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The Relationship Quo #1
The Divorce
~Second Edition including a Q&A with the author and a BONUS Chapter~ I love my husband, but he doesn't see me anymore. We were college sweethearts and for seven years I've been his wife. Five of those years were bliss; the last two have been a long fall from grace. He’s the love of my life, the sexy and smart man I saw my future with, but now I don’t think he sees it too. I’m tired of not being seen, I’m tired of not being heard, and I’m tired of being in love alone. I was his optimistic hippie girl that he couldn’t get enough of. Now I’m just his annoyance. So I told him, I finally found the backbone and this is our story... My wife just told me she wants a divorce. What the hell do I say to that? I thought we were fine-, well fine is a bad word, I thought we were okay. Doesn't matter what I think because she's moving out and I can't really let this happen. Yeah, she annoys me, we’re total opposites, but I knew that when I met her, she hasn’t changed…maybe I have? I was her anchor, her safety, her home. Now I’m that guy that’s wrecked her and there are plenty of men willing to repair the damage I did. So I have a plan. Find out what happened to change my affection for her within the last two years, and win her back before someone else does, because I still love her, and she still loves me...I guess...
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2016
501 people are currently reading
7278 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Strycharz
28 books425 followersNicole is a multi-genre author of over a dozen books.
"The Divorce" was nominated in the 2016 Indie Book Awards and won second place in the 2016 Best Cover Design in 'Urban Literature Magazine.'
She was featured on the cover of Words + Magazine for her book "The Affair."
She’s known for delving into sensitive and real topics such as in her title “The Love That Hurts” which explored domestic violence with the hopes of giving victims a voice while exposing the red flags of an abusive relationship. Most of her lead female characters are depicted as survivors or evolving overcomers of trauma. Sending a message to readers that every moment and every day they fight for is a victory.
Being of mixed ethnicity, she keeps her cast of characters diverse and tries to highlight the different cultures around the world.
Aside from writing, she runs a tarot and rune reading business called, Nikki The Solitary Witch. Interpreting the cards and stones for others, she offers a little clarity to her clients so they can face their path with a little extra confidence.
Nicole lives in Virginia with her family and one pretty Pocket-Pittie. She is always reading or working on the next book between mommyhood adventures.
"The Divorce" was nominated in the 2016 Indie Book Awards and won second place in the 2016 Best Cover Design in 'Urban Literature Magazine.'
She was featured on the cover of Words + Magazine for her book "The Affair."
She’s known for delving into sensitive and real topics such as in her title “The Love That Hurts” which explored domestic violence with the hopes of giving victims a voice while exposing the red flags of an abusive relationship. Most of her lead female characters are depicted as survivors or evolving overcomers of trauma. Sending a message to readers that every moment and every day they fight for is a victory.
Being of mixed ethnicity, she keeps her cast of characters diverse and tries to highlight the different cultures around the world.
Aside from writing, she runs a tarot and rune reading business called, Nikki The Solitary Witch. Interpreting the cards and stones for others, she offers a little clarity to her clients so they can face their path with a little extra confidence.
Nicole lives in Virginia with her family and one pretty Pocket-Pittie. She is always reading or working on the next book between mommyhood adventures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,037 reviews
November 3, 2021
Oh the delicious grovel, how I adore thee!
Shout out to my homie Bev for drawing my attention to this angsty "prostate thyself" sandwich of ooey gooey goodness!
Seriously, this thing was like a party in my mouth.
I just ADORE books where the H has done fucked the hell up and spends the majority of the book trying to wheedle his way back into the h's good graces.
And boy does he ever.
Books like this seem to be more of a rarity these days, so this was a true diamond in the rough that really got my grovel motor running.
Plus, this one had the added element of being about a married couple, which I really enjoyed.
In a romance book world filled by the insta love phenomenon that seems to be all the rage these days, this was really refreshing.
NOT knocking the insta-love, feral fangirls, calm down.
Me love the insta-love long time (when it's done right)...I'm just saying it's nice to read about an established couple with some history now and then.
This was also a different read in that it was about a failing marriage - as evidenced by the title, derp! - some of the more realistic everyday woes of marriage, and the hurdles that arise from the whole "opposites attract" situation.
Being that my husband and I are two twinsie peas in an easy going OCD pod, I found it especially interesting to read about how Chris and Jenzy dealt with being type A Alpha asshole v Positive Hippie Patty on a daily basis.
Not gonna lie, Jenzy's constant crystal incense horoscope reincarnation mantra would drive me up the Great Wall of fucking China.
But whatevs.
Speaking of Jenzy and Chris...
I LOVE the name Jenzy.
And I hereby announce that I have decided I am going to be named Jenzy in my next life.
I will also be a rainbow unicorn that farts fairy dust, stomps around to the soundtrack of Say Anything, and can eat unending amounts of chocolate without getting the horsey-chubs.
But I digress.
Chris.
Well, Chris is my husband's name.
And I must say, reading a book with the H having the same name as my husband - and being about a failing marriage, no less, was quite a hoot.
Another thing that made this book so thirst quenching was the ending.
Chris' final "gesture" was so beautiful it actually made my black heart almost leak.
Almost.
So there you have it.
If you like groveling, this book is for you.
Shout out to my homie Bev for drawing my attention to this angsty "prostate thyself" sandwich of ooey gooey goodness!
Seriously, this thing was like a party in my mouth.
I just ADORE books where the H has done fucked the hell up and spends the majority of the book trying to wheedle his way back into the h's good graces.
And boy does he ever.
Books like this seem to be more of a rarity these days, so this was a true diamond in the rough that really got my grovel motor running.
Plus, this one had the added element of being about a married couple, which I really enjoyed.
In a romance book world filled by the insta love phenomenon that seems to be all the rage these days, this was really refreshing.
NOT knocking the insta-love, feral fangirls, calm down.
Me love the insta-love long time (when it's done right)...I'm just saying it's nice to read about an established couple with some history now and then.
This was also a different read in that it was about a failing marriage - as evidenced by the title, derp! - some of the more realistic everyday woes of marriage, and the hurdles that arise from the whole "opposites attract" situation.
Being that my husband and I are two twinsie peas in an easy going OCD pod, I found it especially interesting to read about how Chris and Jenzy dealt with being type A Alpha asshole v Positive Hippie Patty on a daily basis.
Not gonna lie, Jenzy's constant crystal incense horoscope reincarnation mantra would drive me up the Great Wall of fucking China.
But whatevs.
Speaking of Jenzy and Chris...
I LOVE the name Jenzy.
And I hereby announce that I have decided I am going to be named Jenzy in my next life.
I will also be a rainbow unicorn that farts fairy dust, stomps around to the soundtrack of Say Anything, and can eat unending amounts of chocolate without getting the horsey-chubs.
But I digress.
Chris.
Well, Chris is my husband's name.
And I must say, reading a book with the H having the same name as my husband - and being about a failing marriage, no less, was quite a hoot.
Another thing that made this book so thirst quenching was the ending.
Chris' final "gesture" was so beautiful it actually made my black heart almost leak.
Almost.
So there you have it.
If you like groveling, this book is for you.
August 9, 2021
When I first saw reviews start to pop up on friends' pages for this book, I knew I had to check it out. I had no idea that I'd love it as much as I did. This book was like a drug for me. I could not put it down until I had finished it.
Jenzy and Chris met in college and were instantly attracted to each other. Their chemistry was amazing. I loved the spontaneous, animal-attraction that these two had going on...at least, when Chris wasn't screwing it up.
Fast forward several years and all of the spark in Chris and Jenzy's marriage has been snuffed out. They've been married for seven years and for the last two Chris has treated Jenzy deplorably. My heart broke for her with each instance of his callous disregard.
When Jenzy has finally reached her breaking point, she tells Chris that she's leaving him. She's done. Put a fork in it. Believe me, it was long overdue by the time she reached her limit. I was cheering her on big time.
Faced with losing his wife, Chris is forced to face how badly he screwed things up. There is no doubt that he definitely screwed things up royally either. As blind as he was to his wife, he didn't see this coming. The guy was truly clueless.
While Chris is determined to win his wife over again, Jenzy is determined to move on. She's formed a friendship with another man and wants a clean break from Chris so that they can both move on with their lives. After all, he didn't want her around anyway.
I loved this story! At first, I hated Chris. However, as flashbacks of their past were provided, I began to see more of the guy that Jenzy fell in love with. Even though he messed up everything, I felt bad for Chris and I wanted to see him win Jenzy back.
For the most part, this book is one big "grovel-fest". I love, love, love a groveling hero! Chris had it coming...but he had the good sense to realize that it was on him and boy, did he ever have to work for it! I was in heaven!
From start to finish, I loved this book! If it hadn't been for some pretty frequent grammatical errors, which proved to be distracting, I would have given this book 5 stars. It was that fantastic for me. Of course, all of my friends know that I love a her that gets taken down a few pegs after they've wronged the heroine. So, it probably isn't any big surprise that a book devoted to the hero's groveling would be a huge hit with me. I loved it!
Jenzy and Chris met in college and were instantly attracted to each other. Their chemistry was amazing. I loved the spontaneous, animal-attraction that these two had going on...at least, when Chris wasn't screwing it up.
Fast forward several years and all of the spark in Chris and Jenzy's marriage has been snuffed out. They've been married for seven years and for the last two Chris has treated Jenzy deplorably. My heart broke for her with each instance of his callous disregard.
When Jenzy has finally reached her breaking point, she tells Chris that she's leaving him. She's done. Put a fork in it. Believe me, it was long overdue by the time she reached her limit. I was cheering her on big time.
Faced with losing his wife, Chris is forced to face how badly he screwed things up. There is no doubt that he definitely screwed things up royally either. As blind as he was to his wife, he didn't see this coming. The guy was truly clueless.
While Chris is determined to win his wife over again, Jenzy is determined to move on. She's formed a friendship with another man and wants a clean break from Chris so that they can both move on with their lives. After all, he didn't want her around anyway.
I loved this story! At first, I hated Chris. However, as flashbacks of their past were provided, I began to see more of the guy that Jenzy fell in love with. Even though he messed up everything, I felt bad for Chris and I wanted to see him win Jenzy back.
For the most part, this book is one big "grovel-fest". I love, love, love a groveling hero! Chris had it coming...but he had the good sense to realize that it was on him and boy, did he ever have to work for it! I was in heaven!
From start to finish, I loved this book! If it hadn't been for some pretty frequent grammatical errors, which proved to be distracting, I would have given this book 5 stars. It was that fantastic for me. Of course, all of my friends know that I love a her that gets taken down a few pegs after they've wronged the heroine. So, it probably isn't any big surprise that a book devoted to the hero's groveling would be a huge hit with me. I loved it!
February 14, 2017
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2! The Divorce (stand-alone). A candid glimpse into a marriage in crises & hubby with blue-balls!
“I love you too I guess.”
I will write a better review with art after my reading challenge is over.
The Divorce (stand-alone) is a candid glimpse into a marriage on the rocks. Story opens up to a wife, Jennifer, Jenzy coming to the painful realization her marriage to Chris is over.
Told in dual POVs, it alternates between flashbacks and the aftermath of Jenzy’s decision as Chris is desperately trying get her back while they both try to understand what went wrong.
Story is a mixture of hilarious moments of blue-balls and heart-wrenching revelations. It deals with the power of lust, the fragility of love, the preciousness of life, the ambiguousness of time and ultimately the healing power of forgiveness.
***
Hero: ★★★★1/2
Heroine: ★★★★
Plot: ★★★★1/2
Storytelling: ★★★★1/2
Sexual tension: ★★★★★
Sex scenes: ★★★★
Story ending: ★★★★
******************************************
OVERALL RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Angst: | HIGH FOCUS |
Darkness: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Humor: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Kink: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Romance: | HIGH FOCUS |
Sex frequency: | LOW FOCUS |
Suspense: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Thank you to everyone reading & chatting on Shh… Shhurrender your TBR! https://goo.gl/AR35Vj
June 21, 2022
3 stars
This is what I call the worst-best grovel in history.
🛑MINOR SPOILERS (bigger one hidden in a tag)🛑
After Chris monumentally fucked up his entire marriage and Jenzy asked for a divorce:
➥ Option A: try to repair the marriage, show your best qualities, apologise endlessly, kiss her feet for being such a selfish asshoe.
Option B: Fake a heart attack for attention
Chris:
➥ When that failed he physically spied on her....with sunglasses and binoculars and everything
➥ Some people gently caress the empty pillows their loved ones leave behind, while reminiscing about the old days...Not Chris though. Chris slept with Jenzy's red lace bras🥰
➥ Sabotaged her relationship with Moses (OM) in ANY way he could
➥ Chris this whole book =
Overall: wonderful, healthy, big brain energy all around.
Petty? Who would ever accuse that man of such a thing, I don't understand.
It would be sad if it wasn't so hilarious. Chris was a total dumbass. It was somewhat endearing but also... lil fuckface needed to be put in his place. And the third act conflict.... CEMENTED HIM THERE.
This is what I call the worst-best grovel in history.
🛑MINOR SPOILERS (bigger one hidden in a tag)🛑
After Chris monumentally fucked up his entire marriage and Jenzy asked for a divorce:
➥ Option A: try to repair the marriage, show your best qualities, apologise endlessly, kiss her feet for being such a selfish asshoe.
Option B: Fake a heart attack for attention
Chris:
➥ When that failed he physically spied on her....with sunglasses and binoculars and everything
“Were you spying on us?”
“Spying? No! I would never do that. That’s weird. That’s- that would be like crossing a line.”
➥ Some people gently caress the empty pillows their loved ones leave behind, while reminiscing about the old days...Not Chris though. Chris slept with Jenzy's red lace bras🥰
➥ Sabotaged her relationship with Moses (OM) in ANY way he could
Stalking is frowned upon, not illegal. I would have to physically threaten you first. Like,” he looked back at Moses, “like hypothetically if you lay one finger on my wife, I’ll hypothetically break that finger… hypothetically.”
➥ Chris this whole book =
Overall: wonderful, healthy, big brain energy all around.
Petty? Who would ever accuse that man of such a thing, I don't understand.
“He as hot as me?”
“Ew, that’s such a wrong question!”
“Just answer the question. Who’s Batman, who’s Robin?”
It would be sad if it wasn't so hilarious. Chris was a total dumbass. It was somewhat endearing but also... lil fuckface needed to be put in his place. And the third act conflict.... CEMENTED HIM THERE.
December 16, 2016
Chris:
The fuck up husband.
Age: 29
For a man trying to save his marriage, he hits his wife in the spots where she's vulnerable. He made her feel invisible, ignored her, demeaned her achievements, called her "annoying" countless times and "flaky". You don't do that to anyone much less your wife - even if she is all those things. You talk. A marriage is supposed to be a safe haven, a comfort zone you share with a partner you trust, but somehow Chris chipped away at Jenzy for the last two years and was blind to that. How do you not see your wife for two years? How do you forget her birthdays, anniversaries, and multiple occasions. Make her the butt of your office jokes where everyone laughs at her? That was one of the points I genuinely felt angry. That he humiliated her in front of his co-workers. He made her feel worthless by not inviting her to office spousal dinners? How do you manage to resent someone for decisions which are your own, make them feel insecure about their body by rejecting them, and abstain from sex for 48 months (when you are with the love of your life and are supposedly sexual creatures)? How do you manage to hurt a woman who loves you so much, and gives you countless outs? He lacks the self-awareness and repercussions his actions could have upon others.
And after she files for divorce, he still doesn't see her! That's what pissed me off the most. I didn't like who he was. It's like there wasn't a threat of there actually being a divorce for him until after the halfway point in the novel. Sure...he could be charming and have charisma, but he sacrificed his wife by making her feel pathetic. A few dates and empty promises didn't fix that. He still did NOTHING, he was PASSIVE, and GAVE UP. He's slow moving. He doesn't do drastic and a trip down memory lane isn't all it's sought out to be. He takes too long. Why did he take so long? He doesn't beg. He should have been begging at her feet. He doesn't cry. Instead he backs off. LET's her go with another man when he should have immediately quit his damn job, and turned up every single day and begged like a fucking beggar. He never FOUGHT. He never suggested counselling? He never goes through the big show or let her know how he is feeling. He's too reigned back.
And this is probably left field, but before he knew Jenny, he dated married women. And that made me feel like he didn't have character, or the right character, and instead I found it sleazy and slightly weasel like. I found him to be a person who craves other people's acceptance in a social crowd. I found him to be a lackluster man who had dreams, and blamed his fuckups on other people.
Jenzy:
The wife who files for divorce.
Age: 27
"I just needed to know. Like knowing he was screwing around would mean I just need to step up my game or something. I could fight for him if I had to.”
I was at the beginning of the book and this line immediately made me sad. Why would you fight for a husband who doesn't treat you with the respect you deserve? Why would you fight for a husband who "hypothetically" was cheating? Immediately it made me think she had a bruised self-esteem and that he was responsible. She pissed me off too but I actually did like her. I found her warm and kind. However - no matter if you aren't divorced, don't date another man and bring him into your marriage. Don't subject him to the pain if you will return to your husband. Don't string him along and do to that man what your husband did to you. Don't abuse his love and desire to make you happy.
Moses:
Third party. Hated him. Not because he was the "competition". I hated him because he was boring, predictable, a completely unrealistic premise. To find a man willing to be strung along with a woman still half in love with her husband and wait for her and be okay with her being intimate with her husband when she succumbs to pressure. Motherf*cking Teresa. And I really don't rate a man who can't respect a marriage. He put moves on before he should have. Wait it out, threaten the husband. Fight. Don't share. Don't settle.
This book needs a serious editor, and the current one should totally be fired.
I lacked respect for the characters. Don't get me wrong, it was a sad one, made my throat tight and my eyes tear up. But a man like Chris, although eventually coming to realisation never fought. And that was the saddest thing.
The fuck up husband.
Age: 29
For a man trying to save his marriage, he hits his wife in the spots where she's vulnerable. He made her feel invisible, ignored her, demeaned her achievements, called her "annoying" countless times and "flaky". You don't do that to anyone much less your wife - even if she is all those things. You talk. A marriage is supposed to be a safe haven, a comfort zone you share with a partner you trust, but somehow Chris chipped away at Jenzy for the last two years and was blind to that. How do you not see your wife for two years? How do you forget her birthdays, anniversaries, and multiple occasions. Make her the butt of your office jokes where everyone laughs at her? That was one of the points I genuinely felt angry. That he humiliated her in front of his co-workers. He made her feel worthless by not inviting her to office spousal dinners? How do you manage to resent someone for decisions which are your own, make them feel insecure about their body by rejecting them, and abstain from sex for 48 months (when you are with the love of your life and are supposedly sexual creatures)? How do you manage to hurt a woman who loves you so much, and gives you countless outs? He lacks the self-awareness and repercussions his actions could have upon others.
And after she files for divorce, he still doesn't see her! That's what pissed me off the most. I didn't like who he was. It's like there wasn't a threat of there actually being a divorce for him until after the halfway point in the novel. Sure...he could be charming and have charisma, but he sacrificed his wife by making her feel pathetic. A few dates and empty promises didn't fix that. He still did NOTHING, he was PASSIVE, and GAVE UP. He's slow moving. He doesn't do drastic and a trip down memory lane isn't all it's sought out to be. He takes too long. Why did he take so long? He doesn't beg. He should have been begging at her feet. He doesn't cry. Instead he backs off. LET's her go with another man when he should have immediately quit his damn job, and turned up every single day and begged like a fucking beggar. He never FOUGHT. He never suggested counselling? He never goes through the big show or let her know how he is feeling. He's too reigned back.
And this is probably left field, but before he knew Jenny, he dated married women. And that made me feel like he didn't have character, or the right character, and instead I found it sleazy and slightly weasel like. I found him to be a person who craves other people's acceptance in a social crowd. I found him to be a lackluster man who had dreams, and blamed his fuckups on other people.
Jenzy:
The wife who files for divorce.
Age: 27
"I just needed to know. Like knowing he was screwing around would mean I just need to step up my game or something. I could fight for him if I had to.”
I was at the beginning of the book and this line immediately made me sad. Why would you fight for a husband who doesn't treat you with the respect you deserve? Why would you fight for a husband who "hypothetically" was cheating? Immediately it made me think she had a bruised self-esteem and that he was responsible. She pissed me off too but I actually did like her. I found her warm and kind. However - no matter if you aren't divorced, don't date another man and bring him into your marriage. Don't subject him to the pain if you will return to your husband. Don't string him along and do to that man what your husband did to you. Don't abuse his love and desire to make you happy.
Moses:
Third party. Hated him. Not because he was the "competition". I hated him because he was boring, predictable, a completely unrealistic premise. To find a man willing to be strung along with a woman still half in love with her husband and wait for her and be okay with her being intimate with her husband when she succumbs to pressure. Motherf*cking Teresa. And I really don't rate a man who can't respect a marriage. He put moves on before he should have. Wait it out, threaten the husband. Fight. Don't share. Don't settle.
This book needs a serious editor, and the current one should totally be fired.
I lacked respect for the characters. Don't get me wrong, it was a sad one, made my throat tight and my eyes tear up. But a man like Chris, although eventually coming to realisation never fought. And that was the saddest thing.
June 5, 2020
I didn’t see a grovel as much as I saw a dog in the manger attitude. Husband didn’t want her but didn’t want OM to have her either. He hated her clinginess and subservience then realized they were essential to feeding his ego so he kept stoking the fires whenever he felt she was close to slipping from his grasp. To prevent her from moving on with her life was cruel. To withhold his signature on the divorce papers was not a romantic gesture but more of his controlling her and passive-aggressive behavior that destabilized her emotionally. I would never get over the things he did like make fun of her to his colleagues or bluntly tell her he regretted his marriage, it was the wrong choice to choose her over a promising, exciting career abroad, he resented her for making him give up his dream career and if he could go back and do it over again, he would NOT have chosen her. LOL This is his way of groveling his way back into her good graces?
He was a wishy-washy, narcissist man-child with Peter Pan syndrome and she was a pathetic doormat with zero self-esteem and so much repressed emotions. I can’t believe with all her supposed self-insights, holistic and meditative approach to everything and hippie parents who taught her to be in touch with her feelings, she never ever considered therapy to find out just what it was that made her cling to such an abusive man!
Don’t even get me started on the cardboard cutout Beta OM or her disloyal parents trying to pimp her back to an emotionally abusive, dried up piece of turd when she was just on the verge of extricating herself from him.
I agree with Boogenhagen that they didn’t resolve anything and went back to their toxic dominant-subservient relationship. The most genuine thing the guy ever said was that she could keep the ring because he would never marry again. This guy was just NOT cut out for marriage. A serial monogamist at best. They were just the wrong partners for each other and better off apart. Total romance fail for me :(
He was a wishy-washy, narcissist man-child with Peter Pan syndrome and she was a pathetic doormat with zero self-esteem and so much repressed emotions. I can’t believe with all her supposed self-insights, holistic and meditative approach to everything and hippie parents who taught her to be in touch with her feelings, she never ever considered therapy to find out just what it was that made her cling to such an abusive man!
Don’t even get me started on the cardboard cutout Beta OM or her disloyal parents trying to pimp her back to an emotionally abusive, dried up piece of turd when she was just on the verge of extricating herself from him.
I agree with Boogenhagen that they didn’t resolve anything and went back to their toxic dominant-subservient relationship. The most genuine thing the guy ever said was that she could keep the ring because he would never marry again. This guy was just NOT cut out for marriage. A serial monogamist at best. They were just the wrong partners for each other and better off apart. Total romance fail for me :(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2024
I'm reading faster than I can finish reviews so here are my thoughts in point form because I'm getting lazy... But if I had to describe this book in three words, it would be "complete grovel fest"!!
- Chris (the MC) was just downright an asshole, but at least he realised that and the whole book is basically him trying to win her back, so I enjoyed all the groveling immensely
- Watching him dismiss her at first, then gradually realise he was still in love with her and that he had royally fucked up was so satisfying
- It was even more satisfying when she didn't give in to him easily
- And his grand gesture at the end really got me. Like I actually teared up because it was so touching
But ffs, there were SO MANY typos and grammar mistakes and words like "gahhh" in the middle of a sentence which ruined the whole flow of the book for me. The story itself wasn't all that bad but I hated the writing so much that it was a struggle to get through this book like why anyone would publish a book that is still too colloquial and so obviously unedited is beyond me 😭😭😭 Nicole Strycharz needs to fire her editor and get a new one fr.
- Chris (the MC) was just downright an asshole, but at least he realised that and the whole book is basically him trying to win her back, so I enjoyed all the groveling immensely
- Watching him dismiss her at first, then gradually realise he was still in love with her and that he had royally fucked up was so satisfying
- It was even more satisfying when she didn't give in to him easily
- And his grand gesture at the end really got me. Like I actually teared up because it was so touching
“I don’t care,” he kissed me again, gahhh these kisses! “You can break my whole kitchen,” he said between kisses, “I don’t care.”
But ffs, there were SO MANY typos and grammar mistakes and words like "gahhh" in the middle of a sentence which ruined the whole flow of the book for me. The story itself wasn't all that bad but I hated the writing so much that it was a struggle to get through this book like why anyone would publish a book that is still too colloquial and so obviously unedited is beyond me 😭😭😭 Nicole Strycharz needs to fire her editor and get a new one fr.
January 1, 2018
The book was well written, I just couldn't buy the HEA. These two weren't compatible for a marriage and the h ended up with the wrong guy in the end.
I would feel differently if she had changed from her ways over the marriage, but she was exactly the same as she started out. It was the H who changed and his beratement for her beliefs went on for way, way to long to just think a trip to Disneyland and some begging was going to do it. He knew how she was when he married her, to demean her for two years because he was on a different path is wrong. So, really he could cry her a river, but it doesn't matter. The issues that they have are only ever managed, they are never resolved in a marriage and I did not see him sticking it out for the long term.
The OM issue was fairly negligible I thought, she served him with divorce papers and at that point the relationship was over. Just because the H did not like to lose and went all out to win her back isn't enough. It smacks of dog in the manger behavior and in another year or three they are going to be back where they started.
Overall the story was good, the hero's efforts to woo her back were great, it was just an unrealistic outcome for me.
I would feel differently if she had changed from her ways over the marriage, but she was exactly the same as she started out. It was the H who changed and his beratement for her beliefs went on for way, way to long to just think a trip to Disneyland and some begging was going to do it. He knew how she was when he married her, to demean her for two years because he was on a different path is wrong. So, really he could cry her a river, but it doesn't matter. The issues that they have are only ever managed, they are never resolved in a marriage and I did not see him sticking it out for the long term.
The OM issue was fairly negligible I thought, she served him with divorce papers and at that point the relationship was over. Just because the H did not like to lose and went all out to win her back isn't enough. It smacks of dog in the manger behavior and in another year or three they are going to be back where they started.
Overall the story was good, the hero's efforts to woo her back were great, it was just an unrealistic outcome for me.
January 12, 2022
What an ass this guy!!! Totally immature and selfish!
Boring.
Boring.
December 9, 2016
3.5 Stars
“Love must be bottomless, you fall in and you fall out. Either way, there’s no catching your feet.”
I have to start off by saying I enjoyed this book a whole lot more than I'd originally anticipated. I was expecting a true chik lit kinda situation but what I got was a serious but entertaing look at how a relationship can go so wrong. The sexy times and unexpected humor took this to a level beyond chick lit, as luck would have it.
On the plus side, both Jenzy and Chris were completely developed characters. As tired as I got of Chris and his inability to understand just why he pushed Jenzy away (and the dude was really trying to understand), the evolution to eventual self knowledge was done realistically. It would've been so easy to turn Chris into an uncaring douche but the author didn't take the easy way out.
My main complaint? This lovely book needs at least another couple of rounds with an editor. The writing itself is beyond solid but the editing issues managed to pull me away from the action and given the story and writing in general, that's truly a shame.
Is The Divorce a good read? Yes. Was it worth the .99 I paid for it? You betcha! If you're in the mood for a real story about a less than perfect couple and you can handle a plethora of editing issues, I'd give this one a shot.
“Love must be bottomless, you fall in and you fall out. Either way, there’s no catching your feet.”
I have to start off by saying I enjoyed this book a whole lot more than I'd originally anticipated. I was expecting a true chik lit kinda situation but what I got was a serious but entertaing look at how a relationship can go so wrong. The sexy times and unexpected humor took this to a level beyond chick lit, as luck would have it.
On the plus side, both Jenzy and Chris were completely developed characters. As tired as I got of Chris and his inability to understand just why he pushed Jenzy away (and the dude was really trying to understand), the evolution to eventual self knowledge was done realistically. It would've been so easy to turn Chris into an uncaring douche but the author didn't take the easy way out.
My main complaint? This lovely book needs at least another couple of rounds with an editor. The writing itself is beyond solid but the editing issues managed to pull me away from the action and given the story and writing in general, that's truly a shame.
Is The Divorce a good read? Yes. Was it worth the .99 I paid for it? You betcha! If you're in the mood for a real story about a less than perfect couple and you can handle a plethora of editing issues, I'd give this one a shot.
February 23, 2017
Winner winner, chicken dinner!
Yep, this was a total winner, it dragged me out of my book funk and left me with the mother of all book hangovers. A hero that's a total dick, realises it, owns it and grovels HUGE is total catnip. Added to that it causes a marriage in trouble and I can't 1-click fast enough.
I loved the angst, the who will she pick, Chris's POV which was hilarious at times - I will never forget the restaurant stalker scene where he's caught with a pair of broken binoculars dangling from his neck ... I about bust a gut laughing at him and chuckled for days afterward lol. It wasn't all laughs, as I said I loved the angst, the slow build between Jenzy and Moses, her indecision - which was totally justified because Chris truly was the King of Dicks to her before she said enough was enough. I also loved Moses' patience with Jenzy, how he played things at her pace. He was total swoonworthy material and perfect to help Jenzy heal and recover from her two years of an unhappy marriage.
Now then - I hate reading a book that has poor editing and will always downgrade my ratings because of this, there is no excuse whatsoever to put out a book that lacks BASIC editing. That said, I loved this one so much that I can't take anything away from it. This was pure gold, despite the editing.
Yep, this was a total winner, it dragged me out of my book funk and left me with the mother of all book hangovers. A hero that's a total dick, realises it, owns it and grovels HUGE is total catnip. Added to that it causes a marriage in trouble and I can't 1-click fast enough.
I loved the angst, the who will she pick, Chris's POV which was hilarious at times - I will never forget the restaurant stalker scene where he's caught with a pair of broken binoculars dangling from his neck ... I about bust a gut laughing at him and chuckled for days afterward lol. It wasn't all laughs, as I said I loved the angst, the slow build between Jenzy and Moses, her indecision - which was totally justified because Chris truly was the King of Dicks to her before she said enough was enough. I also loved Moses' patience with Jenzy, how he played things at her pace. He was total swoonworthy material and perfect to help Jenzy heal and recover from her two years of an unhappy marriage.
Now then - I hate reading a book that has poor editing and will always downgrade my ratings because of this, there is no excuse whatsoever to put out a book that lacks BASIC editing. That said, I loved this one so much that I can't take anything away from it. This was pure gold, despite the editing.
October 5, 2021
(1.5) DNF @ 55%
i wanted the H to grovel properly, not doing petty shit to sabotage jenzy’s relationship with moses. i get his motives but i expected him to at least respect said-relationship.
he was a fuxking jackass, treated jenzy like shit, w/ no respect, without a fuckin’ reason. the H didn’t want her but didn’t want OM to have her either. he tried to prevent her from moving on, the fucking man-child
i also didnt like how she kept falling for his bullshits & tricks even after she decided to leave him, its hypocritical and i wanted her to make him work for it. moses deserves better
essentially i disliked both MC most of the time
-the grammatical errors were kind of distracting
-the H deserves more suffering like bruh wtf
-the writing was not that bad but not good either
-loved scotty and edna. these two were hilarious
-gotta admit there were moments i found chris amusing
edit 5/10/21 : lmaoo one of my earliest 1 star rating. im pretty sure this wasnt that bad so dont take this review seriously
i wanted the H to grovel properly, not doing petty shit to sabotage jenzy’s relationship with moses. i get his motives but i expected him to at least respect said-relationship.
he was a fuxking jackass, treated jenzy like shit, w/ no respect, without a fuckin’ reason. the H didn’t want her but didn’t want OM to have her either. he tried to prevent her from moving on, the fucking man-child
i also didnt like how she kept falling for his bullshits & tricks even after she decided to leave him, its hypocritical and i wanted her to make him work for it. moses deserves better
essentially i disliked both MC most of the time
-the grammatical errors were kind of distracting
-the H deserves more suffering like bruh wtf
-the writing was not that bad but not good either
-loved scotty and edna. these two were hilarious
-gotta admit there were moments i found chris amusing
edit 5/10/21 : lmaoo one of my earliest 1 star rating. im pretty sure this wasnt that bad so dont take this review seriously
August 17, 2019
A year and half later. I’m still struggling. Let’s just say both MCs unappealing and move on
Review to come.
I just really need to get my head around this heroine and her holistic medicine.
I don’t want to be disrespectful but I’m not sure I can be entirely respectful through my review about a heroine who believes in alternative medicine, deities or fairies.
I can almost sympathise with the hero, almost being the operative word here, because he knew about her look in life BEFORE getting into the marriage, he really had no right to mock her 5 years down the marriage.
But I’m having serious issues supporting this heroine even given that I have been in the same situation.
Review to come.
I just really need to get my head around this heroine and her holistic medicine.
I don’t want to be disrespectful but I’m not sure I can be entirely respectful through my review about a heroine who believes in alternative medicine, deities or fairies.
I can almost sympathise with the hero, almost being the operative word here, because he knew about her look in life BEFORE getting into the marriage, he really had no right to mock her 5 years down the marriage.
But I’m having serious issues supporting this heroine even given that I have been in the same situation.
December 13, 2016
KINDA SPOILER-ISH
I have some issues with this book. And the biggest one was Moses, the heroine's love interest while in the process of a divorce. This guy was too"everything": too kind, too nice, too understand, too handsome, too "all" and too boring. I felt like he was a filling. The conflict. Because God forbid a woman being able to stand up on her own after a divorce if another man is not there to lift you up. I found that part unnecessary and a weak, cliche plot device. I'd rather see her standing up for herself. And just the humongous groveling the hero did was enough to build the story and keep the reader entertained. I've never read a book where the hero messed up big time and had to fight with teeth and nails to prove his love and right his wrongs, but not before reaching rock bottom. That was priceless. And I love him. And I'm not sorry. And another reason I didn't like the other man character was because the book started to drag on and I felt almost boring at some parts. At some point the story was stuck at the heroine doubts about "should I" or "shouldn't I"?
This would be a 3 stars read. But I gave 4 because my cold hard heart was really feeling sorry for the way the heroine was suffering by the horrible way the hero was treating her.I even felt my eyes dampen a bit. A little. I guess.. and that's almost a mission impossible on my hard shell. And of course because of the groveling. Some authors should take a lesson on this book on how to make a hero really pay for his mistakes and work to almost impossible heights without the certainty of winning the heroine's forgiveness and love again.
I have some issues with this book. And the biggest one was Moses, the heroine's love interest while in the process of a divorce. This guy was too"everything": too kind, too nice, too understand, too handsome, too "all" and too boring. I felt like he was a filling. The conflict. Because God forbid a woman being able to stand up on her own after a divorce if another man is not there to lift you up. I found that part unnecessary and a weak, cliche plot device. I'd rather see her standing up for herself. And just the humongous groveling the hero did was enough to build the story and keep the reader entertained. I've never read a book where the hero messed up big time and had to fight with teeth and nails to prove his love and right his wrongs, but not before reaching rock bottom. That was priceless. And I love him. And I'm not sorry. And another reason I didn't like the other man character was because the book started to drag on and I felt almost boring at some parts. At some point the story was stuck at the heroine doubts about "should I" or "shouldn't I"?
This would be a 3 stars read. But I gave 4 because my cold hard heart was really feeling sorry for the way the heroine was suffering by the horrible way the hero was treating her.I even felt my eyes dampen a bit. A little. I guess.. and that's almost a mission impossible on my hard shell. And of course because of the groveling. Some authors should take a lesson on this book on how to make a hero really pay for his mistakes and work to almost impossible heights without the certainty of winning the heroine's forgiveness and love again.
March 1, 2017
It’s been a while since I’ve really “dug right in” to a book and not wanted to tear myself away. (I blame it on getting older and technology robbing me of an attention span) But, alas, I had to tear myself away from this on the weekend, for of all things, a book club! (HA!) I couldn't wait for "real-life" to give me a break so I could get back to it and finish.
After being married for seven years, two of which have been very unhappy, Jenzy announced to her husband, Chris, that she as moving out and filing for divorce. Chris was completely blindsided (though he really shouldn’t have been) and decided he was going to fight for his marriage.
I’m a real sucker for assholes who redeem themselves. Chris was one of the biggest asshole heroes I’ve read in a while, though for some strange reason, I was rooting for him throughout the story. When the story started off, I didn’t really get why Chris was behaving the way he did, but glimpses into how Chris and Jenzy met and ended up together cast a harsh light on his commitment issues.
This story had a balanced mix of humour, angst, romance and heartbreak.
I found Chris’s character to be a a bit of an enigma. He seemed so put together in most ways, but completely oblivious when it came to his wife. I found many of the scenes in his quest to win back Jenzy to be hilarious, particularly the ones he dragged his brother, Todd, into.
As the story progressed and Chris kept making a worse mess of things, I couldn’t imagine how/if these two would ever work things out. I found the way he finally won Jenzy back to be very heartwarming and, really, I couldn’t see any other way working for him given their history.
I also loved the little glimpse into their life afterwards, showing realistically how “happily every after” can have it’s own little bumps along the way.
This was an enjoyable read.
After being married for seven years, two of which have been very unhappy, Jenzy announced to her husband, Chris, that she as moving out and filing for divorce. Chris was completely blindsided (though he really shouldn’t have been) and decided he was going to fight for his marriage.
I’m a real sucker for assholes who redeem themselves. Chris was one of the biggest asshole heroes I’ve read in a while, though for some strange reason, I was rooting for him throughout the story. When the story started off, I didn’t really get why Chris was behaving the way he did, but glimpses into how Chris and Jenzy met and ended up together cast a harsh light on his commitment issues.
This story had a balanced mix of humour, angst, romance and heartbreak.
I found Chris’s character to be a a bit of an enigma. He seemed so put together in most ways, but completely oblivious when it came to his wife. I found many of the scenes in his quest to win back Jenzy to be hilarious, particularly the ones he dragged his brother, Todd, into.
“What kind of guy dates a woman in the middle of a divorce?”
“Uh, in college before you met Jenzy you dated two married teachers and a single mom.”
“Don’t live in the past Todd.”
As the story progressed and Chris kept making a worse mess of things, I couldn’t imagine how/if these two would ever work things out. I found the way he finally won Jenzy back to be very heartwarming and, really, I couldn’t see any other way working for him given their history.
I also loved the little glimpse into their life afterwards, showing realistically how “happily every after” can have it’s own little bumps along the way.
This was an enjoyable read.
December 30, 2021
I hate myself for reading this. This book is the worst thing that has ever happened to me.
I picked up this book because i saw it recommended as "marriage in crisis/ troubled marriage" romance book. I don't know why but i've been very starved for this trope for a long time so i picked it up because how bad could it be :D? And boy was it bad BAD
There was no angst just second hand embarassment the characters had the personality of a wet whitebread there was absolutely no chemistry between the main couple NONE like if you are going to give a troubled marriage give the angst, show the lingering feelings between the couple, show me how the man gets on his knees and beg for forgivness. But no the only thing i got was the husband being a total dick to his wife, belittle her and her interests, forgetting her birthday contineously and shutting her off whenever she wants to communicate bc he "doesnt have the time" because of course he has an important job, he brings his job up every 2 sentences but lord knows i've never seen the man work in the book. So after years of putting up with his shit the wife gets fed up and wants a divorce and our prince charming goes ":o but you're my wife" BITCH she doesnt want to be that any longer
I picked up this book because i saw it recommended as "marriage in crisis/ troubled marriage" romance book. I don't know why but i've been very starved for this trope for a long time so i picked it up because how bad could it be :D? And boy was it bad BAD
There was no angst just second hand embarassment the characters had the personality of a wet whitebread there was absolutely no chemistry between the main couple NONE like if you are going to give a troubled marriage give the angst, show the lingering feelings between the couple, show me how the man gets on his knees and beg for forgivness. But no the only thing i got was the husband being a total dick to his wife, belittle her and her interests, forgetting her birthday contineously and shutting her off whenever she wants to communicate bc he "doesnt have the time" because of course he has an important job, he brings his job up every 2 sentences but lord knows i've never seen the man work in the book. So after years of putting up with his shit the wife gets fed up and wants a divorce and our prince charming goes ":o but you're my wife" BITCH she doesnt want to be that any longer
May 23, 2022
No doubts this is one of the best book I’ve read recently.
- there’s a lot of humor and a lot of angst. So sometimes you laugh and sometimes you cry. Not every writer can do this.
- the story is interesting and compelling. Marriage in crisis but until the very end you are not certain of the outcome.
- the om is nicer than the hero. You can’t not like him more than the hero.
- the hero grows up. He really changes in the end. The book is his journey to mindfulness.
I think many readers didn’t understand the real issue in this book.
It’s not the fact that the characters are so different and have different interests and beliefs. This is the false issue.
The outer issue.
The heroine is something of a hippie who believes in deities and works as a herbalist. She loves nature, is an environmentalist and wants to be a doula, a woman who helps women to have children at home.
The hero is a sensible realtor who doesn’t love healthy food and has a DOC and is a control freak.
These are not real problem. Actually this couple is very well balanced in the beginning of their relationship. She is an optimist and balances his pessimism, opposites very often make the best couples.
For five years they are happy. They complement each other.
The problem is elsewhere.
The problem is that he resents the heroine for the choices he made.
He was given an opportunity to have a job he loved but he had to travel and leave the heroine. He chose to stay with her because he loved her.
Now, years later, he thinks he should have done things differently.
He has regrets.
And he blames the heroine instead.
It’s not as he doesn’t like the heroine because they are too different. He knew the heroine very well when they got married and he loved and liked her just as she was.
This happens very often in many couples when they fall out of love with their partner or they have issues. They suddenly seem to notice all if their partner’s faults.
I remember a woman telling me she didn’t like her husband because he was only a clerk.
He had been a clerk for 15 years and she never complained so why this was suddenly a problem?
Because she was not in love with him any longer.
So everything about her partner became an issue. But their issues were others.
So does the hero.
The heroine was lovely and I really think she endured any kind of abuse except the physical one in the last two years of their marriage.
He always criticized her, he forgot her birthday twice, he didn’t make love to her for two years and he didn’t take her to company parties because he was ashamed of her.
She was too good for him. She tries in every way to make him notice her, but he always reject her. This goes on for two years.
Yes, he wakes up when she tells him she wants a divorce and she has met someone.
And the book is him trying to win her back, realizing how much he loves her and how much he misses her and eventually how wrong he was to think his life would have been better if he had chosen his dream job instead of marrying the heroine.
He realizes that she is all that matters and nothing in the world would make sense if she is not with him.
Do I think they can be happy?
Of course they can be!
They are such extreme personalities that they perfectly complete one another!
They are so much in love with each other and the big issue was him being too childish and selfish and taking his wife for granted.
He has a crisis that involves all his life and his choices but he is able to realize what he really wants and what really matters for him.
This book is perfectly done by a psychological POV, I love it and I think I’ll real other books of this author.
- there’s a lot of humor and a lot of angst. So sometimes you laugh and sometimes you cry. Not every writer can do this.
- the story is interesting and compelling. Marriage in crisis but until the very end you are not certain of the outcome.
- the om is nicer than the hero. You can’t not like him more than the hero.
- the hero grows up. He really changes in the end. The book is his journey to mindfulness.
I think many readers didn’t understand the real issue in this book.
It’s not the fact that the characters are so different and have different interests and beliefs. This is the false issue.
The outer issue.
The heroine is something of a hippie who believes in deities and works as a herbalist. She loves nature, is an environmentalist and wants to be a doula, a woman who helps women to have children at home.
The hero is a sensible realtor who doesn’t love healthy food and has a DOC and is a control freak.
These are not real problem. Actually this couple is very well balanced in the beginning of their relationship. She is an optimist and balances his pessimism, opposites very often make the best couples.
For five years they are happy. They complement each other.
The problem is elsewhere.
The problem is that he resents the heroine for the choices he made.
He was given an opportunity to have a job he loved but he had to travel and leave the heroine. He chose to stay with her because he loved her.
Now, years later, he thinks he should have done things differently.
He has regrets.
And he blames the heroine instead.
It’s not as he doesn’t like the heroine because they are too different. He knew the heroine very well when they got married and he loved and liked her just as she was.
This happens very often in many couples when they fall out of love with their partner or they have issues. They suddenly seem to notice all if their partner’s faults.
I remember a woman telling me she didn’t like her husband because he was only a clerk.
He had been a clerk for 15 years and she never complained so why this was suddenly a problem?
Because she was not in love with him any longer.
So everything about her partner became an issue. But their issues were others.
So does the hero.
The heroine was lovely and I really think she endured any kind of abuse except the physical one in the last two years of their marriage.
He always criticized her, he forgot her birthday twice, he didn’t make love to her for two years and he didn’t take her to company parties because he was ashamed of her.
She was too good for him. She tries in every way to make him notice her, but he always reject her. This goes on for two years.
Yes, he wakes up when she tells him she wants a divorce and she has met someone.
And the book is him trying to win her back, realizing how much he loves her and how much he misses her and eventually how wrong he was to think his life would have been better if he had chosen his dream job instead of marrying the heroine.
He realizes that she is all that matters and nothing in the world would make sense if she is not with him.
Do I think they can be happy?
Of course they can be!
They are such extreme personalities that they perfectly complete one another!
They are so much in love with each other and the big issue was him being too childish and selfish and taking his wife for granted.
He has a crisis that involves all his life and his choices but he is able to realize what he really wants and what really matters for him.
This book is perfectly done by a psychological POV, I love it and I think I’ll real other books of this author.
December 11, 2016
4 stars
Eeek.. this was a hard one to read and probably a harder one to review. Had i not read a fantastic review i would have given this one a miss. Not my normal trope but i love reading about second chances. Great writing and my emotions were all over the place.
Chris treats Jenzy so unbelievably badly the last two years of their marriage and Jenzy, being tired of feeling alone and unwanted decides to get a divorce. What we get next is Chris realising his mistake of taking Jenzy for granted and starts fighting for their marriage. He refuses to sign the papers and hence ensues a series of reminiscing, groveling, seducing and a lot of angst. It was really sad to read about this troubled couple that really connected end the way they did. There was a reason Chris 'shut down' and we don't actually find out till nearly the end.
I also found this hard to read as Jenzy actually does move on while waiting for the papers to be signed. Both mentally and sexually frustrated, she befriends and later gets real close to someone else. So yes, there is a third party here which plays a rather major part. I could have really done without that. I would have loved to see this husband fight for his wife with all his heart without a new guy in the picture. As much as i hated the things Chris did to push Jenzy away, my heart broke every time Jenzy moved on with the other guy. That last bit made me tear a little though, what Chris does in the end.. that 89% mark was just painfully sweet.
Overall this would have been a GREAT read for me had there been no third party, but that's just me. I want my HEA's without main characters feeling 'confused' about their true feelings...makes it not very true in the end.
Eeek.. this was a hard one to read and probably a harder one to review. Had i not read a fantastic review i would have given this one a miss. Not my normal trope but i love reading about second chances. Great writing and my emotions were all over the place.
Chris treats Jenzy so unbelievably badly the last two years of their marriage and Jenzy, being tired of feeling alone and unwanted decides to get a divorce. What we get next is Chris realising his mistake of taking Jenzy for granted and starts fighting for their marriage. He refuses to sign the papers and hence ensues a series of reminiscing, groveling, seducing and a lot of angst. It was really sad to read about this troubled couple that really connected end the way they did. There was a reason Chris 'shut down' and we don't actually find out till nearly the end.
I also found this hard to read as Jenzy actually does move on while waiting for the papers to be signed. Both mentally and sexually frustrated, she befriends and later gets real close to someone else. So yes, there is a third party here which plays a rather major part. I could have really done without that. I would have loved to see this husband fight for his wife with all his heart without a new guy in the picture. As much as i hated the things Chris did to push Jenzy away, my heart broke every time Jenzy moved on with the other guy. That last bit made me tear a little though, what Chris does in the end.. that 89% mark was just painfully sweet.
Overall this would have been a GREAT read for me had there been no third party, but that's just me. I want my HEA's without main characters feeling 'confused' about their true feelings...makes it not very true in the end.
January 3, 2021
“You took off the rings but,” he turned his own ring. “I’m getting buried with mine because whether you leave me or not, I’ll love you till the day I die. To my last breath. You didn’t just give me your love, you brought me closer to my own family, your family, you led me to this amazing career. I don’t want what could’ve been in Sweden, I want what could be with us.”
I don’t often read books about marriages in shambles, so it was really refreshing to read something different. Although this book was very over the top and unrealistic at times, I think this book had some really thoughtful and heartwarming elements. It was also surprisingly funny.
Chris, the hero, is a grade A asshole. He’s so condescending and, I would even go so far as to say, emotionally abusive. He's unsupportive of his wife's career, disrespectful of her beliefs and even ignores her! He did a lot of groveling but I don’t think he completely redeemed himself. The only way the author was able to make me hate him less was through flashbacks when he was basically a completely different guy.
I personally think the heroine, Jenzy, was just as in the wrong as the hero was. Yes, Chris was a douchebag but Jenzy could’ve backed up a little on her new age beliefs. She sounds like a suffocating person to live with to be honest. And for some reason, everyone in the book just really liked her. I did feel very bad for her though, she's just so eager to please her husband. It was gut wrenching to see her get pushed away so many times.
This book was difficult for me to rate because I really enjoyed this book, but at the same time, I felt like the issue wasn’t completely resolved. If they had decided to go to couple’s therapy, I probably would’ve been more satisfied. Also, I think this book requires some editing… or maybe it was just my kindle ebook edition? Overall, I do believe there's a good story underneath it all but it was just lacking in its execution.
Rating: 3/5
September 2, 2023
I just wanted Chris to jump off a cliff and die.
June 21, 2025
2 stars
In short, I hated pretty much everything about this book. The love triangle was the worst.
In short, I hated pretty much everything about this book. The love triangle was the worst.
July 5, 2022
Trigger Warnings:
October 27, 2020, DNF at 30%
I rarely DNF books and while I was in search of a good grovel book, similar to The Unwanted Wife, I came across this book. I remember reading it and didn’t really care much for the characters and stopped since I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style. But I see so many people recommending this book including my friends. I decided to push through and finally picked it up again and MY GOD WAS IT GOOD. The angst and tension killed me, Chris would win me over and then threw my heart away with Jenzy’s, breaking it over and over again. The comedic timing was perfect, Chris was so stupid it was funny. But this book was entertaining, the grovel was satisfying despite Chris fucking up big time and I was rooting for the characters. I think before, I was looking for something more serious and this book had some funny moments and Chris didn’t grovel until later on in the book IMO, which is why I was annoyed, but I LOVED THIS, I am so glad I gave it another shot.
After a happy marriage of 5 years, something shifted between Chris and Jenzy. It’s been two years since Chris has touched Jenzy, two years since he’s treated her the same loving way that he used to in their previous 5 years of marriage. Jenzy tried fighting, she tried communicating, and she tried to show Chris how she felt, but he didn’t care. And after two years, she realized that she was done, she isn’t happy and wanted a divorce. Chris suddenly wakes the hell up and realizes that he neglected Jenzy for far too long. His wife is asking for a divorce and he doesn’t want to. He insults her hippie beliefs and gets angry with her easily while neglecting her cuz of work, but he loves her and wants her to stay with him. But the scary part is, Jenzy seems to have already made up her mind.
Now for spoilers
Stay safe folks
October 27, 2020, DNF at 30%
I rarely DNF books and while I was in search of a good grovel book, similar to The Unwanted Wife, I came across this book. I remember reading it and didn’t really care much for the characters and stopped since I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style. But I see so many people recommending this book including my friends. I decided to push through and finally picked it up again and MY GOD WAS IT GOOD. The angst and tension killed me, Chris would win me over and then threw my heart away with Jenzy’s, breaking it over and over again. The comedic timing was perfect, Chris was so stupid it was funny. But this book was entertaining, the grovel was satisfying despite Chris fucking up big time and I was rooting for the characters. I think before, I was looking for something more serious and this book had some funny moments and Chris didn’t grovel until later on in the book IMO, which is why I was annoyed, but I LOVED THIS, I am so glad I gave it another shot.
After a happy marriage of 5 years, something shifted between Chris and Jenzy. It’s been two years since Chris has touched Jenzy, two years since he’s treated her the same loving way that he used to in their previous 5 years of marriage. Jenzy tried fighting, she tried communicating, and she tried to show Chris how she felt, but he didn’t care. And after two years, she realized that she was done, she isn’t happy and wanted a divorce. Chris suddenly wakes the hell up and realizes that he neglected Jenzy for far too long. His wife is asking for a divorce and he doesn’t want to. He insults her hippie beliefs and gets angry with her easily while neglecting her cuz of work, but he loves her and wants her to stay with him. But the scary part is, Jenzy seems to have already made up her mind.
Now for spoilers
Stay safe folks
August 9, 2023
MEEEEEH!!!
SPOILERS AHEAD, yo necesito desahogarme.
Para serles sincera yo empecé a leer este libro por el drama.
Jenzy lleva 7 años de casada pero decide divorciarse porque los últimos dos años de su matrimonio ella prácticamente es un mueble, Chris su esposo no la toma en cuenta, todo le molesta de ella hasta las cosas que él antes amaba, la menosprecia, se ha olvidado de su cumpleaños, el festejo de San Valentin y del sexo ni hablamos, en resumen el tipo se comportó con un reverendo IMBECIL que necesitaba que le diera una patada y lo mandaran a volar.
Ella se da cuenta que su matrimonio ya no tiene arreglo por más cosas que haga, se lo transmite a él y le pide el divorcio y él así en shock le dice ´ómo, si yo te amo? Y ella asi de Dude tienes dos años ignorándome y él claro que no.
El punto es que él no le quiere dar el divorcio y le propone que le de tiempo básicamente para reconquistarla.
Hasta aquí vamos bien pero lo que ya no me gustó es que meten a un tercero en discordia, ODIO LOS TRIANGULOS AMOROSOS, que ni triángulo fue porque desde el principio sabíamos que se quedaría con el marido.
El tercero en discordia Moses es un tipo que conoció antes de pedirle el divorcio a su esposo y en cuanto lo ve siente mariposas y hasta se le moja ahí abajo, I mean… WTF?!!! Si supone que está sufriendo por el marido.
Ella se me hizo bien mosquita muerta, anda con éste mientras permitía que su esposo la reconquistara, mientras que estaba con su esposo recordaba cuanto lo amaba y veía el esfuerzo de él de reconquistarla pero que tenía miedo que la volviera hacer sufrir pero veía al otro y le decía me estoy enamorando de ti yo NOOOO FUCK OFF, así no juego
Tu dijeras el nuevo es la perfección echa hombre pues NOOOO era un felpudo, rogón que se arrastraba por ella, le dijo me besé con mi esposo y él no te preocupes te entiendo ¿tenía atole en las venas o que?
No tenía nada de macho alpha.
DESCARTADO.
Y ahora vamos por el marido, fue el que mejor me cayó de los tres y eso que yo venía con la idea que lo iba a odiar y desear que se arrastrara por el perdón de ella pero en todo el libro quise que lo perdonara y ya después no quería que él le estuviera insistiendo porque él sufriendo y la otra muy a gusto con novio/amante/casi algo durante un año.
Lo mejor de este libro es la carta del final debo reconocer que esa carta le subió un punto porque el final también dejó mucho que desear.
Y hasta aquí mi reporte Joaquin.
SPOILERS AHEAD, yo necesito desahogarme.
Para serles sincera yo empecé a leer este libro por el drama.
Jenzy lleva 7 años de casada pero decide divorciarse porque los últimos dos años de su matrimonio ella prácticamente es un mueble, Chris su esposo no la toma en cuenta, todo le molesta de ella hasta las cosas que él antes amaba, la menosprecia, se ha olvidado de su cumpleaños, el festejo de San Valentin y del sexo ni hablamos, en resumen el tipo se comportó con un reverendo IMBECIL que necesitaba que le diera una patada y lo mandaran a volar.
Ella se da cuenta que su matrimonio ya no tiene arreglo por más cosas que haga, se lo transmite a él y le pide el divorcio y él así en shock le dice ´ómo, si yo te amo? Y ella asi de Dude tienes dos años ignorándome y él claro que no.
El punto es que él no le quiere dar el divorcio y le propone que le de tiempo básicamente para reconquistarla.
Hasta aquí vamos bien pero lo que ya no me gustó es que meten a un tercero en discordia, ODIO LOS TRIANGULOS AMOROSOS, que ni triángulo fue porque desde el principio sabíamos que se quedaría con el marido.
El tercero en discordia Moses es un tipo que conoció antes de pedirle el divorcio a su esposo y en cuanto lo ve siente mariposas y hasta se le moja ahí abajo, I mean… WTF?!!! Si supone que está sufriendo por el marido.
Ella se me hizo bien mosquita muerta, anda con éste mientras permitía que su esposo la reconquistara, mientras que estaba con su esposo recordaba cuanto lo amaba y veía el esfuerzo de él de reconquistarla pero que tenía miedo que la volviera hacer sufrir pero veía al otro y le decía me estoy enamorando de ti yo NOOOO FUCK OFF, así no juego
Tu dijeras el nuevo es la perfección echa hombre pues NOOOO era un felpudo, rogón que se arrastraba por ella, le dijo me besé con mi esposo y él no te preocupes te entiendo ¿tenía atole en las venas o que?
No tenía nada de macho alpha.
DESCARTADO.
Y ahora vamos por el marido, fue el que mejor me cayó de los tres y eso que yo venía con la idea que lo iba a odiar y desear que se arrastrara por el perdón de ella pero en todo el libro quise que lo perdonara y ya después no quería que él le estuviera insistiendo porque él sufriendo y la otra muy a gusto con novio/amante/casi algo durante un año.
Lo mejor de este libro es la carta del final debo reconocer que esa carta le subió un punto porque el final también dejó mucho que desear.
Y hasta aquí mi reporte Joaquin.
January 9, 2021
This was supposed to be a romance between a couple getting divorced and finding their way back to each other. Instead, what we have is a woman leaving an emotionally abusive relationship and the man abusing her further by holding the divorce proceedings hostage to "get her back".
I didn't like any of Chris's choices until the very very end. He was a shit husband, from the memories we got in flashbacks he seemed like a shit boyfriend. It sure looked like she was making the right decision by ending the toxic relationship.
At almost every point when we were supposed to like Chris in his attempts to get her back, it fell flat to me. It wasn't funny that he kidnapped her, even if it was to go to Disneyland. It wasn't funny that he stalked her to her dates with a man she was developing feelings for. It wasn't hot that he forced his way into a bathroom with her at a club and forced his kisses on her.
But let's put those complaints aside because I know they're romance tropes and sometimes even I enjoy them. Let's move on to the things that he said. He belittled her dreams at every chance. He preyed on her insecurities when it came to her weight and beauty to stop her from looking good on a date. He would jump on every stupid little thing he could criticize, from her trying healthy cooking, to her using his razor, to her forgetfulness. We get it dude. She forgets to turn off her hair straightener. Maybe just remind her about it instead of bitching at her about it every time. Again, I get it. She's making food you don't care for. Suck it up and fucking take a bite. It won't kill you. If it actually sucks she is the kind of person who WILL admit it when she takes a bite for herself and won't make you eat the whole thing! Just chill the fuck out! You don't need to get mad or annoyed about everything and then be mean about it.
Then we come to this little gem here:
"Did you cheat? I won't be mad, it's over anyway, I just... would like to know, did you ever have an affair while we were...?"
I knew just saying, 'nope' would be as helpful as telling her maybe. She needed a metaphor. "You know that sweater you're wearing?"
She looked annoyed I'd changed the subject. After all, it probably took all her courage to ask.
"Yeah, what about it?"
"It's old as hills and it's damaged."
"So?"
"So why keep it? There're better sweaters. We live in California I think this is like fashion central isn't it?"
She held herself. "It's my favorite, it makes me happy and to me, those 'other sweaters' aren't so much better. I love it."
"Then there's your answer."
That has to be the worst and most offensive metaphor he could've come up with! In the metaphor, she's old and worn out, there are better women than her out there, especially in California! But, you know, he keeps her around because she's his favorite, most comfortable woman. It's so demeaning! AND it actually DOESN'T ANSWER HER FUCKING QUESTION! I mean, you could've said, "no, and here's my really shitty metaphor about why I didn't." But NO. Of course he didn't.
(I don't think I've actually mentioned this so far, but I am also of the opinion that he's an idiot.)
But the worst part about that whole thing is that IT WORKS! She thinks it's SWEET!
I repeat:
(This is probably the part where I should mention that I am also of the opinion that she is also... an idiot.)
That was pretty much where they lost me.
And on top of all that the writing was atrocious. You can tell from above there was an egregious amount of commas, spelling errors were all over the place (the fact that she wrote the words "should of" consecutively makes me cringe real hard), and grammatical errors.
Last, but not least, I will point you to the line on the cover of the book. It was put in the book as though it was something deep and meaningful, but... just read:
I sighed, "Love must be bottomless, you fall in and you fall out. Either way, there's no catching your feet."
I'm pretty sure that's just nonsense. You can't fall out of something without a bottom! And THEN it's followed by this(!):
She chucked, "Don't worry honey, sometimes there's a trampoline at the bottom...
For the last time, I repeat: WHAT?!
And finally, we get to the end of the book. Spoilers for someone who actually wants to read this after reading my review (whoever that is)
I just... I can't.
It wasn't good, let's just leave it at that I guess.
...
and Jenzy is a stupid nickname.
I didn't like any of Chris's choices until the very very end. He was a shit husband, from the memories we got in flashbacks he seemed like a shit boyfriend. It sure looked like she was making the right decision by ending the toxic relationship.
At almost every point when we were supposed to like Chris in his attempts to get her back, it fell flat to me. It wasn't funny that he kidnapped her, even if it was to go to Disneyland. It wasn't funny that he stalked her to her dates with a man she was developing feelings for. It wasn't hot that he forced his way into a bathroom with her at a club and forced his kisses on her.
But let's put those complaints aside because I know they're romance tropes and sometimes even I enjoy them. Let's move on to the things that he said. He belittled her dreams at every chance. He preyed on her insecurities when it came to her weight and beauty to stop her from looking good on a date. He would jump on every stupid little thing he could criticize, from her trying healthy cooking, to her using his razor, to her forgetfulness. We get it dude. She forgets to turn off her hair straightener. Maybe just remind her about it instead of bitching at her about it every time. Again, I get it. She's making food you don't care for. Suck it up and fucking take a bite. It won't kill you. If it actually sucks she is the kind of person who WILL admit it when she takes a bite for herself and won't make you eat the whole thing! Just chill the fuck out! You don't need to get mad or annoyed about everything and then be mean about it.
Then we come to this little gem here:
"Did you cheat? I won't be mad, it's over anyway, I just... would like to know, did you ever have an affair while we were...?"
I knew just saying, 'nope' would be as helpful as telling her maybe. She needed a metaphor. "You know that sweater you're wearing?"
She looked annoyed I'd changed the subject. After all, it probably took all her courage to ask.
"Yeah, what about it?"
"It's old as hills and it's damaged."
"So?"
"So why keep it? There're better sweaters. We live in California I think this is like fashion central isn't it?"
She held herself. "It's my favorite, it makes me happy and to me, those 'other sweaters' aren't so much better. I love it."
"Then there's your answer."
That has to be the worst and most offensive metaphor he could've come up with! In the metaphor, she's old and worn out, there are better women than her out there, especially in California! But, you know, he keeps her around because she's his favorite, most comfortable woman. It's so demeaning! AND it actually DOESN'T ANSWER HER FUCKING QUESTION! I mean, you could've said, "no, and here's my really shitty metaphor about why I didn't." But NO. Of course he didn't.
(I don't think I've actually mentioned this so far, but I am also of the opinion that he's an idiot.)
But the worst part about that whole thing is that IT WORKS! She thinks it's SWEET!
I repeat:
(This is probably the part where I should mention that I am also of the opinion that she is also... an idiot.)
That was pretty much where they lost me.
And on top of all that the writing was atrocious. You can tell from above there was an egregious amount of commas, spelling errors were all over the place (the fact that she wrote the words "should of" consecutively makes me cringe real hard), and grammatical errors.
Last, but not least, I will point you to the line on the cover of the book. It was put in the book as though it was something deep and meaningful, but... just read:
I sighed, "Love must be bottomless, you fall in and you fall out. Either way, there's no catching your feet."
I'm pretty sure that's just nonsense. You can't fall out of something without a bottom! And THEN it's followed by this(!):
She chucked, "Don't worry honey, sometimes there's a trampoline at the bottom...
For the last time, I repeat: WHAT?!
And finally, we get to the end of the book. Spoilers for someone who actually wants to read this after reading my review (whoever that is)
I just... I can't.
It wasn't good, let's just leave it at that I guess.
...
and Jenzy is a stupid nickname.
December 17, 2016
3.25
So I got so many feels for this book it's crazy. You will feel for the h, Jenzy so badly. I have to admit, I thought I might not like this book but a friend who has similar tastes liked it so I thought I would give it a go.
I loved the feels of the book. Chris, the husband, wow, his scenes were HARSH.
Jenzy was a sweetheart who deserved non of it. So she asks for a divorce after one specific horrible moment.
I think this could've been a definite 4 or 5 star read for me if the characters were fleshed out more.
I kid you not, the H doesn't even SEE the h anymore and suddenly when she asks for a divorce it's the first time he's noticing how beautiful she looks. I get it, but I think realistically it should've taken time to see the H's change, because he changed so drastically within the minute she leaves him. But this wasn't why I lowered my rating, just an observation.
Why I did lower it is because while I felt SO much for what Jenzy was going through, and her love for Chris. I was kind of confused at the lack of guilt from Chris's part.
Don't get me wrong, throughout the book he does super romantic things to get her back, he's OTT possessive and hot, but after how he treated her, I wanted him to notice and have a freaking breakdown and feel IMMENSE crazy guilt over it that it HURTS him how he hurt her!
Instead, he does fight for her yes, he does say he knows he did mistakes but the guilt was absent. Instead, he's kind of funny, his POV which I think should've been heartbroken, in deep fear to lose his loved one, was funny and lacked the feelings i would expect a husband who was losing the love of his life would have. His POV was light hearted and funny... whereas I wanted it to be more serious, because MY GOD the things he's done to her... I wanted to feel his guilt dripping from his POV and we got a bit of guilt for the first time at 66% and near the end when she finally has enough of his BS and leaves him for real. Basically it was sweet, romantic whereas I think it should've been more about grovelling, guilt and him redeeming himself.
I did fee his deep love for her which added my points for Chris. I liked that he doesn't care for OW. And that he knows she's it for him and when she leaves him he'll never be with another woman.
So while I felt the feels with their love, and Jenzy's pain, I didn't feel his guilt which I NEEDED to fall for Chris completely. She went through so much and I think it was insulting that not enough was spent on him feeling guilt of what he did.
This kind of reminded me of Natasha Ander's books, where the H's really REALLY have to redeem themselves. And the intensity of the guilt they felt made me believe in their redemption. I felt like this was a (and I'm sorry) a worse type of Anders book. My god in her books, I end it with a smile on my face knowing 100% the hero is redeemed and they're gonna be together. While this book was sweet, I don't think their issues were properly resolved... Here, I couldn't pin point the reason why, while yes I wanted their HEA cause I felt their love, I wanted MORE.
As opposed to scene after scene of romancing etc, I would've appreciated if there were more emotional scenes coming from Chris. I felt like he knew he messed up, but never deeply understood the severity of his mistake, and decided "k I messed up and I'm gonna work my ass off to get her back, but let's ignore everything I did and try to build a future". This wasn't the case for the whole book, most of it. I just wanted more I guess...
Also, when we find out he made fun of her at his job.... I was FURIOUS! But she let it go cause she knows he's changing etc. It's just that.... I wanted for instance in these scenes where she finds out something like that for her to blow up and him to apologise profusely and talk her down. I think the author spent all the grovelling for everything he did as a whole whereas this stuff which popped up should've been spoken about and I would've LOVED it if the h got proper angry then cause I was disgusted by the H that scene and was shocked to see the h so casual about it
Now in terms of the love triangle? I wouldn't clarify this one as a proper one as the scenes with Moses are sparse. So for those of you who we're worried she'd be going from one to the other, don't. And she was always truthful to both of them.
So why the 3 stars? Despite what I said, I truly enjoyed reading the book. I loved how Alpha he was, I loved her as a character, I did like him, but not as much as I liked her. There's angst which I loved as well :) I didn't like the stuff above but it was emotional and it kept my interest and I did FEEL the love they have for one another. I truly did. I just feel like it could've been better to be a 4 or 5 star for me
So I got so many feels for this book it's crazy. You will feel for the h, Jenzy so badly. I have to admit, I thought I might not like this book but a friend who has similar tastes liked it so I thought I would give it a go.
I loved the feels of the book. Chris, the husband, wow, his scenes were HARSH.
Jenzy was a sweetheart who deserved non of it. So she asks for a divorce after one specific horrible moment.
I think this could've been a definite 4 or 5 star read for me if the characters were fleshed out more.
I kid you not, the H doesn't even SEE the h anymore and suddenly when she asks for a divorce it's the first time he's noticing how beautiful she looks. I get it, but I think realistically it should've taken time to see the H's change, because he changed so drastically within the minute she leaves him. But this wasn't why I lowered my rating, just an observation.
Why I did lower it is because while I felt SO much for what Jenzy was going through, and her love for Chris. I was kind of confused at the lack of guilt from Chris's part.
Don't get me wrong, throughout the book he does super romantic things to get her back, he's OTT possessive and hot, but after how he treated her, I wanted him to notice and have a freaking breakdown and feel IMMENSE crazy guilt over it that it HURTS him how he hurt her!
Instead, he does fight for her yes, he does say he knows he did mistakes but the guilt was absent. Instead, he's kind of funny, his POV which I think should've been heartbroken, in deep fear to lose his loved one, was funny and lacked the feelings i would expect a husband who was losing the love of his life would have. His POV was light hearted and funny... whereas I wanted it to be more serious, because MY GOD the things he's done to her... I wanted to feel his guilt dripping from his POV and we got a bit of guilt for the first time at 66% and near the end when she finally has enough of his BS and leaves him for real. Basically it was sweet, romantic whereas I think it should've been more about grovelling, guilt and him redeeming himself.
I did fee his deep love for her which added my points for Chris. I liked that he doesn't care for OW. And that he knows she's it for him and when she leaves him he'll never be with another woman.
So while I felt the feels with their love, and Jenzy's pain, I didn't feel his guilt which I NEEDED to fall for Chris completely. She went through so much and I think it was insulting that not enough was spent on him feeling guilt of what he did.
This kind of reminded me of Natasha Ander's books, where the H's really REALLY have to redeem themselves. And the intensity of the guilt they felt made me believe in their redemption. I felt like this was a (and I'm sorry) a worse type of Anders book. My god in her books, I end it with a smile on my face knowing 100% the hero is redeemed and they're gonna be together. While this book was sweet, I don't think their issues were properly resolved... Here, I couldn't pin point the reason why, while yes I wanted their HEA cause I felt their love, I wanted MORE.
As opposed to scene after scene of romancing etc, I would've appreciated if there were more emotional scenes coming from Chris. I felt like he knew he messed up, but never deeply understood the severity of his mistake, and decided "k I messed up and I'm gonna work my ass off to get her back, but let's ignore everything I did and try to build a future". This wasn't the case for the whole book, most of it. I just wanted more I guess...
Also, when we find out he made fun of her at his job.... I was FURIOUS! But she let it go cause she knows he's changing etc. It's just that.... I wanted for instance in these scenes where she finds out something like that for her to blow up and him to apologise profusely and talk her down. I think the author spent all the grovelling for everything he did as a whole whereas this stuff which popped up should've been spoken about and I would've LOVED it if the h got proper angry then cause I was disgusted by the H that scene and was shocked to see the h so casual about it
Now in terms of the love triangle? I wouldn't clarify this one as a proper one as the scenes with Moses are sparse. So for those of you who we're worried she'd be going from one to the other, don't. And she was always truthful to both of them.
So why the 3 stars? Despite what I said, I truly enjoyed reading the book. I loved how Alpha he was, I loved her as a character, I did like him, but not as much as I liked her. There's angst which I loved as well :) I didn't like the stuff above but it was emotional and it kept my interest and I did FEEL the love they have for one another. I truly did. I just feel like it could've been better to be a 4 or 5 star for me
October 20, 2021
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Liked it!
===================
UPDATE: Reread in October 2021.
---------------------------
Our heroine got the wrong guy in the end! He didn't deserve forgiveness. He was never good enough for her and always treated her like trash. And he never respected her as a person. Aff!
The hero really treats our heroine very badly.
==============================
Read in 2017
------------
He is ashamed of her and does not even invite her to the events of the company in which he works. He treats her as if she were an inconvenience. He makes jokes about her to colleagues.
I was horrified by his negligent behavior and the fact that he had not had sex with her for two years and rejected her every time she tried to approach him sexually.
I liked the way she no longer accepted his behavior and regained her self-esteem with Moses. Moses is perfect!
Our hero ended up saying that he regretted having married her and that he was frustrated that he had not taken career opportunities because of her. She felt hurt by his words and determined to proceed with the divorce.
But he woke up in time and saw that his behavior and the way he treated our heroine was not right and in the end he resigned himself to losing her forever.
I really enjoyed the story and highly recommend it!
===================
UPDATE: Reread in October 2021.
---------------------------
Our heroine got the wrong guy in the end! He didn't deserve forgiveness. He was never good enough for her and always treated her like trash. And he never respected her as a person. Aff!
The hero really treats our heroine very badly.
==============================
Read in 2017
------------
He is ashamed of her and does not even invite her to the events of the company in which he works. He treats her as if she were an inconvenience. He makes jokes about her to colleagues.
I was horrified by his negligent behavior and the fact that he had not had sex with her for two years and rejected her every time she tried to approach him sexually.
I liked the way she no longer accepted his behavior and regained her self-esteem with Moses. Moses is perfect!
Our hero ended up saying that he regretted having married her and that he was frustrated that he had not taken career opportunities because of her. She felt hurt by his words and determined to proceed with the divorce.
But he woke up in time and saw that his behavior and the way he treated our heroine was not right and in the end he resigned himself to losing her forever.
I really enjoyed the story and highly recommend it!
Now it had been two years and a couple months since Chris and I had sex.
“I’ve been sleeping on the couch down here, for two weeks. You haven’t even noticed.”
Mandy shook her head, “It’s a late one. He’s forgotten your birthday twice, he’s critical of everything that makes you, who you are, he hasn’t been intimate in years, he puts down your work, and he did that horrible thing at the-.”
She shifted then went on, “Four days before it was held, she got a call from one of Chris’ coworker’s wives asking what she was wearing. She wanted to borrow some jewelry… for the event…”
“I was the only wife in the company that wasn’t going. When I asked him about it, I didn’t tell him she called. So, he lied again and told me they didn’t allow spouses. He really just didn’t want me to go.”
I’d forgotten her birthday twice. How could I do that?
“Well, Chris in all fairness hasn’t seen my underwear in two years so…”
“Yeah, well Chris forgot your anniversary and your birthday twice. How could you be that important to him if he can’t even remember those special times? He has all that technology shit; he didn’t think to put the dates down?”
What kind of guy dates a woman in the middle of a divorce?” “Uh, in college before you met Jenzy, you dated two married teachers and a single mom.”
“I don’t want to move on. This is us, you’re talking about. You think he can make you feel like I did?” he stressed. “I’m hoping he won’t because for the last couple years the way you made me feel was really shitty. Do you even know how many times I dressed like this for you? Do you know how hard it is to put yourself together for someone? Worse than that, do you know how awful it is to undo it? To take off the dress you tormented over finding, the hair you took hours styling, the makeup you artistically painted on, and the heels you walked around in pain wearing? All that comes off without ever being noticed, over and over again, and you realize it doesn’t even matter because he doesn’t see you!”
“We haven’t needed protection in years because we went the one-hundred percent effective, abstinence route.” I was reminding him of the complete withdraw of sex he put me through, but he didn’t seem to notice.
I hadn’t felt a man touch me in two long years. This was sex for me.
“I haven’t done this in a long time,” I warned. Not sure why.
“I thought I was ready,” I confessed. “I knew better, It’s my fault.” Wow, what a champ. Taking on my train wreck. “We need to stop seeing each other, this is stupid,” I told him as I sat straight. “I want you so badly, but it’s selfish, I’m still healing. You’ll end up hurt.”
“Why would you think I find you unattractive?” “I don’t know… must’ve started after the hundredth time you rejected me for sex. My favorite memory was me waiting naked for you in our bed and you telling me if I kept up with laundry I would have something to wear. Then there’s the time I tried kissing you at the park and you told me to grow up.”
Hey, Chris, could you just fuck me enough to chill out my hormones? No way, I was asking that, he rejected me two years in a row. I groaned in my head. TWO FUCKING YEARS! I need sex, I’m not dead!
You aren’t even proud of me like I am of you. You don’t like me. Even if we let this happen and had the best sex ever, it won’t fix our problems. You might want me physically but what about after? What about at company banquets? What about award dinners? What about when you don’t want sex anymore like before? What happens when we go home and there’s no more Disney magic? What then?”
I left her alone for two years, and you didn’t have to hit a woman to abuse her. You didn’t have to strike them to leave scars.
“I’m all for keeping things private, I like keeping people out of my business, but how long would you want to keep it that way?” “I don’t know… like I just don’t want people to know.” “That way, if you get bored, you don’t look like a jerk?”
You made me a joke to your work people and that’s why you didn’t want me to come to these events.”
“You felt… stuck? Like you settled, and you didn’t want to tell me-.” “No, I didn’t know. I didn’t realize I was feeling that way.” “So, I’ve held you back?” “You saying that, is seriously making me ill, Jenzy. Please, don’t say that.”
“Yes- I mean, no. No, I love you, I wanted to stay.” “If that was the truth, you wouldn’t have shut me out.”
“You made a mistake,” I brushed the tear back. “You um… you settled because you thought you had to. That’s why… us… we… we don’t make sense anymore. It’s time to… you can start over.”
“I don’t resent you; I resent the way things turned out.” “You resent me for being the icon of why your wings were clipped. No travel, no career, no going forward in the manner you sought to avoid. You were on a fast track to regular nine to five work, a wife, children, a house payment… you’re stuck, and I was the live-in reminder.”
“That’s why there was no sex, you were afraid I would get pregnant. If I did, you would never be able to leave; you love kids too much to do that. So, instead, you’ve been making me feel like an unattractive rock in your shoe. You intended to leave.”
“You tell me to be real! Then when I’m real you can’t take it. You want things you can’t have with me and over time, you’ve only discovered how little you even like me. That’s why you told your boss that. You don’t want someone like me raising your kids.”
“If you could go back in time… and had to make this decision over… what would you do?” “I would go, okay!”
October 14, 2020
“You used to be amazing. Breathtaking. I used to have to hold on to things to make love to you. You would take me with this fire, like, you were afraid to lose me, or like you were dying or something. The last few times you were so far away in your head and you made me feel…like a chore.”
When I saw more and more reviews popping up I decided to read this book and boy, o boy did I enjoy this one. This was husband groveling 1-0-1! Just fantastic!!
I really loved this one, the whole opposite attracts was big here.
Christopher, aka Chris, is a hard working real estate broker who's career is on the fast track. He's always busy with either work or the gym. He looks amazing, is in great shape and is very aware of it. He's astonished when Jenzy out of the blue demands a divorce after seven years of marriage.
I should just hand her the meat cleaver behind me and tell her to gore me with it. Same thing. This felt the same. A chore? I’d made touching her feel like a chore? Isn’t it weird how the body works? Hearing her now made me see her.
I watched her walk away from me and fought more panic. What had I done?
Jenzy, short for Jennifer, is flaky with my ambitions, I’m messy, I have unrealistic beliefs, I can be annoyingly positive and let’s face it, I’m forgetful as hell and clumsy. I’m your total opposite. and irrevocable & undeniably in love with her husband Chris. Suddenly, after five years of blissful marriage, something happened and Chris no longer notices her and worst, is constantly annoyed by her.
I loved it, it felt very realistic. Something like this could happen to every married/engaged couple. As life takes over we forget about the one lying next to us, we forget to communicate with each other. It makes you stop and think about how life can get in the way of your marriage
This is a beautiful, heart wrenching, funny, sad, entertaining and sexy story of two people who fell hard for each other and he forgot about her along the way.
“I love you too…I guess…”
June 19, 2022
“Love must be bottomless.. you fall in and you fall out. Either way, there’s no catching your feet.”
Marriage in crisis is becoming one of my favorite tropes, after reading (the unwanted wife) . It's so realistic, heart breaking and devastating to read through the ups and downs of two people falling in and out of love.
This is the story of Jenzy and Chris. And how their marriage and love started sending them apart. I loved the writing style, we got to see the past and present told through both of their points of view.
What was amazing in this book, was that cheating wasn't involved in breaking them apart but other realistic reasons were there.
This book made me cry in the end. It was beautiful watching him try to win her back after he truly broke her apart during their marriage.
"You took off the rings but,” he turned his. “I’m getting buried with mine because, whether you leave me or not, I’ll love you till the day I die. To my last breath. You didn’t just give me your love, you became part of my soul"❤️
Rating 5 stars 🌟
Marriage in crisis is becoming one of my favorite tropes, after reading (the unwanted wife) . It's so realistic, heart breaking and devastating to read through the ups and downs of two people falling in and out of love.
This is the story of Jenzy and Chris. And how their marriage and love started sending them apart. I loved the writing style, we got to see the past and present told through both of their points of view.
What was amazing in this book, was that cheating wasn't involved in breaking them apart but other realistic reasons were there.
This book made me cry in the end. It was beautiful watching him try to win her back after he truly broke her apart during their marriage.
"You took off the rings but,” he turned his. “I’m getting buried with mine because, whether you leave me or not, I’ll love you till the day I die. To my last breath. You didn’t just give me your love, you became part of my soul"❤️
Rating 5 stars 🌟
September 29, 2020
Estuve a punto de abandonar esta historia, ya que al principio ciertas actitudes que tomó Chris me parecieron hilarantes e inmaduras, pero después de eso el libro mejoró mucho, así que me alegro de no haber renunciado a su lectura.
Me gustan las historias de parejas casadas que tienen problemas, y que tratan de resolverlos. La premisa de que el protagonista tiene olvidada a su esposa, la ignora, se olvida de las fechas especiales, etc me encanta, sobre todo cuando el que se equivoca hace todo lo posible para corregir sus malas acciones y ganarse de nuevo el amor del otro.
Debo reconocer que a pesar de que al principio odié un poco a Chris, luego me volví totalmente team Chris, es verdad que él se desentiende de su esposa y la ignora, pero luego cuando se da cuenta y explica por qué, me pareció muy realista, esto le puede pasar a cualquier pareja.
Hubo cosas que no me gustaron como por ejemplo que Jenzy se envolviera tan profundamente con otro hombre, aunque nunca llegaron a tener relaciones sexuales, pero la entiendo, ya ella estaba en proceso de divorcio y quería empezar una nueva vida y ser feliz.
Como dice la autora al final del libro: El divorcio es un proceso difícil y rara vez termina como lo hicieron Jenzy y Chris. El amor puede desvanecerse y el tiempo puede cambiar a las personas, pero si está destinado a ser, poco se interpondrá en el camino. De cualquier manera, el divorcio es un nuevo comienzo... así que aquí está un nuevo comienzo.
Divorce is a difficult process and it rarely ends like Jenzy and Chris’ did. The love can fade and time can change people but if it’s meant to be, little will stand in the way. Either way, Divorce is a new beginning… so here’s to new beginnings.
Edna leaned into the counter, “You wanna know why everyone asks if ya cheated?” No, but I guess I need to. So I waited, “because as long as we’ve all known you, ya want what ya can’t have. Then depending on what it is ya ain’t always happy with it long. When ya want something I’ve never seen someone fight harder than you to get it.
Me gustan las historias de parejas casadas que tienen problemas, y que tratan de resolverlos. La premisa de que el protagonista tiene olvidada a su esposa, la ignora, se olvida de las fechas especiales, etc me encanta, sobre todo cuando el que se equivoca hace todo lo posible para corregir sus malas acciones y ganarse de nuevo el amor del otro.
Debo reconocer que a pesar de que al principio odié un poco a Chris, luego me volví totalmente team Chris, es verdad que él se desentiende de su esposa y la ignora, pero luego cuando se da cuenta y explica por qué, me pareció muy realista, esto le puede pasar a cualquier pareja.
Hubo cosas que no me gustaron como por ejemplo que Jenzy se envolviera tan profundamente con otro hombre, aunque nunca llegaron a tener relaciones sexuales, pero la entiendo, ya ella estaba en proceso de divorcio y quería empezar una nueva vida y ser feliz.
Como dice la autora al final del libro: El divorcio es un proceso difícil y rara vez termina como lo hicieron Jenzy y Chris. El amor puede desvanecerse y el tiempo puede cambiar a las personas, pero si está destinado a ser, poco se interpondrá en el camino. De cualquier manera, el divorcio es un nuevo comienzo... así que aquí está un nuevo comienzo.
Divorce is a difficult process and it rarely ends like Jenzy and Chris’ did. The love can fade and time can change people but if it’s meant to be, little will stand in the way. Either way, Divorce is a new beginning… so here’s to new beginnings.
Edna leaned into the counter, “You wanna know why everyone asks if ya cheated?” No, but I guess I need to. So I waited, “because as long as we’ve all known you, ya want what ya can’t have. Then depending on what it is ya ain’t always happy with it long. When ya want something I’ve never seen someone fight harder than you to get it.
Read
April 9, 2017DNF @30%! Ugh! I might of been able to finish this one if I liked any of the characters but I don't. I tried and this ones just not for me.
How do you still love your wife and not have sex for two years?? Oh boy! Chris and his thoughts after she left didn't make any sense to me because I'm sorry! I've been with my hubs for 30 years and its not always easy! Chris's behavior just doesn't make sense to me at all!!! Who's hubs would ever turn down some shower sex??? None!! And he's such an asshole. Jeez! Even when he's trying to get her to talk to him after she left he's an ass. Bye bye Chris! Hahahaha!!
Jenzy? Lord! You hand over the divorce papers and then a few weeks (I think) later you're going on a date? I mean I get that your marriage sucked for two years but at least wait until your divorce is final! Ugh!
Moses? Yea I didn't like him from the get go. I don't think he would of had an issue with having an affair with a married woman at all. Hell they are on a date and she's still married. That's a big fat no in my eyes!
So yea. I'm not loving any of them! Time to move in:))
How do you still love your wife and not have sex for two years?? Oh boy! Chris and his thoughts after she left didn't make any sense to me because I'm sorry! I've been with my hubs for 30 years and its not always easy! Chris's behavior just doesn't make sense to me at all!!! Who's hubs would ever turn down some shower sex??? None!! And he's such an asshole. Jeez! Even when he's trying to get her to talk to him after she left he's an ass. Bye bye Chris! Hahahaha!!
Jenzy? Lord! You hand over the divorce papers and then a few weeks (I think) later you're going on a date? I mean I get that your marriage sucked for two years but at least wait until your divorce is final! Ugh!
Moses? Yea I didn't like him from the get go. I don't think he would of had an issue with having an affair with a married woman at all. Hell they are on a date and she's still married. That's a big fat no in my eyes!
So yea. I'm not loving any of them! Time to move in:))
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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