The Pre-Nup

by Beth Kendrick

All you need is love? For the residents of swanky Mayfair Estates, a pre-nup is just another item on the wedding to-do checklist—but three friends get more than they bargained for when they promise to love, cherish . . . and sign on the dotted line.

Ellie married her handsome, wealthy Prince Charming when she was young, naive, and willing to sign a one-sided pre-nup in the name of true love. But seven years and one toddler later, her happily-ever-after has come screeching to a halt. If she can’t save her marriage, she’s determined to save her divorce, and she’s not about to let a lot of legalese stand in her way.

When Jen married Eric, he knew she wasn’t head over heels. Still, he insisted that they were perfect together and even bankrolled her blossoming business. But when Jen’s career finally takes off, she realizes that she may lose her husband. If Eric leaves, Jen will lose everything—including the marriage she values more than she thought.

Up-and-coming attorney Mara is sure her fiancé has forgiven her for a foolish one-night fling—until he adds a “cheating clause” to the pre-nup she had demanded. If he really trusts her, why the clause? And if she’s really trustworthy, why is she objecting?

As romance collides with real life, three very different women turn to each other for moral support and insights about how to safeguard their most valuable their hearts.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Womens Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Marriage, Humor

290 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

This is the part where I’m supposed to brag about all my illustrious accomplishments, but honestly, I’d rather talk about my dogs and brag about some of the things I haven’t done:

I’ve never been to prison*, court-ordered rehab*, or splashed across the cover of a salacious weekly gossip tabloid with my ladybits on display**.

I’m a Leo, a middle child, and a formidable Trivial Pursuit opponent. I read everything I can get my hands on, from the classics to comic books. I don’t drink coffee because, frankly, I’m high strung enough without adding caffeine into the mix. Here is the true story of how I became a novelist:

So I had just started seeing this guy, and on our second or third date, he invited me to be his guest at a family wedding. Being young and free and a bit commitment-shy, I was about to decline until he casually mentioned that the bride was a successful romance novelist. Well, the second I heard that, I had to go. Being a writer had always been my dream job, and I’d never met anyone who’d actually beaten the odds and made the leap into big-time publishing. So I RSVP-ed, sidled up to the bar at the reception, waited until the bride and all her author friends uncorked the good champagne, and then peppered them with endless questions about writing, editing, and landing an agent. They were so funny and encouraging and generous with their time and advice. (And drunk!) Next thing you know, I had joined a critique group and was knee-deep in the manuscript that would eventually become MY FAVORITE MISTAKE. The open bar at that wedding changed my life forever.

Oh, and the guy who invited me to the wedding? I ended up marrying him. All together: awww…

I live in Arizona in a very cute fixer-upper that my husband and I bought in a burst of can-do, pioneering confidence. We thought it would be fun to embark on a series of do-it-yourself renovations. Yeah. I know. Turns out, replacing baseboard that’s been painted over 15 times since 1958 is not as easy as those Home Depot commercials would lead you to believe. Also, freshly-installed lawn drip systems and “helpful” dogs are a bad mix.

Friday and RoxieSpeaking of dogs, here we have the indefatigable canine lawn maintenance crew: Roxie and Friday. Both were rescued from the pound when they were puppies. I think they’re Rhodesian Ridgeback mixes. (Probably. Maybe? Anything’s possible.) Roxie is the brains of the operation and Friday is…well, he’s very sweet. And so indolent he could be mistaken for a piece of furniture, which I consider a very desirable trait in a family dog.

I absolutely love hearing from readers, so please feel free to email me, with the caveat that I am often on deadline/on the road/on the ragged edge of sanity, so it may be awhile before you get a reply. Just know that it’s not you; it’s me!

Have fun exploring the site, and if you have any questions about my new book, my backlist, or finding an agent…I’ll be right over there at the bar.

*Yet.



**That I know of.

Reviews

[Antonella · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you are in the mood for a women fiction novel I definitely recommend this one
it was engaging and I liked all three protagonists...

[Fyrephoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am currently stuck on reading stories about cheating husbands and wives surviving. Sadly I think I've read most of them. That being said THIS story rocked it. I just wish I read more about the after effects of the ex husband. His story needed more pow. I wanted to see the S.O.B. suffer.

[Shonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie is married to Michael and they appear to be "Ken and Barbie" of Mayfair Estates. Michael works for his parents' real estate company and Ellie is a SAHM for their daughter Hannah. Ellie also volunteers on numerous committees with her mother-in-law Patrice. Ellie thinks she has a solid marriage until she accidentally reads a text message to her husband from his mistress. She's outraged by his betrayal and impulsively declares their marriage is over. Michael begs her to forgive him and informs her the affair is over. They agree to give their marriage a second chance and start marriage counseling. The only problem is, Michael has another agenda in mind.

Jen is married to Eric, her best friend. Which to some may sound "happily ever after", however Jen isn't in love with him. Together they have build a business which Jen uses as an excuse to not spend time with her husband. Eric, meanwhile has a job that demands he travels and spends several weeks at a time away from home. Eric truly loves Jen and believes he loves her enough for the both of them, but is it really enough to make their marriage work?

Mara is engaged to Josh and is currently planning her wedding. She thinks it is wise they sign a pre-nup before saying "I do" and Josh reluctantly agrees. Mara should have been careful for what she wished for because Josh added his own clause in their pre-nup regarding fidelity. Mara had a one-night stand early in their relationship and thought they had moved beyond it. Seems like, Josh hasn't. Exhausted from arguing with Josh about this new clause, she comes up with an idea that will make them even. Again, before careful what you wish for.

The Pre-Nup is a story about what really defines a marriage. Is it really about love? Sacrifice? Comprise? Or is there an element of comfort that no one wants to admit to. What these three friends realize is that marriage is more than signing the pre-nup. It's about what happens after the ink dries and the honeymoon ends.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first "chick lit" book and I LOVED it!

I won this from a Goodreads giveaway and I'm really glad I did. The characters are hilarious, complicated, and realistic. I truly enjoyed every page of this book. Not once did I feel the need, as I do in some books, to skim over unnecessary information or useless dialogue. Every page is packed with relevance, humor and genuine feeling. I felt as if I was a fourth (unnamed) friend being allowed to ride along with the characters as they experienced the ups and downs of their respective relationships.

The basic premise is this: Three friends, all at different stages of their relationships, have come to the realization that their lives may not be as perfect or as solid as they thought.

Mara is engaged to a great guy but can't seem to get over her past. If she can't put her mistakes behind her soon she may ruin her first truly healty relationship and her engagement.

Jen is married to Eric, a wonderful but distant man. She married him even though they both knew she didn't love him but now that he seems to be pulling away she can't understand why that upsets her so much.

Then there's Ellie who is happily married to her Prince Charming - until she finds out Prince Charming is sleeping with a wicked witch. Her reactions, her decisions and her efforts to come to terms with her new reality seem to be at the center of the book.

With the help of one ex-stripper, an ex-boyfriend and an "evil empire" (with a few society matrons thrown in) these women learn about themselves, what they really want in a relationship and how to cherish what they already have.

[Donna ~ The Romance Cover · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Would you sign a pre-nup?" The one question that binds three different relationships and opens a plethora of questions. Pre-nups are not the norm in the UK and I am always leery of the motives behind them. At the end of the day, if you were in it for the long, surely the prospect of divorce is the last thing you should be thinking about. However, the world is what the world is and long is the belief that marriage is for life for most. I really enjoyed three different perspectives and this was a book that definitely makes you think.

“According to you, it doesn’t matter what I believe.” He fished her house keys out of his pocket and plunked them down on the counter. “It’s about what we put in writing. If you get to protect yourself, so do I.”

[Rossy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book, fairly typical chic-lit. In my personal opinion though it was not as good as Nearlyweds. Maybe it's that am single and just couldn't relate to how the main characters felt, which was odd because i was able to previously. Perhaps it's the subject of cheating and how the heroines reacted to it. I know for sure i would have done it differently, but again am not married now so who knows if my perspective could change in that matter. Overall it was good and it had a satisfying ending which kept me happy.

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny-thanks for the book, G!!!

[Marte Haga]

DNF at 75% after realizing I just could give a F*** about any of these women or the story. To me this seems like a copy -paste from random other similar themed books about infidelity, marriage and career women. It also seems like the book can't make up its mind as to whether it wants to be a rom-com, or a family drama, or women's fiction and it just kind of ends up not checking any of the boxes. The characters are bland, simple and unlayered. All the relationships seem childish and so unrealistic. And argh ... Maybe I'm just grumpy

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book opens the conversation starter for "Would you sign a pre-nup?" This story presents different sides to the pre-nup and gives you a good idea of what one may experience - cheating clause, division of assets, etc. Never being in the situation regarding a pre-nup, this book opened up a thinking card for if and when the time comes, I go into it smart and not naive.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect summer read. The basis of the book is of course a pre-nuptual agreement. Has a lot of quick witty quotes you will love. All of the characters can easily relate to real life. Made me buy a few more Beth Kendrick books.

[Lissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing novel...very quick read.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The reason I picked this out to read is mired in history. It is just incidental that I had read the author before. (Nearlyweds and Cure for the Common Breakup)
My mother long ago had told me to make sure I got a pre-nup before my suitor swept me away in a golden chariot, but I had no idea what she meant. My mother had worked part-time as a legal assistant when she was in undergrad. So therefore, I resolved to do my research on this term myself.
Then, life got busy for the next 20 years.
Fast forward to today.

To be honest, mentioning I was reading this seemed to disconcert every single male within my age range I ever mentioned I've been paging through this book, if he knows what a pre-nuptial agreement is, anyway, so shhh.
The proper move, I think, if you know how to play the chess game of life is to gather information and siphon more funding for more data, as possible, and bat your hazel eyes in innocence. (Or, I've been told my eyes are hazel. Yours might be something different.)

*whisper* I just finished this book today, between you and me. It was interesting enough.
I have practice splitting my attention between multiple POV's between chapters from, ummm, I don't remember, some childhood series I was really super-into 30 years ago, but I can't remember which one anymore because we are getting into the wait-a-minute-how-old-is-this-reviewer range. One of those chapter books from way back when I was just learning how to keep my attention span long enough to remember all the characters and also how to pronounce their names right. There are a bunch of those out there so it could be anything now.

So I thought this was tailored for someone who couldn't pay enough attention to a novel of its length (my edition is 290-p).

One doesn't have to wed anyone else, of course; I read this one lady has a website about marrying herself, which I promptly couldn't find for this review, but the system seems rigged so that as a female it might be more beneficial to end up engaged to some unfortunate sod even just to moan and complain at until the mutual difference of opinion or however a murder's officially called ends the problem, and even if this one is not the mystical Gary Stu whom I am fancying at the moment, that'll finish the job satisfyingly enough.

So, I kind of liked it for the blueprint of how these sorts of things work and kind of didn't because I think romance novels can be done wrong in so many ways and right in so few others.
In this particular one, I thought it was hard to keep track of the multiple character dynamics in a novel that wasn't one of those интересно Russian ones such as Anna Karenina or August 1914 but then again I've probably just not been reading multiple POV novels for a while, too, and it might have been okay, on that front. (That is the Russian word for "interesting," I just like typing it out funny.)

This particular book is one of the few books I've felt like I've had to be secretive about reading. Maybe since "Nup" sounds like a dirty word? Maybe like how some people have to go in to the hospital for their nup's and tick's? Hahaha.
I guess it was okay, after all.

[Linda Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth Kendrick explores the good, the bad and the oh-so ugly of prenuptial agreements. The book looks at this issue through the eyes of three young women who have been best friends since college. Two are currently married and one is engaged. But their situations couldn't be more different. Ellie's handsome, charming husband is about to blow up her life in a divorce using the pre-nup that she naively signed when they wed. Jen's husband has decided that she doesn't love him enough and that he is tired of coming second to her business which is poised to take off in a big way. Unfortunately, the prenup gives him control of her company (which she started with his money) if they are wed less than five years. And guess what anniversary is coming up fast. Mara is the bride-to-be who is insisting that her fiancé sign a pre-nuptial agreement. That is, until she reads the revised form that his attorney has prepared with a "cheating clause". Just cause she made one drunken mistake years ago. This was a fun, fast read that kept me up way past my bedtime last night. Beth Kendrick has become one of my new favorite authors.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started this book I thought it would be an ok, cute read, but nothing to write home about. While indeed this is a light, breezy read it was also a lot of fun. I enjoyed this book more than the previous books I've read by this author. The relationship between the women was warm and sincere. The good and bad guys each got what they deserved, so from a woman's point of view the ending was satisfying. There were several laugh out loud moments which almost always endear me to a book.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started this book I thought it would be an ok, cute read, but nothing to write home about. While indeed this is a light, breezy read it was also a lot of fun. I enjoyed this book more than the previous books I've read by this author. The relationship between the women was warm and sincere. The good and bad guys each got what they deserved, so from a woman's point of view the ending was satisfying. There were several laugh out loud moments which almost always endear me to a book.

[Ceh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 bestfriends dealing with the ups and downs of serious relationships and the complexities of pre-nups before, during and after a wedding especially at divorce. What could go wrong? Everything. A quick read

[Tracy Froment · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Arianne Richmonde and I absolutely loved it! Will be reading more of her books. I had the twists and outcomes all wrong. The characters were interesting and you felt like you were vested in thier relationships… such a dang good read!!!!

[Emily Short · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect summer read! This was predictable- but kept me entertained.

[Arlene Downey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining!!!!

Three friends and their issues with their relationships. And some interesting characters that stroll through their lives at this moment.

Could not put it down.

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as usual, but ok.

[Pianogirl1126 · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun quick mindless read.

[EmmaLouise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect quick easy Sunday read.

[Jackie Lyon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, chick lit book. I didn't like it as much as some of her previous books. The characters weren't very likable to me.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book and a quick read.

[Melody Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would make an awesome lifetime movie!

[Noemi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more of 3 1/2 stars. A fun, easy read whether you believe in prenups or not. I liked that all three women had very different stories despite their close bond.

[Diane Houdeshell · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun fluff. Easy quick read. The First Wives Club in book form.

[Lindsay Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3.5 stars

[Cathy Dunwiddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read