Love Don't Live Here Anymore

by Denene Millner, Nick Chiles

Written in alternating viewpoints, a thought-provoking novel of love, marriage, sexuality, ambition, and temptation follows modern couple Randy Murphy and Mikki Chance-Murphy, as their marriage is tested by their careers when Randy is temporarily relocated to Paris to pursue a distinguished account, while Mikki finds herself attracted to Randy's best friend. 20,000 first printing.

Genres: African American

307 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Denene Millner is a six-time New York Times best-selling author, Emmy Award-nominated TV show host and award-winning journalist and book publisher who has written more than 30 books, among them: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, co-written with Steve Harvey; Around the Way Girl, a memoir with actress Taraji P. Henson; the Fresh Princess picture books, with Will Smith; and, The Vow, the novel on which the hit Lifetime movie, “With This Ring,” was based. The writer and editor is also the editorial director and publisher of Denene Millner Books, an award-winning imprint that publishes stories featuring Black children and families, by Black authors and illustrators. The DMB list includes two Caldecott Honor books, a Kirkus Prize for Children’s Literature, two Society for Illustrator honors, a Southern Book Award, an instant New York Times bestseller and three NAACP nominations. Denene also co-hosts the nationally syndicated PBS show, A Seat at the Table, and is the host of “Speakeasy with Denene,” a podcast exploring Black culture. Denene’s upcoming novel, One Blood, a multi-generational epic about motherhood, adoption and race, is slated to be published in eight countries when it debuts in 2023. A MacDowell fellow, Denene lives in Atlanta with her two daughters and their goldendoodle, Franklin.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was kind of slow to me, but it was about Randy and his wife Mikki, and their problems in their marriage.
He was cheating and so was she, with his best friend Marcus which later on had a relationship with some one else.
A lot of cheating and lying going on.
They just couldn't get it together, maybe they should have thought about going to a marriage counselor.
To me if you can't decide to be faithful in your marriage then you should consider getting a divorce, and you go your way, and let the other person go on, and the two of you think before you decide to get married again.

[Shannan Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a little slow at times, and the ending left the story way too open, but It was an ok read.

[Cheryl James · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this is a typical husband/wife betrayal story. Just that this time it was the wife who cheated on her husband with his best friend. I love the fact that this story was told by the author who happens to be husband and wife. They were able to really give specific details of a true marriage that is in trouble of lies and infidelity. They both were guilty of infidelity , it's just that the wife got caught, and being with his best friend didn't help. As the cheater in the relationship, are you sorry for the affair, or are you sorry you got caught having the affair?Once the husband found out about the affair, he pretty much checked out of the marriage. The wife tried to continue the affair with the best friend but he had moved on with another female, or possibly was seeing both of them at the same time, Uhm!! At any rate husband and wife decide to talk and perhaps get back together. I am curious to know that if the guy would have been available for the wife, would she have continued the affair with him and left the husband for good. Sometimes the grass is not always greener on the other side. Looking forward to reading the sequal, Love and War.

[Monica **can't read fast enough** · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a pretty good story that showcased two generally selfish people trying to figure out a way back from betrayals. I didn't particularly care for either Randy or Mikki because of how self centered they both are, but the writing flowed well and it didn't take me long to read it. I'm not sure it this type of story is one that I would generally enjoy and I have a feeling that it's not one that I will remember much detail about in a year.

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[Jahel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captures complexities really well. Fairytale ass ending almost triggered me because it’s much harder than that LMFAO & if the book would’ve gone into that too, it’d be 5 stars for sure.

[Donna’s Book Addiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though parts of it may seem to drag early on, there's a bulid-up you won't expect that brings it all home. I like the way the chapters alternated between he and she, and the realness of the characters. I especially liked the creative freedom the authors had to write as if they were speaking directly to the reader in some parts. Despite the slow beginning, the book picks up dramatically, making it difficult to put down.

Love Don't Live Here Anymore was an interesting read that made you want to slap the piss out of Randy and Mikki, the main characters in this entertaining novel. Randy is a successful ad executive who opts to go to Paris to expand his professional horizons, leaving behind Mikki--his bitter wife who is as self-centered as they come. I thought that the ability to touch emotions and provoke heated discussions about the ins and outs of relationships, with your partner/spouse and friends were this novels strongest points.

There were loose ends that needed closure. Why didn't Mikhi or Randy ever really have a conversation with Marcus to understand his actions? What was Randy's relationship with Eliza after the bathroom deal? How realistic was it that all of the couple's family and friends felt that the marriage could or should be salvaged given the details of what happened.

[Shone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreak is never easy, on the heart breaker or the broken hearted.

[Tyria Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't believe he took her back lol all I have to say!