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The One #4
Yes, And
Can I be honest with you? A wife and husband face a defining moment in their relationship in this emotional, sweet, and surprising confessional about love, monogamy, and the secrets we share.
When Kristi Coulter’s husband proposed, she didn’t admit her fears. When they exchanged vows, she didn’t reveal that she was terrified that marriage would ruin her life. During fifteen years of genuinely happy marriage, she never said a word about another man in her life. Then she comes clean—about all of it—and discovers a new world.
Kristi Coulter’s Yes, And is part of The One, a collection of seven singularly true love stories of friendship, companionship, marriage, and moving on. Each piece can be read or listened to in a single sitting, with or without company.
When Kristi Coulter’s husband proposed, she didn’t admit her fears. When they exchanged vows, she didn’t reveal that she was terrified that marriage would ruin her life. During fifteen years of genuinely happy marriage, she never said a word about another man in her life. Then she comes clean—about all of it—and discovers a new world.
Kristi Coulter’s Yes, And is part of The One, a collection of seven singularly true love stories of friendship, companionship, marriage, and moving on. Each piece can be read or listened to in a single sitting, with or without company.
37 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2019
290 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
December 15, 2020
No. A thousand times no. Honestly other reviewers said it best, this was just one long short story about a woman's justification for having emotional and physical affairs. It was just off-putting. Maybe because she sounds just like an ex I had back in the day who was all free love people and then got married and still was cheating on his wife, but you know, she's who counts. Lord. Anyway, most of this story really was showing that Coulter's husband is a good person and the men she was attracted to were emotionally stunted (like a lot) and that is why she was attracted to them. She liked they were into her. Her ideas about relationships and marriage just made me laugh.
August 4, 2019
Yes, And is well-written but it is hard to read a self-serving justification of this woman’s decade-long affair in which she emotionally cheats on her husband.
September 10, 2019
While I commend the author for spilling her darkest secrets to everyone who reads this short read, I was absolutely flabbergasted at how much she tried to justify the decade-long emotional affair that she had with a former co-worker while being married to someone she considers her "big, big love".
But not only did she have an emotional affair (with sexting and phone sex encounters), she had a sexual affair with someone who ended up
When she and her former co-worker "broke up", she went into a deep depression, attempted to drink herself into oblivion, and her husband seemed oblivious to it all!
She realized that she used alcohol as a crutch and became sober. Six months later her husband became sober as well.
After 20 years she finally admitted her affairs to her husband and told him that while she wouldn't mind if he slept with someone else, but she wouldn't want him to become emotionally involved.
...pot, meet kettle.
Surprisingly, her husband seemed to accept her affairs. I wonder if it's because of the way they grew up, which was extreme polar opposites.
Coulter's writing is good, but I agree with other reviewers who felt that her story was disjointed at times, and downright confusing in others.
I highly suggest that if you're going to read this that you go in with a very, very open mind.
But not only did she have an emotional affair (with sexting and phone sex encounters), she had a sexual affair with someone who ended up
When she and her former co-worker "broke up", she went into a deep depression, attempted to drink herself into oblivion, and her husband seemed oblivious to it all!
She realized that she used alcohol as a crutch and became sober. Six months later her husband became sober as well.
After 20 years she finally admitted her affairs to her husband and told him that while she wouldn't mind if he slept with someone else, but she wouldn't want him to become emotionally involved.
...pot, meet kettle.
Surprisingly, her husband seemed to accept her affairs. I wonder if it's because of the way they grew up, which was extreme polar opposites.
Coulter's writing is good, but I agree with other reviewers who felt that her story was disjointed at times, and downright confusing in others.
I highly suggest that if you're going to read this that you go in with a very, very open mind.
October 11, 2024
A short story by the author of Nothing Good Can Come From This. That phrase describes this story well. A woman dealing with shortcomings in her own marriage. Not actual phyical infidelity but the emotional aspects of it. It made me think of something Jimmy Carter said about lusting in his heart. This woman goes a little further with technology.
September 16, 2019
Talk about delusional. Basically a short confession of an emotional affair that Mrs. Coulter so desperately tries to justify. "I sexted and fell in love with a former coworker behind my husband's back! Woe is me!" She then explains about spiraling into depression after cutting it off with Sam, how she drank to cope with the sadness, not because of guilt, but because she missed him. Barf.
Yeah people cheat, it's a common occurrence unfortunately, but at least own up to it when confessing. "Yes, I did a terrible thing, I'm a douchebag, but life goes on." What bugs me is how she tries to make excuses for her behavior, as well as using her depression to get sympathy. The writing is just REALLY manipulative, it's downright disgusting how she tries to get the readers to feel sorry for her in an attempt to get away with her actions.
Yeah people cheat, it's a common occurrence unfortunately, but at least own up to it when confessing. "Yes, I did a terrible thing, I'm a douchebag, but life goes on." What bugs me is how she tries to make excuses for her behavior, as well as using her depression to get sympathy. The writing is just REALLY manipulative, it's downright disgusting how she tries to get the readers to feel sorry for her in an attempt to get away with her actions.
July 5, 2025
I dnf'd this at 53%. I am not sympathetic to emotional or physically cheating on a partner. The author had a good if slightly incompatible marriage and she falls for another man. I didn't finish the short story because I didn't like the author or the situation. A story I did not give living space in my head.
August 4, 2025
No sabía de qué iba, pero no me gustó. Osea la historia en sí no fue de mi agrado.
August 12, 2019
Man, this woman just cannot live without that "Chase me" feeling. Her husband should bonk her over the head with something.
February 3, 2021
More like yes but... whatever lady.
August 24, 2019
Good story about being honest in a relationship. Unfortunately, the main character was depressing.
August 5, 2019
This was a sweet, non-traditional love story. I am impressed with how her husband handled her confession - it really speaks to how emotionally well adjusted he is. I can see why he is her "big, big love". I am still learning what makes for a successful relationship. I think it probably centers more around genuine love, respect, and trust and less around specific rules. It is crazy to expect a long-term relationship to stay the same as we as individuals change and grow over time. Reading about how this couple was able to adjust into a new normal with multiple big life changes together was the kind of real life love story that inspires hope.
It wasn't polyamory, with its complex geometries and emotional currents. Even "open marriage" sounded too active, like we'd be out scamming for action. "I don't want to end up in a cape and mask, saying Fidelio to get into some sex party," John said. Sex writer Dan Savage's term monogamish—monogamous, with exceptions within mutually negotiated parameters—came closest. But in some ways, the only change is that we stopped guessing about the other person's values and started talking directly about them. Once again reshaping our marriage to who we are now, the same way we remade it in sobriety.
It wasn't polyamory, with its complex geometries and emotional currents. Even "open marriage" sounded too active, like we'd be out scamming for action. "I don't want to end up in a cape and mask, saying Fidelio to get into some sex party," John said. Sex writer Dan Savage's term monogamish—monogamous, with exceptions within mutually negotiated parameters—came closest. But in some ways, the only change is that we stopped guessing about the other person's values and started talking directly about them. Once again reshaping our marriage to who we are now, the same way we remade it in sobriety.
September 16, 2019
This should not be part of a collection called “The One.” The author is not looking for just one - she wants them all, every single unhealthy thing her husband looks away from.
I totally get that all relationships are not going to look alike. But this looks awful, both from the outside, and from the inside once she tells you how it works.
It’s also smug & self-congratulatory. I would have killed it earlier but I’m in a readathon so it let roll while I cleaned.
But you don’t need to - just walk away.
I totally get that all relationships are not going to look alike. But this looks awful, both from the outside, and from the inside once she tells you how it works.
It’s also smug & self-congratulatory. I would have killed it earlier but I’m in a readathon so it let roll while I cleaned.
But you don’t need to - just walk away.
August 11, 2019
Yes, And is part of the latest Amazon original short stories collection, The One. Honestly, this one just didn't grab me into the story at all. I will say that the author certainly has a very understanding husband..
July 24, 2020
WTH? Outrageous.
August 16, 2019
Relationship troubles
Short story about a married women who is attracted to a man she works with. Too drawn out and whiny for my tastes.
Short story about a married women who is attracted to a man she works with. Too drawn out and whiny for my tastes.
September 15, 2019
Non-monogamous relationships are so intriguing to me. I've never been in one, nor do I currently have the desire to be in one. And, until recently, growing up I had never really heard a story of a successful one. Even still, it is easy to relate to the author as she tells the story of her marriage, and how communication brought them closer together.
November 14, 2025
Yes, And... This one wasn't for me.
I didn’t enjoy this short story. The author narrated the audiobook, and I kept waiting for a punchline that never came. It felt like a long, drawn-out monologue. Coulter talks about a decade-long affair with a coworker named Sam. I found them both selfish and irritating. I got bored quickly and wish I could have the hour I wasted on it back.
I didn’t enjoy this short story. The author narrated the audiobook, and I kept waiting for a punchline that never came. It felt like a long, drawn-out monologue. Coulter talks about a decade-long affair with a coworker named Sam. I found them both selfish and irritating. I got bored quickly and wish I could have the hour I wasted on it back.
July 19, 2023
Goddddd the author/protagonist is insufferable, stop justifying your affair, why even publish this??
September 21, 2022
Interesting. I am glad things worked out for the author, I guess. She found someone who loved her enough to be okay with her loving other men, as long as she continued loving him as well.
I don't know. Dalliances aside, I think I'd be shattered to find out my SO was having a 15-year emotional and quasi-physical affair. I mean, sexting and phone sex do have physical components. **Shrug**
I don't know. Dalliances aside, I think I'd be shattered to find out my SO was having a 15-year emotional and quasi-physical affair. I mean, sexting and phone sex do have physical components. **Shrug**
August 20, 2019
This is a short story in yet another Amazon Collection, The One. The collection seems to focus on love and romance, including love for one's children, pets, as well as romantic partners.
"Yes, And" was written well and, for that, it deserves three stars. However, the narrator is incredibly unsympathetic. She is essentially telling her story to justify an incredible act of betrayal toward her husband who, surprisingly, accepts it. Despite all of that, I don't think rating the book based on my opinions of the character is right, just know that if you read it, you may be fairly pissed off for a little while later.
I always enjoy these Amazon Collections as the stories are short and easily digested over your morning coffee, a lunch break, or (as is often in my case) right before nodding off to bed. You get a short sampling of an authors work, and I have found a few new favorite authors I otherwise wouldn't have found through reading these.
"Yes, And" was written well and, for that, it deserves three stars. However, the narrator is incredibly unsympathetic. She is essentially telling her story to justify an incredible act of betrayal toward her husband who, surprisingly, accepts it. Despite all of that, I don't think rating the book based on my opinions of the character is right, just know that if you read it, you may be fairly pissed off for a little while later.
I always enjoy these Amazon Collections as the stories are short and easily digested over your morning coffee, a lunch break, or (as is often in my case) right before nodding off to bed. You get a short sampling of an authors work, and I have found a few new favorite authors I otherwise wouldn't have found through reading these.
September 3, 2019
It is well written, however, it pisses me the main character's hypocrisy: she said she wouldn't mind her husband having a casual affair, she would be upset if he had another secret wife/deep relationship, but that's exactly what she did. The relationship she had with Sam was deep, emotional, with lots of connection (it wasn't simply a casual thing). Plus, she says she doesn't want to end her marriage, but whenever she is having her obsession with someone else, her connection with the husband seems so superficial. I don't know whose fault it is, but it seems to me like she's having one relationship at a time (most times with her husband, sometimes with someone else, but hardly ever two at the same time because she doesn't seem able to connect to both people at the same time).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2019
I grew up assuming all marriages were long silences punctuated by chores, and adapted to my future by learning to love privacy and my own secret inner life.
It’s just that I found my inner world more compelling than almost anything outside of it.
I wanted to be loved, not invaded, and I couldn’t tell the difference between the two.
We were too close to fully idealize each other, but not close enough to know the worst.
When will you ever let me know you?
It’s just that I found my inner world more compelling than almost anything outside of it.
I wanted to be loved, not invaded, and I couldn’t tell the difference between the two.
We were too close to fully idealize each other, but not close enough to know the worst.
When will you ever let me know you?
September 22, 2020
Although I could not relate to or agree with the point of view of this story, I couldn't quit reading/listening to it. Well written, thought provoking, and even made me feel uncomfortable and irritated with the main character. But with that being said, I am glad I took the time to listen to this story.
December 17, 2023
I absolutely hated this book. I'm honestly not sure why it was included in this collection. As someone who has seen so many people be cheated on and the heartbreak that brings. There's never anything that can justify it. You make a commitment stick to it and if you're unhappy leave. I know that's easier said than done but this was gross..
October 4, 2019
Stupid
It reads like the ramblings of a nut case. It goes no where in slow motion. With no end at the end.
It reads like the ramblings of a nut case. It goes no where in slow motion. With no end at the end.
November 16, 2019
Good read
Wow! Just really open and truthful I’m a little taken aback and can’t completely understand because John was such an amazing person so to inflict pain on yourself and your spouse to feed a hunger with that has never been dealt with seemed a little confusing but nevertheless it was all written.
Wow! Just really open and truthful I’m a little taken aback and can’t completely understand because John was such an amazing person so to inflict pain on yourself and your spouse to feed a hunger with that has never been dealt with seemed a little confusing but nevertheless it was all written.
August 16, 2019
Honest and insightful
Infidelity is still a huge taboo subject and yet I suspect that, like gender, it is more of a spectrum than a binary issue for many. I applaud and thank the author for her refreshing honesty.
Infidelity is still a huge taboo subject and yet I suspect that, like gender, it is more of a spectrum than a binary issue for many. I applaud and thank the author for her refreshing honesty.
May 31, 2022
A cheater with issues. Glad she discovered her shortcomings and dealt with it.
May 18, 2024
Using improv and delusion to rationalize cheating on your spouse repeatedly
December 26, 2024
I finished the book.. That’s it I’m done end of the Review.
Time to go party over Thank you for coming. 👋
Time to go party over Thank you for coming. 👋
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews