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The Anatomy of Cheating
Lust, deception, betrayal, and their inevitable outcomes weave a web nearly impossible to escape in Nesly Clerge's latest novel.
Chelsea Hall is certain her husband is cheating. Again. How far will a wife go when her adulterous husband pushes her to the edge? Some stop at the cliff's edge. Others leap into the abyss. Garrett Hall wants what and who he wants. His detachment from their relationship leads Chelsea to seek what she needs elsewhere, and onto a path that leads to bliss. What begins as a dream-come-true soon becomes a nightmare when the line between who is innocent and who is guilty soon blurs. Until the horrifying truth becomes clear. And, the question becomes, Who will survive?
Chelsea Hall is certain her husband is cheating. Again. How far will a wife go when her adulterous husband pushes her to the edge? Some stop at the cliff's edge. Others leap into the abyss. Garrett Hall wants what and who he wants. His detachment from their relationship leads Chelsea to seek what she needs elsewhere, and onto a path that leads to bliss. What begins as a dream-come-true soon becomes a nightmare when the line between who is innocent and who is guilty soon blurs. Until the horrifying truth becomes clear. And, the question becomes, Who will survive?
411 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2017
802 people are currently reading
1067 people want to read
About the author
Nesly Clerge
9 books280 followers
**INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER – GOLD MEDAL**
Readers' Favorite 2017 Best general fiction for When The Serpent Bites
**INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER – SILVER MEDAL**
Readers' Favorite 2017 Best general fiction for When The Dragon Roars
Nesly Clerge received his bachelor’s degree in physiology and neurobiology at the University of Maryland, and later pursued a doctoral degree in the field of chiropractic medicine. He is currently practicing as a board certified chiropractic physician. Although his background is primarily science-based, he has finally embraced his lifelong passion for writing. Clerge’s debut novel, When the Serpent Bites, explores choices, consequences, and the complexities of human emotions, especially when we are placed in a less-than-desirable setting. When he is not writing, Clerge manages several multidisciplinary clinics. He enjoys reading, chess, traveling, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with his significant other and his sons.
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May 4, 2017
Special thanks to all the amazing people, beta readers, and reviewers who read my novel, The Anatomy of Cheating, I truly appreciate your support. I've attached some of the editorial reviews below:
Nesly Clerge’s latest novel opens with psychiatrist, Dr. Bernadette Moore speaking about her book, “The Anatomy of Cheating” on a book tour. Her book discusses infidelity and the reasons why people cheat in relationships, both men and women. This is the final leg of her tour which she scheduled in her own town of Waltham, Massachusetts. The forum is well-attended with both skeptics and believers. At the end of her presentation, she signs copies of her books for the attendees. Two women approach, one dressed sexily and drawing admiring glances from the men, and the other a less than confident housewife wearing a too big sweater.
The sexily clad woman is Penelope and her best friend, the housewife, is Chelsea Hall, wife of Garrett Hall a successful radiologist. They have one teenage daughter, Kimberlie. Garrett provides Chelsea and their daughter with a lavish lifestyle, a beautiful home, luxurious furnishings, and fancy cars. But he doesn’t give her what she needs most, attention. The husband of Chelsea’s dreams turns out to be a chronic cheater. She puts up with his infidelity anyway because deep down Chelsea still loves him.
She soon meets someone, an author whose books she has read and reviewed. His name is Luke Thompson, and his own marriage is floundering. Chelsea and Luke strike up an email correspondence and eventually decide to meet for coffee. Both are intrigued with each other from the start and delve into an illicit affair, something Chelsea would never have done until she meets Luke. He makes her feel special and beautiful and is not bothered by her fuller figure as Garrett is. She dreams of being with him forever, and he with her.
“As the story progresses, many shocking secrets are revealed, ones that will surprise the reader. Several family members’ lives are altered by these terrible secrets. Clerge draws you in with excellent writing, a mesmerizing tale, and twists and turns that leave you guessing until the very end. This book is very enjoyable, and I found it very hard to break away from.”
―Suzanne Odom, Bestsellers World
______________________________
Confrontation isn’t easy for anyone, much less a public speaker faced with a determined heckler. Accordingly, Nesly Clerge's latest thriller manages to pull off one of the most memorable openings in recent memory, as Dr. Bernadette Moore - on a book tour for her New York Times bestseller - finds her credibility challenged by a fellow psychologist in the crowd. After an uncomfortable back-and-forth before a live audience, Moore reveals just why she’s an expert on the subject: “I’ve been divorced twice, cheated on, and did the cheating. That’s why I’m more than qualified to do what I do.”
The testy exchange earns Dr. Moore a new fan as well as a patient in Chelsea Hall. Chelsea is convinced that her husband is cheating on her. But Chelsea’s no angel either, having formed a secretive - if platonic - relationship with her husband’s brother, Richard. Told in part through therapy sessions with Dr. Moore, The Anatomy of Cheating gets more frantic, and the stakes higher, with each chapter.
To be clear, this isn’t your garden variety psychological thriller. Author Nesly Clergy seems to be carving out a genre of his own, having created a complex relationship drama, romantic suspense and murder mystery all in one. It is soapy at times? Absolutely! But somehow, in Clergy’s hands, each dose of scathing dialogue (“The thing you need to understand, Penelope, is that to me, you’re nothing more than a sex toy”) only increases the level of delicious intrigue. Let’s hope Clergy has another Dr. Moore novel in him. If all her patients are like this, sign us up for an entire series!
The Bottom Line: An addictive, erotic and unsettling psychological thriller that seizes from the very first page and never lets go.
—Best Thrillers
Nesly Clerge’s latest novel opens with psychiatrist, Dr. Bernadette Moore speaking about her book, “The Anatomy of Cheating” on a book tour. Her book discusses infidelity and the reasons why people cheat in relationships, both men and women. This is the final leg of her tour which she scheduled in her own town of Waltham, Massachusetts. The forum is well-attended with both skeptics and believers. At the end of her presentation, she signs copies of her books for the attendees. Two women approach, one dressed sexily and drawing admiring glances from the men, and the other a less than confident housewife wearing a too big sweater.
The sexily clad woman is Penelope and her best friend, the housewife, is Chelsea Hall, wife of Garrett Hall a successful radiologist. They have one teenage daughter, Kimberlie. Garrett provides Chelsea and their daughter with a lavish lifestyle, a beautiful home, luxurious furnishings, and fancy cars. But he doesn’t give her what she needs most, attention. The husband of Chelsea’s dreams turns out to be a chronic cheater. She puts up with his infidelity anyway because deep down Chelsea still loves him.
She soon meets someone, an author whose books she has read and reviewed. His name is Luke Thompson, and his own marriage is floundering. Chelsea and Luke strike up an email correspondence and eventually decide to meet for coffee. Both are intrigued with each other from the start and delve into an illicit affair, something Chelsea would never have done until she meets Luke. He makes her feel special and beautiful and is not bothered by her fuller figure as Garrett is. She dreams of being with him forever, and he with her.
“As the story progresses, many shocking secrets are revealed, ones that will surprise the reader. Several family members’ lives are altered by these terrible secrets. Clerge draws you in with excellent writing, a mesmerizing tale, and twists and turns that leave you guessing until the very end. This book is very enjoyable, and I found it very hard to break away from.”
―Suzanne Odom, Bestsellers World
______________________________
Confrontation isn’t easy for anyone, much less a public speaker faced with a determined heckler. Accordingly, Nesly Clerge's latest thriller manages to pull off one of the most memorable openings in recent memory, as Dr. Bernadette Moore - on a book tour for her New York Times bestseller - finds her credibility challenged by a fellow psychologist in the crowd. After an uncomfortable back-and-forth before a live audience, Moore reveals just why she’s an expert on the subject: “I’ve been divorced twice, cheated on, and did the cheating. That’s why I’m more than qualified to do what I do.”
The testy exchange earns Dr. Moore a new fan as well as a patient in Chelsea Hall. Chelsea is convinced that her husband is cheating on her. But Chelsea’s no angel either, having formed a secretive - if platonic - relationship with her husband’s brother, Richard. Told in part through therapy sessions with Dr. Moore, The Anatomy of Cheating gets more frantic, and the stakes higher, with each chapter.
To be clear, this isn’t your garden variety psychological thriller. Author Nesly Clergy seems to be carving out a genre of his own, having created a complex relationship drama, romantic suspense and murder mystery all in one. It is soapy at times? Absolutely! But somehow, in Clergy’s hands, each dose of scathing dialogue (“The thing you need to understand, Penelope, is that to me, you’re nothing more than a sex toy”) only increases the level of delicious intrigue. Let’s hope Clergy has another Dr. Moore novel in him. If all her patients are like this, sign us up for an entire series!
The Bottom Line: An addictive, erotic and unsettling psychological thriller that seizes from the very first page and never lets go.
—Best Thrillers
April 9, 2017
THE ANATOMY OF CHEATING is a standalone fiction novel by author Nesly Clerge. This novel deals with infidelity in a marriage or relationship and more so, WHY do they do this? It covers a range of emotions of lust, deception, betrayal, and their inevitable outcomes.
“Chelsea Hall is certain her husband is cheating. Again. But how far will a wife go when her adulterous husband pushes her to the edge? Some stop at the cliff’s edge. Others leap into the abyss. Garrett Hall wants what and who he wants. His detachment from their relationship leads Chelsea to seek what she needs elsewhere, and onto a path that leads to bliss. What begins as a dream-come-true soon becomes a nightmare when the line between who is innocent and who is guilty soon blurs. Until the horrifying truth becomes clear. And, the question becomes, Who will survive?”
Chelsea was having a conversation with her mother regarding Garrett's infidelity.
“ The reality is you can leave Garrett and find another man. Or you can stay in the luxury your husband provides, keep your home together for your daughter’s sake, and find some other avenue for happiness so you don’t sit around dwelling on how miserable you feel. The fact is this: The wealthy ones cheat, the poor ones cheat. If you’re going to be with a man, you might as well be with a rich one, because they all cheat.”
I have read Clerge’s debut novel, WHEN THE SERPENT BITES, and WHEN THE DRAGON ROARS, a trilogy, which explores choices, and their consequences. Now in his latest novel, THE ANATOMY OF CHEATING, the reader is faced with a dilemma…Do all men cheat? It is one question that the reader will ponder over, and for that the author has made his mark!
Chelsea Hall is married to Garrett, a successful radiologist, with his own practice who provided well for his wife and teenage daughter, Kimberlie. But he has one major fault…He is a CHRONIC CHEATER! But like a lot of women, she puts up with the situation, because she wants her marriage to work. But how much can a wife or one woman handle? Chelsea is suffering from depression, as a result of her husband’s verbal abuse and lack of attention.
Chelsea soon meets someone, an author, Luke Thompson, whose books she has read and reviewed. Luke is struggling in his own marriage. Chelsea and Luke decide to meet for coffee, and soon start up an affair.
Now get ready to rock and roll. So many twists and turns and secrets. I will not say any more about the outcome, but I was pleasantly surprised.
The Anatomy of Cheating is really good, and the flawed characters are fully developed.
Do all men cheat? All of them? I can only say my mother always told me…A leopard never changes its spots.! I got rid of my ex, a cheater, and now I have someone in my life that I trust, a winner…and a definite Keeper. When one door closes…another one opens!
Special thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC to review. This is my honest review.
“Chelsea Hall is certain her husband is cheating. Again. But how far will a wife go when her adulterous husband pushes her to the edge? Some stop at the cliff’s edge. Others leap into the abyss. Garrett Hall wants what and who he wants. His detachment from their relationship leads Chelsea to seek what she needs elsewhere, and onto a path that leads to bliss. What begins as a dream-come-true soon becomes a nightmare when the line between who is innocent and who is guilty soon blurs. Until the horrifying truth becomes clear. And, the question becomes, Who will survive?”
Chelsea was having a conversation with her mother regarding Garrett's infidelity.
“ The reality is you can leave Garrett and find another man. Or you can stay in the luxury your husband provides, keep your home together for your daughter’s sake, and find some other avenue for happiness so you don’t sit around dwelling on how miserable you feel. The fact is this: The wealthy ones cheat, the poor ones cheat. If you’re going to be with a man, you might as well be with a rich one, because they all cheat.”
I have read Clerge’s debut novel, WHEN THE SERPENT BITES, and WHEN THE DRAGON ROARS, a trilogy, which explores choices, and their consequences. Now in his latest novel, THE ANATOMY OF CHEATING, the reader is faced with a dilemma…Do all men cheat? It is one question that the reader will ponder over, and for that the author has made his mark!
Chelsea Hall is married to Garrett, a successful radiologist, with his own practice who provided well for his wife and teenage daughter, Kimberlie. But he has one major fault…He is a CHRONIC CHEATER! But like a lot of women, she puts up with the situation, because she wants her marriage to work. But how much can a wife or one woman handle? Chelsea is suffering from depression, as a result of her husband’s verbal abuse and lack of attention.
Chelsea soon meets someone, an author, Luke Thompson, whose books she has read and reviewed. Luke is struggling in his own marriage. Chelsea and Luke decide to meet for coffee, and soon start up an affair.
Now get ready to rock and roll. So many twists and turns and secrets. I will not say any more about the outcome, but I was pleasantly surprised.
The Anatomy of Cheating is really good, and the flawed characters are fully developed.
Do all men cheat? All of them? I can only say my mother always told me…A leopard never changes its spots.! I got rid of my ex, a cheater, and now I have someone in my life that I trust, a winner…and a definite Keeper. When one door closes…another one opens!
Special thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC to review. This is my honest review.
April 27, 2017
Chelsea Hall and her best friend Penelope were at an author talk by Dr Bernadette Moore of her latest release, “The Anatomy of Cheating” – her talk lasted well past the allocated three hours and Chelsea had her book autographed before they left. Her suspicions about her husband’s continual adultery had led her to the talk; but the book remained in her bedside drawer…
Garrett Hall was an egotistical, wealthy and well-respected specialist doctor at the hospital where he worked who lacked nothing, especially beautiful women – but his “don’t care” attitude in the family relationship was something which eroded Chelsea’s confidence; Garrett was rarely at home and when he was, he was called away constantly. Their fifteen year old daughter Kimberlie noticed his absences but idolised her father, completely unaware of what he was like…
When Chelsea decided to do something for herself for a change – that was the day the domino effect started. The ensuing nightmare had only just begun but as it went on, the web was woven around so many people that Chelsea had no idea how to extricate herself; how to make things right again. Her guilt was insurmountable – but she wasn’t the only guilty one; was she? What would be the outcome to these volatile deceptions?
Intense, gripping and unputdownable! What a book! Nesly Clerge has another winner with The Anatomy of Cheating in my opinion. I was so involved with the story that I was ready to shake some people, cheered when other events happened and even had to put the book down to take a breath as I despaired of a certain person seeing sense! A brilliant psychological thriller, The Anatomy of Cheating is one I highly recommend to fans of the genre.
With thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.
Garrett Hall was an egotistical, wealthy and well-respected specialist doctor at the hospital where he worked who lacked nothing, especially beautiful women – but his “don’t care” attitude in the family relationship was something which eroded Chelsea’s confidence; Garrett was rarely at home and when he was, he was called away constantly. Their fifteen year old daughter Kimberlie noticed his absences but idolised her father, completely unaware of what he was like…
When Chelsea decided to do something for herself for a change – that was the day the domino effect started. The ensuing nightmare had only just begun but as it went on, the web was woven around so many people that Chelsea had no idea how to extricate herself; how to make things right again. Her guilt was insurmountable – but she wasn’t the only guilty one; was she? What would be the outcome to these volatile deceptions?
Intense, gripping and unputdownable! What a book! Nesly Clerge has another winner with The Anatomy of Cheating in my opinion. I was so involved with the story that I was ready to shake some people, cheered when other events happened and even had to put the book down to take a breath as I despaired of a certain person seeing sense! A brilliant psychological thriller, The Anatomy of Cheating is one I highly recommend to fans of the genre.
With thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.
March 31, 2017
Special thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC to review. This is my honest review.
The Anatomy of Cheating is unbelievably and undeniably good. Yes, it’s that good. I’ve had the opportunity to read another book from this author, but this particular novel is probably his best work thus far.
Chelsea Hall is married to Garrett, a chronic cheater. Garrett is the typical egomaniac. He suffers from extreme egotism indeed. He is however, an accomplished doctor, a great provider, and based on the character’s trait, I believe he cares for his family. Chelsea discovered his infidelity on numerous occasions, and like most women, she is resilient, forgiving, and is willing to do what it takes to make her marriage work. But how much can a wife or one woman handle? She is constantly reminded about her unacceptable appearance, although subtle, at times. Chelsea suffered a deep depression as a result of Garrett’s constant infidelity and verbal declarations. Here’s an example:
Chelsea straightened her posture. “Once Luke and I are both divorced, we’re getting married. We’re both finally going to be happy. You, however, will keep on screwing around and die alone.”
Garrett stared at her a moment then barked a laugh. “You are a simpleton. You think he’s going to leave his wife for you? You’re nothing but a piece of ass to him. Both of you have had your fun going exotic. The novelty will wear off soon enough for him, if it hasn’t already. Face it, sweetheart, you’re not a woman who can hold a man’s interest very long. Then you’ll realize what you’ve lost. And believe me, Chelsea. You’ve lost me.”
“I never really had you, though. Did I? I’ve been unhappy for longer than I care to remember. You could have changed that. I was willing, for such a long time. You did everything you could to crush that dream. So, Garrett, congratulations. You did it. But, I’m going to be happy, cherished, and loved. Finally.”
Based on the above statements it’s easy to conclude that Chelsea cheated. She cheated with Luke, a struggling author. Luke is the opposite of Garrett. He is charming, intelligent, caring, wholesome. But this is where the story starts to twist right, left, and take on several abrupt U-turns. Let’s just say that Chelsea is not the saint that the author painted initially, and that’s all I’ll have to say about that. Then there is the ultimate betrayal, once again, If I go into any detail, I’ll probably give it all away, an it’s not my intention to spoil the story for anyone. At this point in the novel, the punches do come, and they come hard. Clerge is a master story-teller, probably one of the best. Some of the events that took place after Chelsea’s infidelity with Luke was discovered, I simply DID NOT SEE COMING. It feels as if every other chapter from that point had one twist after another.
Also, there is one thing I want to ask the author since this story is written by a man. Please explain this part of the book to me. Chelsea was having a conversation with her mother regarding Garrett's infidelity.
“What about income? You haven’t worked since Kimberlie was born.”
“He’d damn well pay for our care, at least until Kimberlie finishes her medical training. Believe me. Money isn’t an issue. Afterwards, I could do what’s needed to get back into a practice. I want to find true love and happiness. I deserve it.”
“We all deserve it, dear, but sometimes you have to pick your battles. You think you’re the only woman who’s been cheated on? How do you think I managed to stay with your father this long?”
“Daddy never!” When her mother didn’t reply, she said, “I can’t believe what I’m hearing.”
“He gave her up eventually. The reality is you can leave Garrett and find another man. Or you can stay in the luxury your husband provides, keep your home together for your daughter’s sake, and find some other avenue for happiness so you don’t sit around dwelling on how miserable you feel. The fact is this: The wealthy ones cheat, the poor ones cheat. If you’re going to be with a man, you might as well be with a rich one, because they all cheat.”
“I refuse to believe that about every man. That’s as ridiculous as saying every woman cheats.
Now, to the author. Are you serious? Do all men cheat? All of them? Are you trying to tell us something!
Honestly, I read this book in less than three days, and it’s probably a book that can be read in one day. The characters are extremely well-written and fully developed. The plot is simply amazing. Oh, and did I mention the twists. The story is well paced and it did not lose its momentum like most stories. As a matter of fact, it got even better, even juicier the last fifty percent of the novel. I highly recommend this book. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. I’d probably rate it 10 stars if I could.
The Anatomy of Cheating is unbelievably and undeniably good. Yes, it’s that good. I’ve had the opportunity to read another book from this author, but this particular novel is probably his best work thus far.
Chelsea Hall is married to Garrett, a chronic cheater. Garrett is the typical egomaniac. He suffers from extreme egotism indeed. He is however, an accomplished doctor, a great provider, and based on the character’s trait, I believe he cares for his family. Chelsea discovered his infidelity on numerous occasions, and like most women, she is resilient, forgiving, and is willing to do what it takes to make her marriage work. But how much can a wife or one woman handle? She is constantly reminded about her unacceptable appearance, although subtle, at times. Chelsea suffered a deep depression as a result of Garrett’s constant infidelity and verbal declarations. Here’s an example:
Chelsea straightened her posture. “Once Luke and I are both divorced, we’re getting married. We’re both finally going to be happy. You, however, will keep on screwing around and die alone.”
Garrett stared at her a moment then barked a laugh. “You are a simpleton. You think he’s going to leave his wife for you? You’re nothing but a piece of ass to him. Both of you have had your fun going exotic. The novelty will wear off soon enough for him, if it hasn’t already. Face it, sweetheart, you’re not a woman who can hold a man’s interest very long. Then you’ll realize what you’ve lost. And believe me, Chelsea. You’ve lost me.”
“I never really had you, though. Did I? I’ve been unhappy for longer than I care to remember. You could have changed that. I was willing, for such a long time. You did everything you could to crush that dream. So, Garrett, congratulations. You did it. But, I’m going to be happy, cherished, and loved. Finally.”
Based on the above statements it’s easy to conclude that Chelsea cheated. She cheated with Luke, a struggling author. Luke is the opposite of Garrett. He is charming, intelligent, caring, wholesome. But this is where the story starts to twist right, left, and take on several abrupt U-turns. Let’s just say that Chelsea is not the saint that the author painted initially, and that’s all I’ll have to say about that. Then there is the ultimate betrayal, once again, If I go into any detail, I’ll probably give it all away, an it’s not my intention to spoil the story for anyone. At this point in the novel, the punches do come, and they come hard. Clerge is a master story-teller, probably one of the best. Some of the events that took place after Chelsea’s infidelity with Luke was discovered, I simply DID NOT SEE COMING. It feels as if every other chapter from that point had one twist after another.
Also, there is one thing I want to ask the author since this story is written by a man. Please explain this part of the book to me. Chelsea was having a conversation with her mother regarding Garrett's infidelity.
“What about income? You haven’t worked since Kimberlie was born.”
“He’d damn well pay for our care, at least until Kimberlie finishes her medical training. Believe me. Money isn’t an issue. Afterwards, I could do what’s needed to get back into a practice. I want to find true love and happiness. I deserve it.”
“We all deserve it, dear, but sometimes you have to pick your battles. You think you’re the only woman who’s been cheated on? How do you think I managed to stay with your father this long?”
“Daddy never!” When her mother didn’t reply, she said, “I can’t believe what I’m hearing.”
“He gave her up eventually. The reality is you can leave Garrett and find another man. Or you can stay in the luxury your husband provides, keep your home together for your daughter’s sake, and find some other avenue for happiness so you don’t sit around dwelling on how miserable you feel. The fact is this: The wealthy ones cheat, the poor ones cheat. If you’re going to be with a man, you might as well be with a rich one, because they all cheat.”
“I refuse to believe that about every man. That’s as ridiculous as saying every woman cheats.
Now, to the author. Are you serious? Do all men cheat? All of them? Are you trying to tell us something!
Honestly, I read this book in less than three days, and it’s probably a book that can be read in one day. The characters are extremely well-written and fully developed. The plot is simply amazing. Oh, and did I mention the twists. The story is well paced and it did not lose its momentum like most stories. As a matter of fact, it got even better, even juicier the last fifty percent of the novel. I highly recommend this book. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. I’d probably rate it 10 stars if I could.
April 26, 2017
Ahhhh, the webs we weave…The fairy tale begins with the wedding bells’ toll, or is that the end of the fantasy and the beginning of a raw reality that some are unable to navigate? THE ANATOMY OF CHEATING by Nesly Clerge is a powerful look into the lives of a couple caught up in the material gains and immorality of a successful megalomaniac and his wife, a woman scorned one too many times by a man with no remorse or conscience.
Garrett and Chelsea were once in love, but Garrett has had too many affairs, been too cruel, and shattered Chelsea’s heart, self-esteem and now she has had enough. She needs more. She needs to feel like a woman wanted by a man. Chelsea finds what she needs in the arms of a man with the heart of a poet and she is in love, or is she just fooling herself? Is her dream life just within reach or is it a nightmare about to erupt?
The ugly lies, the untold truths and the cheating become like a bomb ticking down, just waiting to ignite and leave a trail of destruction, mutilation and pain to all whose lives are affected. Can anyone come out unscathed? What about the innocents caught in the crossfire? What happens when it no longer matters who is cheating on who? Two wrongs never make a right, but what happens between Garrett and Chelsea becomes a nightmare of terrifying proportions.
Nesly Clerge is at the top of his game with THE ANATOMY OF CHEATING as he literally carves his tale out of the hearts of his characters. Mr. Clerge doesn’t make his main characters likable, but he does make them human, very human and he does demonstrate the ripple effect of one deed and its aftermath. Intense, frustrating at times and completely engaging, this emotional thriller will burrow deep as every wart, bruise and jagged scar are exposed to the world in the most sinful of ways.
If you are looking for a meat and potatoes read that will be both satisfying and mentally fulfilling, this is it from page one to the ending that no one could see coming.
I received an ARC edition from Nesly Clerge in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Clerge Books, LLC (April 25, 2017)
Publication Date: April 25, 2017
Genre: Suspense | Dysfunctional Families
Print Length: 381 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Garrett and Chelsea were once in love, but Garrett has had too many affairs, been too cruel, and shattered Chelsea’s heart, self-esteem and now she has had enough. She needs more. She needs to feel like a woman wanted by a man. Chelsea finds what she needs in the arms of a man with the heart of a poet and she is in love, or is she just fooling herself? Is her dream life just within reach or is it a nightmare about to erupt?
The ugly lies, the untold truths and the cheating become like a bomb ticking down, just waiting to ignite and leave a trail of destruction, mutilation and pain to all whose lives are affected. Can anyone come out unscathed? What about the innocents caught in the crossfire? What happens when it no longer matters who is cheating on who? Two wrongs never make a right, but what happens between Garrett and Chelsea becomes a nightmare of terrifying proportions.
Nesly Clerge is at the top of his game with THE ANATOMY OF CHEATING as he literally carves his tale out of the hearts of his characters. Mr. Clerge doesn’t make his main characters likable, but he does make them human, very human and he does demonstrate the ripple effect of one deed and its aftermath. Intense, frustrating at times and completely engaging, this emotional thriller will burrow deep as every wart, bruise and jagged scar are exposed to the world in the most sinful of ways.
If you are looking for a meat and potatoes read that will be both satisfying and mentally fulfilling, this is it from page one to the ending that no one could see coming.
I received an ARC edition from Nesly Clerge in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Clerge Books, LLC (April 25, 2017)
Publication Date: April 25, 2017
Genre: Suspense | Dysfunctional Families
Print Length: 381 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Want to read
March 28, 2017
Let's get into the anatomy of it :)))
Lust, deception, betrayal, and their inevitable outcomes weave a web nearly impossible to escape in Nesly Clerge’s latest novel. Chelsea Hall is certain her husband is cheating. Again. But how far will a wife go when her adulterous husband pushes her to the edge? Some stop at the cliff’s edge. Others leap into the abyss. Garrett Hall wants what and who he wants. His detachment from their relationship leads Chelsea to seek what she needs elsewhere, and onto a path that leads to bliss. What begins as a dream-come-true soon becomes a nightmare when the line between who is innocent and who is guilty soon blurs. Until the horrifying truth becomes clear. And, the question becomes, Who will survive?
September 26, 2017
This psychological thriller was well written, quite pacey (although I found the 176 rapid-fire, one-minute chapters frustrating after a while as they broke my reading flow) and I can understand why many readers would enjoy it. However, it wasn’t for me.
The book opens with a book reading and discussion with a counsellor / psychiatrist / doctor in human psychology turned author who has written a book called The Anatomy of Cheating. This immediately caught my attention, as I was expecting some kind of deep dive into the mind of cheaters where the nerve endings are warped which causes infidelity (I totally made that up, but wouldn’t that be interesting!), or a discovery that their physical anatomy is different somehow to non-cheaters, or some kind of sciencey analysis, or new ‘findings’, or something intriguing along those lines. But there was nothing like that – and the next time we meet the doctor author, she’s Chelsea’s shrink.
Instead, this novel focuses solely on people cheating, people talking about cheating, people cheating some more, people thinking about cheating, people dealing with the aftermath of cheating. Seriously, there is no respite. The characters don’t talk about anything else or do anything else, apart from near the end when all the sh*t hits the fan. The brief moment when Chelsea’s daughter gets in trouble at school and the dialogue is about this rather than cheating was like a breath of fresh air! Even when Chelsea and Luke are getting to know each other, the dialogue is skipped for a brief summary line that says something like ‘they talked about all sorts’ and then we go back to the dialogue when they start talking about cheating again.
I didn’t relate to any character – Chelsea whinged about Garrett non-stop but stayed with him for the money and for her daughter’s sake. And then at the end is all lovey dovey about her despicable husband?! Garrett was a scumbag. Luke seemed nice, but still cheated on his wife, and then did something completely unexpected and unbelievable. Penelope was a bitch. Luke’s mate was a cheating scumbag too. Garrett’s sister was a lazy cow who scrounged off her brothers (at least at the start). Garrett’s brother seemed half way decent but we didn’t really get to know him.
I finished this book depressed and exhausted – the outlook is seriously bleak. Essentially, it says that pretty much EVERYONE is a cheat. Personally, I like to believe that there are a few relationships out there where both partners love and respect each other and are faithful to one another. From looking at other reviews, this book is well loved by a large number of readers, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
The book opens with a book reading and discussion with a counsellor / psychiatrist / doctor in human psychology turned author who has written a book called The Anatomy of Cheating. This immediately caught my attention, as I was expecting some kind of deep dive into the mind of cheaters where the nerve endings are warped which causes infidelity (I totally made that up, but wouldn’t that be interesting!), or a discovery that their physical anatomy is different somehow to non-cheaters, or some kind of sciencey analysis, or new ‘findings’, or something intriguing along those lines. But there was nothing like that – and the next time we meet the doctor author, she’s Chelsea’s shrink.
Instead, this novel focuses solely on people cheating, people talking about cheating, people cheating some more, people thinking about cheating, people dealing with the aftermath of cheating. Seriously, there is no respite. The characters don’t talk about anything else or do anything else, apart from near the end when all the sh*t hits the fan. The brief moment when Chelsea’s daughter gets in trouble at school and the dialogue is about this rather than cheating was like a breath of fresh air! Even when Chelsea and Luke are getting to know each other, the dialogue is skipped for a brief summary line that says something like ‘they talked about all sorts’ and then we go back to the dialogue when they start talking about cheating again.
I didn’t relate to any character – Chelsea whinged about Garrett non-stop but stayed with him for the money and for her daughter’s sake. And then at the end is all lovey dovey about her despicable husband?! Garrett was a scumbag. Luke seemed nice, but still cheated on his wife, and then did something completely unexpected and unbelievable. Penelope was a bitch. Luke’s mate was a cheating scumbag too. Garrett’s sister was a lazy cow who scrounged off her brothers (at least at the start). Garrett’s brother seemed half way decent but we didn’t really get to know him.
I finished this book depressed and exhausted – the outlook is seriously bleak. Essentially, it says that pretty much EVERYONE is a cheat. Personally, I like to believe that there are a few relationships out there where both partners love and respect each other and are faithful to one another. From looking at other reviews, this book is well loved by a large number of readers, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
March 29, 2017
Well that was quite the roller coaster ride! As usual, Nesly doesn't disappoint. Loved the complexity of the relationships here and, of course, I loved the tie-in with Frederick Starks.
Review to follow. If you're currently reading the book, there will be two back-to-back sucker punches that will leave you winded. Take a deep breath and keep going. It will get better, I promise you.
Review to follow. If you're currently reading the book, there will be two back-to-back sucker punches that will leave you winded. Take a deep breath and keep going. It will get better, I promise you.
May 18, 2017
Eye opening!
It was a really good book, I cannot put it down. I cried so much. I never expected how the story had ended so tragically but everyone & everything was forgiven & life has to move on even how hard & difficult it is.
It was a really good book, I cannot put it down. I cried so much. I never expected how the story had ended so tragically but everyone & everything was forgiven & life has to move on even how hard & difficult it is.
July 13, 2017
I enjoyed this novel immensely. It is thought provoking and well written. The relationships between Garrett and his wife, Chelsea Hall, her best friend Penelope (the husband's secret lover), and Luke Thompson (the wife's lover) shows how we grieve the living and the tragedy of losing love ones in death. Highly recommended book. I definitely plan to read other works by this author, Nesly Clerge.
June 20, 2017
I was lucky enough to be contacted by Shayla Eaton of Curiouser editing to review The Anatomy of Cheating. And I, of course, happily accepted. I haven’t read many thrillers, so this was a nice change from my typical reads.
Yeah, so one of the main characters—Luke—was a writer and I could relate to him on so many levels. (He also had a friend with the last name Cage, so I was basically just picturing Luke Cage this entire novel.) He had this genuine passion for writing, but his wife didn’t understand or appreciate it. But then our other main character—Chelsea—comes along.
She is a fan of Luke’s work and praises him for it via Goodreads. (I also loved how Goodreads was such a significant part of this novel.) They soon begin to talk and eventually start meeting up and discussing life and books and humans and all things fascinating.
Now, I think most writers can agree with me when I say, someone who supports your work and your passion is like the most attractive thing ever. Being a writer is something that can often be belittled and frowned upon, so when you find someone who truly cares about your passion, HANG ONTO THEM.
Okay, but don’t have an affair like Luke and Chelsea did.
For my full review of this wild thriller, click here: https://taylormaemarie.com/2017/06/03...
“Writing is like oxygen for me. I thought you understood that. I love exploring the human psyche. How people think. How they act and react, and why.”
Yeah, so one of the main characters—Luke—was a writer and I could relate to him on so many levels. (He also had a friend with the last name Cage, so I was basically just picturing Luke Cage this entire novel.) He had this genuine passion for writing, but his wife didn’t understand or appreciate it. But then our other main character—Chelsea—comes along.
She is a fan of Luke’s work and praises him for it via Goodreads. (I also loved how Goodreads was such a significant part of this novel.) They soon begin to talk and eventually start meeting up and discussing life and books and humans and all things fascinating.
Now, I think most writers can agree with me when I say, someone who supports your work and your passion is like the most attractive thing ever. Being a writer is something that can often be belittled and frowned upon, so when you find someone who truly cares about your passion, HANG ONTO THEM.
Okay, but don’t have an affair like Luke and Chelsea did.
For my full review of this wild thriller, click here: https://taylormaemarie.com/2017/06/03...
July 10, 2017
Chelsea is a stay at home mother with a wealthy husband and an intelligent daughter. As the wife of a womanizer it is really hard for her to keep her composure when she realizes Garret is up to his old ways. However he is convinced that he has changed in the only reason why he stays late at work is because he is trying to keep the luxurious life he created for them.
Garret loves to make up excuses as to why he never is in the mood for affection. Yet Chelsea thinks that he is thinking with the wrong head. The two constantly argue about balancing work and pleasure.
Enters Luke who is a struggling author trying make it big. Struggling to make ends meet,his wife Jasmine is tired of carrying the family om her paycheck alone. If that is not enough to drive him crazy,his ex wife makes his life a living hell when she often wants full parental rights of their son.
Sparks fly in this lustful and passionate novel about the consequences of infidelity.
Let me first say before I praise this book is that really did not like the ending at all, it felt so unbelievable, but somewhat necessary if they make sense. It caught me off-guard to say the least, but besides that this was an amazing novel.
It was like a real-life reality show being played before your eyes!
Highly recommended!
Garret loves to make up excuses as to why he never is in the mood for affection. Yet Chelsea thinks that he is thinking with the wrong head. The two constantly argue about balancing work and pleasure.
Enters Luke who is a struggling author trying make it big. Struggling to make ends meet,his wife Jasmine is tired of carrying the family om her paycheck alone. If that is not enough to drive him crazy,his ex wife makes his life a living hell when she often wants full parental rights of their son.
Sparks fly in this lustful and passionate novel about the consequences of infidelity.
Let me first say before I praise this book is that really did not like the ending at all, it felt so unbelievable, but somewhat necessary if they make sense. It caught me off-guard to say the least, but besides that this was an amazing novel.
It was like a real-life reality show being played before your eyes!
Highly recommended!
May 28, 2017
In exchange for an honest review I received a free copy of Nesly Clerge’s The Anatomy of Cheating.
Personally, I despise cheating. Everything about it makes my blood boil, so initially, I found the novel a difficult read and found myself struggling to find the motivation to continue with it. I can happily say the teething problems didn’t last and it wasn’t long until the novel was the only thing I could think about.
Dr. Moore has had enough experience to write her New York Times Bestseller: The Anatomy of Cheating and, with true girl power, owns the critics who question otherwise! The reader is introduced to Dr. Moore first, at her book promotion. Both the reader and Dr. Moore then meet Penelope, who ‘drew admiring, if not lustful stares from some of the men’, and Chelsea, who ‘tugged at her too-large, too-long, unseasonable sweater that failed to hide her plump middle and hips’.
The Anatomy of Cheating follows the lives of Garrett and Chelsea Hall, successful radiologist and lawyer turned stay at home mom, respectively. Garrett’s unfaithful past has left Chelsea scarred and scared, his late nights at the hospital and overall lack of sexual desire towards her has sent the alarm bells ringing in her head again. Chelsea’s whining and 15 years of ‘baby weight’ drive Garrett into the arms (ahem) of other women, and Garrett’s lying and arrogant, egotistical mannerisms drive Chelsea to over eating and having to confide in her best friend Penelope, and her brother-in-law, Richard about her unfaithful husband’s antics. Caught up in the mess is their 15-year-old daughter, Kimberlie. Garrett thrives off female attention and has an ego fairly on par with Yeezy, whereas Chelsea has experienced significant blows to her self-esteem – one being the baby weight, another being stripped of her independence after leaving her job to raise their daughter. It may have been a mutual decision (or so she insists throughout the novel), but there’s no denying the effect it had on her.
The first few chapters of The Anatomy of Cheating were repetitive – Chelsea confronted Garrett, Garrett denied everything, Chelsea cried and phoned one of her lifelines to blow off some steam and Garrett got frustrated and phoned one of his lifelines to “blow off some steam”. Garrett would spoil Chelsea with lavish gifts bought with a guilty conscience (no, I wouldn’t stand for cheating even if there was a Bentley involved) and Chelsea pretended to be asleep when he sauntered into their bed and lay with his back facing her after a night of ‘hard work’.
Eventually, Chelsea begins to find solace with her therapist, Dr. Moore, and emotionally sensitive fiction writer, Luke Thompson. Luke Thompson is trying his luck with marriage again after his first wife cheated on him and, in retaliation, he cheated on her. Best friend James warned him about re-marrying and Thompson now regrets the hurried ceremony. Chelsea and Luke form a role in each other’s lives, providing one another with an escape, after an innocent and friendly comment was left by Chelsea on Luke’s Goodreads account. Just how long can the good times last, though?
Garrett and Thompson’s wife, Brandi, are indefinitely portrayed as the villainous monsters of the novel but nothing is ever as it seems. From reading just one of his novels it is evident Clerge is a master at plot-twists. His style of writing had me engrossed and though, as mentioned previously, I struggled to enjoy the read in the beginning, I can honestly say that I am now lost without the lives of the Halls and Thompsons to delve in to. The emotions I felt whilst reading the novel were pure and raw. I had flared nostrils as I read of the infidelity, I did double takes and had to re-read pages to make sure I had read bits correctly. There were many moments which left me literally gobsmacked, and at times I had to cradle my own stomach due to the nausea and remind myself ‘it’s a novel, it’s a novel’ as I breathed deeply in an effort to calm my pounding my heart, I have extraordinary neck muscles now from shaking my head so much. Like I said, Clerge is a master at plot-twists.
As fictional as The Anatomy of Cheating may be, the pain experienced by the characters is anything but. Not only is it the other half of the cheater who feels the deception, but also their families, their children, their colleagues, and everyone suffers the consequences in one way or another. Anyone who has cheated, been cheated on, considered cheating or in some way been affected by cheating should read this book. Every person in a relationship should read this book. Every person who will ever be in a relationship should read this book. Everyone should read it. It’s heart-wrenching, heart-warming and addictive, despite being a little too dramatic at times.
Clerge has delivered a gripping work of art with The Anatomy of Cheating, I’m extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity to review it.
Personally, I despise cheating. Everything about it makes my blood boil, so initially, I found the novel a difficult read and found myself struggling to find the motivation to continue with it. I can happily say the teething problems didn’t last and it wasn’t long until the novel was the only thing I could think about.
Dr. Moore has had enough experience to write her New York Times Bestseller: The Anatomy of Cheating and, with true girl power, owns the critics who question otherwise! The reader is introduced to Dr. Moore first, at her book promotion. Both the reader and Dr. Moore then meet Penelope, who ‘drew admiring, if not lustful stares from some of the men’, and Chelsea, who ‘tugged at her too-large, too-long, unseasonable sweater that failed to hide her plump middle and hips’.
The Anatomy of Cheating follows the lives of Garrett and Chelsea Hall, successful radiologist and lawyer turned stay at home mom, respectively. Garrett’s unfaithful past has left Chelsea scarred and scared, his late nights at the hospital and overall lack of sexual desire towards her has sent the alarm bells ringing in her head again. Chelsea’s whining and 15 years of ‘baby weight’ drive Garrett into the arms (ahem) of other women, and Garrett’s lying and arrogant, egotistical mannerisms drive Chelsea to over eating and having to confide in her best friend Penelope, and her brother-in-law, Richard about her unfaithful husband’s antics. Caught up in the mess is their 15-year-old daughter, Kimberlie. Garrett thrives off female attention and has an ego fairly on par with Yeezy, whereas Chelsea has experienced significant blows to her self-esteem – one being the baby weight, another being stripped of her independence after leaving her job to raise their daughter. It may have been a mutual decision (or so she insists throughout the novel), but there’s no denying the effect it had on her.
The first few chapters of The Anatomy of Cheating were repetitive – Chelsea confronted Garrett, Garrett denied everything, Chelsea cried and phoned one of her lifelines to blow off some steam and Garrett got frustrated and phoned one of his lifelines to “blow off some steam”. Garrett would spoil Chelsea with lavish gifts bought with a guilty conscience (no, I wouldn’t stand for cheating even if there was a Bentley involved) and Chelsea pretended to be asleep when he sauntered into their bed and lay with his back facing her after a night of ‘hard work’.
Eventually, Chelsea begins to find solace with her therapist, Dr. Moore, and emotionally sensitive fiction writer, Luke Thompson. Luke Thompson is trying his luck with marriage again after his first wife cheated on him and, in retaliation, he cheated on her. Best friend James warned him about re-marrying and Thompson now regrets the hurried ceremony. Chelsea and Luke form a role in each other’s lives, providing one another with an escape, after an innocent and friendly comment was left by Chelsea on Luke’s Goodreads account. Just how long can the good times last, though?
Garrett and Thompson’s wife, Brandi, are indefinitely portrayed as the villainous monsters of the novel but nothing is ever as it seems. From reading just one of his novels it is evident Clerge is a master at plot-twists. His style of writing had me engrossed and though, as mentioned previously, I struggled to enjoy the read in the beginning, I can honestly say that I am now lost without the lives of the Halls and Thompsons to delve in to. The emotions I felt whilst reading the novel were pure and raw. I had flared nostrils as I read of the infidelity, I did double takes and had to re-read pages to make sure I had read bits correctly. There were many moments which left me literally gobsmacked, and at times I had to cradle my own stomach due to the nausea and remind myself ‘it’s a novel, it’s a novel’ as I breathed deeply in an effort to calm my pounding my heart, I have extraordinary neck muscles now from shaking my head so much. Like I said, Clerge is a master at plot-twists.
As fictional as The Anatomy of Cheating may be, the pain experienced by the characters is anything but. Not only is it the other half of the cheater who feels the deception, but also their families, their children, their colleagues, and everyone suffers the consequences in one way or another. Anyone who has cheated, been cheated on, considered cheating or in some way been affected by cheating should read this book. Every person in a relationship should read this book. Every person who will ever be in a relationship should read this book. Everyone should read it. It’s heart-wrenching, heart-warming and addictive, despite being a little too dramatic at times.
Clerge has delivered a gripping work of art with The Anatomy of Cheating, I’m extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity to review it.
June 1, 2017
"There are some consequences of our actions we could never anticipate." (Clerge).
The Anatomy of Cheating takes you in to the lives of two couples with many marital problems. But it doesn't just stop there. The actions of these two couples affect so many around them. Be prepared for deceit, adultery, and murder.
The Plot: Chelsea Hall is a lonely, neglected housewife trying to hold it all together with the knowledge that her husband, Garrett, may be cheating on her for the third time (that she is aware of). Garrett Hall is a successful, handsome doctor who deals with more than just patients. When Chelsea begins to suspect the cheating again, she turns to her best friend Penelope, who suggests she find some extra-marital activities of her own to pass the time. Chelsea begins corresponding with author Luke Thompson, innocently at first, until his own marital unhappiness pushes him to pursue the same thing Chelsea has been recommended to. As things intensify, Garrett begins to suspect that he is not the only playing the field. When the paths of all intertwine no one can predict the violence and betrayal that ensues.
I was contacted by Mr. Clerge's editor to review this free book and give my honest opinion. Though, it is not a genre I normally gravitate toward, I found the book to be entertaining, intriguing, and emotion inducing. I usually tend to avoid books of the sexual nature, as a personal preference, but found that the sexuality in the book fit where it needed to, and was not too over the top. The plot of the story and the twists and turns were well written and kept me turning the page. The characters were both believable and unbelievable and sparked an emotional response during my read through.
The relationship between Luke and Chelsea began innocently enough, and was pretty convincing. The relationship between Chelsea and her husband was a tough one for me. After finding out that he had cheated twice, that should have been the end of things, but she still stayed with him.
Chelsea, as a main character, seemed innocent enough at first. I felt like she was pushed to the very edge, and though I would never condone cheating in any situation, I felt like she did what she felt would make her happy. She was a good mother, and tried to be a good wife, but she was definitely weak willed to stay in her situation. I hated the negative body image her husband forced her to feel and the fact that she felt that she needed to cheat instead of leaving him. I was also quite surprised to learn her secrets toward the end of the book, and saw a major emotional transformation in her throughout.
"Mrs. Hall, the first thing I want you to understand is that you're a beautiful woman... The second thing I want you to understand is that those women are not perfect." (Clerge).
Garrett was my least favorite character. I felt such anger and hatred toward him and his attitude toward women! The fact that he has been cheating on Chelsea for YEARS, and got angry and violent when he found out that she was cheating, was repulsive and hypocritical. Two wrongs don't make a right, but he certainly had no right to feel upset in the least bit when he found out about Chelsea's secrets. He certainly played the role of the antagonist well. I hated that he claimed to love his wife and daughter, and was "trying to set a good example" for his daughter, but he led a shameful, disgusting, secret life.
"Men like us don't know how to love. At least, not at first. Maybe not ever, for some. Possessiveness isn't love." (Clerge).
This book had some predictable moments, and some shocking twists. Though it was full of characters who made horrible, disgusting decisions, it had a good moral message. I would rate this book 3.5-4 stars because, even though I still did not enjoy the sex or the decisions to commit adultery, I enjoyed the plot twists and the underlying theme that adultery is wrong and hurts more than the 3 people involved.
"...I've seen the damages infidelity can cause...There are some terrible stories in there, including about how children are affected." (Clerge).
The Anatomy of Cheating takes you in to the lives of two couples with many marital problems. But it doesn't just stop there. The actions of these two couples affect so many around them. Be prepared for deceit, adultery, and murder.
The Plot: Chelsea Hall is a lonely, neglected housewife trying to hold it all together with the knowledge that her husband, Garrett, may be cheating on her for the third time (that she is aware of). Garrett Hall is a successful, handsome doctor who deals with more than just patients. When Chelsea begins to suspect the cheating again, she turns to her best friend Penelope, who suggests she find some extra-marital activities of her own to pass the time. Chelsea begins corresponding with author Luke Thompson, innocently at first, until his own marital unhappiness pushes him to pursue the same thing Chelsea has been recommended to. As things intensify, Garrett begins to suspect that he is not the only playing the field. When the paths of all intertwine no one can predict the violence and betrayal that ensues.
I was contacted by Mr. Clerge's editor to review this free book and give my honest opinion. Though, it is not a genre I normally gravitate toward, I found the book to be entertaining, intriguing, and emotion inducing. I usually tend to avoid books of the sexual nature, as a personal preference, but found that the sexuality in the book fit where it needed to, and was not too over the top. The plot of the story and the twists and turns were well written and kept me turning the page. The characters were both believable and unbelievable and sparked an emotional response during my read through.
The relationship between Luke and Chelsea began innocently enough, and was pretty convincing. The relationship between Chelsea and her husband was a tough one for me. After finding out that he had cheated twice, that should have been the end of things, but she still stayed with him.
Chelsea, as a main character, seemed innocent enough at first. I felt like she was pushed to the very edge, and though I would never condone cheating in any situation, I felt like she did what she felt would make her happy. She was a good mother, and tried to be a good wife, but she was definitely weak willed to stay in her situation. I hated the negative body image her husband forced her to feel and the fact that she felt that she needed to cheat instead of leaving him. I was also quite surprised to learn her secrets toward the end of the book, and saw a major emotional transformation in her throughout.
"Mrs. Hall, the first thing I want you to understand is that you're a beautiful woman... The second thing I want you to understand is that those women are not perfect." (Clerge).
Garrett was my least favorite character. I felt such anger and hatred toward him and his attitude toward women! The fact that he has been cheating on Chelsea for YEARS, and got angry and violent when he found out that she was cheating, was repulsive and hypocritical. Two wrongs don't make a right, but he certainly had no right to feel upset in the least bit when he found out about Chelsea's secrets. He certainly played the role of the antagonist well. I hated that he claimed to love his wife and daughter, and was "trying to set a good example" for his daughter, but he led a shameful, disgusting, secret life.
"Men like us don't know how to love. At least, not at first. Maybe not ever, for some. Possessiveness isn't love." (Clerge).
This book had some predictable moments, and some shocking twists. Though it was full of characters who made horrible, disgusting decisions, it had a good moral message. I would rate this book 3.5-4 stars because, even though I still did not enjoy the sex or the decisions to commit adultery, I enjoyed the plot twists and the underlying theme that adultery is wrong and hurts more than the 3 people involved.
"...I've seen the damages infidelity can cause...There are some terrible stories in there, including about how children are affected." (Clerge).
June 1, 2017
What a satisfying read! Great storyline. Great character development, interesting characters. The story
was intricate, well thought out and very interesting. Am going to read more novels by this author. Well done Nesly Clerge!
was intricate, well thought out and very interesting. Am going to read more novels by this author. Well done Nesly Clerge!
April 10, 2017
...what a tangled web we weave.... WOW! This book is not just a he cheated/she cheated - this book takes it way, way further than that. I highly recommend this book. I can't explain much about it without giving away spoilers. I really liked that there were characters from past Nesly Clerge books that I recognized, although this is a standalone book that you do not have to read in any order. I hope to see more of all of these well thought out characters (good and bad) in future books. I will eagerly await more novels. Write faster, Mr. Clerge!!
April 30, 2017
ATTENTION FELLOW READERS THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ!!!!!!
This book was a huge surprise. I thought I was going to read about a wife being cheated on and her taking the reigns of her life. This book expressed the domino effect of a selfish person that did not take into account how the lives of others will dramatically change in a instinct. The book contains deceits, lies manipulation, deaths, jail time, suicide attempt and finally trying to get lives in track with a dose of forgiveness.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED MUST READ
This book was a huge surprise. I thought I was going to read about a wife being cheated on and her taking the reigns of her life. This book expressed the domino effect of a selfish person that did not take into account how the lives of others will dramatically change in a instinct. The book contains deceits, lies manipulation, deaths, jail time, suicide attempt and finally trying to get lives in track with a dose of forgiveness.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED MUST READ
May 8, 2017
I am not sure how one book can have so many deplorable characters. Chelsea mourns a husband who was despicable. She seems to have a short memory and has practically sainted him. She complains that he always cheats on her and then we find out that she herself had 3 affairs! Ridiculous! These people were disgusting.
October 4, 2018
It has happened again - I've trusted blindly a book, simply because the title attracted me. When Goodreads first recommended the book to me a few months ago, I believe the summary was different - seemed more of a non-fiction work to me. Should've looked at the genre tags better.
Anyway, there are two reasons I'm giving the book two stars and not one. One, the first chapter was indeed promising, led me to believe Dr Moore would be a main character (which of course, she wasn't). Two, Luke's crime was something that caught me by surprise - not the good kind of surprise but still.
Other than that, reading "The Anatomy of Cheating" felt like reading my writing attempts from when I was 14 or something. All the drama and plot twists a story can handle, none of the substance it should. At the end of the book I was surprised to find out the author was male, having in mind his work resembled so much my abandoned teen novels. But when you think about it, it actually makes a lot of sense.
The main female character, Chelsea, is an absolutely spineless creature, with no depth or ability to think with her head for one goddamn second. She gets accused of all the shit that happens throughout the story and she takes it - even when she's supposedly regained some self-confidence after starting her affair with Luke. All she does is hate herself, even the hate for the cheating husband is expressed through a prism of self-hate. She realizes she's a selfish coward so when everything falls apart, she decides to do the most selfish thing and try to off herself. That's right! And leave the daughter she loves so much an orphan. Just beautiful!
Garrett, her husband (ex-husband in the end of the book), never develops as a character but still receives a redemption without deserving it. Everybody in the book cries and forgives him just because he [spoiler alert] dies. Newsflash, your sudden realization that you're a piece of shit (poorly written too) doesn't erase all the years of cheating, lying and ruining your wife's life, or the fact that you've been shagging her "best friend", or the fact that you paid a doctor to tie her tubes so she couldn't get pregnant with another child and gain more weight, OR the fact that you killed your own brother?! What the fuck's up with that? What parents in their goddamn right mind forgive such a thing AND agree to never speak of it again? You better believe that if one of my children murdered their sibling (which I hope never happens if I ever have children), they'd get their ass disowned right then and there.
And of course, Luke, Chelsea's lover. Now, knowing what drama queens writers can be, I'm not surprised he "assisted in Garrett's suicide" as he put it himself. I'm not surprised he kept living in his fantasy world, even in prison, believing what he and Chelsea had was true love. And with the world we live in, I'm not surprised the black male is portrayed as irrational enough to commit murder even though this type of perfidy doesn't suit his character one single bit. Like, that was the most realistic badly written stereotype.
A very disappointing read overall.
Anyway, there are two reasons I'm giving the book two stars and not one. One, the first chapter was indeed promising, led me to believe Dr Moore would be a main character (which of course, she wasn't). Two, Luke's crime was something that caught me by surprise - not the good kind of surprise but still.
Other than that, reading "The Anatomy of Cheating" felt like reading my writing attempts from when I was 14 or something. All the drama and plot twists a story can handle, none of the substance it should. At the end of the book I was surprised to find out the author was male, having in mind his work resembled so much my abandoned teen novels. But when you think about it, it actually makes a lot of sense.
The main female character, Chelsea, is an absolutely spineless creature, with no depth or ability to think with her head for one goddamn second. She gets accused of all the shit that happens throughout the story and she takes it - even when she's supposedly regained some self-confidence after starting her affair with Luke. All she does is hate herself, even the hate for the cheating husband is expressed through a prism of self-hate. She realizes she's a selfish coward so when everything falls apart, she decides to do the most selfish thing and try to off herself. That's right! And leave the daughter she loves so much an orphan. Just beautiful!
Garrett, her husband (ex-husband in the end of the book), never develops as a character but still receives a redemption without deserving it. Everybody in the book cries and forgives him just because he [spoiler alert] dies. Newsflash, your sudden realization that you're a piece of shit (poorly written too) doesn't erase all the years of cheating, lying and ruining your wife's life, or the fact that you've been shagging her "best friend", or the fact that you paid a doctor to tie her tubes so she couldn't get pregnant with another child and gain more weight, OR the fact that you killed your own brother?! What the fuck's up with that? What parents in their goddamn right mind forgive such a thing AND agree to never speak of it again? You better believe that if one of my children murdered their sibling (which I hope never happens if I ever have children), they'd get their ass disowned right then and there.
And of course, Luke, Chelsea's lover. Now, knowing what drama queens writers can be, I'm not surprised he "assisted in Garrett's suicide" as he put it himself. I'm not surprised he kept living in his fantasy world, even in prison, believing what he and Chelsea had was true love. And with the world we live in, I'm not surprised the black male is portrayed as irrational enough to commit murder even though this type of perfidy doesn't suit his character one single bit. Like, that was the most realistic badly written stereotype.
A very disappointing read overall.
April 17, 2017
Waltham, MA. Dr. Bernadette Moore (MD, Psychiatrist) was having a forum for a crowd of PPL who were interested on her next book The Anatomy of Cheating.
Chelsea Hall (wife/mother, lawyer, nee Johnson) & Penelope (Chelsea’s BFF) were in attendance.
Later Chelsea & Dr. Garrett Hall (husband/father) had the same ole argument, he was cheating on her.
Chelsea & her mother Janice Johnson were talking about the Bentley he bought her for her birthday.
Dr. Moore (f, therapist) & Chelsea were meeting on a regular scheduled basis.
Kimberlie “Kimmie” Hall (15) is their typical teen daughter.
Who is Dr. Jacobs.
Luke Thompson (AA, writer, English) family consists of: Brandi (Luke’s wife) & Tim (Luke’s son).
Chelsea finally told Garrett she wanted a divorce.
Why did Garrett call Patricia Eisenberg (Eric’s wife)?
What would happen to Richard Hall (Garrett’s brother)?
Garrett later died in a car accident.
The funeral home made the effort to accommodate 2 Hall funerals.
What did the Waltham PD take Luke down to the station to be interrogated by Detective Maddox (homicide)?
Detective Maddox went to question Chelsea.
How will Chelsea & Kimberlie lives turn out?
“He’s your father and your (you) love him. Just be nice.”
Warning: This book contains adult content, which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive to some readers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. Wow, a very well written fast-paced murder mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment.
There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great scandalous romance movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Clerge Books, LLC.; AC; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Chelsea Hall (wife/mother, lawyer, nee Johnson) & Penelope (Chelsea’s BFF) were in attendance.
Later Chelsea & Dr. Garrett Hall (husband/father) had the same ole argument, he was cheating on her.
Chelsea & her mother Janice Johnson were talking about the Bentley he bought her for her birthday.
Dr. Moore (f, therapist) & Chelsea were meeting on a regular scheduled basis.
Kimberlie “Kimmie” Hall (15) is their typical teen daughter.
Who is Dr. Jacobs.
Luke Thompson (AA, writer, English) family consists of: Brandi (Luke’s wife) & Tim (Luke’s son).
Chelsea finally told Garrett she wanted a divorce.
Why did Garrett call Patricia Eisenberg (Eric’s wife)?
What would happen to Richard Hall (Garrett’s brother)?
Garrett later died in a car accident.
The funeral home made the effort to accommodate 2 Hall funerals.
What did the Waltham PD take Luke down to the station to be interrogated by Detective Maddox (homicide)?
Detective Maddox went to question Chelsea.
How will Chelsea & Kimberlie lives turn out?
“He’s your father and your (you) love him. Just be nice.”
Warning: This book contains adult content, which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive to some readers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. Wow, a very well written fast-paced murder mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment.
There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great scandalous romance movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Clerge Books, LLC.; AC; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
July 1, 2017
As the ex-wife of a serial cheater, I expected more clarification and more insight into why Garrett cheated and why Chelsea lived with it for so long. Instead, the plot was impossible to believe and short on insight. The writing was wonderful, and the character development of Chelsea and Luke was full and relatable in the first 2/3 of the book. There was no preparation or insight as to why someone like Luke would take the action he did against Garrett, especially the way he did it. I could see him confronting Luke and possibly getting into an unintended altercation, but not sneaking around and committing the act described in the book. It wasn't believable. But most unbelievable of all was the multiple revelations and reactions of Chelsea, none of which matched the previously drawn character we came to know in the first part of the book. In the end, the book seemed to be the basic Adam and Eve story all over again: woman is evil and suffers/causes suffering for all. Men, no matter how awful (there was nothing redeemable, likable, much less lovable, about Garrett), are the innocent victim of the bad woman's actions, and therefore, should be forgiven, worshiped even (as Chelsea was doing by the end of the book). It was a really disgusting end to what had started as a very interesting read. Luke, who started out so likable and understandable commits a terrible act out of alignment with his character and suffers the horrendous consequences. The book seems to suggest that like everyone else who suffers in the book, this was Chelsea's fault also. To add to the mix, every woman in the book seemed to fall into the Madonna/whore category. The mother's/mother in law/sister in law madonnas, and the wives, woman friend whores. Ugh! I think the author's prejudices where showing. Another inexplicable trait of Chelsea was that, as a professional woman with an excellent career and education, she never returned to her work after the daughter was older, and even after all disastrous events, she remained a "kept woman" for some time, and only returned to work part time (of course, the book proclaims), when her daughter was grown and out of the house. What?? Was she waiting for a new man to come save her from the poverty she would have been headed for in her old age?
May 13, 2017
When I first finished this book, I gave it 5 stars but after a few hours of processing the story and thinking through the actual characters and plot, I had to come back and give it 4. I actually really enjoyed the story, I liked the plot twists at the end and I read the book in 3 hours. What I didn't like was just how deplorable the author made Garrett, I mean it really makes the ending hard to swallow, like how does he have all this awesome family and friends mourning him when he was a total jerk? And for the love of God, why does Chelsea mourn him so deeply?? I feel like if he were written a little less like a total asshole and a little more sympathetically the reader could appreciate the last 4th of the book more.
Let's talk about Chelsea for a moment...actually her having affairs didn't really surprise me but I did find it over the top that she'd had an abortion by the insistence of whats-his-face's wife...and then we find out that Garrett secretly had her tubes tied while she was having the C-Section?? WTH!? And we're supposed to be sad he's dead? I don't think so.
I also found Luke to be over the top at times and the text messages and the "My Love..." stuff got old fast. When it was all said and done and I was reflecting on the story, I wondered why it was never resolved who had slashed Penelope's tires. I mean, as the reader, I think we know enough to surmise that it was probably Luke, but to me, as this was the catalyst for the rest of the horrible things Penelope did, I felt like it should've been addressed.
Overall though, I liked the book. I liked the ending because it wasn't anticipated. It's definitely worth the read. Maybe others didn't find some of those things I outlined above as irritating as I did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnr
February 12, 2018what rubbish!
December 27, 2020
Interesting👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Pretty good tale in the form of a psychological thriller. I'm not sure if I liked the way in which the characters are depicted after the infidelities come to light, but the situations are plausible, so there's that. Good read though.
Buy it, read it and enjoy.👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥
Pretty good tale in the form of a psychological thriller. I'm not sure if I liked the way in which the characters are depicted after the infidelities come to light, but the situations are plausible, so there's that. Good read though.
Buy it, read it and enjoy.👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥
November 24, 2017
Loved it
I really loved this book it hit home for me . Started kind of slow but it picked up and I was stuck great read.
I really loved this book it hit home for me . Started kind of slow but it picked up and I was stuck great read.
May 8, 2017
Oh wow, this could have been so much worse but in the hands of Nesley Clerge a book on infidelity became a delicious and compelling mystery. This is not a book to read for cheap thrills, rather it explores the impacts and consequences of infidelity - particularly those unintended consequences you never think about beforehand. You know, the ones that jump up and bite you on the bum.
Chelsea Hall is a woman on the edge. Her philandering husband, Garrett, has philandered once too often and she is on the brink of doing...something. She meets a writer, Luke Thompson, whose books she has reviewed (be careful who you have coffee with Nesley) and feels an instant bond. But Luke is also married. Ah well it all adds spice. Doesn't it??
What starts of as a mind-blowing affair eventually enters more dangerous territory. Who will suffer the fallout? This story was not predictable and, as the reader, I felt less comfortable as the book progressed. Something was bound to go horribly wrong.
This was a departure for Nesley Clerge. I have read and loved his other books set in a prison. I also liked that he didn't moralise and that the Frederick Starks from the prison books had a cameo in this one. I guess one thing they do have in common is a focus on choices and their consequences. Excellent work.
Chelsea Hall is a woman on the edge. Her philandering husband, Garrett, has philandered once too often and she is on the brink of doing...something. She meets a writer, Luke Thompson, whose books she has reviewed (be careful who you have coffee with Nesley) and feels an instant bond. But Luke is also married. Ah well it all adds spice. Doesn't it??
What starts of as a mind-blowing affair eventually enters more dangerous territory. Who will suffer the fallout? This story was not predictable and, as the reader, I felt less comfortable as the book progressed. Something was bound to go horribly wrong.
This was a departure for Nesley Clerge. I have read and loved his other books set in a prison. I also liked that he didn't moralise and that the Frederick Starks from the prison books had a cameo in this one. I guess one thing they do have in common is a focus on choices and their consequences. Excellent work.
Read
June 3, 2017This is better than the title sounds. I seriously couldn't put this down and spent a lot of tired days at work because I was so tired from staying up late reading...
April 8, 2017
Very good story. I liked the way the characters were introduced and them stripped down to their true selves. The characters were well developed & detailed so when reading about them, I felt as if I knew them personally. Chelsea & Garrett seemed like a normal couple from the outside looking in until the truth was revealed. I liked the fact of known characters in the story. The setting and storyline were realistic & relatable. Overall, this was a story that held my attention throughout. While an electronic copy was provided in exchange for an honest review, I am planning on purchasing a paperback for this book is shelf worthy.
May 5, 2017
A fantastic new book from a great author. 4.5 stars and full review coming soon.
August 3, 2017
this book was what you expected plus it was so much more. Mr. Clerge has hit on every emotion in this novel showing us how our actions touch so many people. This book teaches forgiveness and makes you look at the choices that can alter our lives in such a powerful way. It will be you, your judgment that has to decide who is good/right/true in this book and who is not. His wording was so emotional and i could feel the devastation that Chelsea felt. Get ready to get up in all your "feelings" with this book.
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