What do you think?
Rate this book
A White Picket Fence #1
A White Picket Fence
Lina and Phil Hunter have shared a strong bond since they were teenagers and he saved her life, so when Lina's mother cautions her to be on guard against a new love interest she sees in her astrological chart, Lina laughs her off. Her marriage may have been under extra stress lately, dealing with a rebellious teenager, but Lina's never even looked at another man, well besides her daughter's psychiatrist, Dr. Drayton, but that's more in awe. When a betrayal shakes the foundation of her marriage, Lina begins confiding in the child psychiatrist, blurring the lines between whether she or her daughter is the patient. As a mutual attraction grows, Lina begins to question whether the boy she fell in love with twenty-five years earlier still exists. Laura Branchflower is a compelling new voice in contemporary fiction with believable characters dealing with real life struggles. A White Picket Fence is a family drama.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2017
88 people are currently reading
918 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
July 29, 2018
I could write a review but this book wasn’t worth it and I sincerely regret reading this.
It’s a pity the author didn’t write any real personal growth for Lina. I was waiting for LIna to come into her own, find her inner strength and realise that she was worth so much more. But no. Instead, the author writes about how every side character (except for Adele) guilts LIna into forgiving him...because even if he did fuck another woman, repeatedly, for months (and in their vacation home, in their bed, etc) and got her pregnant, he still loves Lina you know. Way to go to show your kids that that sort of shit is okay to put up with.
Pffft. Ridiculous!
It’s a pity the author didn’t write any real personal growth for Lina. I was waiting for LIna to come into her own, find her inner strength and realise that she was worth so much more. But no. Instead, the author writes about how every side character (except for Adele) guilts LIna into forgiving him...because even if he did fuck another woman, repeatedly, for months (and in their vacation home, in their bed, etc) and got her pregnant, he still loves Lina you know. Way to go to show your kids that that sort of shit is okay to put up with.
Pffft. Ridiculous!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2019
This is not a love story.
This is a tragedy.
I'm fed up with all the excuses, this guy is scum.
The immoral, weak, douchebag adulterer is the victor. I would've shot him.
This is a tragedy.
I'm fed up with all the excuses, this guy is scum.
The immoral, weak, douchebag adulterer is the victor. I would've shot him.
March 3, 2019
“Maybe that’s why we have such a high divorce rate—all these ridiculous expectations we hold people to.”
“I don’t think expecting my husband not to impregnate another woman is a ridiculous expectation,” Lina fumed. “I can’t believe I’m even arguing with you about this. Your thinking is completely warped.”
I think, i lost it when this book said that, it is okay to be cheated and expect men as polygamous by nature when they are committed already.
You don't tell your friends or a love one to suck it up, forgive and forget that your husband impregnated another women from a 4 month affair in your house, in your bed!
I might have given a higher rate but, I'm so disappointed with the h, she comes to me as someone with little respect to herself. This is so wrong in so many levels. The H with all his declaration of love to his wife didn't show any character growth and i feel he will do the same thing he did when they face another hurdle like their.middle child self harm. With all intent, the. mC's just rèturned to their situation before the affair. I feel it was lacking with proper amount of redemption to have a believable HEA. The H and h were so weak in character
“I don’t think expecting my husband not to impregnate another woman is a ridiculous expectation,” Lina fumed. “I can’t believe I’m even arguing with you about this. Your thinking is completely warped.”
I think, i lost it when this book said that, it is okay to be cheated and expect men as polygamous by nature when they are committed already.
You don't tell your friends or a love one to suck it up, forgive and forget that your husband impregnated another women from a 4 month affair in your house, in your bed!
I might have given a higher rate but, I'm so disappointed with the h, she comes to me as someone with little respect to herself. This is so wrong in so many levels. The H with all his declaration of love to his wife didn't show any character growth and i feel he will do the same thing he did when they face another hurdle like their.middle child self harm. With all intent, the. mC's just rèturned to their situation before the affair. I feel it was lacking with proper amount of redemption to have a believable HEA. The H and h were so weak in character
October 15, 2018
Trigger warnings: mention of self harm, cutting, and rape
In brief: An authoritarian husband with anger issues cheats on his too-dependent wife and gets the OW pregnant. The husband is angry that “I’m sorry” and “it was a mistake” aren’t enough for his wife to just get over it. The vengeful OW keeps sending the wife reminders of the affair. The wife seeks comfort and counsel from their daughter’s handsome, divorced therapist. The jealous husband seeks a separation because there is no such thing as goose/gander equality. They eventually reconcile because they are cosmic soulmates. The OW has the baby and the husband is going to be an active paternal figure.
The “soulmates” thing was really the determining factor in them getting back together. There was definitely no growth on his part, and she walks back all the declarations she made about having been too dependent on her husband and losing her identity to him, so they’re basically where they were before the affair began and there’s no reason to think that, given the same circumstances, the husband wouldn’t cheat again.
The other thing I’m going to remember about the narrative is how tepid the “reveals” were regarding the daughter’s and the traumatic incident from the wife’s past. We know the daughter is in therapy, so the specific manifestation isn’t particularly shocking. We know from the prologue that the husband had done something to save his wife from a horrifying event in her youth, so we waited the entire book only to discover , which makes using that memory as a motivating factor in their reconciliation even weaker.
In brief: An authoritarian husband with anger issues cheats on his too-dependent wife and gets the OW pregnant. The husband is angry that “I’m sorry” and “it was a mistake” aren’t enough for his wife to just get over it. The vengeful OW keeps sending the wife reminders of the affair. The wife seeks comfort and counsel from their daughter’s handsome, divorced therapist. The jealous husband seeks a separation because there is no such thing as goose/gander equality. They eventually reconcile because they are cosmic soulmates. The OW has the baby and the husband is going to be an active paternal figure.
The “soulmates” thing was really the determining factor in them getting back together. There was definitely no growth on his part, and she walks back all the declarations she made about having been too dependent on her husband and losing her identity to him, so they’re basically where they were before the affair began and there’s no reason to think that, given the same circumstances, the husband wouldn’t cheat again.
The other thing I’m going to remember about the narrative is how tepid the “reveals” were regarding the daughter’s and the traumatic incident from the wife’s past. We know the daughter is in therapy, so the specific manifestation isn’t particularly shocking. We know from the prologue that the husband had done something to save his wife from a horrifying event in her youth, so we waited the entire book only to discover , which makes using that memory as a motivating factor in their reconciliation even weaker.
January 11, 2022
Reread 1/5/2022
1. Phil is still a d!ck.
2. Lina was emotionally cheating with Nick.
3. Phil was right (I hate that—LOL): Nick was manipulating a patient’s mother.
4. Every woman needs a sister/friend like Adele.
5. No woman needs a friend like Diane.
6. I’d like to call Kim a home wrecking whore, but let’s be honest, she may be a villain, but Phil is the real home wrecking whore of the story.
7. I dislike Alice more than Phil, Nick and Kim combined.
This would have benefited from Phil’s POV. I want to see how miserable he was during the separation.
1. Phil is still a d!ck.
2. Lina was emotionally cheating with Nick.
3. Phil was right (I hate that—LOL): Nick was manipulating a patient’s mother.
4. Every woman needs a sister/friend like Adele.
5. No woman needs a friend like Diane.
6. I’d like to call Kim a home wrecking whore, but let’s be honest, she may be a villain, but Phil is the real home wrecking whore of the story.
7. I dislike Alice more than Phil, Nick and Kim combined.
This would have benefited from Phil’s POV. I want to see how miserable he was during the separation.
March 16, 2019
Whew! This book gave me so many feels. All of Lina's doubts and worries about her husband's secret calls and text felt so dreadfully real, and so did the crushing blow when Phil finally came clean to her about his affair and the repercussion of his stupidity.
All in all though, this story gave me so many feels, from heartbreaking angst to infuriating outrage, and everything in between. It was all so good. I cannot wait to dive into the sequel!
February 19, 2019
5+++ Love is not perfect Stars******
Love is not perfect but this book certainly is. Delightful yet painful, beautiful and relatable. This story will take you on a journey like no other. When perfect love brakes, when you want to forgive but you can’t forget. And when happiness is shattered beyond words. Simply AMAZING!!!!!!
Love is not perfect but this book certainly is. Delightful yet painful, beautiful and relatable. This story will take you on a journey like no other. When perfect love brakes, when you want to forgive but you can’t forget. And when happiness is shattered beyond words. Simply AMAZING!!!!!!
October 30, 2017
Right off the bat, I’ll just say this might be the best book of 2017 that I’ve read thus far. I felt so many emotions reading A White Picket Fence. I had discussions with my husband and friends about the characters and their decisions. I actually dreamt about this storyline, and I don’t often find my reading list in my dreams. I cried, I was horrified, I was frustrated, I was shocked . . . my emotions were all over the board in here. I honestly don’t feel like either Lina or Phil, or even all of the supporting cast, were all that likeable throughout the story, but they were real. They were flawed and complicated and fascinating to learn about. I sincerely hope you will read this book, if family dramas are a genre you prefer to read. I was beyond impressed with the writing, the organizational structure, and how the pieces fell together in the end.
I received a review copy
I received a review copy
November 27, 2017
Please write a sequel!
I love to read a book where the H makes mistakes but he's still redeemable-however, I would like to see the H prove his devotion (maybe sell the vacation home because of what occurred there) The hero should realize how his actions have changed his wife's future (travel, etc.) I'm thinking that the ow isn't done causing trouble either!
I love to read a book where the H makes mistakes but he's still redeemable-however, I would like to see the H prove his devotion (maybe sell the vacation home because of what occurred there) The hero should realize how his actions have changed his wife's future (travel, etc.) I'm thinking that the ow isn't done causing trouble either!
November 23, 2025
❣️ PSA ❣️ If cheating triggers you in your fictional reading material you shouldn't read this.
Have re read this thing like 4 or 5 times so it's going to 5 stars.........that's my litmus test for ratings.
I'm re reading again and I still think that we needed Phil's pov. It would've totally made this book great. I'm thinking she wrote the second bc so many ppl screamed at her about the cheating (seriously, if you don't like cheating in your fictional reading material or it triggers you, why blame the author? Just don't read it.) and she needed his pov so that readers could understand him. Didn't say you had to like him, just understand why he did what he did. I miss the days when you could have a discussion about a book without hate remarks, when people could dislike a book but still understand that the emotions that it elicited are a sign of a good author. Those days are gone. A lot of things are gone in this day and age. Like civility and agreeing to disagree without making the other person pay for having a different opinion.
3/7/19 *******spoilers*******
I'm going to give this a qualified 4 bc of absolutely good charecterzation. I indeed felt Lina's pain, but unfortunately I felt Phils indifference, and that made me MAD, lol. So, I felt all those big emotions (which I love) but I felt no redemption (which I need). When Phil said that he didn't regret his child born to the other woman, I almost choked. Yes, a child is always innocent in these situations, but the cheater isn't. They are complicent in the pain of a person they VOWED to protect, vowed their loyalty to. To have sex with your estranged wife, not having told her that he had held his son by another woman (just after that woman gave birth, 2 DAYS BEFORE HE HAD SEX WITH LINA!) and felt no regrets of having him? No, that was horrible, that was deceitful, that was the action of a slime sucking turd. I was also very disappointed in Lina, while she grew, she should have called him on his actions regarding the child. Even if there is no solution, she should have made him aware of her pain, made it his burden to bear. But that doesn't mean I hated the book ~ but it does mean I despised the "hero". I hope he does redeem himself and I can't wait to read the next book. 😜
P.S. I forgot to say this in my earlier rant 😂 But...............Nicks mine, just so you know. But in all seriousness, her actions towards Nick was what made me the most disappointed in her character. I'm very conflicted about that.
Oh man, third or fourth time I've edited this review! I think I'm going to read again, because I can't help but feel (I love it when a book can do this for me) that I need to think on my gut reaction.
Just bought this one and its sequel, really looking forward to reading. Read a sample of this authors writing and am confident I'm FINALLY going to actually feel angst where I'm really supposed to feel angst, lol. Anyhoo, will write review when done with both.
Have re read this thing like 4 or 5 times so it's going to 5 stars.........that's my litmus test for ratings.
I'm re reading again and I still think that we needed Phil's pov. It would've totally made this book great. I'm thinking she wrote the second bc so many ppl screamed at her about the cheating (seriously, if you don't like cheating in your fictional reading material or it triggers you, why blame the author? Just don't read it.) and she needed his pov so that readers could understand him. Didn't say you had to like him, just understand why he did what he did. I miss the days when you could have a discussion about a book without hate remarks, when people could dislike a book but still understand that the emotions that it elicited are a sign of a good author. Those days are gone. A lot of things are gone in this day and age. Like civility and agreeing to disagree without making the other person pay for having a different opinion.
3/7/19 *******spoilers*******
I'm going to give this a qualified 4 bc of absolutely good charecterzation. I indeed felt Lina's pain, but unfortunately I felt Phils indifference, and that made me MAD, lol. So, I felt all those big emotions (which I love) but I felt no redemption (which I need). When Phil said that he didn't regret his child born to the other woman, I almost choked. Yes, a child is always innocent in these situations, but the cheater isn't. They are complicent in the pain of a person they VOWED to protect, vowed their loyalty to. To have sex with your estranged wife, not having told her that he had held his son by another woman (just after that woman gave birth, 2 DAYS BEFORE HE HAD SEX WITH LINA!) and felt no regrets of having him? No, that was horrible, that was deceitful, that was the action of a slime sucking turd. I was also very disappointed in Lina, while she grew, she should have called him on his actions regarding the child. Even if there is no solution, she should have made him aware of her pain, made it his burden to bear. But that doesn't mean I hated the book ~ but it does mean I despised the "hero". I hope he does redeem himself and I can't wait to read the next book. 😜
P.S. I forgot to say this in my earlier rant 😂 But...............Nicks mine, just so you know. But in all seriousness, her actions towards Nick was what made me the most disappointed in her character. I'm very conflicted about that.
Oh man, third or fourth time I've edited this review! I think I'm going to read again, because I can't help but feel (I love it when a book can do this for me) that I need to think on my gut reaction.
Just bought this one and its sequel, really looking forward to reading. Read a sample of this authors writing and am confident I'm FINALLY going to actually feel angst where I'm really supposed to feel angst, lol. Anyhoo, will write review when done with both.
March 23, 2019
4.5 STARS
“Have you ever considered the possibility that a flawed version of me is better for you than a perfect version of anyone else?”
WOW WOW WOW! Loved this book by a completely new-to-me author. I feel a binge read coming on! Stories about married couples are my catnip and I owe a debt of gratitude to Goodreads reader Katie L. for bringing this book to my attention.
Phil and Lina have a seemingly perfect marriage. According to Lina's mother, they are actually soulmates, destined to be together forever. Other than the adolescent troubles plaguing one of their daughters, their picture-perfect life seems to be able to withstand anything. But Lina's growing suspicions about her beloved husband become all too real. Phil, the perfect husband and father, is not so perfect after all. Will his careless actions destroy all of their lives?
"You are the only woman I will ever love.”
I was simply swept away by this story! This might be one of my favorite books so far this year. I went through many emotions while reading 'A White Picket Fence.' I could not stop thinking about these characters. None of them are perfect, and in fact Phil and Lina are both very flawed characters. Phil especially is deeply flawed. While I did not necessarily agree with Lina's decisions, the author captivated me and I could understand why Lina chose the path she did. The entire supporting cast was very human and flawed and some were not so likeable. Phil angered me many times, but at the same time, he fascinated me.
“I betrayed you.” He lowered his eyes to their clasped hands, drawing in a deep breath before raising his tear-filled eyes to hers. “And I will regret it every day for the rest of my life. But it doesn’t have to be the end for us.”
This book has a depth to the characters and a story line that really captivated me. If you enjoy family drama and a sexy, angsty romance, then I hope you will give this book a chance. I absolutely adored the story and the Epilogue was everything I hoped for! This was my first book by Laura Branchflower and I am immediately starting 'Swimming Naked", the next book about these characters. I can't get enough!
“You broke my heart.”
“I know.” He kissed her again. “But I’m going to fix it.”
“Have you ever considered the possibility that a flawed version of me is better for you than a perfect version of anyone else?”
WOW WOW WOW! Loved this book by a completely new-to-me author. I feel a binge read coming on! Stories about married couples are my catnip and I owe a debt of gratitude to Goodreads reader Katie L. for bringing this book to my attention.
Phil and Lina have a seemingly perfect marriage. According to Lina's mother, they are actually soulmates, destined to be together forever. Other than the adolescent troubles plaguing one of their daughters, their picture-perfect life seems to be able to withstand anything. But Lina's growing suspicions about her beloved husband become all too real. Phil, the perfect husband and father, is not so perfect after all. Will his careless actions destroy all of their lives?
"You are the only woman I will ever love.”
I was simply swept away by this story! This might be one of my favorite books so far this year. I went through many emotions while reading 'A White Picket Fence.' I could not stop thinking about these characters. None of them are perfect, and in fact Phil and Lina are both very flawed characters. Phil especially is deeply flawed. While I did not necessarily agree with Lina's decisions, the author captivated me and I could understand why Lina chose the path she did. The entire supporting cast was very human and flawed and some were not so likeable. Phil angered me many times, but at the same time, he fascinated me.
“I betrayed you.” He lowered his eyes to their clasped hands, drawing in a deep breath before raising his tear-filled eyes to hers. “And I will regret it every day for the rest of my life. But it doesn’t have to be the end for us.”
This book has a depth to the characters and a story line that really captivated me. If you enjoy family drama and a sexy, angsty romance, then I hope you will give this book a chance. I absolutely adored the story and the Epilogue was everything I hoped for! This was my first book by Laura Branchflower and I am immediately starting 'Swimming Naked", the next book about these characters. I can't get enough!
“You broke my heart.”
“I know.” He kissed her again. “But I’m going to fix it.”
September 4, 2017
It's very difficult to review a book like this! It's wonderfully complicated, with greatly flawed characters and a magnificent plot. Or I should say plots, because even though there's a main plot that tugs at your heart, other side plots are interwoven and connected. The main one involves adultery, in a couple that have been married for twenty-five years. Lina and Phil have such a deep connection, such a deep love, that it's unfathomable that such a thing happened but such are the consequences when the family goes through a crisis. Their teenage middle daughter had gone through a hard year, first battling drugs, then battling a severe depression, and thanks to her latest psychiatrist, she was slowly coming out and becoming a healthy teenager again. It was through this crisis that Lina's and Phil's connection broke and Phil found solace in another woman's arms. Many things happen at once. Lina finds out about the affair and is heartbroken. Lina finds herself attracted to her daughter's psychiatrist, and he returns the feelings. Phil ends his affair and finds that he has to battle for his wife's fidelity. Their daughter Katie is coming out of her shell and finding love in a boy, heavily tattooed, older by two years, singer in a rock band, and with no intentions of going to college.
Lina's mother Alice had deep beliefs in astrology, and had warned Lina that she was in danger of adultery this year. She had also prepared Lina's and Phil's astrological charts and they all knew they were cosmic soul mates. It means that whenever one is going through a bad moment, the other one feels it and knows to go to the rescue. During their lifelong love, Phil has rescued Lina many times, and this has made Lina very dependent on Phil. Lina doesn't feel safe if she doesn't have Phil with her and this fear is stronger at night. When they were teenagers, Lina went through a traumatic experience and it was Phil, with his psychic connection to Lina, who got there on time to rescue her. Since then they have been inseparable until this crisis came upon them.
Lina depends a lot on Dr. Nick Drayton to talk things over. Sometimes he talks to her like a doctor, other times like a friend. But always like a man who is attracted to her. Their lives become even more interwoven, because his son starts at the same school as Lina's younger son Logan, and they both play lacrosse, so they strike a friendship and are together a lot. I loved this character, he was at times very brainy, sometimes he went into psychiatrist mode even in social moments, but he was there for Lina every moment of her journey. Even though he fell in love with her, he always kept a respectful distance because he knew she was in ha very vulnerable situation. Also, because he felt the deep connection between Phil and Lina.
Secondary characters are almost as important as the principals. Lina's mother is a strong influence in Lina, her sisters Adele and Shiloh, and Lina's daughter Katie. She's very open and liberal in her beliefs and installs in Katie a curiosity about astrology, which Phil abhors. And yet, when Alice has broken sliding doors, Phil runs to fix them. Lina's family is very closely interwoven with Phil's family. And Lina's best friend is the wife of Phil's partner in their law firm. So when the marriage wobbles, everyone in their world is affected. Lina has to walk a very difficult path in finding herself and deciding how to proceed in this new situation she finds herself. She has all these many insecurities and this strong love for her husband. She's trying to find a balance, a way out to balance her hate / love feelings for her husband, but the other woman finds ways to shake their foundation.
I found Lina so human, so good, so wonderfully flawed. And Phil is shown in the beginning to be a self-righteous douche. Yet, as the story develops, you find that, even with his very visible defects, he's a man who accepts his mistake, makes penance, and has very strong convictions which translate to some rigidity in their family rules. Yet, Lina finds the strength of character to go against Phil's rigidity and tempers it. His devotion and love for Lina shines throughout all the book, his repentance and his total acceptance of his culpability. I think that was his strong suit, that he stayed strong and protective and at Lina's bidding and even though he was fighting for his marriage, he respected Lina's need for space. His dealings with their children were also heartfelt. He was very strong and center at their lives, and they even complained that he was more involved now in the middle of the crisis than before.
There was a parallel plot going on with Lina's and Phil's marriage troubles. It was like a separate but connected YA novel, involving Katie and Matt. Katie had to deal with her parent's close supervision due to her past psychological problems, and with the crush she was feeling for Matt. She dabbled a little bit in white magic and tried to cast a love spell to Matt. Then when he shows interest, she frets that it was due to the spell and not real feelings. Just like a teen!
This was a book with a very wonderful convoluted plot and strong feelings. My heart actually hurt at times with Lina. I loved her fights with Phil because she never went for the jugular, she was just stating her hurt, her feeling of betrayal, her confusion, tried to make Phil understand her feelings and her need of space. This is one of those books that leave you feeling and thinking for a while afterwards.
Lina's mother Alice had deep beliefs in astrology, and had warned Lina that she was in danger of adultery this year. She had also prepared Lina's and Phil's astrological charts and they all knew they were cosmic soul mates. It means that whenever one is going through a bad moment, the other one feels it and knows to go to the rescue. During their lifelong love, Phil has rescued Lina many times, and this has made Lina very dependent on Phil. Lina doesn't feel safe if she doesn't have Phil with her and this fear is stronger at night. When they were teenagers, Lina went through a traumatic experience and it was Phil, with his psychic connection to Lina, who got there on time to rescue her. Since then they have been inseparable until this crisis came upon them.
Lina depends a lot on Dr. Nick Drayton to talk things over. Sometimes he talks to her like a doctor, other times like a friend. But always like a man who is attracted to her. Their lives become even more interwoven, because his son starts at the same school as Lina's younger son Logan, and they both play lacrosse, so they strike a friendship and are together a lot. I loved this character, he was at times very brainy, sometimes he went into psychiatrist mode even in social moments, but he was there for Lina every moment of her journey. Even though he fell in love with her, he always kept a respectful distance because he knew she was in ha very vulnerable situation. Also, because he felt the deep connection between Phil and Lina.
Secondary characters are almost as important as the principals. Lina's mother is a strong influence in Lina, her sisters Adele and Shiloh, and Lina's daughter Katie. She's very open and liberal in her beliefs and installs in Katie a curiosity about astrology, which Phil abhors. And yet, when Alice has broken sliding doors, Phil runs to fix them. Lina's family is very closely interwoven with Phil's family. And Lina's best friend is the wife of Phil's partner in their law firm. So when the marriage wobbles, everyone in their world is affected. Lina has to walk a very difficult path in finding herself and deciding how to proceed in this new situation she finds herself. She has all these many insecurities and this strong love for her husband. She's trying to find a balance, a way out to balance her hate / love feelings for her husband, but the other woman finds ways to shake their foundation.
I found Lina so human, so good, so wonderfully flawed. And Phil is shown in the beginning to be a self-righteous douche. Yet, as the story develops, you find that, even with his very visible defects, he's a man who accepts his mistake, makes penance, and has very strong convictions which translate to some rigidity in their family rules. Yet, Lina finds the strength of character to go against Phil's rigidity and tempers it. His devotion and love for Lina shines throughout all the book, his repentance and his total acceptance of his culpability. I think that was his strong suit, that he stayed strong and protective and at Lina's bidding and even though he was fighting for his marriage, he respected Lina's need for space. His dealings with their children were also heartfelt. He was very strong and center at their lives, and they even complained that he was more involved now in the middle of the crisis than before.
There was a parallel plot going on with Lina's and Phil's marriage troubles. It was like a separate but connected YA novel, involving Katie and Matt. Katie had to deal with her parent's close supervision due to her past psychological problems, and with the crush she was feeling for Matt. She dabbled a little bit in white magic and tried to cast a love spell to Matt. Then when he shows interest, she frets that it was due to the spell and not real feelings. Just like a teen!
This was a book with a very wonderful convoluted plot and strong feelings. My heart actually hurt at times with Lina. I loved her fights with Phil because she never went for the jugular, she was just stating her hurt, her feeling of betrayal, her confusion, tried to make Phil understand her feelings and her need of space. This is one of those books that leave you feeling and thinking for a while afterwards.
July 24, 2024
2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise, even though a lot of readers will not like this!
The Not-So-Good: The h tiptoed the line of doormat status for me.
The Bad: The characters. I didn't connect to them (other than one side character)
Overall: This was surprisingly hard to put down even though I don't think I really enjoyed it. I just wanted to know what happened. It was like a train wreck. I think that feeling of a drop in my stomach when I read about betrayals like this is so impactful that I even seek it out every once in a while even though I'm conflicted on why I do. I think I'm just drawn to feeling something while reading! I like the messy romances because they usually do make me feel. I just wanted more on this, especially because the only character I liked was the OM 🙈 If anyone has a messy romance to recommend-- PLEASE pm me!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: I went in blind, so I would suggest other readers do the same...
Point Of View (POV): This was focused mainly on Lina in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they've been married for ~25 years when this starts.
H (Hero) rating: 2 stars. Phil. I struggled with him in this book. I was
Closure: This ends in an alright place and what I could (hesitantly) call a HEA, but there are many unanswered questions . There is another book, Swimming Naked, that gives more closure.
Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise, even though a lot of readers will not like this!
The Not-So-Good: The h tiptoed the line of doormat status for me.
The Bad: The characters. I didn't connect to them (other than one side character)
Overall: This was surprisingly hard to put down even though I don't think I really enjoyed it. I just wanted to know what happened. It was like a train wreck. I think that feeling of a drop in my stomach when I read about betrayals like this is so impactful that I even seek it out every once in a while even though I'm conflicted on why I do. I think I'm just drawn to feeling something while reading! I like the messy romances because they usually do make me feel. I just wanted more on this, especially because the only character I liked was the OM 🙈 If anyone has a messy romance to recommend-- PLEASE pm me!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: I went in blind, so I would suggest other readers do the same...
Point Of View (POV): This was focused mainly on Lina in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they've been married for ~25 years when this starts.
H (Hero) rating: 2 stars. Phil. I struggled with him in this book. I was
Closure: This ends in an alright place and what I could (hesitantly) call a HEA, but there are many unanswered questions . There is another book, Swimming Naked, that gives more closure.
Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers
March 6, 2025
I'm torn
I'm actually torn with what rating to give this book, and it had nothing to do with the cheating.
For the first 50% of the book Lina was a literal doormat, and Phil's attitude you should just get over it. First of all I was blown away that she didn't leave him for the cheating and getting the woman pregnant. Oh no, what does she end up leaving him for a picture showing he took the other woman to their vacation home. Say what, seriously?
I think him knocking up the woman was worse. Phil as a parent I just kept shaking my head. You have his favorite Megan that is everything can do no wrong literally. Katie the depressed that did drugs and cut herself, and than Logan poor kid tried so hard but never good enough for his dad. Phil was always ugh such a jerk dealing with his youngest two. He paid more attention to the kids after the separated than he did when they were all together.
Then we have Nick who was Katie's therapist, he loved Lina. I was rooting for him and don't think it was fair that she kept using him. He was such a nice man.
I'm actually torn with what rating to give this book, and it had nothing to do with the cheating.
For the first 50% of the book Lina was a literal doormat, and Phil's attitude you should just get over it. First of all I was blown away that she didn't leave him for the cheating and getting the woman pregnant. Oh no, what does she end up leaving him for a picture showing he took the other woman to their vacation home. Say what, seriously?
I think him knocking up the woman was worse. Phil as a parent I just kept shaking my head. You have his favorite Megan that is everything can do no wrong literally. Katie the depressed that did drugs and cut herself, and than Logan poor kid tried so hard but never good enough for his dad. Phil was always ugh such a jerk dealing with his youngest two. He paid more attention to the kids after the separated than he did when they were all together.
Then we have Nick who was Katie's therapist, he loved Lina. I was rooting for him and don't think it was fair that she kept using him. He was such a nice man.
Read
August 7, 2019Sorry (not sorry) but if this author thinks this thash is a good thing to write and publish, I really feel sorry for her. The idea of a woman without the least self-respect and self-esteem has been becoming RIDICULOUS for a long time now and getting into this garbage just proves how worthy this author is to pity. I can't help but wonder if the author's husband liked the book, if that's the case, she better start being careful with her neighbors because as they say "art imitates life". SIMPLY PATHETIC.
January 22, 2019
Photo Story Inside!
Full photo story: https://pin.it/bbcvahm3isp4jf
Full photo story: https://pin.it/bbcvahm3isp4jf
January 2, 2018
This was a well written book. However, the story sucked. The H screwing the OW for months in various places, including the H/h vacation home, and getting her pregnant put this story over the top. There was relatively little explanation for the H’s actions and his anger at the h for not getting over it was frustrating. It’s not like it was a one time thing. The h came across as being a little loopy and the attraction the OM had to her seemed unlikely considering her basically boring persona.
Unless you want to read about another betrayed wife with little self respect, I’d suggest skipping this one.
Unless you want to read about another betrayed wife with little self respect, I’d suggest skipping this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2018
This feels so unfinished... lots of loose ends.
The "hero" is one of the worst I have ever read...no convincing redemption at all.
The "hero" is one of the worst I have ever read...no convincing redemption at all.
November 30, 2017
Ok. So I’m slightly all over the place with my rating, so for now, we’ll settle on 3 stars.
I wish I knew someone who’s read this book, it’s definitely one I want to discuss!
This is probably all over the place, you’ve been warned.
I started this book intending to read just a few chapters and found myself unable to put it down.
It is about 2 people, Lina and Phil, who are cosmic soulmates. They have been together for 25 years, and have 3 children: Meg, Katie and Logan. Phil has an affair, and this betrayal becomes central to the story. Enter, Katie’s psychologist Nick. Lina soon finds that the doctor is someone to confide in and they start a fast friendship.
With the exception of Nick and Logan, each character is either annoying or I downright didn’t like them. This isn’t necessarily a negative (except when it comes to Phil but we’ll get to that later). Branchflower does a great job at keeping each character, well, in character. The things they did and said were authentic to them, even if I didn’t agree with what they were doing or saying.
This book got to me. I mean I hurt. Every time Lina was hurt, I hurt with her. I hadn’t experienced this much pain since reading Somebody Else’s Sky by Jessica Hawkins. The incident(s) that happened on her birthday?
Ugh. I still feel that.
And Phil. What a caveman douche. Seriously, I couldn’t stand him. Lina and Phil are said to be cosmic soulmates. The problem is, I felt like we were told everything. I wanted to see their love for myself, and I wanted to see that he was truly sorry and miserable. I mean, you have the affair and then you act like a douche because your wife has emotional reactions? We seemed to be told about how he feels about her, like “he only looks at you that way” and “he’s really hurting”, I WANTED TO SEE FOR MYSELF, DAMNIT! I needed more moments like the one where Lina was listening in on a conversation between Phil and Logan. Instead we were given Katie’s POV. I enjoyed her storyline but I needed Phil’s instead, or in addition to, Katie’s. I needed to see the interaction with his brother while he was at his house, and I needed to see his interaction with she who will not be named after the affair came out. I needed to see Phil loving Lina but instead I just got a needy Lina. Phil’s harshness, coupled with the details about his affair made me hate him for Lina, was all softened by Nick’s AMAZINGNESS. And so I found myself going in a different direction from the story. This also did not help in the case of Lina and Phil.
We find out towards the end why Lina is so needy when it comes to Phil, but by then he hadn’t done enough to make up for what he did.
This easily could’ve been a 4 star, even close to a 5 star read. It is well written and the plot is thought out. It pulled so much emotion from me, and as much as Lina drove me nuts, I felt for her. But The connection between Phil and Lina was lost on me.
I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO FEEL!!!!!!!!
I wish I knew someone who’s read this book, it’s definitely one I want to discuss!
This is probably all over the place, you’ve been warned.
I started this book intending to read just a few chapters and found myself unable to put it down.
It is about 2 people, Lina and Phil, who are cosmic soulmates. They have been together for 25 years, and have 3 children: Meg, Katie and Logan. Phil has an affair, and this betrayal becomes central to the story. Enter, Katie’s psychologist Nick. Lina soon finds that the doctor is someone to confide in and they start a fast friendship.
With the exception of Nick and Logan, each character is either annoying or I downright didn’t like them. This isn’t necessarily a negative (except when it comes to Phil but we’ll get to that later). Branchflower does a great job at keeping each character, well, in character. The things they did and said were authentic to them, even if I didn’t agree with what they were doing or saying.
This book got to me. I mean I hurt. Every time Lina was hurt, I hurt with her. I hadn’t experienced this much pain since reading Somebody Else’s Sky by Jessica Hawkins. The incident(s) that happened on her birthday?
Ugh. I still feel that.
And Phil. What a caveman douche. Seriously, I couldn’t stand him. Lina and Phil are said to be cosmic soulmates. The problem is, I felt like we were told everything. I wanted to see their love for myself, and I wanted to see that he was truly sorry and miserable. I mean, you have the affair and then you act like a douche because your wife has emotional reactions? We seemed to be told about how he feels about her, like “he only looks at you that way” and “he’s really hurting”, I WANTED TO SEE FOR MYSELF, DAMNIT! I needed more moments like the one where Lina was listening in on a conversation between Phil and Logan. Instead we were given Katie’s POV. I enjoyed her storyline but I needed Phil’s instead, or in addition to, Katie’s. I needed to see the interaction with his brother while he was at his house, and I needed to see his interaction with she who will not be named after the affair came out. I needed to see Phil loving Lina but instead I just got a needy Lina. Phil’s harshness, coupled with the details about his affair made me hate him for Lina, was all softened by Nick’s AMAZINGNESS. And so I found myself going in a different direction from the story. This also did not help in the case of Lina and Phil.
We find out towards the end why Lina is so needy when it comes to Phil, but by then he hadn’t done enough to make up for what he did.
This easily could’ve been a 4 star, even close to a 5 star read. It is well written and the plot is thought out. It pulled so much emotion from me, and as much as Lina drove me nuts, I felt for her. But The connection between Phil and Lina was lost on me.
I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO FEEL!!!!!!!!
February 23, 2018
This was a well-written book but the topic of a cheating spouse made it hard for me to enjoy.
It starts out with a wife of 25 years suspecting her husband of having an affair. She's sure she's wrong. He wouldn't do that. Not with their strong connection for all those years. But she's not wrong. Not only is he having an affair but the woman is pregnant! The thing that really bothered me was how weak the heroine was. She believed she couldn't live without her husband. It made me want to slap her. Couldn't she see the man was an a$$? Even he knows he was wrong to cheat but he still thought his wife should forgive and forget. Phil was very religious so how was it that he cheated in the first place?
I didn't like the constant mention of something terrible happening in the heroine's past, but we don't find out what it was until near the end.
I liked the writing and all the characters except the main couple. I loved the way the teenaged son stepped up. And the troubled daughter actions were very realistically written.
I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review which I am writing as I do with everything I read.
It starts out with a wife of 25 years suspecting her husband of having an affair. She's sure she's wrong. He wouldn't do that. Not with their strong connection for all those years. But she's not wrong. Not only is he having an affair but the woman is pregnant! The thing that really bothered me was how weak the heroine was. She believed she couldn't live without her husband. It made me want to slap her. Couldn't she see the man was an a$$? Even he knows he was wrong to cheat but he still thought his wife should forgive and forget. Phil was very religious so how was it that he cheated in the first place?
I didn't like the constant mention of something terrible happening in the heroine's past, but we don't find out what it was until near the end.
I liked the writing and all the characters except the main couple. I loved the way the teenaged son stepped up. And the troubled daughter actions were very realistically written.
I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review which I am writing as I do with everything I read.
May 12, 2025
This wasn't an easy read for me. The story was carefully crafted and was meant to reflect the realities of a marriage in trouble. It could have been a GREAT book, but it was hard to feel connected with this couple. My pet peeve is the lack of the couple's communication with each other. I did not get the sense that Phil was remorseful enough. I wish we could have been in his head at times to better understand his POV.
When the book ended, I felt as though a good portion was missing. The book dealt with a lot of subjects that needed deeper exploration.
When the book ended, I felt as though a good portion was missing. The book dealt with a lot of subjects that needed deeper exploration.
January 18, 2019
I really liked this book but also did have some issues.
I liked the writing style, I really connected with it and as a result I am going to check out the author's back list.
The books main topic is issues in the marriage of Phil and Lina which is compounded by Phil cheating.
I do not like cheating books, the only time I read this genre is when the focus is on the aftermath, whether the couple reconcile or move on separately. If....they reconcile I need huge redemption.
There are a lot of interesting secondary characters and some excellent dialogue. Different POV's are expressed about the affair, whether to reconcile, forgive, through the so called advice given by others, which is clever.
My issues were that I would have liked Phil and Lina to have some conversations that just never happened.
My issues will contain spoilers so read on at your own risk.
Why did Phil end the affair? I assumed it fizzled out but there was no real explanation or discussion about that.
When exactly did the affair end? He is receiving phone calls but it's unclear if they are still meeting at this time or she is just pestering him to continue the affair or contacting him to inform him of the pregnancy.
If they reconcile how will contact with his son work?
Will he have contact with the 'other woman' when he sees his son, obviously this is unavoidable while he's little but how much?
What happened when he went to see his son after he was born? How did Phil feel? What was the conversation between Phil and the 'other woman' when he saw his son?
If I had been Lina part of me taking him back or even considering it would have been the extent of interaction with the 'other woman' and Phil's son.
Phil does say he would never get back with the 'other woman' whether things work out with Lina or not and this is when he is unaware Lina is listening but as far as the reader is aware they never have an adult conversation about it.
I just felt that despite how much I liked the book, the premise and the writing, I felt it was lacking these details.
There is a period of separation which I felt was realistic.
Phil does cheat but there are no details of intimacy between Phil and the 'other woman'.
Lina does discover some things but it's not via us seeing them together.
I wasn't sure I liked Phil at times, but I could see how their relationship dynamic worked for them.
In questions from other readers the author has said she plans a sequel so maybe some of these things will be dealt with in that. It would be really good together Phil's POV.
I liked the writing style, I really connected with it and as a result I am going to check out the author's back list.
The books main topic is issues in the marriage of Phil and Lina which is compounded by Phil cheating.
I do not like cheating books, the only time I read this genre is when the focus is on the aftermath, whether the couple reconcile or move on separately. If....they reconcile I need huge redemption.
There are a lot of interesting secondary characters and some excellent dialogue. Different POV's are expressed about the affair, whether to reconcile, forgive, through the so called advice given by others, which is clever.
My issues were that I would have liked Phil and Lina to have some conversations that just never happened.
My issues will contain spoilers so read on at your own risk.
Why did Phil end the affair? I assumed it fizzled out but there was no real explanation or discussion about that.
When exactly did the affair end? He is receiving phone calls but it's unclear if they are still meeting at this time or she is just pestering him to continue the affair or contacting him to inform him of the pregnancy.
If they reconcile how will contact with his son work?
Will he have contact with the 'other woman' when he sees his son, obviously this is unavoidable while he's little but how much?
What happened when he went to see his son after he was born? How did Phil feel? What was the conversation between Phil and the 'other woman' when he saw his son?
If I had been Lina part of me taking him back or even considering it would have been the extent of interaction with the 'other woman' and Phil's son.
Phil does say he would never get back with the 'other woman' whether things work out with Lina or not and this is when he is unaware Lina is listening but as far as the reader is aware they never have an adult conversation about it.
I just felt that despite how much I liked the book, the premise and the writing, I felt it was lacking these details.
There is a period of separation which I felt was realistic.
Phil does cheat but there are no details of intimacy between Phil and the 'other woman'.
Lina does discover some things but it's not via us seeing them together.
I wasn't sure I liked Phil at times, but I could see how their relationship dynamic worked for them.
In questions from other readers the author has said she plans a sequel so maybe some of these things will be dealt with in that. It would be really good together Phil's POV.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2018
Good, not great
Okay, this book could have been GREAT, but it's just hard to buy the connection between this couple being violated by an argument, a woman being there and unprotected sex just happens and continues for 3 or 4 months. The book dealt with a lot of subjects that needed deeper exploration. Their daughter had mental health issues,so did the h and I thought the H was just worn out because of dealing with it for so many years. The h was TOO weak and dependent on her husband. The writer NEVER explored the h mental issues and the H was kinda crude and obnoxious. My pet peeve is the lack of the couple's communication with each other. Phil is like you are mine so forgive me and Lina is like I can't forgive you but I need you to put me to sleep beca use I'm still 16 emotionally. This writer's style is great, but she should have had more communication between the couple. Also, TOO many other people situations in this book. Linda's sister, Shiloh,her mother and father and her daughter was in this book TOO much. I felt Phil was just as traumatized by what happened when they were teenagers as Lina and Shiloh and that angle was never realized in this book. Phil didn't deserve to come back home, but Lina just let him because she was so weak!!! This book could have had a 5 star from me if this writer had delved deeper with Phil and Lina.
Okay, this book could have been GREAT, but it's just hard to buy the connection between this couple being violated by an argument, a woman being there and unprotected sex just happens and continues for 3 or 4 months. The book dealt with a lot of subjects that needed deeper exploration. Their daughter had mental health issues,so did the h and I thought the H was just worn out because of dealing with it for so many years. The h was TOO weak and dependent on her husband. The writer NEVER explored the h mental issues and the H was kinda crude and obnoxious. My pet peeve is the lack of the couple's communication with each other. Phil is like you are mine so forgive me and Lina is like I can't forgive you but I need you to put me to sleep beca use I'm still 16 emotionally. This writer's style is great, but she should have had more communication between the couple. Also, TOO many other people situations in this book. Linda's sister, Shiloh,her mother and father and her daughter was in this book TOO much. I felt Phil was just as traumatized by what happened when they were teenagers as Lina and Shiloh and that angle was never realized in this book. Phil didn't deserve to come back home, but Lina just let him because she was so weak!!! This book could have had a 5 star from me if this writer had delved deeper with Phil and Lina.
May 31, 2020
The H cheated on his wife for months and got the OW pregnant. (She gives birth to a boy) almost everyone in the h’s life tells her to forgive him because he’s soooo sorry and sad. There was OM who was really sweet and understanding and would have been very good for the h but she loved her philandering husband. She was so weak throughout the entire book. What woman in her right mind would take her husband back who not only had sex with the OW in her bed but it resulted in a pregnancy? That means he was not wearing protection. She also saw texts between him and the OW as well as photos. How could she continue with that marriage knowing what he did? And how can her friends and family tell her to take him back knowing all the pain and betrayal she felt? I hated her mother. I did not like any character in this book. If this was the other way around her husband would have left her in a second and she would have no one in her corner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2024
Belh .... and just no. There was zero grovel, too many martyr themes, and the h’s family is TSTL. Why must Christian writers make women the martyrs? Why? Aside from the lack of any real connection with the H, the h’s friends and family made me sick. If the tables had been turned, and the h got pregnant from another man. There is NO way the H would forgive her.
This is just sanctimonious garbage. I would rate zero stars if I could.
07/23/24
I decided to reread this because it popped up in my feed. I upgraded a star, but the h was such a doormat and the lack of grovel is still too much for me rate higher than two.
This is just sanctimonious garbage. I would rate zero stars if I could.
07/23/24
I decided to reread this because it popped up in my feed. I upgraded a star, but the h was such a doormat and the lack of grovel is still too much for me rate higher than two.
December 15, 2017
Not Your Typical Romance...
I'm one of "those" who only read your typical romantic novels. I previously read the other two books by this author, which I might add are fabulous...this book is different--true struggles of a happily married couple. It's a refreshing read. By the way, this is my new favorite author.
I'm one of "those" who only read your typical romantic novels. I previously read the other two books by this author, which I might add are fabulous...this book is different--true struggles of a happily married couple. It's a refreshing read. By the way, this is my new favorite author.
February 23, 2019
Irredeemable husband, not a hero in my opinion. Not enough grovelling or repentance. Too angry and hypocritical.
Heroine a door mat and so brow beaten. Ridiculous mother and supposed best friend. The only saving graces Logan and Adele.
Heroine a door mat and so brow beaten. Ridiculous mother and supposed best friend. The only saving graces Logan and Adele.
January 25, 2019
Whatever.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews