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The Truth About Ben and June
A heartfelt debut that explores the complexity of a modern-day marriage when a new mother vanishes one morning and her husband must retrace events of their recent past to bring her home.
Love isn’t something that happens to you; it’s something you must choose every day.
From the moment Ben and June met in a hospital waiting room on New Year’s Eve, their love has seemed fated. Looking back at all the tiny, unlikely decisions that brought them together, it was easy to believe their relationship was special. But now, after several years of marriage, June is struggling as a new mom. At times, she wonders about the life she didn’t choose—what might have been if she hadn’t given up the lead role in a famous ballet to start a family. Feeling like a bad mom and more alone than ever, she writes to her deceased mother, hoping for a sign of what she should do next.
One morning, Ben wakes to the sound of his baby and quickly realizes that June is gone, along with her suitcase. As Ben attempts to piece together June’s disappearance, her new friends mention things he knows nothing about—a mysterious petition, June’s falling-out with another mom, her strange fixation on a Greek myth. The more Ben uncovers about June, the more he realizes how little he actually knows her. And now the only way to bring June home is to understand why she left.
Told through alternating perspectives of husband and wife, The Truth About Ben and June is a witty and wise page-turner about life’s many crossroads and a heartfelt reminder that we create our own destiny.
Love isn’t something that happens to you; it’s something you must choose every day.
From the moment Ben and June met in a hospital waiting room on New Year’s Eve, their love has seemed fated. Looking back at all the tiny, unlikely decisions that brought them together, it was easy to believe their relationship was special. But now, after several years of marriage, June is struggling as a new mom. At times, she wonders about the life she didn’t choose—what might have been if she hadn’t given up the lead role in a famous ballet to start a family. Feeling like a bad mom and more alone than ever, she writes to her deceased mother, hoping for a sign of what she should do next.
One morning, Ben wakes to the sound of his baby and quickly realizes that June is gone, along with her suitcase. As Ben attempts to piece together June’s disappearance, her new friends mention things he knows nothing about—a mysterious petition, June’s falling-out with another mom, her strange fixation on a Greek myth. The more Ben uncovers about June, the more he realizes how little he actually knows her. And now the only way to bring June home is to understand why she left.
Told through alternating perspectives of husband and wife, The Truth About Ben and June is a witty and wise page-turner about life’s many crossroads and a heartfelt reminder that we create our own destiny.
304 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2022
40 people are currently reading
4725 people want to read
About the author
Alex Kiester
3 books182 followersAlex Kiester is the co-author of the New York Times Bestsellers, THE MISSING HALF and ALL GOOD PEOPLE HERE. She is also the author of THE TRUTH ABOUT BEN AND JUNE, a "witty and wise page-turner" that explores a modern-day marriage, and the "pulse-pounding" psychological thriller, IN HER SKIN.
From the beginning, Alex felt things very deeply and she learned early that the best thing to do with all that emotion was to turn it into fiction. Some of Alex’s earliest memories, in fact, are of wandering her neighborhood barefoot while narrating fictionalized versions of her life in her head. All her old diaries are full - not with writing of her childhood - but made-up stories.
While she always dreamed of becoming a novelist, Alex wasn't exactly sure how to get there. She graduated from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN with a degree in creative writing along with a few hundred dollars cash from bartending and promptly moved back into her childhood room in her hometown of Austin, TX. Her first job was as a technical writer for a distressed properties institute, which to this day, Alex still has no idea what that means. She eventually got a copy editing job at the journal for the Texas House of Representatives, which was exciting for the first few months and then wasn't.
From there, she became a book editor at a boutique romance publishing house, which, yes, is a euphemism for erotica (sorry, Dad). As Alex worked on book after book that she had not authored, she increasingly felt that she could work on one that she had. During her lunch breaks, she began writing her own romance novel, which, no, is not a euphemism for erotica (you’re welcome, Dad). While it was pretty bad, by writing a novel, she’d proven to herself that she could. And now she had the bug.
Over the next few years, she worked a slew of jobs to bankroll her novel-writing habit, from Zumba instructor to casting assistant and eventually, writing coach. And then, after years of writing and multiple manuscripts on the shelf, she finally got her first book published. Her debut, IN HER SKIN, came out as an Audible Original in 2019. Her next novel, THE TRUTH ABOUT BEN AND JUNE, came out in June 2022. She also co-wrote the #1 New York Times bestseller, All Good People Here, which came out in July 2022.
Alex lives with her husband in Austin, TX. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading in the bath, talking on the phone with her mom, taking long walks, watching too much TV, or watching squirrels from her writing desk. She continues to feel things very deeply and she’ll continue to write these feelings down for a very long time to come.
From the beginning, Alex felt things very deeply and she learned early that the best thing to do with all that emotion was to turn it into fiction. Some of Alex’s earliest memories, in fact, are of wandering her neighborhood barefoot while narrating fictionalized versions of her life in her head. All her old diaries are full - not with writing of her childhood - but made-up stories.
While she always dreamed of becoming a novelist, Alex wasn't exactly sure how to get there. She graduated from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN with a degree in creative writing along with a few hundred dollars cash from bartending and promptly moved back into her childhood room in her hometown of Austin, TX. Her first job was as a technical writer for a distressed properties institute, which to this day, Alex still has no idea what that means. She eventually got a copy editing job at the journal for the Texas House of Representatives, which was exciting for the first few months and then wasn't.
From there, she became a book editor at a boutique romance publishing house, which, yes, is a euphemism for erotica (sorry, Dad). As Alex worked on book after book that she had not authored, she increasingly felt that she could work on one that she had. During her lunch breaks, she began writing her own romance novel, which, no, is not a euphemism for erotica (you’re welcome, Dad). While it was pretty bad, by writing a novel, she’d proven to herself that she could. And now she had the bug.
Over the next few years, she worked a slew of jobs to bankroll her novel-writing habit, from Zumba instructor to casting assistant and eventually, writing coach. And then, after years of writing and multiple manuscripts on the shelf, she finally got her first book published. Her debut, IN HER SKIN, came out as an Audible Original in 2019. Her next novel, THE TRUTH ABOUT BEN AND JUNE, came out in June 2022. She also co-wrote the #1 New York Times bestseller, All Good People Here, which came out in July 2022.
Alex lives with her husband in Austin, TX. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading in the bath, talking on the phone with her mom, taking long walks, watching too much TV, or watching squirrels from her writing desk. She continues to feel things very deeply and she’ll continue to write these feelings down for a very long time to come.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews
September 27, 2022
The Truth about Ben and June is a 2022 Park Row Books publication.
When Ben’s wife vanishes, leaving behind their infant son, as well, all the evidence suggests she left of her own accord. As Ben begins to investigate his wife’s disappearance, he realizes he barely knows her anymore. He has no idea what has been going on in her life right now because he has been focused on his career and is hardly ever home. The more he learns, though, the more concerned he becomes, especially when it would appear that June could be in danger…
If this book had been placed in the appropriate category, it might have generated more buzz and might also have been better received. Though all the social commentary in every single book I pick up these days is starting to burn me out- apparently most people can’t seem to get enough of it. So, if this book had been promoted as the contemporary fiction/drama that it was, highlighting the problem the story is centered around-at the very least people would have felt obligated to give it higher marks simply because of the subject matter- I know, because I've seen them do it.
Is there a mystery? Yes, we don’t know where June is, and for a while there, we don’t really know why she left, but we know that this is not a situation where she’s been kidnapped- where a killer is holding her hostage- or that she’s been murdered by a deranged psychopath.
While a missing persons report is filed, and updates are given to the authorities, there is no procedural, no cops, no follow-up by the authorities, etc. It’s more of Ben’s case than anyone else’s.
Is there suspense? Yes. Eventually, it becomes clear we are dealing with a race against the clock- life or death situation- but does that make this a thriller? No.- not under these circumstances.
So, categorizing this as a mystery/thriller didn’t do the novel justice, in my opinion.
The allegorical aspect with Greek mythology is an interesting approach, but I found it a bit distracting at times because it takes up more space than is absolutely necessary.
Still, the novel raises some good points and gives one some things to think about- especially when it comes to the challenges of adapting to parenthood, which no matter how ready or excited one is, there is no way to fully prepare for the changes, sacrifices, and responsibilities a child brings. Doubts are normal, adjustments are hard, and if one has limited support, it can be understandably overwhelming and even frightening.
All these topics are good ones to explore- as well as some subjects, I can't mention here- but, the approach to these serious themes is overpowered by the symbolism.
The love story? Technically, there is a love story here, but don’t think that involves romance- or anything epic other than the need to open the lines of communication and fix one’s individual arrogance and self-absorption.
What the story does do, though, in a rather unorthodox way, is call attention to some serious issues that we are still not giving the attention they deserve.
It is an absorbing novel at times, and though I was frustrated by the handling of the material, at the end of the day, it was compelling enough to merit three stars.
When Ben’s wife vanishes, leaving behind their infant son, as well, all the evidence suggests she left of her own accord. As Ben begins to investigate his wife’s disappearance, he realizes he barely knows her anymore. He has no idea what has been going on in her life right now because he has been focused on his career and is hardly ever home. The more he learns, though, the more concerned he becomes, especially when it would appear that June could be in danger…
If this book had been placed in the appropriate category, it might have generated more buzz and might also have been better received. Though all the social commentary in every single book I pick up these days is starting to burn me out- apparently most people can’t seem to get enough of it. So, if this book had been promoted as the contemporary fiction/drama that it was, highlighting the problem the story is centered around-at the very least people would have felt obligated to give it higher marks simply because of the subject matter- I know, because I've seen them do it.
Is there a mystery? Yes, we don’t know where June is, and for a while there, we don’t really know why she left, but we know that this is not a situation where she’s been kidnapped- where a killer is holding her hostage- or that she’s been murdered by a deranged psychopath.
While a missing persons report is filed, and updates are given to the authorities, there is no procedural, no cops, no follow-up by the authorities, etc. It’s more of Ben’s case than anyone else’s.
Is there suspense? Yes. Eventually, it becomes clear we are dealing with a race against the clock- life or death situation- but does that make this a thriller? No.- not under these circumstances.
So, categorizing this as a mystery/thriller didn’t do the novel justice, in my opinion.
The allegorical aspect with Greek mythology is an interesting approach, but I found it a bit distracting at times because it takes up more space than is absolutely necessary.
Still, the novel raises some good points and gives one some things to think about- especially when it comes to the challenges of adapting to parenthood, which no matter how ready or excited one is, there is no way to fully prepare for the changes, sacrifices, and responsibilities a child brings. Doubts are normal, adjustments are hard, and if one has limited support, it can be understandably overwhelming and even frightening.
All these topics are good ones to explore- as well as some subjects, I can't mention here- but, the approach to these serious themes is overpowered by the symbolism.
The love story? Technically, there is a love story here, but don’t think that involves romance- or anything epic other than the need to open the lines of communication and fix one’s individual arrogance and self-absorption.
What the story does do, though, in a rather unorthodox way, is call attention to some serious issues that we are still not giving the attention they deserve.
It is an absorbing novel at times, and though I was frustrated by the handling of the material, at the end of the day, it was compelling enough to merit three stars.
June 8, 2022
Dear Reader,
Whenever the topic of children comes up with a girlfriend of mine, I’m always struck by her sense of certainty about it. Every woman in my life, it seems, knows whether or not she wants to be a mother. Sometimes, when I compare this certainty to my own ambivalence about entering into parenthood, I feel as though something inside me is…well, "broken" isn’t quite the right word, but it’s not far off. "Misshapen" perhaps. And as having kids is undoubtedly one of the biggest decisions a person can ever make, ambivalence about it can be terrifying.
Over the years, I’ve dealt with this fear like any writer would—by pawning it off onto unsuspecting fictional characters. "The Truth About Ben and June" began as a scene between a married couple, who has just discovered the woman is pregnant, and they are deciding whether or not to have the baby. While these characters later became Ben and June, at the time, they were nothing more than the two conflicting sides of my brain.
The day I received the jacket copy from my publishing team, I read over it, and as I got to the last line, which dubs the book “a heartfelt reminder that we create our own destiny,” I finally recognized what I’d been circling around while writing it. Perhaps the opposite of ambivalence isn’t, as I’d always assumed, certainty. Perhaps the opposite of ambivalence is choice. For me, the thought is a liberating one.
In addition to being a love story and a thriller, a portrait of marriage and parenthood, friendship and grief, it’s this idea that’s at the heart of my novel—the idea of choice. "The Truth About Ben and June" explores the complicated feeling of regret, the preoccupation with what could have been, and also the hope that comes from making choices based on grace and courage. Love isn’t something that just happens to you, Ben, June, and I all found out throughout the course of this novel; it is something you get to choose every day.
Over the years in which I wrote it, my book was a companion to me, an exploration, a mirror. It is both thrilling and humbling to finally hand it over and discover what it will mean to you. Thank you for reading the story of Ben and June. I hope you love it—and them—as much as I do.
Happy reading,
Alex
Whenever the topic of children comes up with a girlfriend of mine, I’m always struck by her sense of certainty about it. Every woman in my life, it seems, knows whether or not she wants to be a mother. Sometimes, when I compare this certainty to my own ambivalence about entering into parenthood, I feel as though something inside me is…well, "broken" isn’t quite the right word, but it’s not far off. "Misshapen" perhaps. And as having kids is undoubtedly one of the biggest decisions a person can ever make, ambivalence about it can be terrifying.
Over the years, I’ve dealt with this fear like any writer would—by pawning it off onto unsuspecting fictional characters. "The Truth About Ben and June" began as a scene between a married couple, who has just discovered the woman is pregnant, and they are deciding whether or not to have the baby. While these characters later became Ben and June, at the time, they were nothing more than the two conflicting sides of my brain.
The day I received the jacket copy from my publishing team, I read over it, and as I got to the last line, which dubs the book “a heartfelt reminder that we create our own destiny,” I finally recognized what I’d been circling around while writing it. Perhaps the opposite of ambivalence isn’t, as I’d always assumed, certainty. Perhaps the opposite of ambivalence is choice. For me, the thought is a liberating one.
In addition to being a love story and a thriller, a portrait of marriage and parenthood, friendship and grief, it’s this idea that’s at the heart of my novel—the idea of choice. "The Truth About Ben and June" explores the complicated feeling of regret, the preoccupation with what could have been, and also the hope that comes from making choices based on grace and courage. Love isn’t something that just happens to you, Ben, June, and I all found out throughout the course of this novel; it is something you get to choose every day.
Over the years in which I wrote it, my book was a companion to me, an exploration, a mirror. It is both thrilling and humbling to finally hand it over and discover what it will mean to you. Thank you for reading the story of Ben and June. I hope you love it—and them—as much as I do.
Happy reading,
Alex
June 7, 2022
3.5 stars rounded down.
So, I started seeing my GR friends reviewing this book, and it hit me that I had read an ARC several weeks ago; but apparently I never reviewed it. I also didn't recall that much about it until I re-read the synopsis, so I'm not totally sure what that ultimately says about the book lol.
From the moment Ben met June, he believed their relationship was fated. But now, after several years of marriage, June is struggling as a new mom. She finds herself wondering more and more about "what might have been," as before she realized she was pregnant, she had just landed the lead role in a famous ballet and had to give it up. To deal with these ever-growing feelings, she begins writing letters to her deceased mother, hoping for a sign of what to do with her life. One morning though, Ben wakes to the sound of his baby and realizes that June has left. He attempts to piece together the reasons June left, and in so doing, finds that her friends know things he doesn't — from a mysterious petition, a falling-out with another mom, and a strange fixation on a Greek myth. The more Ben uncovers about June, the more he realizes how little he actually knows her.
I thought this one started out strong, but it lost a little bit of pizzazz for me once the reason behind June's disappearance was revealed. I did enjoy the alternating chapters of Ben, June, and the letters to June's mother, as they helped to make both Ben and June sympathetic characters. I also thought the book's real strength was its foray into postpartum depression and the stigma it can carry. I wasn't a huge fan of the Greek mythology aspect though, and Kiester's thoughts on medication and its "instant effect" was a bit too much of a rose-colored glasses view and a tad unrealistic. I also found the ending a little too convenient.
Overall though, a solid debut work that highlights love, the importance of communication with those we love, and that it's never too late to create our own destiny.
So, I started seeing my GR friends reviewing this book, and it hit me that I had read an ARC several weeks ago; but apparently I never reviewed it. I also didn't recall that much about it until I re-read the synopsis, so I'm not totally sure what that ultimately says about the book lol.
From the moment Ben met June, he believed their relationship was fated. But now, after several years of marriage, June is struggling as a new mom. She finds herself wondering more and more about "what might have been," as before she realized she was pregnant, she had just landed the lead role in a famous ballet and had to give it up. To deal with these ever-growing feelings, she begins writing letters to her deceased mother, hoping for a sign of what to do with her life. One morning though, Ben wakes to the sound of his baby and realizes that June has left. He attempts to piece together the reasons June left, and in so doing, finds that her friends know things he doesn't — from a mysterious petition, a falling-out with another mom, and a strange fixation on a Greek myth. The more Ben uncovers about June, the more he realizes how little he actually knows her.
I thought this one started out strong, but it lost a little bit of pizzazz for me once the reason behind June's disappearance was revealed. I did enjoy the alternating chapters of Ben, June, and the letters to June's mother, as they helped to make both Ben and June sympathetic characters. I also thought the book's real strength was its foray into postpartum depression and the stigma it can carry. I wasn't a huge fan of the Greek mythology aspect though, and Kiester's thoughts on medication and its "instant effect" was a bit too much of a rose-colored glasses view and a tad unrealistic. I also found the ending a little too convenient.
Overall though, a solid debut work that highlights love, the importance of communication with those we love, and that it's never too late to create our own destiny.
July 9, 2022
Review to come
July 2, 2022
Here is the truth about "The Truth About Ben and June":
If you enjoy books that delve into a young mother's intense angst, post-partum anxiety, insecurities, regrets, bereavement, marital discord, struggles, fixation with a Greek myth, and her battle with inner demons, this is the perfect book for you.
Unfortunately, this was not my kind of book.
I selected this book because I was intrigued by the book's alleged premise: a new mother vanishes one morning and her husband must retrace events of their recent past to bring her home.
The publisher's blurb positioned the book as a "love story and a thriller" but this was not "the truth".
The story unfolded through alternating perspectives of Ben (the husband) and June (the wife) and this was very well done.
Halfway through the book, I stopped listening to the chapters from the wife's perspective because I simply could not listen to any more of the wife's painful unraveling.
Instead, I let the husband tell me how the book ended. (Occasionally, I do listen to husbands!)
I listened to the audiobook and both narrators did an over-the-top job with the narration.
This was a debut novel by author Alex Keister and the author did a superb job of recounting many little-known facts about post-partum anxiety.
I was seeking a love story/thriller and not a deep dive into the vulnerabilities of early motherhood and that is the sole reason for my 2-star review.
2 stars, rounded up.
If you enjoy books that delve into a young mother's intense angst, post-partum anxiety, insecurities, regrets, bereavement, marital discord, struggles, fixation with a Greek myth, and her battle with inner demons, this is the perfect book for you.
Unfortunately, this was not my kind of book.
I selected this book because I was intrigued by the book's alleged premise: a new mother vanishes one morning and her husband must retrace events of their recent past to bring her home.
The publisher's blurb positioned the book as a "love story and a thriller" but this was not "the truth".
The story unfolded through alternating perspectives of Ben (the husband) and June (the wife) and this was very well done.
Halfway through the book, I stopped listening to the chapters from the wife's perspective because I simply could not listen to any more of the wife's painful unraveling.
Instead, I let the husband tell me how the book ended. (Occasionally, I do listen to husbands!)
I listened to the audiobook and both narrators did an over-the-top job with the narration.
This was a debut novel by author Alex Keister and the author did a superb job of recounting many little-known facts about post-partum anxiety.
I was seeking a love story/thriller and not a deep dive into the vulnerabilities of early motherhood and that is the sole reason for my 2-star review.
2 stars, rounded up.
July 24, 2022
“The Truth about Ben and June” is readable….smooth writing…even enjoyable- in-an-easy-engaging way- but nothing exceptional.
The blurb is not wrong….
……”A heartfelt debut that explores the complexity of a modern-day marriage when a new mother vanishes one morning and her husband must retrace events of their recent pass to bring her home”…..
I COULD ALMOST SAY…..”and end of THAT story”……
……as that’s exactly what happens. Clearly we know from the start—that Ben will bring June back home….
Alex Kiester did an average job looking at unsettling ‘new-mom’ themes ….
……abandoned ‘new-dad’ themes…..
And ….
……the challenges a couple faces — together — after their baby arrives.
I’m pretty sure this novel aims to show compassion to new parents who are struggling—
or -
maybe it’s just a story about two people we readers add to our ‘memory-book-of-novel-character-friends’.
June was reckoning with herself as an individual — as a woman, wife, daughter of a deceased mother, and new motherhood.
Granted, it’s a huge transition for women after a baby is born. Attempting to navigate the new identity- [as mom] - with endless responsibilities — and loss dreams……June was physically exhausted, overwhelmed, and emotionally confused — even ashamed.
She was the first to acknowledge she was a bad mom. She loved four-month-year-old Mikey….
but anger, bitterness, depression, and ‘sense-of-self’, over-shadowed June’s loyalty and commitment…..to her husband AND THE BABY!!
June did what even the most depressed mothers wouldn’t do. BOLT!
Yes….we learn the ‘heart-bleeding’ story as to why June did what she did…
and we follow along hearing from Ben —his perspectives…
But….
I swear I showed more concerned for Mikey — than ‘either’ Ben or June. Very little attention FOR THE BABY.
Ben kept pawning Mikey off to his mother. Rather than tell her his ‘schmuck-of-a-wife’ left them cold Turkey—-TO FIND HERSELF— Ben lies to his mom saying “June went to visit her dad who had a heart attack”. WOW!
Both Ben and June portrayed schmucky behaviors.
Yet, are we readers to be sympathetic?
Perhaps!…..
For me —— the themes didn’t go deep enough — behaviors were ‘reactive’ …..but not fully examined….
making this novel short term interesting in the way a Lifetime movie might be for an afternoon.
It ‘was’ readable …..I just didn’t have tons of my own emotional heart seriously invested - one way or another.
It was one of ‘those okay’ novels…..not awful….not great….’Pleasant enough and average’.
Of course Ben and June come back together—have honest chitchatting conversations about their pain, needs, mistakes, relationship …. and parenting together in the future.
Young mothers might find it valuable to explore with our author in the ways June and Ben deal with being married new parents.
The blurb is not wrong….
……”A heartfelt debut that explores the complexity of a modern-day marriage when a new mother vanishes one morning and her husband must retrace events of their recent pass to bring her home”…..
I COULD ALMOST SAY…..”and end of THAT story”……
……as that’s exactly what happens. Clearly we know from the start—that Ben will bring June back home….
Alex Kiester did an average job looking at unsettling ‘new-mom’ themes ….
……abandoned ‘new-dad’ themes…..
And ….
……the challenges a couple faces — together — after their baby arrives.
I’m pretty sure this novel aims to show compassion to new parents who are struggling—
or -
maybe it’s just a story about two people we readers add to our ‘memory-book-of-novel-character-friends’.
June was reckoning with herself as an individual — as a woman, wife, daughter of a deceased mother, and new motherhood.
Granted, it’s a huge transition for women after a baby is born. Attempting to navigate the new identity- [as mom] - with endless responsibilities — and loss dreams……June was physically exhausted, overwhelmed, and emotionally confused — even ashamed.
She was the first to acknowledge she was a bad mom. She loved four-month-year-old Mikey….
but anger, bitterness, depression, and ‘sense-of-self’, over-shadowed June’s loyalty and commitment…..to her husband AND THE BABY!!
June did what even the most depressed mothers wouldn’t do. BOLT!
Yes….we learn the ‘heart-bleeding’ story as to why June did what she did…
and we follow along hearing from Ben —his perspectives…
But….
I swear I showed more concerned for Mikey — than ‘either’ Ben or June. Very little attention FOR THE BABY.
Ben kept pawning Mikey off to his mother. Rather than tell her his ‘schmuck-of-a-wife’ left them cold Turkey—-TO FIND HERSELF— Ben lies to his mom saying “June went to visit her dad who had a heart attack”. WOW!
Both Ben and June portrayed schmucky behaviors.
Yet, are we readers to be sympathetic?
Perhaps!…..
For me —— the themes didn’t go deep enough — behaviors were ‘reactive’ …..but not fully examined….
making this novel short term interesting in the way a Lifetime movie might be for an afternoon.
It ‘was’ readable …..I just didn’t have tons of my own emotional heart seriously invested - one way or another.
It was one of ‘those okay’ novels…..not awful….not great….’Pleasant enough and average’.
Of course Ben and June come back together—have honest chitchatting conversations about their pain, needs, mistakes, relationship …. and parenting together in the future.
Young mothers might find it valuable to explore with our author in the ways June and Ben deal with being married new parents.
February 4, 2024
I was such a huge fan of the Audible Original In Her Skin that I immediately knew I would read whatever Alex Kiester writes. While The Truth About Ben and June has a mystery element, this story is so much more than that and ended up being quite emotional once we know what is going on. And more than just the mystery itself, we experience life through June's past, both her ambitions and feelings of being a new mom, as well as through Ben's eyes in the present. I really enjoyed this approach because I felt like we got to know Ben and June really well and it especially made June really come alive for me. There is a lot of heart packed into the book and the focus on mental illness/health was very much appreciated.
This is Kiester's first print book, but I couldn't not check out the audiobook and I'm glad I did. Brittany Pressley & Pete Cross are the narrators for June and Ben, and I loved the way they handled the narration for their characters. I also love Pressley as it is, and I felt like she went above and beyond to really convey all of the emotions that June feels throughout the story. Cross was great as Ben, and I felt exactly the same way about him as I did Pressley though I have never heard him narrate before. The Truth About Ben and June is dark and gritty in a surprisingly emotional way and if you are thinking this is going to be a thriller it is not, but if you are ready for a deep dive into postpartum depression that will provoke all kinds of thoughts and feelings, this is the book for you.
Thank you to the publishers and Libro.fm for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
This is Kiester's first print book, but I couldn't not check out the audiobook and I'm glad I did. Brittany Pressley & Pete Cross are the narrators for June and Ben, and I loved the way they handled the narration for their characters. I also love Pressley as it is, and I felt like she went above and beyond to really convey all of the emotions that June feels throughout the story. Cross was great as Ben, and I felt exactly the same way about him as I did Pressley though I have never heard him narrate before. The Truth About Ben and June is dark and gritty in a surprisingly emotional way and if you are thinking this is going to be a thriller it is not, but if you are ready for a deep dive into postpartum depression that will provoke all kinds of thoughts and feelings, this is the book for you.
Thank you to the publishers and Libro.fm for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
March 4, 2022
Is it a mystery? A romance? A thriller? It's hard to put this book in a bucket, but it's a fairly quick read that delves into love, parenting, friendship, and a whole lot more.
I read it on a flight and it kept me engrossed from Boston to the Rockies.
I look forward to seeing what the author does next!
I read it on a flight and it kept me engrossed from Boston to the Rockies.
I look forward to seeing what the author does next!
June 20, 2022
At first glance I thought this was going to be a thriller but it’s much more than that, it goes deeper and darker in ways I wasn’t expecting. Unexpected is always good for me though, I love some surprises in any genre and beyond June being missing there are additional turns here. This is told from both Ben and June’s point of view and you learn about where they are in the present day as well as in the past from when they first meet and beyond. I thought the author did a fantastic job of tapping into sides of motherhood that aren’t often discussed, she wasn’t afraid to go dark and gritty and I was here for it. So many important conversations about mental health were had here and this story will definitely stick with me. I listened to this one and just have to say if you’re a Brittany Pressley fan she narrates part of this and she’s as amazing as ever!
May 2, 2022
This book grabbed me on the first page, it begins as a mystery as Ben wakes up in the morning, grabs their son, Mikey, and make their way downstairs but there’s no sight of June anywhere inside their house. Soon he discovers a missing suitcase and thoughts are running through his mind! It becomes a race to find June with the help of June’s friends and a journal she left behind. The characters and story are very much relatable, being new parents is both beautiful and complex. Thank you to Park Row Books and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a gifted copy.
June 4, 2022
If you're looking for a thought-provoking read, this is it! It explores topics that are difficult but very real. The main characters, Ben and June are well written. Each dealing with very raw emotions.
I enjoyed the alternating chapters from Ben's POV, June's letters to her mom and the lead up to June leaving. The pacing was perfect and the story flowed.
Fun fact! I finished reading this book while sitting in the rain at a parade.
The Truth About Ben And June is heavy on content warnings so please be aware before diving in - I have listed them below.
Thanks to Harper Collins Canada for my gifted copy!
TW: cancer, death of a parent, postpartum anxiety, postpartum psychosis, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, alcohol consumption, hallucinations.
I enjoyed the alternating chapters from Ben's POV, June's letters to her mom and the lead up to June leaving. The pacing was perfect and the story flowed.
Fun fact! I finished reading this book while sitting in the rain at a parade.
The Truth About Ben And June is heavy on content warnings so please be aware before diving in - I have listed them below.
Thanks to Harper Collins Canada for my gifted copy!
TW: cancer, death of a parent, postpartum anxiety, postpartum psychosis, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, alcohol consumption, hallucinations.
June 28, 2022
This is a complicated story that covers a lot of important issues. Ben and June have recently welcomed their first child and June slowly slips into a deep postpartum depression. Overworked and overdrinking Ben is oblivious to what June is going through. The book delves into their many issues as June goes missing and Ben finally realizes what has been happening with his wife and infant son. This is an ambitious and raw story that explores postpartum depression as well as other difficult unresolved issues in both Ben and June’s relationship as well as their relationships with others. I appreciated that we were given both Ben and June’s perspectives thanks to alternating chapters.
Overall this is a great debut novel and I look forward to more from this author.
Overall this is a great debut novel and I look forward to more from this author.
August 28, 2022
I liked the mystery, and although I was expecting more thriller, I was throughly entertained!
July 2, 2022
4 stars with a bunch of .99999 after it.
This book is a sharp and concise look at young marriage and young motherhood.
Postpartum anxiety need to be words we can all say aloud and not just whisper. It’s okay to talk about your hormones. They are real.
Probably it missed the 5 as I am reading this from a mature marriage and I was just Mmmm-hmmming the whole way through. Been there done that.
Mmm-hmmming the surface story.
The life lessons I grabbed a hold of were still powerful for me.
I think maybe it’s a cautionary tale about not losing yourself to or for another person - parent, spouse or child.
Be true to thine self perhaps. Thanks to my husband who lives those words fastidiously, I understand them completely. It’s only taken me 55 years to fully embrace that damn message for myself that he’s been telling me these last 27 years. But so what? We each learn our lessons in our own time right?
It seems like Alex Kiester got this lesson much younger than I did as she writes it so well.
Yes, here it is, what I learned:
Ask yourself, what would I decide if no one had an opinion?
Yes!!!
Quite the rambling little review, right??
This book is a sharp and concise look at young marriage and young motherhood.
Postpartum anxiety need to be words we can all say aloud and not just whisper. It’s okay to talk about your hormones. They are real.
Probably it missed the 5 as I am reading this from a mature marriage and I was just Mmmm-hmmming the whole way through. Been there done that.
Mmm-hmmming the surface story.
The life lessons I grabbed a hold of were still powerful for me.
I think maybe it’s a cautionary tale about not losing yourself to or for another person - parent, spouse or child.
Be true to thine self perhaps. Thanks to my husband who lives those words fastidiously, I understand them completely. It’s only taken me 55 years to fully embrace that damn message for myself that he’s been telling me these last 27 years. But so what? We each learn our lessons in our own time right?
It seems like Alex Kiester got this lesson much younger than I did as she writes it so well.
Yes, here it is, what I learned:
Ask yourself, what would I decide if no one had an opinion?
Yes!!!
Quite the rambling little review, right??
April 27, 2022
I won a copy of this book on a GR giveaway. I loved everything about this book; the hard topics that it broaches, the characters, the style of writing and the way it ends. I won't go into the topics that is covers because there are many and I don't want to give anything away. The characters are like friends that you get to know as the story unfolds, you don't always love them, you like them warts and all. The style of writing I found intriguing because you hear "the voices" of all the characters through the story except June's is through letters written to her mother which I thought added to the intrigue of the story. I found myself wanting to get back to this book, I needed to know the truth about Ben and June! I couldn't get to the truth fast enough!
July 21, 2022
I had so much hope for this one. It started out great with the perfect amount of Gone Girl feel to it. I somewhat enjoyed the multiple perspectives. I liked that the main character June was complex filled with anxieties of new motherhood, grief for her own mother, the "death" of her career and so much more. Ben, the husband, had zero character development, but he was also the one that tells majority of the story????? I was so confused. Overall, soooo disappointed.
February 10, 2022
This novel was thought-provoking , heart felt, and had me guessing and rooting for characters the whole way. Amazing!!!
July 29, 2022
CW: postpartum anxiety and depression, suicide attempt and ideation (on page), gaslighting, death of parent and mentions of chemotherapy/treatment (past), parental abandonment (past), strained family relationships, self medicating with alcohol, fighting/blood, discussion/mention of abortion
The Truth About Ben and June isn’t my typical read, but I was intrigued by the synopsis and decided to give it a try. It was much more emotional than I anticipated. Readers should 100% check content warnings prior to starting this book. Had I realized the topics that would be addressed, I’m not sure I would have proceeded.
The Truth About Ben and June was less mystery and more an examination of the hard truths we often hide. It looks at love, marriage, parenthood, and self fulfillment in a raw and sometimes brutal way. The story unfolds through past and present chapters and is told from alternating POV’s. I listened to the audiobook and read the ebook of this one and the narration by Brittany Pressley and Pete Cross was really well done. Brittany Pressley was especially fantastic and her performance had me riveted. I thought the build up and reveal were also well executed, but the ending felt rushed. I also wanted more character growth from Ben. Readers are left hopeful that changes will be made, but I’m not sure if that addresses Ben’s actual issues. Overall, I enjoyed this novel, but I don’t think my heart can handle ever reading it again.
Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 4.5 stars
Story 4 stars
*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*
The Truth About Ben and June isn’t my typical read, but I was intrigued by the synopsis and decided to give it a try. It was much more emotional than I anticipated. Readers should 100% check content warnings prior to starting this book. Had I realized the topics that would be addressed, I’m not sure I would have proceeded.
The Truth About Ben and June was less mystery and more an examination of the hard truths we often hide. It looks at love, marriage, parenthood, and self fulfillment in a raw and sometimes brutal way. The story unfolds through past and present chapters and is told from alternating POV’s. I listened to the audiobook and read the ebook of this one and the narration by Brittany Pressley and Pete Cross was really well done. Brittany Pressley was especially fantastic and her performance had me riveted. I thought the build up and reveal were also well executed, but the ending felt rushed. I also wanted more character growth from Ben. Readers are left hopeful that changes will be made, but I’m not sure if that addresses Ben’s actual issues. Overall, I enjoyed this novel, but I don’t think my heart can handle ever reading it again.
Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 4.5 stars
Story 4 stars
*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*
December 28, 2024
I loved this. I can’t wait to write my review 🥺 please read this
April 23, 2022
The essence of love - the beautiful and tragic, the extraordinary and the mundane - revealed with such finesse and poignancy, that reading this book is as painful as it is incandescent.
What do we each bring to our relationships - our loves - but decades of patterns, old hurts, yearnings and the complicated misguided lessons learned from our childhood (that may or may not have once served us well, but are certainly now well past their prime) .
Meet Ben and June. A young couple, deeply in love, struggling and supporting, second-guessing and holding back as much as they are willing to confess (or may even be aware of), doing their utmost to live their best lives - together - (whatever that may mean), in care of each other and in service of the dreams they believe they ultimately share.
As June, a lifelong dancer, auditions tirelessly for an opening in a contemporary dance company (her childhood dream), and Ben, a M&A lawyer, works around-the-clock to service miserable clients and their meaningless mergers - the unimaginable happens.
A baby.
What is left of love - when your own identity, still wobbly and largely unformed, (as both an individual and a partner) is suddenly in the terrifying and unpredictable driver’s seat, responsible for the nurturance of an entirely new being?
How does one bond with the little one, when “withered by guilt and incompetency”, you are “struggling just to keep up with the basics.”
When life is an off-the-tracks-train-wreck - as you find yourself working (because someone has to) so hard and so desolately that the “scent of (your) wife feels uncomfortably Iike a memory”.
With subtle and heartbreaking insight, the author unpacks and lays bare the earthshaking, life-toppling changes brought to a relationship through childbirth - which cannot be predicted, (or even, for that matter, managed), layered on top of an already-tottering-and-entirely-outwardly-validated relationship barometer - a precipice destined for not only disaster, but cataclysmic soul-crushing despair.
“Love isn’t enough. Not when you’re drowning.”
“Maybe that’s just what marriage is. Just constantly over and under-estimating your partner, seeing them through your own gaze, never quite seeing them for who they really are..”
I loved this book, - the dynamics of the main relationship, Ben and June, captured so brilliantly - weighed down with so much that is brutal and unforgiving (grief, lack of sleep, hormones, shame, parental baggage, cruel neighbors, self-judgement, mental illness, poor communication, terror) - and at its heart so tender and heart-tugging that (we must believe) love is still present, still worth fighting for, if it can just be released and set free again.
A great big thank you to #Netgalley and #harperCollins for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
#TheTruthAboutBenandJune #NetGalley #BooksofHCC
What do we each bring to our relationships - our loves - but decades of patterns, old hurts, yearnings and the complicated misguided lessons learned from our childhood (that may or may not have once served us well, but are certainly now well past their prime) .
Meet Ben and June. A young couple, deeply in love, struggling and supporting, second-guessing and holding back as much as they are willing to confess (or may even be aware of), doing their utmost to live their best lives - together - (whatever that may mean), in care of each other and in service of the dreams they believe they ultimately share.
As June, a lifelong dancer, auditions tirelessly for an opening in a contemporary dance company (her childhood dream), and Ben, a M&A lawyer, works around-the-clock to service miserable clients and their meaningless mergers - the unimaginable happens.
A baby.
What is left of love - when your own identity, still wobbly and largely unformed, (as both an individual and a partner) is suddenly in the terrifying and unpredictable driver’s seat, responsible for the nurturance of an entirely new being?
How does one bond with the little one, when “withered by guilt and incompetency”, you are “struggling just to keep up with the basics.”
When life is an off-the-tracks-train-wreck - as you find yourself working (because someone has to) so hard and so desolately that the “scent of (your) wife feels uncomfortably Iike a memory”.
With subtle and heartbreaking insight, the author unpacks and lays bare the earthshaking, life-toppling changes brought to a relationship through childbirth - which cannot be predicted, (or even, for that matter, managed), layered on top of an already-tottering-and-entirely-outwardly-validated relationship barometer - a precipice destined for not only disaster, but cataclysmic soul-crushing despair.
“Love isn’t enough. Not when you’re drowning.”
“Maybe that’s just what marriage is. Just constantly over and under-estimating your partner, seeing them through your own gaze, never quite seeing them for who they really are..”
I loved this book, - the dynamics of the main relationship, Ben and June, captured so brilliantly - weighed down with so much that is brutal and unforgiving (grief, lack of sleep, hormones, shame, parental baggage, cruel neighbors, self-judgement, mental illness, poor communication, terror) - and at its heart so tender and heart-tugging that (we must believe) love is still present, still worth fighting for, if it can just be released and set free again.
A great big thank you to #Netgalley and #harperCollins for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
#TheTruthAboutBenandJune #NetGalley #BooksofHCC
June 30, 2022
I’m in a season of early motherhood and not surprisingly find myself drawn to these kinds stories.
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗕𝗘𝗡 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗘 is a raw look at those tender days of early parenthood and how a marriage can shift with the arrival of a new baby.
When Ben wakes to the cries of his infant son, he realizes that his wife June had disappeared. Not only is he faced with finding his wife, but he must also take a deeper look at their marriage and why she left.
I resonated deeply with June’s feelings of unmet expectations and sheer emotional and physical exhaustion as a new mom.
@alexkiesterwriter did a fantastic job of capturing the vulnerabilities of early motherhood and exploring grief in various forms.
This reminded me of one of my favorite reads of last year, WHEN I RAN AWAY any Ilona Bannister. I did a combination of print and audio and enjoyed both formats! This is a solid debut that lends itself to fantastic book club conversations 👌🏻
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 4 ⭐️
𝗣𝗨𝗕 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: June 28, 2022
____________________________
A big thank you to @thoughtsfromapage patreon community and @parkrowbooks for an electronic ARC and @harperaudio for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗕𝗘𝗡 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗘 is a raw look at those tender days of early parenthood and how a marriage can shift with the arrival of a new baby.
When Ben wakes to the cries of his infant son, he realizes that his wife June had disappeared. Not only is he faced with finding his wife, but he must also take a deeper look at their marriage and why she left.
I resonated deeply with June’s feelings of unmet expectations and sheer emotional and physical exhaustion as a new mom.
@alexkiesterwriter did a fantastic job of capturing the vulnerabilities of early motherhood and exploring grief in various forms.
This reminded me of one of my favorite reads of last year, WHEN I RAN AWAY any Ilona Bannister. I did a combination of print and audio and enjoyed both formats! This is a solid debut that lends itself to fantastic book club conversations 👌🏻
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 4 ⭐️
𝗣𝗨𝗕 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: June 28, 2022
____________________________
A big thank you to @thoughtsfromapage patreon community and @parkrowbooks for an electronic ARC and @harperaudio for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2022
One of the central themes in The Truth About Ben and June is the Greek tragedy Medea. June, a former professional ballet dancer, had been cast to play the lead before becoming pregnant with her son. She resonates with the story which becomes apparent through the flashbacks and June's journal entries—techniques Kiester uses to propel the narrative.
Told through alternating perspectives of husband and wife, The Truth About Ben and June is an honest look into the highs and lows of marriage—as well as motherhood—and how many women sacrifice their careers in order to be the primary caregivers in their families.
Kiester treats her characters with care in this solid debut. All-in-all good effort, even with the convenient conclusion.
Told through alternating perspectives of husband and wife, The Truth About Ben and June is an honest look into the highs and lows of marriage—as well as motherhood—and how many women sacrifice their careers in order to be the primary caregivers in their families.
Kiester treats her characters with care in this solid debut. All-in-all good effort, even with the convenient conclusion.
June 18, 2022
3.5!
Thank you Harper Collins Canada for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really good read, and I was so invested in the characters. I love the dance aspect, and how the author approaches mental health, post partum anxiety disorder, and other issues.
The one thing for me was that it seemed like the plot jumped too quickly and wasn’t explained sometimes - for example there’s one point where a character is driving and as they’re deep in thought, suddenly they’re on a plane. Just a little disconnected, but this might be cleared up with the finished copy.
If you love family dramas and character-driven books, this one’s for you!
Thank you Harper Collins Canada for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really good read, and I was so invested in the characters. I love the dance aspect, and how the author approaches mental health, post partum anxiety disorder, and other issues.
The one thing for me was that it seemed like the plot jumped too quickly and wasn’t explained sometimes - for example there’s one point where a character is driving and as they’re deep in thought, suddenly they’re on a plane. Just a little disconnected, but this might be cleared up with the finished copy.
If you love family dramas and character-driven books, this one’s for you!
July 22, 2022
I read this book for Julia Kelly’s bookclub at the end of the month (she does a great interview/discussion). This was another quick listen, about 5.75 hours and I really enjoyed this story about marriage and becoming a parent.
Ben wakes up one morning with his young child and realizes his wife isn’t there. In fact, her suitcase is gone and the freezer is packed with prepared food. Ben has been drinking a lot and working late, and come to think about it, hasn’t really talked much with his wife lately.
The audiobook has duel narrators, so we also get to hear from June. We also hear about their back story; how they met, and what they like about each other. We learn that June always wanted to be a dancer and loved a mythology story in which she was dancing. Also, her friends and journal to her deceased mother shed light on things that have been going on, which Ben didn’t realize.
It does wrap up a little neatly, but covers topics that so many women deal with, that people don’t necessarily like to talk about.
“His brain grinded to a halt as if his gears had gotten stuck on these two conflicting truths. June would not leave. June was gone.” Ch 4
“Like everything June did, she had set the bar so impossibly high… so now, she was having to adjust to the reality that parenthood, at least for the time being, was far less about tranquil, teachable moments and far more about dirty diapers and cries that woke them a dozen times a night. She was also having to adjust to the reality that she would not and could not be the perfect mom. “ Ch 4
“The truth was he couldn’t remember the last time they had laughed at an inside joke; couldn’t remember the last time he’d walked up to june as she did the dishes.” Ch 5
“I know that rambling on about a Greek tragedy isn’t exactly normal. But more than all that, was how utterly alone I suddenly felt.” Ch 16
“I could tell he had no idea that during that whole time, I hadn’t been there in the room with him. And all I could think was, how could you not see me…Did I think it was possible for anyone to truly know me?…
perhaps it’s possible to be fully seen in your life, but not always by the same person. Perhaps your spouse sees a part of the real you, and your mom sees another part and your husband’s coworker sees another and if you put all those pieces together, you’d be able to make a whole person.”Ch 22
“What you’re describing sounds like postpartum anxiety. “
“With those words something deep inside Ben cracked open and out seeped both grief and understanding. …He hadn’t missed the change that had taken place inside her. She seemed both emptier and more frantic, somehow as if her essence, whatever that made her June, had been scraped out and replaced with swarming bees.” CH 29
Thanks to Libro.fm for providing audiobooks to librarians! I loved this one!
Triggers: suicide, postpartum depression
Ben wakes up one morning with his young child and realizes his wife isn’t there. In fact, her suitcase is gone and the freezer is packed with prepared food. Ben has been drinking a lot and working late, and come to think about it, hasn’t really talked much with his wife lately.
The audiobook has duel narrators, so we also get to hear from June. We also hear about their back story; how they met, and what they like about each other. We learn that June always wanted to be a dancer and loved a mythology story in which she was dancing. Also, her friends and journal to her deceased mother shed light on things that have been going on, which Ben didn’t realize.
It does wrap up a little neatly, but covers topics that so many women deal with, that people don’t necessarily like to talk about.
“His brain grinded to a halt as if his gears had gotten stuck on these two conflicting truths. June would not leave. June was gone.” Ch 4
“Like everything June did, she had set the bar so impossibly high… so now, she was having to adjust to the reality that parenthood, at least for the time being, was far less about tranquil, teachable moments and far more about dirty diapers and cries that woke them a dozen times a night. She was also having to adjust to the reality that she would not and could not be the perfect mom. “ Ch 4
“The truth was he couldn’t remember the last time they had laughed at an inside joke; couldn’t remember the last time he’d walked up to june as she did the dishes.” Ch 5
“I know that rambling on about a Greek tragedy isn’t exactly normal. But more than all that, was how utterly alone I suddenly felt.” Ch 16
“I could tell he had no idea that during that whole time, I hadn’t been there in the room with him. And all I could think was, how could you not see me…Did I think it was possible for anyone to truly know me?…
perhaps it’s possible to be fully seen in your life, but not always by the same person. Perhaps your spouse sees a part of the real you, and your mom sees another part and your husband’s coworker sees another and if you put all those pieces together, you’d be able to make a whole person.”Ch 22
“What you’re describing sounds like postpartum anxiety. “
“With those words something deep inside Ben cracked open and out seeped both grief and understanding. …He hadn’t missed the change that had taken place inside her. She seemed both emptier and more frantic, somehow as if her essence, whatever that made her June, had been scraped out and replaced with swarming bees.” CH 29
Thanks to Libro.fm for providing audiobooks to librarians! I loved this one!
Triggers: suicide, postpartum depression
June 21, 2022
The truth is, The Truth About Ben and June was a different read than I was expecting. Based on its blurb, I went into this book anticipating a thriller about a missing mother. But what I got was a compassionate look at the stress and unfair expectations some women face in their work and home lives.
The book starts off strong with June's disappearance and Ben's desire to find his wife, but then veers into more of a domestic fiction read. Told using alternating POVs of Ben and June, including letters June writes to her mother, Kiester gives readers a few perspectives and introduces important issues. The topics include some women's ambivalence about motherhood, mental health, and the pressure many women feel as they try to live within expectations set by society, family, and themselves when it comes to motherhood and the work/family balance. It is this vivid portrayal of these struggles and the mental health issues that I take away from this debut.
I think many women will see themselves in the struggles June faces and while this book didn't quite captivate me and I felt the ending was too conveniently resolved, I was sympathetic to Ben and June and the issues addressed will hopefully encourage honest discussions about postpartum anxiety disorder and the pressure women continue to face regarding motherhood.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Park Row Books for this complimentary advanced copy which was provided in exchange for my honest review.
August 23, 2022
3 and a half, almost 4 ****.
This was a quick read. Not my normal kind of book as I usually read Thrillers, Horror, and books with plenty of action.
Ben wakes up one morning as his baby is crying, and realizes his wife June is gone. The car is in the garage, but June's suitcase is gone and her keys are home. The book shifts from 5 years ago when Ben and June meet, and also pages from June's diary. Ben finds June's diary but most of the pages are ripped out. We get to read what those missing pages are. Ben talks to people he believes are June's friends, and when they tell him they have not seen or met up with June in weeks, Ben is realizing he may have been blind when it came to his wife's feelings, especially with being a first time mom while her husband is at work all day just to come home and fall asleep and do it all over again in the morning. This was a sad story, and we get to hear about how lonely it can feel for a mother being home alone with the baby, or seeing other moms with there kids, and feeling inadequate. It's a lonely and depressing feeling. Again, not must action ( but yes, June IS Missing). Not really any twists or OH MY GOD moments. I didn't LOVE it, but I liked it. A quick read on life, being married, motherhood, and just overall trying to not forget about yourself when you are taking care of everyone else.
This was a quick read. Not my normal kind of book as I usually read Thrillers, Horror, and books with plenty of action.
Ben wakes up one morning as his baby is crying, and realizes his wife June is gone. The car is in the garage, but June's suitcase is gone and her keys are home. The book shifts from 5 years ago when Ben and June meet, and also pages from June's diary. Ben finds June's diary but most of the pages are ripped out. We get to read what those missing pages are. Ben talks to people he believes are June's friends, and when they tell him they have not seen or met up with June in weeks, Ben is realizing he may have been blind when it came to his wife's feelings, especially with being a first time mom while her husband is at work all day just to come home and fall asleep and do it all over again in the morning. This was a sad story, and we get to hear about how lonely it can feel for a mother being home alone with the baby, or seeing other moms with there kids, and feeling inadequate. It's a lonely and depressing feeling. Again, not must action ( but yes, June IS Missing). Not really any twists or OH MY GOD moments. I didn't LOVE it, but I liked it. A quick read on life, being married, motherhood, and just overall trying to not forget about yourself when you are taking care of everyone else.
July 27, 2022
1.5 rounded up
This, as the title implies, is the story of Ben and June. June a dancer and Ben an overworked lawyer are new parents. In the first chapter June disappears, her suitcase, clothes etc. are gone and Ben is left to find out why. The story is told through three perspectives/story lines - 1. the past/how they meet/ early relationship, 2. June's letters to her deceased mother and 3. Ben's current day perspective on the events as they unfold. Within all of this is the tale of Medea. The Greek Myth winds its way, somewhat clumsily, through the plot within the dance and with its parallels to the circumstances of Ben and June's lives.
This is debut novel that had some promise but ultimately fell flat for me and I found myself drawn only to Ben's perspective, the other story lines felt slow and somewhat far fetched. I am also not convinced that the ultimate reason for June's disappearance was given the justice it deserves and its rapid resolution - counselling and a pill - felt like a gross insult to those who have experienced these feelings. There was a very significant lack of depth to what is a very serious and very real topic.
This, as the title implies, is the story of Ben and June. June a dancer and Ben an overworked lawyer are new parents. In the first chapter June disappears, her suitcase, clothes etc. are gone and Ben is left to find out why. The story is told through three perspectives/story lines - 1. the past/how they meet/ early relationship, 2. June's letters to her deceased mother and 3. Ben's current day perspective on the events as they unfold. Within all of this is the tale of Medea. The Greek Myth winds its way, somewhat clumsily, through the plot within the dance and with its parallels to the circumstances of Ben and June's lives.
This is debut novel that had some promise but ultimately fell flat for me and I found myself drawn only to Ben's perspective, the other story lines felt slow and somewhat far fetched. I am also not convinced that the ultimate reason for June's disappearance was given the justice it deserves and its rapid resolution - counselling and a pill - felt like a gross insult to those who have experienced these feelings. There was a very significant lack of depth to what is a very serious and very real topic.
April 9, 2022
Ben wakes up one morning to find his wife gone, their 4-month-old baby crying. As he scrambles to try to figure out what happened to her, he realizes he had no idea of what was going on in her life. The story goes between Ben in the present, through the relationship since Ben and June met, and a journal June has been keeping in the form of letters to her deceased mother, detailing her struggles with motherhood and her spiral into what she is unaware is postpartum anxiety and/or depression and eventually possibly psychosis. The author's notes at the end call the book a love letter to women with postpartum mood disorders, and it felt that way. I have read books (or sometimes been unable to finish books) that were so painfully accurate about PPD that it hurt to read. This book was somehow more gentle but no less accurate. It still made me cry at points because, oh, June, it's so hard, I know. Really a good book. 5 stars.
June 27, 2022
This book starts off strong as Ben wakes up one morning to his infant son crying and his wife no where to be found. More domestic mystery than thriller, we slowly learn what happened to June in this compelling and wonderfully written deep dive into the complexities of marriage, motherhood and grief. I loved both Ben and June and how this story was told alternating between the past and present as we see how the couple came together and how their marriage broke down.
The focus on mental health and post partum depression/disease was also excellent in the book. June struggles as a new mother with a workaholic husband and increasingly finds herself failing and wondering what her life might have been like if she hadn't had a child.
Recommended for fans of books like When I ran away or The nine lives of Rose Napolitano. Much thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for my digital and physical advance review copies. This book is out June 28th and will definitely be going on my forever shelf!
The focus on mental health and post partum depression/disease was also excellent in the book. June struggles as a new mother with a workaholic husband and increasingly finds herself failing and wondering what her life might have been like if she hadn't had a child.
Recommended for fans of books like When I ran away or The nine lives of Rose Napolitano. Much thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for my digital and physical advance review copies. This book is out June 28th and will definitely be going on my forever shelf!
June 19, 2022
There is an interesting format to this book with alternating chapters from Ben’s perspective, flashbacks and also in the form of June’s letters to her deceased mother. Ben and June are characters that I care about. This encouraged reading so I could find out how things were going to transpire. Fair warning that a major aspect of this story deals with postpartum anxiety. #indigoemployee
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