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While I'm Gone

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On the surface, Sophie led the perfect life—until she realises she’s been living a lie when her marriage comes to a sudden end.

With all the questions hanging unanswered, she must leave for a two-week work assignment in London. As she juggles her emotions at the airport terminal, Matt observes her, intrigued. When the opportunity to meet her again presents itself, the charming and enigmatic doctor doesn't shy away and pursues her with everything he has.

Heartbroken and confused, Sophie lets herself dive into an intense affair, a relationship she believes is fated to end as soon as the moment for them to part ways arrives. After all, Matt is just too good to be true and she’s learned her lesson: no one is as they seem. What if behind his determination, he carries secrets that might break her, even more?

But when the unexpected happens and their feelings are put to the ultimate test, will Matt be ready to let her go? Will his hidden story drive them apart or bring them closer together?


** Previously published as Silent Signs. **

319 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 8, 2016

193 people are currently reading
928 people want to read

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Ana Simons

4 books2 followers

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5 stars
108 (41%)
4 stars
82 (31%)
3 stars
44 (16%)
2 stars
17 (6%)
1 star
11 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
Profile Image for Lu Bielefeld .
4,304 reviews638 followers
August 24, 2021
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads.
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I purchased it on January 27, 2018.

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Our heroine is taken by surprise when the day before a business trip, her husband asks for a divorce. She is really confused and destroyed by the events.
During the trip she meets an interesting man who awakens things she had buried over time. She always put her husband's needs and wants first and completely annulled herself as a person and a woman.
The husband cuts off all communication with her and she just keeps communicating with her son, remaining in a vacuum.
One night she decides to call home and a woman answers the phone. She is really upset by the event and resolves to deepen her friendship with the man who intrigued and attracted her.
I found the internal battle she fights interesting, as her childhood was marked by abandonment, neglect and violence, things she does not want for her son.
As the story unfolds, we learn that her husband did not want children at all and only accepted their child's pregnancy as if it were a favor for her. When she becomes pregnant again, an unplanned pregnancy, he forces her to have an abortion. She refuses and he does not accept at all and schedules the procedure at the clinic. They have a big fight and she ends up having a miscarriage. I would never forgive a man who forced his wife to have an abortion against her will, because he doesn't want children. From my point of view that would be grounds for divorce. From then on, their relationship was not the same. Our heroine was emotionally destroyed.
Later we find out that he already has an affair with a co-worker for a year and only sought her out again because the mistress didn't want him. So he wanted a divorce to be with the mistress, but as things didn't go as he planned, he sought out our heroine as a consolation prize.
Our heroine was surrounded by friends who readily accepted being cheated by their husbands and advised her to let go. But after getting a taste of what it's like to be treated with respect and affection by the other man, she begins to put her own life into perspective and see that she has choices.
2,092 reviews24 followers
September 6, 2019
I stopped reading at 71%. Drawn in by the 5 star ratings I thought I was going to get something different but instead it became a book of the same issues within a marriage and total "ostrich" vision from the married couple.

I had major difficulty with the married characters and I they really needed their heads knocking together. I found it difficult to relate to their issues, the constant procrastination of both parties and the way they tried to correct their poor relationship was to cheat on each other. They failed to look at the real issues within their marriage.

The book wasn't badly written but I felt it skimmed the real problems that Alex and Sofia didn't face up to or acknowledge.

I got fed up the constant poor excuses and not facing the reality of what was really was going on with their relationship.

Therefore it's a wrap. I wont go back to finish as I could probably guess how this sorry relationship was going to end.
Profile Image for Darly.
Author 3 books57 followers
December 9, 2016
SILENT SIGNS is a beautifully written, realistic and captivating story with well-developed characters and unexpected twists. Sophie's journey moved me in a way I can't begin to express. Everything about it, the plot and the details of what transpired, popped right off the pages. This romance is breathtakingly realistic and encompasses the full gamut of human emotions. It's a story I could easily see myself reading again.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
750 reviews15 followers
August 21, 2018
Sophie leads a seemingly idyllic life with her husband Alex and their son Charlie in Madrid until she suddenly and shockingly learns that her husband no longer appreciates their marriage as much as Sophie. Days after learning that her world is falling apart, Sophie boards a plane to London for a two-week work trip. After accidentally leaving her book behind on the plane, which also included her trip information, she meets a handsome and charismatic Matt - and they just seem to click. But what will happen when it's time for her to return home to Madrid, and what else will she learn about her husband, whom she thought she knew?

Do not be fooled by the description and assume that this novel is about a cheating main character. I do not want to give spoilers, but this simply isn't the case. Instead, when Sophie arrives in London after being told that Alex was ready to end her marriage, she meets the absolutely wonderful and fabulous Matt. Good timing? No, but meeting Matt allows Sophie to rediscover herself and be herself as Matt tears down emotional walls that Alex never bothered wondering about. 

Have you ever seen or known a couple that seems to be extensions of one another? Their humor, playfulness, obvious love and passion just radiates off of them? This is Matta and Sophie. Despite her initial attempts to ignore him, send him away, etc., they easily fall into an incredible romance and a love story that will test the capacity of your heart. Each had issues and of course, their major issue was the distance between them (London to Spain), yet every time I thought that one or the other had given up, I was proved wrong. 

While I'm Gone embodies detailed characterization, so prepare to be 100% invested in Sophie and Matt and for a back and forth of rooting for them and then cursing one of their actions. However, this is not simply a romance novel, but instead, a woman's journey from the life she thought she loved to discovering what true happiness looks and feels like. This story and the characters serve as a reminder of the outstanding outcome that can come from taking risks with our deepest emotions, our hearts, and our entire lives. This is an amazing story that I highly, highly recommend. 
Profile Image for wrkatreading.
1,245 reviews27 followers
June 7, 2021
2 low stars

I didn’t like the way this was written. I was so confused. Married couple has trouble. Husband does bad thing poor wife meets another nice man but doesn’t trust emails are shared they almost get together then BAM. Stuff happens more confusion then HEA.
Ok I know this review was confusing just like this book was. 🤷‍♀️
Profile Image for Leigh Stuart.
Author 7 books27 followers
December 9, 2016
Lyrical and touching, this story digs deep inside the psyche and emotions of a woman whose life suddenly explodes, giving her the chance to put it together differently. I love this author's use of language that pulled me in and wouldn't let go, and a story line that wove into my own thoughts and heart. And the ending left me breathless, but I won't put any spoilers!
Profile Image for Katerina Bray.
Author 2 books31 followers
November 11, 2016
This book is truly amazing and a well written page turner! With this story you must expect the unexpected! It also reminds you to love wholeheartedly and follow your heart. Thank you Ana Simons for a great read!!!
Profile Image for Lina Hansen.
4 reviews
November 18, 2016
I don't usually read romances. Too soppy. This one is the big exception. As in BIG. Because it isn't soppy at all. It is a highly intelligent, inspirational exploration of a woman's soul. I'm enjoying it very much
Profile Image for Gabriela Cabezut.
Author 13 books82 followers
February 3, 2017
I loved the story Ana Simons created for us. Her writing is unique and beautiful and the whole plot was a much more grown up intrinsic relationship between the struggle of a woman to let go and open her heart to a new person.

Great read!
1 review
December 18, 2016
Silent Signs is a very realist and modern day story of marriage and everything around it. It’s such a heartwarming story with humor, tears and real emotions. I loved every bit of it.
Profile Image for Lisa Guzman.
1,484 reviews6 followers
February 20, 2018
Interesting story

I don’t know why I downloaded this story to be honest. I one click books and half the time I forget I even have them or what they are about. This particular story happened to fall into the latter. This story took me a bit to get into it and then once I did it was actually a very interesting storyline of a married couple going through a difficult time in their life. How life throws you lemons and it’s up to you to decide what you do with them. The story was really refreshing in the sense it is different from what I’m used to.
10 reviews
May 22, 2018
I absolutely LOVE THIS AUTHOR!!!! Each time I read one of her books she transports me to that world and those people's lives as if they are my friends: as I come to care deeply about them and their fate. Silent Signs is moving and touching and loving and warm and full of hope but it isn't maudlin nor does it lack humor. It is life and real and memorable. Ana Simons gives me so much that I actually care about her as a person as much as i respect her writing!!!
764 reviews8 followers
September 12, 2018
Heartfelt emotional journey

Wow, definitely an emotional rollercoaster of a read. I was hooked very early on, the characters were so real, the story so phenomenally written that you feel an actual part of the story. This is one of those books that breaks you, and then puts you back together. Amazing story!
2 reviews1 follower
June 16, 2017
I very much enjoyed this book.
What would I/we do in this situation? We all walk away from different situations and what if....
This was more than I expected.
Profile Image for Dilyana.
166 reviews12 followers
December 20, 2016
To sum it up, Silent Signs isn’t amongst my favorite books this year, but it’s still something I’m glad I had the chance to read.

The book starts at a very emotional moment for the female lead. You’ll have to wait for a couple of chapters to find out exactly what’s going on, but you can see the results of what she’s going through right in Chapter One. Her emotional state catches the eye and leaves an impression on Matthew – our male lead.

At first I didn’t really like the guy, he was giving me a creepy stalker vibe. If he and Sophie kept meeting out of chance – not very believable, but more my style; instead, we have him emailing her, calling her on the phone and approaching her in the lobby when she didn’t know who he was because she was such an emotional wreck when they first met on a plane, she didn’t remember he’d been the one sitting next to her.

Later on, I discovered some good characteristic he had so I warmed up to him.

There were two things I wish were better in the book.

The first is the dialogue. We have some very interesting scenes while we are in the head of the character, but the dialogue between Sophie and Matthew seemed forced when they first met. Well, when Sophie first noticed him more like it since only Matthew talked on the plane and it was one or two sentences that Sophie didn’t bother trying to reply to as her thoughts were on more pressing matters than her seatmate helping her with her luggage.

So yes, I wish the dialogue in the first chapters was better.

The second thing was that the book had too many places where the author just enlist a bunch of things the main characters do instead of show us how they did them. I wish there were more details in those moments and I know this author is capable of good descriptions since I’ve read those in this book.

But as I said, even with the things I didn’t like – and isn’t there something we dislike in every book? – I still found Silent Signs an enjoyable read that was less engaging than an epic fantasy or a thrilling action story. It’s one of those books that girls and women would pick up when they come home back from school or work and just want to relax, but aren’t in a mood for a cosy mystery or a humor story.

I’d recommend Silent Signs to people who are looking for a fast romance they can read over the weekend.
Profile Image for Janice Joven.
2 reviews
December 3, 2016
SILENT SIGNS by Ana Simons
review by Jenevieve Joven

Once you marry, you hope to see yourself being married to the man you chose to be with for eternity, but that is cliché. Sophie Thompson’s married life started as one, until she discovered how much of her she was willing to put in her marriage.

The protagonist is one to be admired in this sophisticated modern romance. She needs to be strong, to be a perfect mother to her child, be the wife her husband thought he needed and now thinks he shouldn’t have married, and be a brilliant professional in her chosen field.

Sophie Thompson, a professor in her midlife, is lost and hurt. After the bomb her husband has dropped on her on their Valentine’s get away, she had to grief and go on with her work assignment trip, broken and confused.

On the way to London, Matthew O’Brian, a doctor curious of her involuntary show of juggled state, finds himself wanting not to be strangers with her. Will she be able to trust and share her innermost self after what she has been through, to a perfect stranger? Will she allow herself to fall and be susceptible and vulnerable again?

This book caters to all who are romantic in nature, but would love to read realistic fiction. Ana Simons beautifully and explicitly wrote Sophie’s (and Matthew's) roller coaster ride of emotions , filled with self worth, love, friendship, loss,fears and redemption. One that would make you think twice of your own relationships, marriage or not. Believe me, I don’t like being reminded of reality, but once I started reading Silent Signs, I can’t put it down. I loved it's honest, heart-warming scenes and dialogues,the twists and turns kept me engaged. I highly recommend you read.
Profile Image for Melody.
65 reviews17 followers
December 30, 2018
Ana Simons's charismatic and introspective chicklit, Silent Signs, navigated Sophie Thompson's fallen marriage and an unexpected affair embarkment with an intriguingly enigmatic stranger named Matthew O'Brian. Through flashbacks and waves of wisdom, Sophie revealed the nuances that she had never realized were the silent signs of a floundering relationship. Meanwhile, despite dubious convictions that her surreptitious affair with Matthew will be short-lived--a rebound romance--she dipped her toe in, willing to give him a chance.

True to the iceberg theory, the structure of this contemporary romance was scripted for an intuitive reader possessing a keen awareness of the world that surrounds them. With a splash of humor and amusing protagonist strengths and flaws, this subdued drama had plenty of twists and doses of realism to moor the reader's attention.

🍉🍊🍍
Hero rating: 3.6
Heroine rating: 4.0

Writing mechanics (literary elements/devices usage): 3.7
Plot rating: 3.2
Dialogue rating: 4.0
Storytelling rating: 3.3
Story ending rating: 4.3

Sexual tension rating: 4.3
Sex scenes rating: N/A
Sex scenes frequency: N/A
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Overall rating: 3.8 stars
Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I reread this book: No.
Would I read future books by this author: Maybe.
1 review
December 9, 2016
It's one of those books you just have to read - it's real, it's both heart-wrenching and heartwarming, it's intelligent, it's deep, it draws you in, it's just...Amazing!


The author has done such a great job depicting the challenges a modern woman faces in her everyday life, especially when it's disturbed by the unexpected end of her marriage, showing that right choices aren't always easy to discern and the strength necessary to move on with life after such tectonic changes. I'm not trying to make light of everything Matt's been through, after all it is his strength that brought them back together in the end. The characters (and not just Sophie and Matthew, Julia is a force to be reckoned with) have so many layers, they're not perfect in any way, you can't help but think of them as your neighbors, your coworkers, people you pass on the street every day.

Having all that in mind, and I'm not sure I can express myself the right way, the thing that appeals to me the most is that the way the story unfolds makes you think about your own life and brings forth all those things you know somewhere in your mind but you don't act on, the things you perhaps take for granted. I can honestly say I've (re)learned some major lessons through this book, the iceberg theory will stay with me as reminder hopefully for my whole life, and on top of all that it left me feeling light and hopeful and enthusiastic.


So to sum it all up for you - go for it, you won't regret it!
1 review
December 25, 2016

Loved the book, the story touched me very deeply, the struggle of a broken relationship, the rebound romance.

The budding of new romance with a total stranger at the airport, she wants to explore the new found love, but is afraid of again getting hurt, whom can she trust, will Matthew be the answer to all her prayers…. Should she stay back in her broken marriage for sake of her son, the decisions she make is admirable.

To walk off to be strong for her son, for herself many of us face such challenges and I got to read this book when I myself was in such a situation reading it made me feel like I was reading my own story,

Its real and nicely done, the pain of separation , the joy of new found love, the dilemma
the desperation to be together and the distance.

The chemistry between Sophie and Matthew is very well portrayed, the meeting the small talks, the butterflies, the fire.

There is a beautiful question answer session which Sophie plays with Matthew to get to know better ,which I think everyone should try with their loved ones, I had fun doing it with mine…

I am glad I ended up reading it , will always be in the list of my favorites.

Wishing Anna good luck with all her work !
Profile Image for MNJ Greenhill.
8 reviews2 followers
December 18, 2016
Sophie’s journey navigating a failed marriage and finding love again is truly inspiring. The glimpse into her life at its lowest point, is thought provoking and, at times, poignant.

Like us all, Sophie is not perfect. She makes the same mistakes as the rest of us. Her very raw and emotional roller coaster journey of self-discovery is not your typical romance, which, by its very nature sets it apart from many of the other stories of its kind.

Silent Signs will have you experiencing the ups and downs of a woman’s decision to leave an unhappy marriage and walk away from a life that was safe and predictable. With no net to land on, Sophie steps out into the unknown and allows herself to fall once again. How does it turn out? Well, you’ll need to read the book to find out.
A very worthwhile and original read.
Profile Image for Marilyn Renaudin.
536 reviews1 follower
February 11, 2017
Interesting read

Interesting story with characters that bring many questions to ponder. Life is so complicated and worthy of living. Very enjoyable book.
Profile Image for Sabrina.
399 reviews6 followers
January 6, 2017
This is my first book by Ana Simons and I pretty much enjoyed it. Mrs. Simons tells an intriguing and captivating story of one woman's life and her upcoming divorce. Moving thousands of miles abroad Sophie accidentally left her book on the plane A total stranger(whose a handsome Dr.) noticed her while he was also travelling succeeded in returning Sophie's book to her hotel but it doesn't stop there. What was a friendly meeting over drinks carefully builds into something more. This was a honest book that some women today can relate to in their daily lives. It tells about letting go, a new start and having the courage to love again. Very well written honest look at life. I enjoyed meeting both characters. I voluntarily reviewed this book for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jessie.
5 reviews
November 18, 2016
Beautiful story, you will not regret picking it out to read. Such passion intertwined in the words, made me feel such intense emotions and suspense between the chapters.
Our main protagonist Sophie is not like someone you'd normally see in a romance novel, she's middle aged when she hits her crisis point it's amazing to see who she bumps into and this person becomes someone so intriguing and passionate that it brings out an amazing side to Sophie, making this story so amazing.
This book made me fall in love with romance due to the amazing way it is written with such passion in every sentence.
A MUST READ !! :)
Profile Image for Kristin.
193 reviews10 followers
February 6, 2017
I really enjoyed Silent Signs, and it was a quick read for me. There were a few moments throughout the book that I was worried the author was creating storylines too similar to other popular books and TV shows, like Fifty Shades of Grey, Grey's Anatomy, and One Day. But I really enjoyed the characters and felt something really special about Matthew. A realistic love story, I thought the author understood the main character's pain from her recent marital problems and the confusion of finding someone that fit everything she was missing in her marriage.
113 reviews
November 18, 2016
I pretty much read this nonstop, I just couldn't put it down. I have been incredibly touched by this story and I enjoyed it so much! I wish it could continue. The story truly brought you into the lives of the characters and I felt like I truly connected with them. There's love, fun, laughter, sadness and tears. But I really loved it. You have an incredible talent, I really hope you continue writing, because I really look forward to reading more of your stories. Thanks so much for sharing this story with us.
Profile Image for Tia.
502 reviews
March 9, 2017
Amazing!

This book has everything. It's heartbreaking, tender, emotional, creative, lovely, and fascinating. The characters are intriguing, active, and give the readers an attachment.
Brilliant writing.
Nothing is easy, life is full of downs and ups. Marriage is supposed to be sacred and the spouses are supposed to endure, love, and be with one another. Sofie's world is rocked in more ways than one but she has a strength readers will love. I'm thrilled she was strong in her convictions. It made her story better.
Profile Image for Lynn.
231 reviews
May 3, 2021
What a surprise!

After seeing a few reviews I wasn’t sure about this book…but I was quite surprised by the story. I thought it would be a woman gets cheated on by her husband, throws him out and then has her own fling…boy was I wrong! The ending really shocked me! I loved the details of the surroundings, and the depth of emotion in the book. I thought it was well written and it certainly kept me engaged.
Profile Image for Kevina.
88 reviews29 followers
December 11, 2016
*received an arc in exchange for an honest*

Realistic, raw and beautiful story telling of a woman not just starting over but discovering what is out there for herself. Loving every page as Sophia speaks of memories from her marriage and meeting the mysterious sweet man that returned her book from a chance meeting at the airport. Ana Simons's writing is impeccable! five stars!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews

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