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Crossing Lines
Brad had it all—a loving wife, two beautiful kids, and a steady life.
But one reckless night shatters everything. When Liv discovers the betrayal, she walks away without looking back, determined to build a better life without him.
Left alone to pick up the pieces, Brad is forced to confront the man he's become—selfish, complacent, and absent. As he learns how to truly show up for his children, he begins to understand the weight of what he lost.
Liv, now thriving and finding happiness with someone new, sees that the man Brad could have been too late. While Brad hopes for a second chance, life may have already moved on.
A poignant, emotional story about consequences, growth, and the quiet strength of starting over.
Contains mature content. A complete list of content warnings can be found on the author's website.
But one reckless night shatters everything. When Liv discovers the betrayal, she walks away without looking back, determined to build a better life without him.
Left alone to pick up the pieces, Brad is forced to confront the man he's become—selfish, complacent, and absent. As he learns how to truly show up for his children, he begins to understand the weight of what he lost.
Liv, now thriving and finding happiness with someone new, sees that the man Brad could have been too late. While Brad hopes for a second chance, life may have already moved on.
A poignant, emotional story about consequences, growth, and the quiet strength of starting over.
Contains mature content. A complete list of content warnings can be found on the author's website.
Audible Audio
Published February 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
September 26, 2026
4 Don’t peak in high school ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was surprisingly touching and in some ways super relevant for young families. This is definitely addressing issues that young marriages will face. It addresses the difficulties of children that are stuck in bad marriages and children of divorce.
My parents got divorced when I was very young and this definitely struck a cord with me. When you hear the different children’s POV it broke my heart a little.
The premise:
Brad peaked in high school, which is always a road block for growth if you ask me. He is married to Liv, his one true love.
Brad is from a patriarchal family, he doesn’t consider himself a misogynist but he also doesn’t help out at home, nor is he particularly involved with the upbringing of their two children.
Liv is struggling to keep everything together and Brad is basically her third child. He is a baby and it’s straining their marriage.
Brad’s co coach is Megan, a single mom. Megan is a little unhinged, drinks too much at the kids after parties, touches the husbands a little too much, and Brad is all of a sudden transported back to the good old days of no responsibilities and endless parties while Liv is exhausted taking care of everyone.
At one of the kids parties Liv takes the kids home and Brad, who is very intoxicated stays and so does Megan.
When he hasn’t come home at 1 am, she calls the host of the party to hear if everything is ok, it was a kids party after all.
The host tells her he left with Megan hours ago, with her kid in tow.
When he comes home, Liv just knows what they did. He cries and begs but Liv is done. She has been close to leaving for a while, this was the last straw.
He swore it was a one time thing, and yet somehow Megan is pregnant.
Brad is now divorced, has children that hate him because the whole school knows what happened and has a baby on the way, with a woman he can’t stand and who doesn’t want to parent.
A lot of growing up is needed.
This was surprisingly well written, it read more like contemporary fiction than actual romance, and it was unexpectedly touching and witty. It definitely had a point of view.
Should you read it? Yes, it’s interesting and the alternating POV’s broke me. This is a great example of how you actually use multiple POV’s with spoon feeding the reader.
Chance of divorce? 100% but they got healthy and happy kids.
Ps. Amazing epilogue as well, so why not 5 ⭐️’s? Because the beginning was a little wrapped up in therapy speak, it did shake that off though.
This was surprisingly touching and in some ways super relevant for young families. This is definitely addressing issues that young marriages will face. It addresses the difficulties of children that are stuck in bad marriages and children of divorce.
My parents got divorced when I was very young and this definitely struck a cord with me. When you hear the different children’s POV it broke my heart a little.
The premise:
Brad peaked in high school, which is always a road block for growth if you ask me. He is married to Liv, his one true love.
Brad is from a patriarchal family, he doesn’t consider himself a misogynist but he also doesn’t help out at home, nor is he particularly involved with the upbringing of their two children.
Liv is struggling to keep everything together and Brad is basically her third child. He is a baby and it’s straining their marriage.
Brad’s co coach is Megan, a single mom. Megan is a little unhinged, drinks too much at the kids after parties, touches the husbands a little too much, and Brad is all of a sudden transported back to the good old days of no responsibilities and endless parties while Liv is exhausted taking care of everyone.
At one of the kids parties Liv takes the kids home and Brad, who is very intoxicated stays and so does Megan.
When he hasn’t come home at 1 am, she calls the host of the party to hear if everything is ok, it was a kids party after all.
The host tells her he left with Megan hours ago, with her kid in tow.
When he comes home, Liv just knows what they did. He cries and begs but Liv is done. She has been close to leaving for a while, this was the last straw.
He swore it was a one time thing, and yet somehow Megan is pregnant.
Brad is now divorced, has children that hate him because the whole school knows what happened and has a baby on the way, with a woman he can’t stand and who doesn’t want to parent.
A lot of growing up is needed.
This was surprisingly well written, it read more like contemporary fiction than actual romance, and it was unexpectedly touching and witty. It definitely had a point of view.
Should you read it? Yes, it’s interesting and the alternating POV’s broke me. This is a great example of how you actually use multiple POV’s with spoon feeding the reader.
Chance of divorce? 100% but they got healthy and happy kids.
Ps. Amazing epilogue as well, so why not 5 ⭐️’s? Because the beginning was a little wrapped up in therapy speak, it did shake that off though.
November 16, 2025
Good story of a new author from wattpad.
I appreciate these new authors because they break the paradigm of victim doormat heroine that takes back scumbag cheating assholes.
They are finally realizing that in 2025 it’s not only quaint but also ridiculous to read about women so passive that they are ready to take back men that disrespect and cheat on them, staying celibate while the men have sex with multiple women and loving them regardless.
This is not only humiliating but also very unrealistic.
There’s no love that can be saved in some situations, not even the stronger and longer relationships survives certain betrayals.
And women have enough pride and strength to know they can survive without a man and they can find better men because the world is full of good people.
So, in this story, the heroine and the first hero have been married for years with children.
They apparently have a good marriage even if it turns out the hero is the typical man who expects the woman to be multitasking while his only task is to go to work.
He also has some deadbeat friends, losers in their late 30s or early 40s that try to flirts with girls half their age.
Yuck.
So, there’s a woman, mother of one of his son schoolmates, that is a slutty divorcee and flirts with basically every man around, and of course she latches on the hero.
Eventually he cheats, a drunken mistake, but the heroine doesn’t want him anymore.
She doesn’t forgive, doesn’t take him back, even if he realizes he’s been wrong.
But the idiocy of the man has no limits.
He has sex again another time and gets the woman pregnant.
His life spirals, his children and even the poor child of ow hate him, his wife doesn’t want to have anything to do anymore and he realizes he’s by himself and it’s not good.
The heroine meanwhile has started dating another man, a good and kind man, and they eventually, after some time, get married.
Ow dumped both children on the hero 1 whose main task now is to be a father of 4. He is a better man in the end but of course is life is not even remotely quiet and happy as it was before.
The story is angsty but also very realistic, there are a lot or angsty moments but the heroine and the hero are both very human and not at all stereotyped.
I loved how the author described the children, they were all hurt and very much impacted by their father’s foolish choices. The boy didn’t want to talk to his father anymore for a long time and their relationship was never the same. This is what happens in real life. This kind of hurt leaves permanent scars.
I also loved that the heroine didn’t take her husband back and found a good man, a better men. They exist. There are plenty. So you don’t have to cling to an asshole because you’re scared you’ll never find a better man. You will.
The hero was a selfish immature manchild. His wife babied him too much, and he felt too safe with that, she tried to warn him about ow more than once but he didn’t listen, so eventually he crossed the line.
He eventually became a better man, and even if I know that many readers would love to see him dead, well, being a full time father of four, and having a broken relationship with his own son was imo enough karma for his stupid self. He lost the one woman who would ever love him for himself, warts and all, and a happy family.
In the end he and the heroine have a civil relationship and this is also good and realistic, for their children is also the best choice.
I recommend it to my safety friends because the heroine doesn’t take the cheater back and the new man is a dear.
I appreciate these new authors because they break the paradigm of victim doormat heroine that takes back scumbag cheating assholes.
They are finally realizing that in 2025 it’s not only quaint but also ridiculous to read about women so passive that they are ready to take back men that disrespect and cheat on them, staying celibate while the men have sex with multiple women and loving them regardless.
This is not only humiliating but also very unrealistic.
There’s no love that can be saved in some situations, not even the stronger and longer relationships survives certain betrayals.
And women have enough pride and strength to know they can survive without a man and they can find better men because the world is full of good people.
So, in this story, the heroine and the first hero have been married for years with children.
They apparently have a good marriage even if it turns out the hero is the typical man who expects the woman to be multitasking while his only task is to go to work.
He also has some deadbeat friends, losers in their late 30s or early 40s that try to flirts with girls half their age.
Yuck.
So, there’s a woman, mother of one of his son schoolmates, that is a slutty divorcee and flirts with basically every man around, and of course she latches on the hero.
Eventually he cheats, a drunken mistake, but the heroine doesn’t want him anymore.
She doesn’t forgive, doesn’t take him back, even if he realizes he’s been wrong.
But the idiocy of the man has no limits.
He has sex again another time and gets the woman pregnant.
His life spirals, his children and even the poor child of ow hate him, his wife doesn’t want to have anything to do anymore and he realizes he’s by himself and it’s not good.
The heroine meanwhile has started dating another man, a good and kind man, and they eventually, after some time, get married.
Ow dumped both children on the hero 1 whose main task now is to be a father of 4. He is a better man in the end but of course is life is not even remotely quiet and happy as it was before.
The story is angsty but also very realistic, there are a lot or angsty moments but the heroine and the hero are both very human and not at all stereotyped.
I loved how the author described the children, they were all hurt and very much impacted by their father’s foolish choices. The boy didn’t want to talk to his father anymore for a long time and their relationship was never the same. This is what happens in real life. This kind of hurt leaves permanent scars.
I also loved that the heroine didn’t take her husband back and found a good man, a better men. They exist. There are plenty. So you don’t have to cling to an asshole because you’re scared you’ll never find a better man. You will.
The hero was a selfish immature manchild. His wife babied him too much, and he felt too safe with that, she tried to warn him about ow more than once but he didn’t listen, so eventually he crossed the line.
He eventually became a better man, and even if I know that many readers would love to see him dead, well, being a full time father of four, and having a broken relationship with his own son was imo enough karma for his stupid self. He lost the one woman who would ever love him for himself, warts and all, and a happy family.
In the end he and the heroine have a civil relationship and this is also good and realistic, for their children is also the best choice.
I recommend it to my safety friends because the heroine doesn’t take the cheater back and the new man is a dear.
July 29, 2025
I enjoyed this story a lot. The cheating POS husband (Brad) was such a pathetic loser. What a turd. I was happy to watch him lose everything, right after finally realizing what a disgusting and shitty slutbag the woman who he REPEATEDLY cheated on his wife with, truly was. Liv was kind of a badass. She walked out on Brad and never looked back, no matter how many times he begged her to give him another chance. My heart went out to poor Grady. That kid did not deserve the life he had been dealt. Anyhow, this story is great, and it felt extremely realistic. This talented author is definitely becoming my new favorite!
August 5, 2025
This book follows Brad, a married man who drunkenly sleeps with another woman—one of his son’s friend’s mothers—despite previous warnings from his wife about the woman’s flirtatious behavior. He confesses immediately, and his wife, hurt and betrayed, decides she’s done and asks for a divorce purely because he slept with someone else. It’s only later, from Brad’s point of view, that we learn he had previously kissed another woman while they were engaged, though it’s unclear if his wife ever knew about it. The story focuses on Brad facing the consequences of his actions: he ends up sleeping with the same woman again a couple more times, not out of love, but poor choices. The woman is a neglectful mother who eventually ends up pregnant and having a baby girl, but end up going to prison, and Brad ends up raising their child, as well as her son from a previous relationship. Meanwhile, his ex-wife moves on, thrives, returns to college part-time while raising their son, finds love again, and remarries. The book is short and fast-paced, jumping forward by weeks, then months, and eventually years. In the end, they become a kind of blended family, with Brad clearly regretful and still reflecting on his past mistakes, while his ex-wife is happy, fulfilled, and supported. Though the book lacked emotional depth due to its length, it was satisfying to watch her heal and grow while Brad dealt with the fallout of his decisions. Overall, it was a quick, okay read—enjoyable enough, but nothing too memorable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2026
4.0. Rated PG. Contemporary Cheating Novella
Well written book. No on page sex, but there is cheating.
This is an amazingly well done description of what happens to a family after cheating. Not only the anger, tears and sadness of the wife, but what happens to the kids.
Brad was an unbelievable man-child. Grrrrr it is sad that a man can be 40 yo and still a child in the things that matter to a good relationship. A n d he continues to fuck up. 🙄
The ending and epilogues were perfect from my perspective.
Recommend
Well written book. No on page sex, but there is cheating.
This is an amazingly well done description of what happens to a family after cheating. Not only the anger, tears and sadness of the wife, but what happens to the kids.
Brad was an unbelievable man-child. Grrrrr it is sad that a man can be 40 yo and still a child in the things that matter to a good relationship. A n d he continues to fuck up. 🙄
The ending and epilogues were perfect from my perspective.
Recommend
August 4, 2025
OK book.
Brad cheats on wife with Mom from son's sports team. His wife Liv had already warned him he needed to distance himself. He comes immediately after it happens and tells Liv. She tells him to get out and proceeds to get a divorce. He ends up sleeping with the OW a few more times and ends up getting her pregnant.
I don't think Brad and Liv's marriage was that great to start with. He was a very whiny MMC until he got his act together and finally grew up.
They do not get back together
HEA with other partners
Brad cheats on wife with Mom from son's sports team. His wife Liv had already warned him he needed to distance himself. He comes immediately after it happens and tells Liv. She tells him to get out and proceeds to get a divorce. He ends up sleeping with the OW a few more times and ends up getting her pregnant.
I don't think Brad and Liv's marriage was that great to start with. He was a very whiny MMC until he got his act together and finally grew up.
They do not get back together
HEA with other partners
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2025
Hmmm, there's no emotional connect between ANY two characters ...
Or with the reader.
At the same time, it is full of seething anger from both the mcs in the beginning.
Their love had turned rote, feelings turned to resentment, the marriage was already going down - counseling and self-realization could have saved it.
But that was before he did THAT.
He was not even a conscious cheater, just a drunken-it-happened one. He was not really attracted to the ow but yes, did feel validated by her admiration (missing from home).
Going by the married-cheater trope, this story could either revived with realization and conscious change of behavior - or just bring in another guy and make the cheater suffer.
We go the second way.
So, she doesn't forgive him - fine, her prerogative. She deserves happiness and fulfillment in her relationship.
But why remain snippy with him?
I could not warm up to her.
Also, the ex-husband's life really spirals after that.
He cheats again and gets the ow pregnant. *facepalm*
Learns his lesson too too late.
But well, better late than never.
Children - Felt so bad for all of them.
Two from this marriage - the son's friend - and later the baby.
The loser cheats with his son's friend's mom - a local flirt who pretty much sends out feelers to all the men she meets.
Why do this to your son? And the ow's son too? The ow's kid had to live with him late on.
Can you even imagine how the kids' friendship got broken, and all the humiliation at school?
Some adults don't deserve kids.
The kids' will probably never recover from this betrayal.
Or with the reader.
At the same time, it is full of seething anger from both the mcs in the beginning.
Their love had turned rote, feelings turned to resentment, the marriage was already going down - counseling and self-realization could have saved it.
But that was before he did THAT.
He was not even a conscious cheater, just a drunken-it-happened one. He was not really attracted to the ow but yes, did feel validated by her admiration (missing from home).
Going by the married-cheater trope, this story could either revived with realization and conscious change of behavior - or just bring in another guy and make the cheater suffer.
We go the second way.
So, she doesn't forgive him - fine, her prerogative. She deserves happiness and fulfillment in her relationship.
But why remain snippy with him?
I could not warm up to her.
Also, the ex-husband's life really spirals after that.
He cheats again and gets the ow pregnant. *facepalm*
Learns his lesson too too late.
But well, better late than never.
Children - Felt so bad for all of them.
Two from this marriage - the son's friend - and later the baby.
The loser cheats with his son's friend's mom - a local flirt who pretty much sends out feelers to all the men she meets.
Why do this to your son? And the ow's son too? The ow's kid had to live with him late on.
Can you even imagine how the kids' friendship got broken, and all the humiliation at school?
Some adults don't deserve kids.
The kids' will probably never recover from this betrayal.
March 23, 2026
No for me. I love a good angsty cheating romance, but for me this lacked any emotion whatsoever. I felt no connection to the characters…even the cheating reveal fell flat. The characters themselves had no character to them, they were either moaning or moaning! It was all very one dimensional.
Two stars as it was human written.
Two stars as it was human written.
August 4, 2025
Could have been a good book
This does not flow at all. The writing is choppy and all over the place. Not sure if an Author actually wrote this or if it is AI generated.
This does not flow at all. The writing is choppy and all over the place. Not sure if an Author actually wrote this or if it is AI generated.
July 29, 2025
The book was great! Although I’m a spiteful person it’s been 10 years and Brad is in his late 50s so the author giving him somewhat of a happy ending was okay (this is my personally feeling and I would’ve preferred he died lonely).
I was actually shocked Liv held out and remained stern on her choice for a divorce. And after reading some of Brads fuck ups I’d also be inclined as well. Most books I read 90% of the time they take the cheater back.
Although there weren’t any cheating on page he did have sex with Megan 3 times. Got her pregnant because one of those times neither had condoms and he was like fuck it let’s do it anyways. I really did not like Brady and I still don’t.
I’d prefer Liv cuts him off completely but it’s unrealistic when you have 2 kids together.
I was actually shocked Liv held out and remained stern on her choice for a divorce. And after reading some of Brads fuck ups I’d also be inclined as well. Most books I read 90% of the time they take the cheater back.
Although there weren’t any cheating on page he did have sex with Megan 3 times. Got her pregnant because one of those times neither had condoms and he was like fuck it let’s do it anyways. I really did not like Brady and I still don’t.
I’d prefer Liv cuts him off completely but it’s unrealistic when you have 2 kids together.
November 11, 2025
3 stars
Spoilers below:
The essence of this story can be summed up in one sentence:
Brad was a moron.
It was OK. Not epic. I didn't feel a lot but the parts were there and the plot ended how I wanted it to end. I was mildly entertained and didn't DNF.
Spoilers below:
The essence of this story can be summed up in one sentence:
Brad was a moron.
It was OK. Not epic. I didn't feel a lot but the parts were there and the plot ended how I wanted it to end. I was mildly entertained and didn't DNF.
September 27, 2026
I enjoyed this one. Brad was a fool but the marriage was already dying. So he cheated. Never loved the ow. They were all very mature and there was not ott drama.
November 6, 2025
This was pretty much in line with the authors other books as far as quality of writing and story. It’s short and originally written on Wattpad and then moved to KU.
I found this story to be kind of depressing. It’s not really a romance even though it focuses on relationships. I don’t know who I would recommend this to. It ends up with everyone being ok and even happy but it wasn’t one of those books that you feel warm and fuzzy about when it’s over. It does have a bit of a cliffhanger ending as one of the kids is going to have a baby but we don’t know who. I’m guessing that story will be coming soon.
Safety: There is cheating but nothing described on page. The h divorced the cheating husband and finds a new love. No spice that I can remember.
I found this story to be kind of depressing. It’s not really a romance even though it focuses on relationships. I don’t know who I would recommend this to. It ends up with everyone being ok and even happy but it wasn’t one of those books that you feel warm and fuzzy about when it’s over. It does have a bit of a cliffhanger ending as one of the kids is going to have a baby but we don’t know who. I’m guessing that story will be coming soon.
Safety: There is cheating but nothing described on page. The h divorced the cheating husband and finds a new love. No spice that I can remember.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2025
Interesting Read
This isn’t a romance, so much as a story of redemption and growth for the male character. I was entertained enough to finish this entirely, but it was a short read. Overall, I just enjoyed it for what it was. It wasn’t poorly written and I was interested enough to keep reading until the end.
2.5 stars
This isn’t a romance, so much as a story of redemption and growth for the male character. I was entertained enough to finish this entirely, but it was a short read. Overall, I just enjoyed it for what it was. It wasn’t poorly written and I was interested enough to keep reading until the end.
2.5 stars
May 25, 2026
Classic husband drunkenly cheats with the woman his wife earned him about scenario. The writing was ok, but in terms of characters, I just couldn’t connect with any of them. FMC was right to do exactly what she chose in the face of infidelity, but also, what we saw of her before made me dislike her… she still didn’t deserve what MMC did however, but yeah… she just seemed snippy for no reason at times.
The cheating reveal was poor, IMO. Not really a gut punch and very random how he just blurts it out when he walks in the door—mainly because his earlier dialogue and internal monologue was so different to what he actually did. E.g. he is thinking about basketball team, and internally confirms he does not want to sleep with the OW. So when he did? Weird.
Lots of child drama, poor things. MC’s end up with other people.
Sorry this review is a bit flat. Kinda how I feel after finishing the story. There are much better books out there with this trope.
The cheating reveal was poor, IMO. Not really a gut punch and very random how he just blurts it out when he walks in the door—mainly because his earlier dialogue and internal monologue was so different to what he actually did. E.g. he is thinking about basketball team, and internally confirms he does not want to sleep with the OW. So when he did? Weird.
Lots of child drama, poor things. MC’s end up with other people.
Sorry this review is a bit flat. Kinda how I feel after finishing the story. There are much better books out there with this trope.
August 24, 2025
1. I’m at 69% and Brad is still blaming Megan for his divorce.
2. If Brad had full custody of the baby, why would he still be paying Megan ANY child support?
3. In chapter 27, while talking about Grady, Liv said, “No idea what will happen legally if Megan is convicted. Brad has no legal rights but no one else seems to want him.” None of that was ever referred to again although Grady continued to live with Brad and ten years later, he was referring to Brad as “Dad”. 🤷♀️
4. What’s with the vague reference to Brad becoming a grandfather but deliberately not saying who was expecting the baby? Was that supposed to keep us on the edge of our seats and make us want to read a possible next book? Because if so, it didn’t work. All it did was annoy me.
2. If Brad had full custody of the baby, why would he still be paying Megan ANY child support?
3. In chapter 27, while talking about Grady, Liv said, “No idea what will happen legally if Megan is convicted. Brad has no legal rights but no one else seems to want him.” None of that was ever referred to again although Grady continued to live with Brad and ten years later, he was referring to Brad as “Dad”. 🤷♀️
4. What’s with the vague reference to Brad becoming a grandfather but deliberately not saying who was expecting the baby? Was that supposed to keep us on the edge of our seats and make us want to read a possible next book? Because if so, it didn’t work. All it did was annoy me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2025
A bit roughly written, with time jumps galore, but it kept me reading so that means a lot.
July 20, 2026
Speed read
This story is written like it was for a tight deadline. A lot of the meat and angst were left out to give you a bare bones cheater tale.
Plot:
It was alright. Brad was an idiot and a child. And Liv delivered some home truths. He deserved all his hardships and his crappy life. But I also kind of agreed with the Z that the h was a bit of a buzzkill. She was far too structured and absolutely no fun. This book was full of boring people, some acting badly, then getting it together and continuing to be boring.
This story is written like it was for a tight deadline. A lot of the meat and angst were left out to give you a bare bones cheater tale.
Plot:
It was alright. Brad was an idiot and a child. And Liv delivered some home truths. He deserved all his hardships and his crappy life. But I also kind of agreed with the Z that the h was a bit of a buzzkill. She was far too structured and absolutely no fun. This book was full of boring people, some acting badly, then getting it together and continuing to be boring.
September 20, 2025
A STRONG h, who NEVER falters even ONCE and leaves the cheater - yeah, exactly my cup of tea! A Strong h, who is a MOTHER to her kids, who puts them first and does try to protect them from all the drama - exactly what I want to read about! The h here, is the perfect example of how to deal with a cheating partner: calm, composed, determined. No shouting matches, not involving the kids...
The cheating husband embarked the train clearly dommed to wreck his entire life, and that is what he got. Shamed and isolated, he lived the life he had never wanted. At first, he went out with his other man child friends and "enjoyed" whatever was left of the ruins his life had become but soon, there was nothing left - nothing except mommy. Mommy who had always pampered him. The h - at one point - comes to the conclusion, that she had enabled his behaviour, too, just like mommy did. Both move forward. The H with a baby and NO mistress, the h with her new partner and her kids. The book follows them for many years and he actually gets a second chance in his 50s, which was absolutely ok for me, as the h was already happily married by then with her new partner.
IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO READ ABOUT CHEATING DO NOT READ THIS BOOK!!! See, as simple as that! All those people complaining, that the book is about cheating, when it is clearly stated, that it is about cheating and then complain, that it is about cheating...ah yeah well...a book description is there for a reason, feel free to actually READ it!
The cheating husband embarked the train clearly dommed to wreck his entire life, and that is what he got. Shamed and isolated, he lived the life he had never wanted. At first, he went out with his other man child friends and "enjoyed" whatever was left of the ruins his life had become but soon, there was nothing left - nothing except mommy. Mommy who had always pampered him. The h - at one point - comes to the conclusion, that she had enabled his behaviour, too, just like mommy did. Both move forward. The H with a baby and NO mistress, the h with her new partner and her kids. The book follows them for many years and he actually gets a second chance in his 50s, which was absolutely ok for me, as the h was already happily married by then with her new partner.
IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO READ ABOUT CHEATING DO NOT READ THIS BOOK!!! See, as simple as that! All those people complaining, that the book is about cheating, when it is clearly stated, that it is about cheating and then complain, that it is about cheating...ah yeah well...a book description is there for a reason, feel free to actually READ it!
September 28, 2026
I did NOT enjoy this book AT ALL.
I hate novella's and this book just reminded me why. Its often rushed and things like character development, symbolism and foreshadowing are ignored. It just feels like regurgitated thoughts flung together. Unless you're a very good writer, authors should steer clear of short form writing.
I picked it up because of the tropes. I thought it was a marriage in crisis with a happy ending. There was no happy ending!!
I kept wondering when this POS Brad would start redeeming himself but he never did.
I felt nothing for any of these characters-except maby for Grady.
I did NOT enjoy the authors writing style nor the large amount of spelling errors.
Im not sure where the author is from but a pet peeve of mine is when non-American writers set their books in America and use slang from other countries...'mate' & 'rang' are not terms commonly used in America. And dont get me wrong- I am not American and I have nothing against non American authors. I just enjoy authors putting in the effort to make everything make sense, whether you're an American writing a British character or an Brit writing a Russian character. I read alot and I expect authors to be well read and have a grip on the dialects they intend to use.
Ultimately there was no point to this book. It was literally a nothing read and I feel so bad for saying that because someone (hopefully a human someone) took the time to write it but through their actions Ive just wasted 4 hours of my life.
I guess Im really just annoyed at myself for not DNFing it.
I hate novella's and this book just reminded me why. Its often rushed and things like character development, symbolism and foreshadowing are ignored. It just feels like regurgitated thoughts flung together. Unless you're a very good writer, authors should steer clear of short form writing.
I picked it up because of the tropes. I thought it was a marriage in crisis with a happy ending. There was no happy ending!!
I kept wondering when this POS Brad would start redeeming himself but he never did.
I felt nothing for any of these characters-except maby for Grady.
I did NOT enjoy the authors writing style nor the large amount of spelling errors.
Im not sure where the author is from but a pet peeve of mine is when non-American writers set their books in America and use slang from other countries...'mate' & 'rang' are not terms commonly used in America. And dont get me wrong- I am not American and I have nothing against non American authors. I just enjoy authors putting in the effort to make everything make sense, whether you're an American writing a British character or an Brit writing a Russian character. I read alot and I expect authors to be well read and have a grip on the dialects they intend to use.
Ultimately there was no point to this book. It was literally a nothing read and I feel so bad for saying that because someone (hopefully a human someone) took the time to write it but through their actions Ive just wasted 4 hours of my life.
I guess Im really just annoyed at myself for not DNFing it.
December 12, 2025
I would start by saying this is a quick read and it is NOT a romance book. The author says in the beginning it’s more women’s fiction, but honestly I feel like it follows the H (brad) more than it does h (Liv).
Brad and Liv have been married for 14 years and have two kids, connor and chloe. Brad is not helping Liv that much around the house and it basically a man child. But he is now coaching connors basketball team where he meets meghan. Dun dun DUN. yep. they get to texting and calling everyday about “basketball” stuff 🙄 Meghan is a single mom to grady, who plays on the team with connor. AND you guessed it after brad and Liv argued over megan for months, he cheats on Liv with megan.
I really liked Liv’s reaction which was wow, okay so you can move out and we’re going to divorce. Yes girl, don’t give him no second chance. Even though brad continues to want one. We then see brad hit rock bottom when after the divorce he finds out megan is now pregnant. BUT this really made him grow as a person because he now lost his wife occasionally sees his kids, even though connor dislikes him, now he’s going to have to take care of a baby.
Of course Liv gets a new better man, which we don’t see much of as this is not a romance. I actually really loved Brads growth through out this that he was forced to do. He had to face the consequences to his actions and he did. I felt like the book was more about him than Liv but I wasn’t mad about it.
Brad and Liv have been married for 14 years and have two kids, connor and chloe. Brad is not helping Liv that much around the house and it basically a man child. But he is now coaching connors basketball team where he meets meghan. Dun dun DUN. yep. they get to texting and calling everyday about “basketball” stuff 🙄 Meghan is a single mom to grady, who plays on the team with connor. AND you guessed it after brad and Liv argued over megan for months, he cheats on Liv with megan.
I really liked Liv’s reaction which was wow, okay so you can move out and we’re going to divorce. Yes girl, don’t give him no second chance. Even though brad continues to want one. We then see brad hit rock bottom when after the divorce he finds out megan is now pregnant. BUT this really made him grow as a person because he now lost his wife occasionally sees his kids, even though connor dislikes him, now he’s going to have to take care of a baby.
Of course Liv gets a new better man, which we don’t see much of as this is not a romance. I actually really loved Brads growth through out this that he was forced to do. He had to face the consequences to his actions and he did. I felt like the book was more about him than Liv but I wasn’t mad about it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2025
Wow. This marriage was in the planning stage of break up long before the cheating. The wife acquired such a negative attitude toward her "lazy" husband long before he fucked up with a drunk lay. Not excusing that, but that woman's hard heartedness and deal breakers seemed to me that his cheating was her saving grace to get rid of that no good for nothing asshole of a husband who never helps her and is always making excuses.
The husband has had enough reviews to start a marriage counseling program in this story, but the wife with her constant critical attitudes had some serious issues of demanding things of her no good husband that she KNEW were just habits from his own upbringing. The love and joy and commitment was long gone before the big cheat. So obviously I have very little empathy for her either. So even when Brad did "grow up" and become responsible for his life and endearing himself with his new family, Liv was bitter and resentful instead of being thankful he changed. So there needed to be more growth on her part too.
There was a lot of stuff they both could've protected, loved, cherished, confronted, set straight so that the entire community could've helped those kids instead of made it worse for them. And Megan! OMFG what a piece of work she was! But the ending was actually sweet. To see how all of the kids turned out. Especially Grady.
The husband has had enough reviews to start a marriage counseling program in this story, but the wife with her constant critical attitudes had some serious issues of demanding things of her no good husband that she KNEW were just habits from his own upbringing. The love and joy and commitment was long gone before the big cheat. So obviously I have very little empathy for her either. So even when Brad did "grow up" and become responsible for his life and endearing himself with his new family, Liv was bitter and resentful instead of being thankful he changed. So there needed to be more growth on her part too.
There was a lot of stuff they both could've protected, loved, cherished, confronted, set straight so that the entire community could've helped those kids instead of made it worse for them. And Megan! OMFG what a piece of work she was! But the ending was actually sweet. To see how all of the kids turned out. Especially Grady.
August 25, 2025
So, this isn't a romance, it's a story of moving on from an affair.
The story begins with an established married couple, Brad (40) and Liv (38). They have two young kids, Connor (12) and Chloe (8). Brad works full time. Liv works part time, so she's also the main caregiver of the kids.
The story begins when Brad has volunteered to coach Connor's basketball team, and another mom, Megan, volunteers to assist him.
Brad and Megan immediately start texting all the time, talking on the phone, supposedly because they need to talk about "basketball." Liv isn't stupid, she knows Megan wants Brad for herself.
Then one of the parents hosts a party for the basketball team. Liv eventually has to take the kids home, because it's getting late. Brad says he wants to stay and talk to the other dads there. What she doesn't know is that eventually, Brad and Megan share an Uber (because they are drunk and can't drive), and end up at Megan's house. When Brad gets home the next morning, he tells Liv that he had sex with Megan.
Liv immediately tells him to leave, and that she wants a divorce. He agrees to move out, but he thinks it's temporary, until he can convince Liv to take him back. And as time goes on, he keeps trying to talk to her about their shared future. He can't accept she's really going to divorce him.
The rest of the book is about them navigating their divorce and their two separate lives. They don't get back together.
Connor is old enough to figure out that his dad cheated. And he goes to school with Megan's son, Grady, so all the kids at school figure out what happened. Connor starts acting out at school, and Liv and Brad have to figure out how to help him. Chloe's too young to figure it out.
Liv's life improves. She gets rid of her man-baby loser husband, she starts dating a new guy, Joseph, and she starts taking college classes to become a teacher.
Brad's life implodes. His son hates him, Liv thinks he's a dumb ass, and the icing on the cake is, Megan ends up pregnant (baby is named Thomas). Now he's going to be a dad at 40, after he had refused to have another kid with Liv. He also figures out Megan is a terrible mother. Megan and Grady's dad get arrested for some scheme to sell stolen goods, and Brad ends up agreeing to take sole custody of his baby Thomas and her older son Grady. So he ends up with 4 kids total.
There are some epilogues. Liv is reluctant to remarry at first, but eventually she and Joseph marry, 15 years after her divorce. By that time, Brad's baby Thomas is 16, Chloe is 24, Grady is 28, and Connor is 28 and married.
Brad did date someone, Kat, but he hadn't wanted to move the relationship along and move in together. Liv encourages him to try to work it out with Kat. He has a fear of getting serious because he's afraid to fuck it up again. Not that he would cheat again, but he's full of flaws. His marriage was already on shaky ground even before he cheated. He has to face his fears if he wants to make it work with Kat. So Kat and Brad reconcile. The book ends with Brad becoming a grandpa. He doesn't state that it's Grady having a kid, but I think it is, because it doesn't sound like it's one of Liv's kids.
I liked this book. It's an emotional slice of life journey through the aftermath of divorce.
The story begins with an established married couple, Brad (40) and Liv (38). They have two young kids, Connor (12) and Chloe (8). Brad works full time. Liv works part time, so she's also the main caregiver of the kids.
The story begins when Brad has volunteered to coach Connor's basketball team, and another mom, Megan, volunteers to assist him.
Brad and Megan immediately start texting all the time, talking on the phone, supposedly because they need to talk about "basketball." Liv isn't stupid, she knows Megan wants Brad for herself.
Then one of the parents hosts a party for the basketball team. Liv eventually has to take the kids home, because it's getting late. Brad says he wants to stay and talk to the other dads there. What she doesn't know is that eventually, Brad and Megan share an Uber (because they are drunk and can't drive), and end up at Megan's house. When Brad gets home the next morning, he tells Liv that he had sex with Megan.
Liv immediately tells him to leave, and that she wants a divorce. He agrees to move out, but he thinks it's temporary, until he can convince Liv to take him back. And as time goes on, he keeps trying to talk to her about their shared future. He can't accept she's really going to divorce him.
The rest of the book is about them navigating their divorce and their two separate lives. They don't get back together.
Connor is old enough to figure out that his dad cheated. And he goes to school with Megan's son, Grady, so all the kids at school figure out what happened. Connor starts acting out at school, and Liv and Brad have to figure out how to help him. Chloe's too young to figure it out.
Liv's life improves. She gets rid of her man-baby loser husband, she starts dating a new guy, Joseph, and she starts taking college classes to become a teacher.
Brad's life implodes. His son hates him, Liv thinks he's a dumb ass, and the icing on the cake is, Megan ends up pregnant (baby is named Thomas). Now he's going to be a dad at 40, after he had refused to have another kid with Liv. He also figures out Megan is a terrible mother. Megan and Grady's dad get arrested for some scheme to sell stolen goods, and Brad ends up agreeing to take sole custody of his baby Thomas and her older son Grady. So he ends up with 4 kids total.
There are some epilogues. Liv is reluctant to remarry at first, but eventually she and Joseph marry, 15 years after her divorce. By that time, Brad's baby Thomas is 16, Chloe is 24, Grady is 28, and Connor is 28 and married.
Brad did date someone, Kat, but he hadn't wanted to move the relationship along and move in together. Liv encourages him to try to work it out with Kat. He has a fear of getting serious because he's afraid to fuck it up again. Not that he would cheat again, but he's full of flaws. His marriage was already on shaky ground even before he cheated. He has to face his fears if he wants to make it work with Kat. So Kat and Brad reconcile. The book ends with Brad becoming a grandpa. He doesn't state that it's Grady having a kid, but I think it is, because it doesn't sound like it's one of Liv's kids.
I liked this book. It's an emotional slice of life journey through the aftermath of divorce.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2025
have tissue ready
This book was very well written. But for someone who has been through this kind of infidelity, and also with an ex getting the woman pregnant and having a baby, this book caused all the “feels”. Hurt, anger, sadness, regret.
This book opened up some wounds, I felt Liv’s pain. But I also really hurt for Brad. Honestly, I don’t agree with Liv’s decision. One night does not break a 14 year marriage. An ongoing affair? Yes that definitely does because that’s premeditation, planning, and a choice. But then I guess since Brad continued a couple more times with Megan - resulting in a pregnancy- perhaps Liv saw this weakness in him.
The end was bittersweet. I wouldn’t call it a through HEA. But at least Brad did not end up alone. He had Katrina.
One needs to be in the right frame of mine, and in a stable emotional place to read this book. Because it can leave one feeling profoundly sad.
This book was very well written. But for someone who has been through this kind of infidelity, and also with an ex getting the woman pregnant and having a baby, this book caused all the “feels”. Hurt, anger, sadness, regret.
This book opened up some wounds, I felt Liv’s pain. But I also really hurt for Brad. Honestly, I don’t agree with Liv’s decision. One night does not break a 14 year marriage. An ongoing affair? Yes that definitely does because that’s premeditation, planning, and a choice. But then I guess since Brad continued a couple more times with Megan - resulting in a pregnancy- perhaps Liv saw this weakness in him.
The end was bittersweet. I wouldn’t call it a through HEA. But at least Brad did not end up alone. He had Katrina.
One needs to be in the right frame of mine, and in a stable emotional place to read this book. Because it can leave one feeling profoundly sad.
September 5, 2025
I'm giving it 4 stars because it's different than others.
You spend a lot of time with Brad (the cheater) in this story.
I normally want to spend most of the book with the strong heroine moving on without the cheater and him feeling awful and regretful.
Well - we get all that, but the strong woman is simply not the main focus here and I appreciated that she was doing just fine without us watching her, and we instead watched Brad grow. His ex-wife gets her HEA, but he doesn't really. And I appreciated what it took to present this story from that point of view.
The additional storyline of the son of the OW is quite good.
You spend a lot of time with Brad (the cheater) in this story.
I normally want to spend most of the book with the strong heroine moving on without the cheater and him feeling awful and regretful.
Well - we get all that, but the strong woman is simply not the main focus here and I appreciated that she was doing just fine without us watching her, and we instead watched Brad grow. His ex-wife gets her HEA, but he doesn't really. And I appreciated what it took to present this story from that point of view.
The additional storyline of the son of the OW is quite good.
September 8, 2025
Great short read
I'm so glad this was recommended in one of the reading groups I'm in. It's short but packed with so much. Betrayal, Angst, Grovel, Redemption. It was a roller-coaster of emotions and so much going on. I liked the characters and how the author really delved into the hardship of infidelity and the aftermath. No sugar coating. I'd love to read a follow up story about the kids, especially Grady. That kid, I just felt for his place in his life. I loved how Connor consistently laid out the facts for his dad Brad. Always reminding him that respect was earned and he had no reason to respect him. I love that kid. I look forward to reading more from this author
I'm so glad this was recommended in one of the reading groups I'm in. It's short but packed with so much. Betrayal, Angst, Grovel, Redemption. It was a roller-coaster of emotions and so much going on. I liked the characters and how the author really delved into the hardship of infidelity and the aftermath. No sugar coating. I'd love to read a follow up story about the kids, especially Grady. That kid, I just felt for his place in his life. I loved how Connor consistently laid out the facts for his dad Brad. Always reminding him that respect was earned and he had no reason to respect him. I love that kid. I look forward to reading more from this author
August 8, 2025
thoroughly enjoyed this quick read
This was a quick read, that I thoroughly enjoyed! The story was good. The characters were good. Brad’s life just continued to get sadder and sadder before he figured it out. I hate that his mom stayed married.
I wish we had more of Liv’s pov. We did at the beginning but then when things were good with her and we could’ve seen more of Joseph, suddenly it was all Brad.
I didn’t want to end this book with Brad’s POV, just saying. Not sure I couldn’t find out who made Brad a grandpa, but whatever.
This was a quick read, that I thoroughly enjoyed! The story was good. The characters were good. Brad’s life just continued to get sadder and sadder before he figured it out. I hate that his mom stayed married.
I wish we had more of Liv’s pov. We did at the beginning but then when things were good with her and we could’ve seen more of Joseph, suddenly it was all Brad.
I didn’t want to end this book with Brad’s POV, just saying. Not sure I couldn’t find out who made Brad a grandpa, but whatever.
September 25, 2025
Cheater husband cheats with son's classmate's mom even after the fmc warned him about this husband snatching hoe. Everyone else kept warning him to avoid this bitch but he still fell for it. The fmc was already halfway tired and out of love with him and his cheating was the last straw. He still had hopes of fmc forgiving his cheating but I'm glad she didn't! Infact after the divorce he became a good caring parent to not only his kids but his lovechild with the bitch OW and her son. Finally after years of repenting he gets another chance with a nice woman.
July 24, 2025
more 2.75 stars
In all this mess, I only thought poor Grady, the mistress's son. He didn't deserve that type of mother.
unfortunately the ending annoyed me because I don't want to read about cheaters finding happiness. like e v e r. Even if he was an outstanding father in the end. Like his ex wife said he became a good father AFTER 14 years of marriage and after screwing up his first family.
Overall a quick read.
In all this mess, I only thought poor Grady, the mistress's son. He didn't deserve that type of mother.
unfortunately the ending annoyed me because I don't want to read about cheaters finding happiness. like e v e r. Even if he was an outstanding father in the end. Like his ex wife said he became a good father AFTER 14 years of marriage and after screwing up his first family.
Overall a quick read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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