turned things around, and how much the FMC stood her ground and didn't forgive him immediately.
December 12, 2025
So you know when you hear about a religious man caught cheating, and everyone encourages the betrayed wife to forgive him because it’s the Christian thing to do? Yeah that’s this book in a nutshell lol.
They were each others first. This is later in life, he feels like he missed on sowing his oats. Gets involved emotionally with OW from work. They share a kiss. He ends up at her apartment but can’t get go through with. And his POV is so damning, he really would have done it. He’s comes clean to his wife and breaks her heart. Like imagine having no qualms kissing another woman with the mouth you spoke your vows with and even feeling like you deserve it. Yeah then wife finds out she’s pregnant and takes him back, because what else will this religious doormat do? What’s she gonna do when they have a crying newborn and he feels like he missed out again? Tale as old as time really.
They were each others first. This is later in life, he feels like he missed on sowing his oats. Gets involved emotionally with OW from work. They share a kiss. He ends up at her apartment but can’t get go through with. And his POV is so damning, he really would have done it. He’s comes clean to his wife and breaks her heart. Like imagine having no qualms kissing another woman with the mouth you spoke your vows with and even feeling like you deserve it. Yeah then wife finds out she’s pregnant and takes him back, because what else will this religious doormat do? What’s she gonna do when they have a crying newborn and he feels like he missed out again? Tale as old as time really.
December 1, 2025
No shade to the author
This is when I wish it was possible to give two ratings. One rating for the... I guess they would be called the technical aspects of the book. One for whether or not I'll ever read it again.
The book is well written. I didn't notice any obvious faults on timing or storyline. The characters are interesting and engaging. On those aspects, it deserves 5 stars.
But the truth is, as well-written as it is, it's not really my type of book. While the Christian aspects were very organic and not performative in the way I've seen in some books where they're trying to appeal to the Christian market, it's not my cup of tea. Similar to how I would feel about Strawberry shortcake. It doesn't matter how well it's made, I'm not touching it (I really don't like strawberries). So, for the rating for me ever reading it again, a solid 2. Again, no reflection on the author. Just not my thing.
But since I can't do 2 ratings, I have to give it 4 stars so that, in the future, I won't read it again. My sincerest apologies to the author for how that affects the book's overall rating.
This is when I wish it was possible to give two ratings. One rating for the... I guess they would be called the technical aspects of the book. One for whether or not I'll ever read it again.
The book is well written. I didn't notice any obvious faults on timing or storyline. The characters are interesting and engaging. On those aspects, it deserves 5 stars.
But the truth is, as well-written as it is, it's not really my type of book. While the Christian aspects were very organic and not performative in the way I've seen in some books where they're trying to appeal to the Christian market, it's not my cup of tea. Similar to how I would feel about Strawberry shortcake. It doesn't matter how well it's made, I'm not touching it (I really don't like strawberries). So, for the rating for me ever reading it again, a solid 2. Again, no reflection on the author. Just not my thing.
But since I can't do 2 ratings, I have to give it 4 stars so that, in the future, I won't read it again. My sincerest apologies to the author for how that affects the book's overall rating.
December 13, 2025
👏👏👏👏👏 for Tessa , a very strong heroine, married young has three small children, fourth on the way ,the day she was going to break news to her husband,he Mark told him he doesn't love her anymore,he loves Kate and employee at his office, he had been kissing her making out spending time with her , Kate ,the mistress make him feel alive .He resented Tessa and his children,as being a husband father, provider he missed his life ...Tessa was bone tired looking after home ,three children, early pregnancy, Marc always get away with excuses of work ....
Tessa took a stand no 😭 l,no begging, no pleading she asked him to Leave! Immediately for once for all
When Mark insisted that he didn't sleep with kate and he felt trapped as he gave up so much , missed the chance of living his life !Tessa s reply was..
.......Her laugh was sharp, bitter. "Give up? Was I the one who threw everything away for a fantasy? Who was kissing and—and doing who knows what else—with another woman? I didn't give up, Mark. You did. You chose her, and you abandoned me in every way that counts."
The way Tessa fought against adultery and cheating was commendable ⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tessa took a stand no 😭 l,no begging, no pleading she asked him to Leave! Immediately for once for all
When Mark insisted that he didn't sleep with kate and he felt trapped as he gave up so much , missed the chance of living his life !Tessa s reply was..
.......Her laugh was sharp, bitter. "Give up? Was I the one who threw everything away for a fantasy? Who was kissing and—and doing who knows what else—with another woman? I didn't give up, Mark. You did. You chose her, and you abandoned me in every way that counts."
The way Tessa fought against adultery and cheating was commendable ⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
December 1, 2025
Wow!
I first started this story I had run across an advertisement on Facebook, of course it took me to a pay per chapter app, can’t for the life of me even remember which one, but when I find a book like like I was google to see if I can find the author. I did I found it on Wattpad, and it pulled me in. I read it until chapter 12 because that’s how far it goes on Wattpad. I was looking through my kindle after finishing a book this afternoon, and this book popped up in my “books related to topics” I’ve been reading and I was so shocked when it was there I had to click on my Wattpad app to check and make sure it was the same book…so of course I had to restart it and I finished it in just a few hours in between work. I loved the story line, and that the fmc was strong, and looked to God for answers. I love that the husband actually took credit for what happened and got help without being told to do it. Great story line, and HEA!
I first started this story I had run across an advertisement on Facebook, of course it took me to a pay per chapter app, can’t for the life of me even remember which one, but when I find a book like like I was google to see if I can find the author. I did I found it on Wattpad, and it pulled me in. I read it until chapter 12 because that’s how far it goes on Wattpad. I was looking through my kindle after finishing a book this afternoon, and this book popped up in my “books related to topics” I’ve been reading and I was so shocked when it was there I had to click on my Wattpad app to check and make sure it was the same book…so of course I had to restart it and I finished it in just a few hours in between work. I loved the story line, and that the fmc was strong, and looked to God for answers. I love that the husband actually took credit for what happened and got help without being told to do it. Great story line, and HEA!
December 11, 2025
For angst lovers this covers all of the marriage betrayal beats well, with fully realized heroine and hero characters, though it is a little clinical in the review of therapy themes and diagnosis related to intimate betrayals (both emotional and physical). But the author does a good job of describing the real psychological issues involved, and how those scenarios can play out.
I find that fictional scenarios whether in movies or books help me understand situations that I have never encountered and can't quite wrap my head around. In this case, a beloved family member just found out her partner of two decades has been having an affair - emotionally at least, and probably physical. An example of how fiction can reflect reality, even when it seems like just more tropes. But of course storytelling tropes exist because of human experience, and what are the great tales but that experience writ large and with melodrama?
I find that fictional scenarios whether in movies or books help me understand situations that I have never encountered and can't quite wrap my head around. In this case, a beloved family member just found out her partner of two decades has been having an affair - emotionally at least, and probably physical. An example of how fiction can reflect reality, even when it seems like just more tropes. But of course storytelling tropes exist because of human experience, and what are the great tales but that experience writ large and with melodrama?
December 3, 2025
Couple, Tessa and Mark, with 3.5 kids, ten years married, each other's firsts, is a marriage in trouble story. Mark comes home and decides to tell Tessa he doesn't love her anymore. He is so confused about what he feels for OW, a co-worker -- he expected his level-headed and rational wife to talk out the situation and help him clear his head. What he got was a boot in the butt and a kick to the curb -- good for her for doing that. He was not expecting that and I'm glad she didn't waiver in that respect. The rest of the story is their finding their way back to each other. She didn't make it easy for him, and rightly so. There were some subtle religious overtones in case that is not for you.
November 24, 2025
2 1/2 stars I'm not a fan of using religion to save a marriage. I'm sure others would appreciate it and the author is not heavy handed in threading the theme into the story. The. H and h are teenagers when they discover their pregnancy. Ten years later the H justifies his affair with a co-worker/OW as an attempt to regain the freedom that lost when he became a husband and father at twenty. He confesses his confusion about what he wants to the h on the same day she planned to tell him that she is expecting their fourth child. He expected the h to talk him through his feelings for the OW and is shocked when she threw him out.The story has been done before.
November 25, 2025
Christian romance - cheating with HEA
This book was a short, fast read.
I was able to read cover-to-cover in one afternoon.
It’s a Christian novel - not just a novel where characters go to church. (It’s got a bit of a preachy vibe to it.)
There is pastoral care within the grovel & redemption arc, scripture quoting in multiple places, but realistic to the life & language of evangelical type Christians who I think this book is geared to.
It deals with infidelity, although the PG-13 variety, & his straying was never wholehearted.
Divorce was never really “on the table.”
Ends with HEA.
This book was a short, fast read.
I was able to read cover-to-cover in one afternoon.
It’s a Christian novel - not just a novel where characters go to church. (It’s got a bit of a preachy vibe to it.)
There is pastoral care within the grovel & redemption arc, scripture quoting in multiple places, but realistic to the life & language of evangelical type Christians who I think this book is geared to.
It deals with infidelity, although the PG-13 variety, & his straying was never wholehearted.
Divorce was never really “on the table.”
Ends with HEA.
December 30, 2025
this is a really good read
This is a really good read. It has heavy Christianity themes but also seemed tastefully done. It is more towards the middle to end, but it is there. It seems more honest and a part of the book than preachy.
The characters are good. I’m glad it was only kissing along with emotional cheating. The story was good, I just wish I had more answers. We never saw the kids find out about the pregnancy, they just knew. We didn’t get to see the conversation of Mark coming home. We don’t know what the party at the end was for.
They ended up in a better place than where they started.
This is a really good read. It has heavy Christianity themes but also seemed tastefully done. It is more towards the middle to end, but it is there. It seems more honest and a part of the book than preachy.
The characters are good. I’m glad it was only kissing along with emotional cheating. The story was good, I just wish I had more answers. We never saw the kids find out about the pregnancy, they just knew. We didn’t get to see the conversation of Mark coming home. We don’t know what the party at the end was for.
They ended up in a better place than where they started.
December 22, 2025
WattPad
I first read this on WattPad. Loved it then and the second time around was just as good. No matter the form of cheating, someone is always left devastated. The FMC and the MMC had to find their way back together. It was a rough road but they made it. The one left out in the cold was the other woman. I don't exactly feel sorry for her but wish we could have known if she learned her lesson or if attaching her to the coat tails of a married older man was her way to fulfillment. Loved it!
I first read this on WattPad. Loved it then and the second time around was just as good. No matter the form of cheating, someone is always left devastated. The FMC and the MMC had to find their way back together. It was a rough road but they made it. The one left out in the cold was the other woman. I don't exactly feel sorry for her but wish we could have known if she learned her lesson or if attaching her to the coat tails of a married older man was her way to fulfillment. Loved it!
December 15, 2025
Very moving and beautiful!
Emotional betrayal is the same as actual physical betrayal. Mark came to realize that, but by that time the damage was done. This is not a story of redemption as much as a story of a journey a person has to take to regain his wife's (Tessa) trust and love as well as becoming the husband his wife deserves as well as the father his children need.
Emotional betrayal is the same as actual physical betrayal. Mark came to realize that, but by that time the damage was done. This is not a story of redemption as much as a story of a journey a person has to take to regain his wife's (Tessa) trust and love as well as becoming the husband his wife deserves as well as the father his children need.
December 5, 2025
Too fluffy, too many emotions, too religious for my liking, too forgiving… the FMC doesn’t really do anything and the MMC is a d*ck!
I couldn’t get into the story as the way it was written you had to read through a bit to figure out where and whose point of view it was. Also I’m not a fan of 3rd person narration! 🙄
It was a short story but it wasn’t short enough for me!
I couldn’t get into the story as the way it was written you had to read through a bit to figure out where and whose point of view it was. Also I’m not a fan of 3rd person narration! 🙄
It was a short story but it wasn’t short enough for me!
January 12, 2026
Realistic depiction of a marriage in trouble.
This well crafted story was a realistic depiction of a marriage in crisis. While faith was important to the storyline, it wasn’t syrupy or super pious, but real part of real people. The mistakes weren’t instant and neither was the resolution. I enjoyed this story and stayed up way too late finishing it.
This well crafted story was a realistic depiction of a marriage in crisis. While faith was important to the storyline, it wasn’t syrupy or super pious, but real part of real people. The mistakes weren’t instant and neither was the resolution. I enjoyed this story and stayed up way too late finishing it.
November 3, 2025
great Christian romance
A great love story about realizing our human faults and overcoming them with God.
I didn’t go into this story knowing that it was God filled, but I loved that it is.
A great love story about realizing our human faults and overcoming them with God.
I didn’t go into this story knowing that it was God filled, but I loved that it is.
November 5, 2025
Heartbreaking but good
I enjoyed the realness of this book, you really felt the heartbreak. Fmc was good too, I like she told him to leave and that he worked hard at becoming a better person. I very much appreciated the role God played in repairing him and the marriage.
I enjoyed the realness of this book, you really felt the heartbreak. Fmc was good too, I like she told him to leave and that he worked hard at becoming a better person. I very much appreciated the role God played in repairing him and the marriage.
November 24, 2025
Great story
I loved this story. Please continue writing. I'm glad Mark released what he was about to lose and put in the work to fix the relationship, and Tessa was willing to forgive him.
I loved this story. Please continue writing. I'm glad Mark released what he was about to lose and put in the work to fix the relationship, and Tessa was willing to forgive him.
November 28, 2025
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Finding forgiveness after betrayal…..true forgiveness takes God. It takes God changing your heart. In all things seek God. Pray with out ceasing. That’s the only way to rebuild.
Finding forgiveness after betrayal…..true forgiveness takes God. It takes God changing your heart. In all things seek God. Pray with out ceasing. That’s the only way to rebuild.
December 17, 2025
Grace
Forgiveness is hard to give but with prayer and meditation if can be given. This is a wonderful story of a marriage in crisis needing sincere transparency of the "what-ifs" we often have in life. Already have read this twice and will again.
Forgiveness is hard to give but with prayer and meditation if can be given. This is a wonderful story of a marriage in crisis needing sincere transparency of the "what-ifs" we often have in life. Already have read this twice and will again.
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