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The Unbreakables
A delicious, sharp novel about a woman who jets off to France after her perfect marriage collapses, putting the broken pieces of herself back together while rediscovering her own joie de vivre—a lust for life, art, and steamy sex.
The worst birthday ever might just be the gift of a lifetime…
It’s Sophie Bloom’s forty-second birthday, and she’s ready for a night of celebration with Gabe, her longtime, devoted husband, and her two besties and their spouses. Dinner is served with a side of delicious gossip, including which North Grove residents were caught with their pants down on Ashley Madison after the secret on-line dating site for married and committed couples was hacked. Thirty-two million cheaters worldwide have been exposed…including Sophie’s “perfect” husband. To add insult to injury, she learns Gabe is the top cheater in their town.
Humiliated and directionless, Sophie jumps into the unknown and flees to France to meet up with her teenage daughter who is studying abroad and nursing her own heartbreak. After a brief visit to Paris, Sophie heads out to the artist enclave of Saint-Paul-de-Vence. There, for the first time in a long time, Sophie acknowledges her own desires—not her husband’s, not her daughter’s—and rediscovers her essence with painful honesty and humor, reawakening both her sensuality and ambitions as a sculptor.
As she sheds her past and travels the obstacle-filled off beaten path, Sophie Bloom is determined to blossom. Allowing her true self to emerge in the postcard beauty of Provence, Sophie must decide what is broken forever...and what it means to be truly unbreakable.
“Artful, feminist, and emotionally gripping. The Unbreakables is a remarkable tribute to a woman’s strength in the face of heartbreak and adversity.” — Helen Hoang, author of The Kiss Quotient
Smart, sure and sexy, The Unbreakables is unforgettable.” — Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan’s Tale and The Lost Girls of Paris
“This exquisitely wrought novel will appeal to readers who believe in the redemption of new beginnings.” — Publishers Weekly
The worst birthday ever might just be the gift of a lifetime…
It’s Sophie Bloom’s forty-second birthday, and she’s ready for a night of celebration with Gabe, her longtime, devoted husband, and her two besties and their spouses. Dinner is served with a side of delicious gossip, including which North Grove residents were caught with their pants down on Ashley Madison after the secret on-line dating site for married and committed couples was hacked. Thirty-two million cheaters worldwide have been exposed…including Sophie’s “perfect” husband. To add insult to injury, she learns Gabe is the top cheater in their town.
Humiliated and directionless, Sophie jumps into the unknown and flees to France to meet up with her teenage daughter who is studying abroad and nursing her own heartbreak. After a brief visit to Paris, Sophie heads out to the artist enclave of Saint-Paul-de-Vence. There, for the first time in a long time, Sophie acknowledges her own desires—not her husband’s, not her daughter’s—and rediscovers her essence with painful honesty and humor, reawakening both her sensuality and ambitions as a sculptor.
As she sheds her past and travels the obstacle-filled off beaten path, Sophie Bloom is determined to blossom. Allowing her true self to emerge in the postcard beauty of Provence, Sophie must decide what is broken forever...and what it means to be truly unbreakable.
“Artful, feminist, and emotionally gripping. The Unbreakables is a remarkable tribute to a woman’s strength in the face of heartbreak and adversity.” — Helen Hoang, author of The Kiss Quotient
Smart, sure and sexy, The Unbreakables is unforgettable.” — Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan’s Tale and The Lost Girls of Paris
“This exquisitely wrought novel will appeal to readers who believe in the redemption of new beginnings.” — Publishers Weekly
352 pages, ebook
First published June 4, 2019
616 people are currently reading
7814 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Barr
4 books1,154 followersLisa Barr is the New York Times bestselling author of WOMAN ON FIRE, THE UNBREAKABLES and the award-winning FUGITIVE COLORS. Her new historical thriller, THE GODDESS OF WARSAW debuts on May 28th, 2024. In addition, Lisa served as an editor for The Jerusalem Post, managing editor of Today's Chicago Woman, managing editor of Moment magazine, and as an editor/reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. Among the highlights of her career, Lisa covered the famous “handshake” between the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, the late PLO leader Yasser Arafat, and President Bill Clinton at the White House. Lisa has been featured on Good Morning America and Today for her work as an author, journalist, and blogger. In exciting book news: Actress Sharon Stone has optioned rights to adapt WOMAN ON FIRE for film.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 618 reviews
June 15, 2019
"Life is messy, love is messier. But pain is the messiest of all. And yet in brokenness, there is rebuilding, a rising from a fall."
When a book starts getting a lot of hype, I always get a little apprehensive that I may be the outlier. Will I be the person that's disappointed by the book that everyone says is so excellent?
Where Lisa Barr's new novel, The Unbreakables , is concerned, I needn't have worried. This is a smart, sexy, emotional story about a woman losing and then finding herself again, learning just how strong she can be, and recapturing dreams she thought had passed her by. I really loved this book and found it so compelling from start to finish."
It's Sophie's 42nd birthday and she's looking forward to celebrating with her husband, Gabe, her two best friends, and their husbands. It's the way it always is—the six have been practically inseparable since high school and college, and Sophie and her two best friends have helped each other through so many ups and downs.
During dinner, the conversation turns to gossip, namely the recent release of data from a website catering to married people looking for an affair. The group eagerly tears into the list to see who in their area will be deservedly exposed. It's all fun and games, until it takes a personal turn, when Gabe's name appears on the list, as the top cheater in their town, no less.
Sophie is devastated, and she quickly learns that Gabe's infidelity isn't the only betrayal she faces. When her college-age daughter calls from Paris, where she is studying abroad, and is having her own emotional crisis, Sophie decides to leave the chaos of her life behind her and join Ava in Paris.
After helping get Ava back on track, Sophie decides to venture to Provence, and is determined to recapture the life that has passed her. Her time in France reawakens her self-esteem, her sexual desires, and her dreams of being a sculptor, dreams that she had thought were all but gone.
But as Sophie tries to put the pain of Gabe's infidelity and the betrayals she experienced behind her, her "real life" keeps intruding. Can you really stop caring about the people who were part of your life for so long? Do you really want to? If not, how can you regain control so that you're never left so shattered?
An epigraph at the start of one of the sections of The Unbreakables includes a quote from Frida Kahlo which says, "At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can." This is tremendously fitting for this book, because Sophie learns that she is stronger than she imagined, but that sometimes it takes falling apart to become stronger.
There are definitely familiar elements in this book, and there might not be a lot of surprises, but the beauty of this story is in Sophie's journey, and the people that surround her. It's a pretty sexy book as well, as Sophie starts to get her, well, groove back.
I had heard from a number of people that this book is even better if you go into it knowing very little about the plot so the story can unfold around you, as Sophie's life unfolds around her. I've kept the plot description fairly simple because I agree with that advice. Lisa Barr does an excellent job charting Sophie's journey, and she made this story funny, exciting, sensual, thought-provoking, and poignant.
Definitely read this one!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
When a book starts getting a lot of hype, I always get a little apprehensive that I may be the outlier. Will I be the person that's disappointed by the book that everyone says is so excellent?
Where Lisa Barr's new novel, The Unbreakables , is concerned, I needn't have worried. This is a smart, sexy, emotional story about a woman losing and then finding herself again, learning just how strong she can be, and recapturing dreams she thought had passed her by. I really loved this book and found it so compelling from start to finish."
It's Sophie's 42nd birthday and she's looking forward to celebrating with her husband, Gabe, her two best friends, and their husbands. It's the way it always is—the six have been practically inseparable since high school and college, and Sophie and her two best friends have helped each other through so many ups and downs.
During dinner, the conversation turns to gossip, namely the recent release of data from a website catering to married people looking for an affair. The group eagerly tears into the list to see who in their area will be deservedly exposed. It's all fun and games, until it takes a personal turn, when Gabe's name appears on the list, as the top cheater in their town, no less.
Sophie is devastated, and she quickly learns that Gabe's infidelity isn't the only betrayal she faces. When her college-age daughter calls from Paris, where she is studying abroad, and is having her own emotional crisis, Sophie decides to leave the chaos of her life behind her and join Ava in Paris.
After helping get Ava back on track, Sophie decides to venture to Provence, and is determined to recapture the life that has passed her. Her time in France reawakens her self-esteem, her sexual desires, and her dreams of being a sculptor, dreams that she had thought were all but gone.
But as Sophie tries to put the pain of Gabe's infidelity and the betrayals she experienced behind her, her "real life" keeps intruding. Can you really stop caring about the people who were part of your life for so long? Do you really want to? If not, how can you regain control so that you're never left so shattered?
An epigraph at the start of one of the sections of The Unbreakables includes a quote from Frida Kahlo which says, "At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can." This is tremendously fitting for this book, because Sophie learns that she is stronger than she imagined, but that sometimes it takes falling apart to become stronger.
There are definitely familiar elements in this book, and there might not be a lot of surprises, but the beauty of this story is in Sophie's journey, and the people that surround her. It's a pretty sexy book as well, as Sophie starts to get her, well, groove back.
I had heard from a number of people that this book is even better if you go into it knowing very little about the plot so the story can unfold around you, as Sophie's life unfolds around her. I've kept the plot description fairly simple because I agree with that advice. Lisa Barr does an excellent job charting Sophie's journey, and she made this story funny, exciting, sensual, thought-provoking, and poignant.
Definitely read this one!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
November 5, 2024
4 stars!
This was a step outside my usual reading genre and I really enjoyed it!
Sophie discovers her husband has been cheating on her for years. It breaks their marriage and family. Sophie leaves the family home to be with their teenage daughter who is studying in France where she plans to figure out how she will move forward. There, she rediscovers herself and what brings her true happiness.
This was an emotional, honest, raw and inspiring story. I connected with the main character immediately and enjoyed following her journey. This book shines a light on new beginnings and how they can happen at any age.
The writing was strong and smooth. I was invested from page one. The storyline and characters grabbed me immediately and kept my attention piqued throughout as the pace and flow were steady.
The motherhood piece was a stand out aspect. It was written very well and explores some thought provoking scenarios. I found myself worrying alongside the main character, hoping her daughter would make good decisions.
This was a book that I never would have picked up without an IG friend’s recommendation. I’m so glad I gave it a shot because it was a thoroughly enjoyable palate cleanser in between the thrillers I’ve been binging lately. Romance and women’s fiction are not genres I generally enjoy reading, and while this was heavy on the romance aspect, it wasn’t the entire focus of the book. (There is some unforgettable spice factor 🥵)
Overall, a book that I highly recommend!
This was a step outside my usual reading genre and I really enjoyed it!
Sophie discovers her husband has been cheating on her for years. It breaks their marriage and family. Sophie leaves the family home to be with their teenage daughter who is studying in France where she plans to figure out how she will move forward. There, she rediscovers herself and what brings her true happiness.
This was an emotional, honest, raw and inspiring story. I connected with the main character immediately and enjoyed following her journey. This book shines a light on new beginnings and how they can happen at any age.
The writing was strong and smooth. I was invested from page one. The storyline and characters grabbed me immediately and kept my attention piqued throughout as the pace and flow were steady.
The motherhood piece was a stand out aspect. It was written very well and explores some thought provoking scenarios. I found myself worrying alongside the main character, hoping her daughter would make good decisions.
This was a book that I never would have picked up without an IG friend’s recommendation. I’m so glad I gave it a shot because it was a thoroughly enjoyable palate cleanser in between the thrillers I’ve been binging lately. Romance and women’s fiction are not genres I generally enjoy reading, and while this was heavy on the romance aspect, it wasn’t the entire focus of the book. (There is some unforgettable spice factor 🥵)
Overall, a book that I highly recommend!
June 17, 2019
Sophie & Gabe TLF...
True Love Forever?
or
The Little Fu#ker? ( Gabe’s secret infidelity exposed)
It’s Sophie’s Birthday celebration dinner....a Tuesday night in July, in North Grove, Chicago, (she’s 42 years old) .... out with best friends:
Samantha & Eric
and
Lauren & Matt
Gabe Bloom, cardiologist surgeon, has been caught cheating.
His name showed up on the ‘Ashley Madison’ list.... an on-line dating website for anonymous ‘cheaters’.
Hackers got into the database: cheaters were now cheated out of their anonymity.
The database estimated there were over 32 million cheaters. Hackers released names.
Nearly 20 pages of names on the infamous list belong to their own little community in North Grove.
Ouch... Gabe is in trouble:
Gabe and Sophie have been together since High School. Friends called them “The Unbreakables”.
“Gabriel Michael Bloom-Number 18-sole owner of my heart, the father of our only child, Ava, is listed on the hacked ‘Ashley Madison’ site 43 times”.
Into the doggie kennel for Gabe Bloom.....
That same night, Sophie is soon taken to the beach with her ‘besties’ [ note I hate that word: why do grown women allow such a word in their vocabulary?] ....with a party- size bag of Cheetos - a demolished package of Oreos - and wine -
...none of which is going to fix Sophie’s problems.
A sentence I liked enough to pause....
Samantha says to Sophie:
“Do not minimize your pain and do not make excuses for him...(as ‘usual’— which Samantha doesn’t say, but Sophie hears it anyway”.)....
There is not a human being on the planet - men or women - who have not suppressed their own feelings - “ minimized their pain” - and made excuses for a loved one.
It’s worth looking at this ‘human flaw’....
but this is a women’s fiction
story of husband cheats - woman finds herself - gets stronger - novel...
Maybe now is not the time to get ‘all serious’ with our own shortcomings about minimizing our own pain...
The characters in Lisa Barr’s book have enough of their own shortcomings- that aim-to-entertain.
Contemporary novels look at probable situations... and this novel does just that... paints a ‘mostly’ probable tale that allows readers to look at the devastation of a marriage betrayal- process the shitty news- then look deeper into our ‘unbreakable’ strength.
We journey to France with Sophie Bloom- during her transitional adventure of heartbreak, self discovery and personal empowerment.
I found myself tiring from constant rhetoric embellishing. The overkill of italics... started to make me GO BONKERS!!!
The added inner thoughts from the narrator - in italics- was practically used on every page.
The technique was way overused....which made the reading cumbersome, and monotonous.
A few small examples:
“My voice trails off, and the lines become blurred—( is it him I’m speaking to you, or is it Gabe?)”.
“I found this out right before I came here to see Ava to deal with...( Does Jake cheating with Monica even matter at this point?)”.
“I haven’t sculpted in years. ( why am I even telling him this)”.
“He’s a cheater too. ( But I have no friends)”.
There were SO MANY of these italics ( I put mine in parentheses- but it’s the same thing).
I started to go MAD...
I just wanted to finish the book quickly.
“So get over yourself”, Sophie tells herself in *italics*....
She does....
“Love is messy”.
“Even if life hurts like hell, sometimes you just have to pick yourself up and build again. That’s what I’m going to do”.
Basically - I believe in this Philosophy, but the simplicity was on the dull side.
I was puzzled by another line:
“Ava is not only smart and savvy, but also, like all teens of this generation, she understands fully how to self promote”.
REALLY? Ok?/!/?
....Oh well... I need to stop nitpicking...
....A little editing was needed...
Themes include love, family, friendships, betrayal, a little steam, and forgiveness.
Many readers will find this novel irresistible.
I really wanted to like this book - a friend told me about it...
but those many italics ruined much of my enjoyment...
It was a predictable mediocre novel for me.
Not awful ... but not great either.
2.6 stars..bumping it to a 3 star rating.
True Love Forever?
or
The Little Fu#ker? ( Gabe’s secret infidelity exposed)
It’s Sophie’s Birthday celebration dinner....a Tuesday night in July, in North Grove, Chicago, (she’s 42 years old) .... out with best friends:
Samantha & Eric
and
Lauren & Matt
Gabe Bloom, cardiologist surgeon, has been caught cheating.
His name showed up on the ‘Ashley Madison’ list.... an on-line dating website for anonymous ‘cheaters’.
Hackers got into the database: cheaters were now cheated out of their anonymity.
The database estimated there were over 32 million cheaters. Hackers released names.
Nearly 20 pages of names on the infamous list belong to their own little community in North Grove.
Ouch... Gabe is in trouble:
Gabe and Sophie have been together since High School. Friends called them “The Unbreakables”.
“Gabriel Michael Bloom-Number 18-sole owner of my heart, the father of our only child, Ava, is listed on the hacked ‘Ashley Madison’ site 43 times”.
Into the doggie kennel for Gabe Bloom.....
That same night, Sophie is soon taken to the beach with her ‘besties’ [ note I hate that word: why do grown women allow such a word in their vocabulary?] ....with a party- size bag of Cheetos - a demolished package of Oreos - and wine -
...none of which is going to fix Sophie’s problems.
A sentence I liked enough to pause....
Samantha says to Sophie:
“Do not minimize your pain and do not make excuses for him...(as ‘usual’— which Samantha doesn’t say, but Sophie hears it anyway”.)....
There is not a human being on the planet - men or women - who have not suppressed their own feelings - “ minimized their pain” - and made excuses for a loved one.
It’s worth looking at this ‘human flaw’....
but this is a women’s fiction
story of husband cheats - woman finds herself - gets stronger - novel...
Maybe now is not the time to get ‘all serious’ with our own shortcomings about minimizing our own pain...
The characters in Lisa Barr’s book have enough of their own shortcomings- that aim-to-entertain.
Contemporary novels look at probable situations... and this novel does just that... paints a ‘mostly’ probable tale that allows readers to look at the devastation of a marriage betrayal- process the shitty news- then look deeper into our ‘unbreakable’ strength.
We journey to France with Sophie Bloom- during her transitional adventure of heartbreak, self discovery and personal empowerment.
I found myself tiring from constant rhetoric embellishing. The overkill of italics... started to make me GO BONKERS!!!
The added inner thoughts from the narrator - in italics- was practically used on every page.
The technique was way overused....which made the reading cumbersome, and monotonous.
A few small examples:
“My voice trails off, and the lines become blurred—( is it him I’m speaking to you, or is it Gabe?)”.
“I found this out right before I came here to see Ava to deal with...( Does Jake cheating with Monica even matter at this point?)”.
“I haven’t sculpted in years. ( why am I even telling him this)”.
“He’s a cheater too. ( But I have no friends)”.
There were SO MANY of these italics ( I put mine in parentheses- but it’s the same thing).
I started to go MAD...
I just wanted to finish the book quickly.
“So get over yourself”, Sophie tells herself in *italics*....
She does....
“Love is messy”.
“Even if life hurts like hell, sometimes you just have to pick yourself up and build again. That’s what I’m going to do”.
Basically - I believe in this Philosophy, but the simplicity was on the dull side.
I was puzzled by another line:
“Ava is not only smart and savvy, but also, like all teens of this generation, she understands fully how to self promote”.
REALLY? Ok?/!/?
....Oh well... I need to stop nitpicking...
....A little editing was needed...
Themes include love, family, friendships, betrayal, a little steam, and forgiveness.
Many readers will find this novel irresistible.
I really wanted to like this book - a friend told me about it...
but those many italics ruined much of my enjoyment...
It was a predictable mediocre novel for me.
Not awful ... but not great either.
2.6 stars..bumping it to a 3 star rating.
November 8, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5 rounded up.
Life is messy, love is messier. But pain is the messiest of all.
The Unbreakables by Lisa Barr may have been a lot sexier than I was expecting, but I still loved the heck out of it!
What it's about: On Sophie Bloom's forty-second birthday she receives the shock of her life when she finds out that her seemingly 'perfect' husband Gabe is on the Ashley Madison list of cheaters, and not only that, but he is the top cheater in their town of North Grove. Almost immediately after learning this, she gets a call from her daughter who is studying abroad in France and learns that she has just had her heart broken as well. Not knowing what else to do, Sophie flees to France to spend time with her daughter and try to rediscover herself as well. She will eventually rediscover her passion for sculpting, recover her sexuality, and learn how to move on. All set in the beautiful backdrop of Europe.
The Unbreakables has a little bit of everything and it is sure to tear you apart and put you back together again. Love, sexuality, friendship, betrayal... this book really runs you through a gamut of themes and emotions. There were so many times that I both laughed out loud and had tears in my eyes; I don't know how she does it, but sometimes Barr did this to me within the same paragraph! This is a brutally honest look at betrayal, friendship, and rediscovering yourself and your passions.
The setting in Europe and the fact that Sophie was a sculptor was so cool, and Barr managed to make the art and setting both very vivid in this novel. I felt like I was right there, and it made me REALLY want to go see the things in this book for myself. Sophie was such an amazing character too and so strong. Her character plus the strong bonds talked about in The Unbreakables truly made me so happy, and I loved her journey. I think this book will be relatable for so many readers.
Song/s the book brought to mind: A mix of You Lie and Chainsaw both by The Band Perry (yes I love them!).
Final Thought: I saw a lot of reviewers have been saying this is a good book to go into pretty blindly and I would agree. I love going into books blind and feel as though they are much more surprising when read this way. If you love women's fiction with some racy scenes that lean towards the romance novel side of things, then I highly recommend checking out The Unbreakables. I don't really read romance, but there is so much more going on in this book than that, so it didn't bother me. Lisa Barr officially has an instant fan in little old me.
Thank you to Get Red PR, the author Lisa Barr, and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book!
Life is messy, love is messier. But pain is the messiest of all.
The Unbreakables by Lisa Barr may have been a lot sexier than I was expecting, but I still loved the heck out of it!
What it's about: On Sophie Bloom's forty-second birthday she receives the shock of her life when she finds out that her seemingly 'perfect' husband Gabe is on the Ashley Madison list of cheaters, and not only that, but he is the top cheater in their town of North Grove. Almost immediately after learning this, she gets a call from her daughter who is studying abroad in France and learns that she has just had her heart broken as well. Not knowing what else to do, Sophie flees to France to spend time with her daughter and try to rediscover herself as well. She will eventually rediscover her passion for sculpting, recover her sexuality, and learn how to move on. All set in the beautiful backdrop of Europe.
The Unbreakables has a little bit of everything and it is sure to tear you apart and put you back together again. Love, sexuality, friendship, betrayal... this book really runs you through a gamut of themes and emotions. There were so many times that I both laughed out loud and had tears in my eyes; I don't know how she does it, but sometimes Barr did this to me within the same paragraph! This is a brutally honest look at betrayal, friendship, and rediscovering yourself and your passions.
The setting in Europe and the fact that Sophie was a sculptor was so cool, and Barr managed to make the art and setting both very vivid in this novel. I felt like I was right there, and it made me REALLY want to go see the things in this book for myself. Sophie was such an amazing character too and so strong. Her character plus the strong bonds talked about in The Unbreakables truly made me so happy, and I loved her journey. I think this book will be relatable for so many readers.
Song/s the book brought to mind: A mix of You Lie and Chainsaw both by The Band Perry (yes I love them!).
Final Thought: I saw a lot of reviewers have been saying this is a good book to go into pretty blindly and I would agree. I love going into books blind and feel as though they are much more surprising when read this way. If you love women's fiction with some racy scenes that lean towards the romance novel side of things, then I highly recommend checking out The Unbreakables. I don't really read romance, but there is so much more going on in this book than that, so it didn't bother me. Lisa Barr officially has an instant fan in little old me.
Thank you to Get Red PR, the author Lisa Barr, and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book!
lost-interest
July 22, 2019I was interested in this book earlier, thinking it might involve some good revenge on the husband who cheated on her 43 times!!!!!! But, thanks to my friend Bookylicious, who has recently read it, it seems all she does is to enter into a threesome, then some time later go and sleep with that d*ck of a husband once more and then towards the end, embrace a rushed new romance... Nope, not interested in it anymore...
June 5, 2019
4.5/5
I don’t know about you but when the Ashley Madison scandal broke I was equally horrified but also morbidly curious. How could so many millions of people be using such a tacky and torrid site?! It still blows my mind actually, and this book opens with Sophie having a birthday dinner with her closet friends and finding out her husband is on the site. Not only that, he’s their cities most active user 😱 I cannot even imagine the humiliation and pain this would cause but as far as an opening hook?! SOLD!
Listen, I’ve read plenty of books about a woman scorned trying to find herself again but I’ve never read one that felt quite so fresh and empowering as this one. Sophie takes quite a journey after her marriage crumbles and none of what happened was predictable at all. I absolutely love that, it’s hard to surprise me lately but I definitely was here. It was also racier than I expected, Sophie wants to stand on her own two feet after being half of a couple for years and she does this not only in a personal way, but also sexually. She’s the type of character that I think any woman can relate to and I was rooting for her hardcore. It was really inspiring to see her try new things and take chances and I was oddly proud of her by the end.
Highly recommended by me, this was not only a fun and fast read, it was also full of wisdom and felt super modern and hip!
The Unbreakables in three words: Sexy, Empowering and Fresh.
I don’t know about you but when the Ashley Madison scandal broke I was equally horrified but also morbidly curious. How could so many millions of people be using such a tacky and torrid site?! It still blows my mind actually, and this book opens with Sophie having a birthday dinner with her closet friends and finding out her husband is on the site. Not only that, he’s their cities most active user 😱 I cannot even imagine the humiliation and pain this would cause but as far as an opening hook?! SOLD!
Listen, I’ve read plenty of books about a woman scorned trying to find herself again but I’ve never read one that felt quite so fresh and empowering as this one. Sophie takes quite a journey after her marriage crumbles and none of what happened was predictable at all. I absolutely love that, it’s hard to surprise me lately but I definitely was here. It was also racier than I expected, Sophie wants to stand on her own two feet after being half of a couple for years and she does this not only in a personal way, but also sexually. She’s the type of character that I think any woman can relate to and I was rooting for her hardcore. It was really inspiring to see her try new things and take chances and I was oddly proud of her by the end.
Highly recommended by me, this was not only a fun and fast read, it was also full of wisdom and felt super modern and hip!
The Unbreakables in three words: Sexy, Empowering and Fresh.
June 18, 2019
“𝙸 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚑𝚊𝚞𝚕, 𝚊 𝚁𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚏𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚘. 𝙰 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝙶𝚊𝚋𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚊𝚗𝚝. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚝𝚒𝚝𝚕𝚎. 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚘𝚕𝚍, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚄𝚗𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚄𝚗𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜.”
Oh man! This book you guys, it was such a delight. This book gets all the stars from me! I had just finished reading Normal People, which put me into quite the sad slump, and this was just the pick me up that I needed!
The Unbreakables is a beautiful coming of age story of a woman named Sophie, who is putting the pieces of her shattered life together, after she discovers on the night of her birthday that her husband has been having multiple affairs.
Sophie radiates strength and assurance, and an inner heroine that I would like to hope I would find, if I ever found myself in a similar situation. She gathers herself together and jets off to France to escape humiliation and discover who she really is.
There was unexpected passion and romance, and a side of steam which I fully appreciated too.
Sophie was such a likeable character from the very start, and she drew me in with her charm and wit. I loved this storyline as we see her discover her independence, sensuality, and allow her true self to shine.
*Thank you to Harper Paperbacks for this complimentary book. All opinions are my own
Oh man! This book you guys, it was such a delight. This book gets all the stars from me! I had just finished reading Normal People, which put me into quite the sad slump, and this was just the pick me up that I needed!
The Unbreakables is a beautiful coming of age story of a woman named Sophie, who is putting the pieces of her shattered life together, after she discovers on the night of her birthday that her husband has been having multiple affairs.
Sophie radiates strength and assurance, and an inner heroine that I would like to hope I would find, if I ever found myself in a similar situation. She gathers herself together and jets off to France to escape humiliation and discover who she really is.
There was unexpected passion and romance, and a side of steam which I fully appreciated too.
Sophie was such a likeable character from the very start, and she drew me in with her charm and wit. I loved this storyline as we see her discover her independence, sensuality, and allow her true self to shine.
*Thank you to Harper Paperbacks for this complimentary book. All opinions are my own
June 3, 2019
Sophie Bloom is spending her forty-second birthday with her husband, her two best friends and their spouses. What could go wrong? Well the discovery during dinner that her high school sweetheart/husband has been outed as a serial cheater; that one of his conquests was best friend number one; and finally that best friend number two new about it. Sophie decides to deal with this mess by escaping to Paris where her 19-year-old daughter may be pregnant, and the possible father a forty-some year-old married man! After solving her daughters’ problems, Sophie heads to the artist enclave of Saint-Paul-de-Vence where she decides to embrace her new life. Her first act is to enter into a ménage à trois with two twenty-eight-year-olds and then take a job as the assistant to a world renown sculptor who is dying of cancer.
Does this all seem a little far-fetched? It certainly did to me. I did not find the characters particularly likeable, nor the plot at all believable. The story seemed contrived and the final romance for Sophie seemed to appear out of thin air, with no build up or support. This was a miss for me.
Thank you to Harper/Collins Publishers and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
Does this all seem a little far-fetched? It certainly did to me. I did not find the characters particularly likeable, nor the plot at all believable. The story seemed contrived and the final romance for Sophie seemed to appear out of thin air, with no build up or support. This was a miss for me.
Thank you to Harper/Collins Publishers and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
September 17, 2019
Well! I just finished this phenomenal book, and now I’m off to book my plane ticket to France. I’ve never sculpted anything in my life but I think while I’m in France, I’m going to start sculpting! ☺️ I love stories about people and relationships and personal growth and this book has it all.
Sophie Bloom has been with her highschool sweetheart since she was 17 years old and they’ve been happily married for many of those years. Or so she thought. On her 42 birthday, her world comes crashing down around her when she finds out her husband had been unfaithful on a grand scale. From there, she escapes to rebuild her life and I was cheering for her all the way! I don’t want to give anything away so I’m going to leave you with that. Loved this book!
Sophie Bloom has been with her highschool sweetheart since she was 17 years old and they’ve been happily married for many of those years. Or so she thought. On her 42 birthday, her world comes crashing down around her when she finds out her husband had been unfaithful on a grand scale. From there, she escapes to rebuild her life and I was cheering for her all the way! I don’t want to give anything away so I’m going to leave you with that. Loved this book!
April 1, 2019
The Unbreakables finds Sophie Bloom on her 42nd birthday discovering her husband has been cheating on her left and right. What follows is Sophie’s journey to find herself personally, sexually and learn to define herself beyond her marriage.
Barr writes Sophie as a woman you just want to be friends with - she’s been broken down and you want to root for her, see her built up. A woman with a heart so big has been let down by so many and all you want is for her to get a break! Heading to the South of France to begin to rebuild, we learn about Sophie’s artistic background (given up when her daughter was young due to Carpal Tunnel) and at this point, we just want a win for sweet, loving Sophie.
Steamy, charming and relatable for women of all ages, Barr has created a fantastic story of finding yourself in the face of adversity and creating the best version of yourself in the process.
This is the first book I’ve read from Barr and I’ll certainly be adding her to the top of my list in the future.
I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Barr writes Sophie as a woman you just want to be friends with - she’s been broken down and you want to root for her, see her built up. A woman with a heart so big has been let down by so many and all you want is for her to get a break! Heading to the South of France to begin to rebuild, we learn about Sophie’s artistic background (given up when her daughter was young due to Carpal Tunnel) and at this point, we just want a win for sweet, loving Sophie.
Steamy, charming and relatable for women of all ages, Barr has created a fantastic story of finding yourself in the face of adversity and creating the best version of yourself in the process.
This is the first book I’ve read from Barr and I’ll certainly be adding her to the top of my list in the future.
I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
January 23, 2019
Already a master of historical fiction, Barr turns her formidable talents to modern women and relationships. The book is about 42 year-old Sophie Bloom, who flees to Paris to see her teenage daughter after her perfect marriage blows up, and finds herself for the very first time. Sexy, funny and fun -- don't miss it when it comes out in June!
July 11, 2019
Thank you @getredpr and @harpercollinsus for the free copy of THE UNBREAKABLES.
☕️☕️☕️
Sexy, surprising and emotional, this was a surprise summer hit for me. I went into this one fairly blind and I’m so glad I did. I had a feeling it might be comparable to Eat, Pray, Love and I had my issues with the character in that one. To be honest, I found her a bit selfish. Although Sophie’s situation in this book is not something I’ve been through, I found her so relatable. Her life is centered around her family, she values fidelity and loyalty and she really is just a regular Mom in her 40’s. As I approach my 40’s I’m loving finding stories that center around characters closer to my age. No longer can I read about teenaged romance (just shoot me in the eye). I guess I just love a story that shows that when life throws us curveballs we can and will survive. We can be UNBREAKABLE.
.
As I read this story, I was so conflicted because I wanted to completely devour it, while at the same time savor every chapter. I want to experience it all over again. Isn’t that the best feeling?! I’ll will 100% be pushing this on all my friends so be prepared to hear about this one for a while. I may have already been doing that for the past month 😬😆🤷🏼♀️. Sorry not sorry.
☕️☕️☕️
Sexy, surprising and emotional, this was a surprise summer hit for me. I went into this one fairly blind and I’m so glad I did. I had a feeling it might be comparable to Eat, Pray, Love and I had my issues with the character in that one. To be honest, I found her a bit selfish. Although Sophie’s situation in this book is not something I’ve been through, I found her so relatable. Her life is centered around her family, she values fidelity and loyalty and she really is just a regular Mom in her 40’s. As I approach my 40’s I’m loving finding stories that center around characters closer to my age. No longer can I read about teenaged romance (just shoot me in the eye). I guess I just love a story that shows that when life throws us curveballs we can and will survive. We can be UNBREAKABLE.
.
As I read this story, I was so conflicted because I wanted to completely devour it, while at the same time savor every chapter. I want to experience it all over again. Isn’t that the best feeling?! I’ll will 100% be pushing this on all my friends so be prepared to hear about this one for a while. I may have already been doing that for the past month 😬😆🤷🏼♀️. Sorry not sorry.
June 15, 2019
Sophie Bloom goes out to dinner with husband Gabe and two other couples to celebrate her 42nd birthday. As a lark, one of the husbands decides to share the list of people from their town involved with the Ashley Madison spouse cheating website. Sophie is devastated to discover Gabe is a serial cheater, including with one of her BFFs so she flies off to France to help their daughter deal with some of her own personal issues, including an affair with her art teacher. Sophie cannot bear to return home and heads south to Provence to rediscover herself emotionally and professionally. Like Fugitive Colors, which I liked better, this book delves into art, love, relationships, and is an excellent read, with interesting and diverse characters and cultures. 4.5 stars, rounded up.
June 8, 2019
Sometimes, birthdays can be the worst days.
Especially if you are at your OWN birthday dinner and someone whips out the Ashley Madison scandal list and, oh lookie here! Caught with his pants down... there's your husband's name! 43 TRANSACTIONS. The top performer in your city. Hurrah! Let's have cake!
It all just plunges downhill for Sophie from there. It gets worse, and more scandalous, and just plain awful for her. But good for us readers, cause I was fully absorbed in this story from the minute that first birthday drink was poured.
So Sophie ends up on a jaunt to Europe and truly begins to live the way she wants. She ditches all responsibility (all except her daughter) eats what she wants, gets a whole new look, fulfills some sizzling desires and reawakens the artist inside of her. Sophie has finally begun to sculpt again.
I was so captivated by the writing. I felt like I was dropped into Paris - eating macaroons and drinking red wine, casually strolling through museums and could taste the exquisite food. The artist in me was enamored by the descriptions of the famous paintings and statues, and the exquisite process of sculpting as Sophie reclaims her passion. I adored the juxtaposition of taking a block of marble and slowly chiseling away to reveal the masterpiece it holds inside - just as the real true Sophie emerges from such heartbreak and betrayal.
I LOVED this book. It gave me all the feels and I even cried at the end! There was a point in the story where something is revealed and chills went through my entire body and I don't think I've ever had that happen reading a book before. The Unbreakables was a delight and everything I could have wanted in a story and I've found a new favorite author in the process!
Especially if you are at your OWN birthday dinner and someone whips out the Ashley Madison scandal list and, oh lookie here! Caught with his pants down... there's your husband's name! 43 TRANSACTIONS. The top performer in your city. Hurrah! Let's have cake!
It all just plunges downhill for Sophie from there. It gets worse, and more scandalous, and just plain awful for her. But good for us readers, cause I was fully absorbed in this story from the minute that first birthday drink was poured.
So Sophie ends up on a jaunt to Europe and truly begins to live the way she wants. She ditches all responsibility (all except her daughter) eats what she wants, gets a whole new look, fulfills some sizzling desires and reawakens the artist inside of her. Sophie has finally begun to sculpt again.
I was so captivated by the writing. I felt like I was dropped into Paris - eating macaroons and drinking red wine, casually strolling through museums and could taste the exquisite food. The artist in me was enamored by the descriptions of the famous paintings and statues, and the exquisite process of sculpting as Sophie reclaims her passion. I adored the juxtaposition of taking a block of marble and slowly chiseling away to reveal the masterpiece it holds inside - just as the real true Sophie emerges from such heartbreak and betrayal.
I LOVED this book. It gave me all the feels and I even cried at the end! There was a point in the story where something is revealed and chills went through my entire body and I don't think I've ever had that happen reading a book before. The Unbreakables was a delight and everything I could have wanted in a story and I've found a new favorite author in the process!
August 4, 2019
RATING: 4.5 STARS
2019; Harper Paperbacks/HarperCollins Canada
"A 40-something woman finds out her husband is cheating and now her happy life is falling apart, so she goes on a mid-life journey to discover herself."
The above statement is what I imagined the synopsis of this novel to be. Honestly, I categorized this as just another fictionalized novel of Eat, Pray, Love. It is a superficial synopsis that does that do the novel justice. When Sophie finds out that her beloved husband is using Ashley Madison (an online dating app for affairs), on her birthday no less, she is shattered. The hits keep coming at her when the people she called friends have betrayed her. So when her only daughter away in Paris for school, calls her in tears she packs a bag and leaves her problems behind. It is from this moment that the novel, and Sophie really start to grow and becomes endearing.
I started to listen to this at work and couldn't stop till it ended. Nothing huge, or cliffhanger-like, happens between chapters but it's like listening to a good friend tell a story. You don't want to interrupt her, and are actually invested in what happens to her. I cannot recommend this novel enough. If you liked reading fiction, this is a book for you. While there is a bit of romance in this book, it is not the focal issue. I really hope whoever reads the synopsis for this novel looks beyond it and gives Lisa Barr a chance to hook you like she did me.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
My Novelesque Blog
2019; Harper Paperbacks/HarperCollins Canada
"A 40-something woman finds out her husband is cheating and now her happy life is falling apart, so she goes on a mid-life journey to discover herself."
The above statement is what I imagined the synopsis of this novel to be. Honestly, I categorized this as just another fictionalized novel of Eat, Pray, Love. It is a superficial synopsis that does that do the novel justice. When Sophie finds out that her beloved husband is using Ashley Madison (an online dating app for affairs), on her birthday no less, she is shattered. The hits keep coming at her when the people she called friends have betrayed her. So when her only daughter away in Paris for school, calls her in tears she packs a bag and leaves her problems behind. It is from this moment that the novel, and Sophie really start to grow and becomes endearing.
I started to listen to this at work and couldn't stop till it ended. Nothing huge, or cliffhanger-like, happens between chapters but it's like listening to a good friend tell a story. You don't want to interrupt her, and are actually invested in what happens to her. I cannot recommend this novel enough. If you liked reading fiction, this is a book for you. While there is a bit of romance in this book, it is not the focal issue. I really hope whoever reads the synopsis for this novel looks beyond it and gives Lisa Barr a chance to hook you like she did me.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
My Novelesque Blog
February 4, 2023
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
✍️ The Unbreakables by Lisa Barr
🎙 Audiobook Narration by Erin Bennett - Very well done!
This book has an “Eat, Pray, Love” and “Under the Tuscan Sun” vibe (both of which I love!) but set in the South of France.
Sophie Bloom's perfect marriage is shattered by her husband's infidelity so she jets off to France to find herself and help her daughter who’s studying there for a semester and is having problems of her own.
It’s a wonderful journey as she rediscovers all the passion and sense of self she lost after her husband's cheating and by being a busy wife and mother. I loved the whole Paris vibe. It was easy to get swept away in the descriptions.
If you like books about finding yourself, and rediscovering your passion and purpose in beautiful foreign settings then you may enjoy this one too.
✍️ The Unbreakables by Lisa Barr
🎙 Audiobook Narration by Erin Bennett - Very well done!
This book has an “Eat, Pray, Love” and “Under the Tuscan Sun” vibe (both of which I love!) but set in the South of France.
Sophie Bloom's perfect marriage is shattered by her husband's infidelity so she jets off to France to find herself and help her daughter who’s studying there for a semester and is having problems of her own.
It’s a wonderful journey as she rediscovers all the passion and sense of self she lost after her husband's cheating and by being a busy wife and mother. I loved the whole Paris vibe. It was easy to get swept away in the descriptions.
If you like books about finding yourself, and rediscovering your passion and purpose in beautiful foreign settings then you may enjoy this one too.
January 21, 2020
3 stars - It was good.
The plot was a bit unrealistic and full of cliches, but it didn’t take away from the questions the novel asks or the message the author conveyed. Kind of like following a character through a season of Desperate Housewives, but better because it’s a book.
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Favorite Quote: Until you were caught. That’s usually the finish line for cheaters.
First Sentence: Gabe, my husband, still incredibly sexy at forty-two, approaches me from behind in our walk-in closet, wraps his muscular arms tightly around my waist and kisses my neck hungrily.
The plot was a bit unrealistic and full of cliches, but it didn’t take away from the questions the novel asks or the message the author conveyed. Kind of like following a character through a season of Desperate Housewives, but better because it’s a book.
-------------------------------------------
Favorite Quote: Until you were caught. That’s usually the finish line for cheaters.
First Sentence: Gabe, my husband, still incredibly sexy at forty-two, approaches me from behind in our walk-in closet, wraps his muscular arms tightly around my waist and kisses my neck hungrily.
December 22, 2019
Like Le Divorce with less France and more cheating, the wealthy, and their conceits.
dnf
June 14, 2019The first part had me totally hooked.
And then...I just found that I could care less about the main character and her journey to find herself. I enjoyed the bits where she was home, dealing with everything and everyone, but that was about it.
I skimmed a lot of this book so I don’t feel like it’s fair to give it a rating. And I think I can see why it’s received such high praise. But reading this after a book I truly adored, I found it to be hard not to compare.
If the story sounds interesting, I say give it a shot. It’s a quick read, and hopefully you care about her (see, I can’t even remember her name) much more than I did.
And then...I just found that I could care less about the main character and her journey to find herself. I enjoyed the bits where she was home, dealing with everything and everyone, but that was about it.
I skimmed a lot of this book so I don’t feel like it’s fair to give it a rating. And I think I can see why it’s received such high praise. But reading this after a book I truly adored, I found it to be hard not to compare.
If the story sounds interesting, I say give it a shot. It’s a quick read, and hopefully you care about her (see, I can’t even remember her name) much more than I did.
June 18, 2019
The first thing that stood out to me in this novel was that Sophie's birthday is the day after mine and we're the same age. She also lived in a fictional suburb of Chicago, partially inspired by the town where I grew up. Both factors created an instant connection for me. While I can't relate to what she was going through, I was horrified on her behalf and loved the ways she went about reinventing herself in the aftermath.
I loved the armchair adventure feel of being in France. Lisa Barr brought people and places to life so easily that I felt like I was transported into the pages of the novel. Some scenes were racy and I took Lisa's advice to have red wine after reading them. Definitely helpful! I didn't want to put the book down, as the story was so captivating and emotionally exhilarating.
I highly recommend this novel for anyone who wants to get swept away by a story and lose themselves in it for a few hours.
Movie casting ideas (since Lisa's top choices were taken for a hit show on Netflix, perhaps these could work instead):
Sophie: Marguerite Moreau
Gabe: Oliver Hudson
Ava: Florence Pugh
Olivier: Mathieu Delarive
Jean-Paul: Pierre Boulanger
Lea: Elizabeth Debicki
Nathalie: Julie Delpy
Luc: Jean Dujardin
Lauren: Jessica Chastain
Samantha: Bianca Kajlich
I loved the armchair adventure feel of being in France. Lisa Barr brought people and places to life so easily that I felt like I was transported into the pages of the novel. Some scenes were racy and I took Lisa's advice to have red wine after reading them. Definitely helpful! I didn't want to put the book down, as the story was so captivating and emotionally exhilarating.
I highly recommend this novel for anyone who wants to get swept away by a story and lose themselves in it for a few hours.
Movie casting ideas (since Lisa's top choices were taken for a hit show on Netflix, perhaps these could work instead):
Sophie: Marguerite Moreau
Gabe: Oliver Hudson
Ava: Florence Pugh
Olivier: Mathieu Delarive
Jean-Paul: Pierre Boulanger
Lea: Elizabeth Debicki
Nathalie: Julie Delpy
Luc: Jean Dujardin
Lauren: Jessica Chastain
Samantha: Bianca Kajlich
February 14, 2019
I didn't read the back cover of The Unbreakables, so I had no idea what I was in for. The first chapter will slam into your gut as one North Shore mom's seemingly "perfect" life is upended by an Ashley Madison scandal. I'd like to think I'd know how to handle such a situation, but for now, I know I'd want the strength, resiliency, insight, and courage of Sophie Bloom.
On the heels of the worst birthday ever, Sophie, ever the selfless mother, sets aside her own anguish and heads to Paris to care for the daughter who needs her. From there, with no compass or plan, Sophie embarks on a soul-searching journey through picturesque France in a quest to find herself again. There she uncovers the hidden treasures (and desires) she's tucked away while tending to her surburan life, all while exploring the richly textured art world, the deeply moving mother-daughter relationship, life-long friendships, and the fragile bonds that bend and break a marriage.
Barr writes with tremendous wit and layered depth. Think Under The Tuscan Sun meets How Stella Got Her Groove Back with a heavy dose of Eat, Pray, Love. Whether or not any of us fall into this well, Sophie Bloom is a modern heroine we can all count on to lift us up. Her story is one of hope, resiliency, and the power of the human spirit.
On the heels of the worst birthday ever, Sophie, ever the selfless mother, sets aside her own anguish and heads to Paris to care for the daughter who needs her. From there, with no compass or plan, Sophie embarks on a soul-searching journey through picturesque France in a quest to find herself again. There she uncovers the hidden treasures (and desires) she's tucked away while tending to her surburan life, all while exploring the richly textured art world, the deeply moving mother-daughter relationship, life-long friendships, and the fragile bonds that bend and break a marriage.
Barr writes with tremendous wit and layered depth. Think Under The Tuscan Sun meets How Stella Got Her Groove Back with a heavy dose of Eat, Pray, Love. Whether or not any of us fall into this well, Sophie Bloom is a modern heroine we can all count on to lift us up. Her story is one of hope, resiliency, and the power of the human spirit.
June 24, 2019
At her 42nd birthday party Sophie finds out that her husband, the man she’d started dating in high school, has cheated on her. Big time. As she reels from the news that he’s the town’s biggest cheat (his name appeared 43 times on the hacked Ashley Madison customers list), her 19-year old daughter calls from Paris in distress. Sophie flies off to Paris to be with her daughter and decides to stay in France to sort out her life and figure out how to move forward. She becomes determined to find her true self, which she feels has been lost in her twenty years of marriage and motherhood.
I’m obviously in the minority here, but this story just didn’t do it for me. Part of me was cheering Sophie on, but then at other times I was thinking “really?”. Many elements of the story were just too coincidental for belief, and the ending tied up too quickly and neatly. Plus, she kind of lost me on Day One of the self-improvement project, when she leaps into a menage a trois with a couple of millennials. She’s only ever slept with one man in her life, and suddenly she’s in bed with two other people? I know she’s traumatized, but still....
There’s quite a bit of discussion about art and life in France throughout the story, so readers who enjoy those topics might like this novel.
I’m obviously in the minority here, but this story just didn’t do it for me. Part of me was cheering Sophie on, but then at other times I was thinking “really?”. Many elements of the story were just too coincidental for belief, and the ending tied up too quickly and neatly. Plus, she kind of lost me on Day One of the self-improvement project, when she leaps into a menage a trois with a couple of millennials. She’s only ever slept with one man in her life, and suddenly she’s in bed with two other people? I know she’s traumatized, but still....
There’s quite a bit of discussion about art and life in France throughout the story, so readers who enjoy those topics might like this novel.
Read
February 7, 2019Loved, loved, loved this book! Loved.
October 12, 2021
So many cliches, yet I still enjoyed it.
May 31, 2019
I might have set a personal record with how quickly I read this book! Such a riveting story about betrayal, oozing with passion on every page. I loved Sophie from the beginning, and felt so emotionally invested in what happened to her, cheering for her as she gained strength, changing from a shell to a pearl. I was enthralled with the artistic part of the book, too—the raw talent, the need to create something beautiful and moving. The pain, the sensuality, healing, the self-discovery, were all threads in this beautifully woven story. Also, I have never wanted to go to Provence more than I do right now! The setting was exquisitely drawn, from the sights to the smells to the flavors! Bravo!!!
May 25, 2019
WOW! Lisa Barr, Author of “The Unbreakables” has written an intense, intriguing, sexy, controversial and emotional novel. The Genres for this Novel are Domestic Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and Contemporary Fiction. The story takes place in North Grove in the United States and France. The timeline for the story takes place in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events in the story. The author describes her dramatic characters as artistic, complex, complicated, and dysfunction. This is a story of self-growth, self-worth, and discovery. I appreciate that the author describes the importance of family, friendship, and self.
On Sophie Bloom’s 42nd Birthday celebration, she finds out that her husband Gabe is the top cheater in an online dating line scandal. If that isn’t enough, Sophie gets an emergency phone call from her daughter studying in France. Her daughter’s heart is broken and she needs her mother. Sophie finds out other betrayals from friends. Happy Birthday, Sophie!!
Sophie leaves for France, broken, disappointed, and anxious. After helping her daughter, Sophie makes a list for herself to be able to live. She promises herself to smile more. Sophie is extremely artistic and at one time loved being a sculptor. A temporary disability, and raising a family stopped her dream. Sophie is now exploring what will make her happy. It’s almost like I am listening to the song, “I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar”!. (Helen Reddy) Sophie reevaluates her life and makes decisions that will change everything forever.
I love that the author describes life, love, respect, loyalty self-respect and self-worth. I would highly recommend this novel for those readers who enjoy a thought-provoking story.
On Sophie Bloom’s 42nd Birthday celebration, she finds out that her husband Gabe is the top cheater in an online dating line scandal. If that isn’t enough, Sophie gets an emergency phone call from her daughter studying in France. Her daughter’s heart is broken and she needs her mother. Sophie finds out other betrayals from friends. Happy Birthday, Sophie!!
Sophie leaves for France, broken, disappointed, and anxious. After helping her daughter, Sophie makes a list for herself to be able to live. She promises herself to smile more. Sophie is extremely artistic and at one time loved being a sculptor. A temporary disability, and raising a family stopped her dream. Sophie is now exploring what will make her happy. It’s almost like I am listening to the song, “I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar”!. (Helen Reddy) Sophie reevaluates her life and makes decisions that will change everything forever.
I love that the author describes life, love, respect, loyalty self-respect and self-worth. I would highly recommend this novel for those readers who enjoy a thought-provoking story.
July 20, 2023
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Who could ever forget the big Ashley Madison blow-up! Author Lisa Barr has used this as the inspiration behind her latest novel, The Unbreakables.
Three couples, best friends, all happily married until one couple finds the husband's infidelity splashed all over the internet.
Sophie is shattered, her perfect life and perfect friendships all collapse in one devastating night. Sophie flees to Paris to be with her teenage daughter and to ponder what she really wants from life.
The Unbreakables is a wonderful story about finding yourself and rebuilding your life. Sophie had spent the last twenty years looking after her husband and daughter, neglecting herself and her own needs. She thought she was happy but when it all fell apart she could see that they were willing to take all of her and give nothing in return.
I loved the backdrop of Paris! If you are going to nurse a broken heart, Paris is the place to do it.
The "finding yourself threesome" may be a bit cliched but there are lots of gems of wisdom dispensed throughout the novel.
Barr highlights how easy it is for women to get lost in wifedom and motherhood, leaving their career, and often their true self is squashed, hidden under their duty to others.
The Unbreakables has all the ingredients of an on screen drama; conflict, setting, pace, drama, gas-lighting and eclectic characters.
I liked that the book was set in parts and each part focused on a portion of Sophie's journey from the betrayal, running away, the release, the awakening to acceptance and closure.
*I received my copy from the publisher
Who could ever forget the big Ashley Madison blow-up! Author Lisa Barr has used this as the inspiration behind her latest novel, The Unbreakables.
Three couples, best friends, all happily married until one couple finds the husband's infidelity splashed all over the internet.
Sophie is shattered, her perfect life and perfect friendships all collapse in one devastating night. Sophie flees to Paris to be with her teenage daughter and to ponder what she really wants from life.
The Unbreakables is a wonderful story about finding yourself and rebuilding your life. Sophie had spent the last twenty years looking after her husband and daughter, neglecting herself and her own needs. She thought she was happy but when it all fell apart she could see that they were willing to take all of her and give nothing in return.
I loved the backdrop of Paris! If you are going to nurse a broken heart, Paris is the place to do it.
The "finding yourself threesome" may be a bit cliched but there are lots of gems of wisdom dispensed throughout the novel.
Barr highlights how easy it is for women to get lost in wifedom and motherhood, leaving their career, and often their true self is squashed, hidden under their duty to others.
The Unbreakables has all the ingredients of an on screen drama; conflict, setting, pace, drama, gas-lighting and eclectic characters.
I liked that the book was set in parts and each part focused on a portion of Sophie's journey from the betrayal, running away, the release, the awakening to acceptance and closure.
*I received my copy from the publisher
June 14, 2019
The hype is real and so well deserved for this book friends! Sophie Bloom has the perfect life, marriage and close knit group of friends, until she doesn’t. Finding out your husband is on the Ashley Madison list of cheaters on your birthday may destroy most people, but Sophie decides she needs to go to Paris to figure out who she really is, as her world as she knew it around her crumbles. A friend of mine said this book is best to go in knowing only that and a bit blind and I couldn’t agree more.
I devoured this in two sittings. It reads so easily and the words flow beautifully and before you know it, it’s sadly over. This is the first book that brought me to tears by page 14, and I had tears in my eyes THREE times by page 60. The writing is that beautiful, that I instantly connected and cared about the sassy and strong main character.
I loved the finding yourself over again premise, but this story is filled with so much more. It’s a mature romance with the main character being in her 40’s, which I love and is so rare. There is some major steam, heartbreak (obviously), and it’s also rich with culture. I learned things I didn’t know about art/sculpting and the descriptions of Paris make you feel like you could be sitting in a cute, French cafe yourself. It has very similar vibes to The Idea of You and if you’ve been following me for awhile. you know I’m obsessed with that book.
The Unbreakables is the PERFECT summer read, easily devoured, fun, passionate and inspiring. ALL OF THE STARS..seriously, deserves more than 5 for sure.
I devoured this in two sittings. It reads so easily and the words flow beautifully and before you know it, it’s sadly over. This is the first book that brought me to tears by page 14, and I had tears in my eyes THREE times by page 60. The writing is that beautiful, that I instantly connected and cared about the sassy and strong main character.
I loved the finding yourself over again premise, but this story is filled with so much more. It’s a mature romance with the main character being in her 40’s, which I love and is so rare. There is some major steam, heartbreak (obviously), and it’s also rich with culture. I learned things I didn’t know about art/sculpting and the descriptions of Paris make you feel like you could be sitting in a cute, French cafe yourself. It has very similar vibes to The Idea of You and if you’ve been following me for awhile. you know I’m obsessed with that book.
The Unbreakables is the PERFECT summer read, easily devoured, fun, passionate and inspiring. ALL OF THE STARS..seriously, deserves more than 5 for sure.
January 30, 2019
Wow. Freaking wonderful book.
This book captured me within the first few pages and didn’t let go until the very end. You hear about situations like this—unexpected infidelity that destroys a “healthy” marriage and wonder, “What would I do?”
I hope that I could create a new life with the spirit of Sophie Bloom.
This book reminded me of Under the Tuscan Sun in the way Sophie Bloom finds her true self in another country by rediscovering her passion and opening her heart. The French countryside and languid life were wonderful supporting characters.
A couple of days after I read this book, I was at work rebuilding the cosmetics wall and found myself thinking about Sophie’s story. For me, that’s the tell-tale sign of a great book.
I received an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.
This book captured me within the first few pages and didn’t let go until the very end. You hear about situations like this—unexpected infidelity that destroys a “healthy” marriage and wonder, “What would I do?”
I hope that I could create a new life with the spirit of Sophie Bloom.
This book reminded me of Under the Tuscan Sun in the way Sophie Bloom finds her true self in another country by rediscovering her passion and opening her heart. The French countryside and languid life were wonderful supporting characters.
A couple of days after I read this book, I was at work rebuilding the cosmetics wall and found myself thinking about Sophie’s story. For me, that’s the tell-tale sign of a great book.
I received an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.
June 24, 2019
“Life is messy, love is messier. But pain is the messiest of all.” Another great vacation read! Don’t read the synopsis and just jump into The Unbreakables by Lisa Barr. Sophie and her husband Gabe, along with her two best friends and their husbands have done everything together since high school. They are The Unbreakables. Until everything breaks apart.
Sophie’s solo journey to Paris, reminiscent of Eat, Pray, Love, is about self-discovery and finding her lost passion for art that she abandoned upon the birth of her daughter Ava. I don’t want to share more than that other than to say it was just as good as the buzz I’ve read! Thank you @getredpr for sending a copy of the book!
Sophie’s solo journey to Paris, reminiscent of Eat, Pray, Love, is about self-discovery and finding her lost passion for art that she abandoned upon the birth of her daughter Ava. I don’t want to share more than that other than to say it was just as good as the buzz I’ve read! Thank you @getredpr for sending a copy of the book!
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