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The Jilliad
Starting over can be epic.
Shortly before her 40th birthday, suburban wife, mom, and former aspiring artist Jillian Kensington finds herself suddenly alone, holding the shattered fragments of a life she’s worked hard to convince herself was perfect.
Rescued by her estranged best friend from childhood, Jillian returns to the small mountain town where she grew up. There she is forced to confront the dark underworld of her marriage and the ways in which she long ago abandoned what matters most. When further help arrives in the form of an unlikely cast including her first love from high school, a bitter Desert Storm veteran, and a free-spirited pygmy goat, Jillian is faced with a choice that will change all of their Remain in a fever dream of denial or wake up and allow herself—and her life—to be transformed.
Loosely inspired by the writings of Homer and other ancient Greek storytellers, The Jilliad is a novel about the choices we make, the consequences of those choices, and—if we’re lucky—the chance we get to create something authentic and new from the broken pieces of our former selves.
Shortly before her 40th birthday, suburban wife, mom, and former aspiring artist Jillian Kensington finds herself suddenly alone, holding the shattered fragments of a life she’s worked hard to convince herself was perfect.
Rescued by her estranged best friend from childhood, Jillian returns to the small mountain town where she grew up. There she is forced to confront the dark underworld of her marriage and the ways in which she long ago abandoned what matters most. When further help arrives in the form of an unlikely cast including her first love from high school, a bitter Desert Storm veteran, and a free-spirited pygmy goat, Jillian is faced with a choice that will change all of their Remain in a fever dream of denial or wake up and allow herself—and her life—to be transformed.
Loosely inspired by the writings of Homer and other ancient Greek storytellers, The Jilliad is a novel about the choices we make, the consequences of those choices, and—if we’re lucky—the chance we get to create something authentic and new from the broken pieces of our former selves.
- GenresFiction
331 pages, Paperback
Published May 12, 2022
35 people are currently reading
3803 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 5, 2022
After two successful YA novels, Nicole McInnes showcases her literary range with an engaging novel focused for an adult audience. The Jilliad examines the travails of love, desire, relationships, and marriage, while also charting the strength and resilience necessary for overcoming the heartache of betrayal and finding a new path forward.
As she nears her fortieth birthday, Jillian Kensington needs to start her life over. Two decades earlier, life-altering circumstances forced her to drop out of college and abandon her aspirations of pursuing a career in art. Now twenty years later with the help of her best friend Hadley from childhood through high school, Jillian returns to Flagstaff, Arizona, her hometown in the mountains, where she begins a journey of self-discovery and healing. Making her challenges more difficult are the antics and manipulations of her soon-to-be ex-husband.
Jillian’s quest to begin again gained my empathy, and I rooted for her to reclaim her dignity and follow her passions. An array of other central characters—Hadley, Bodhi, and Gunnar—each had compelling dispositions that made them essential to helping Jillian deal with obstacles and making decisions. McInnes also does a nice job of exposing the detriments and harm of narcissism and elitism through the lost-cause character of Lawrence.
The novel effectively alternates its chapters with narratives employing different voices that nicely mirror and merge Jillian’s past and present. The climatic end is particularly perfect, reminding me of the brilliant narrative structure of a movie like La La Land, which takes viewers to the very last frame of the film before delivering its coda. In similar fashion, McInnes builds an engaging story with plenty of anticipation and drama, and she takes us to the last lines with Jillian’s choice of how she’ll move forward.
Leaving us with much to reflect upon is also perfect for this novel that explores the trials of starting over and rediscovering self-worth after the anguish of betrayal. In the end, McInnes delivers a touching story of one woman’s journey that enables us to consider our own weaknesses and strengths in the face of traumatic setbacks. With lovely descriptions and profound musings throughout the novel, McInnes blends classic myths into Jillian’s “epic” story of the next stage of her life.
As she nears her fortieth birthday, Jillian Kensington needs to start her life over. Two decades earlier, life-altering circumstances forced her to drop out of college and abandon her aspirations of pursuing a career in art. Now twenty years later with the help of her best friend Hadley from childhood through high school, Jillian returns to Flagstaff, Arizona, her hometown in the mountains, where she begins a journey of self-discovery and healing. Making her challenges more difficult are the antics and manipulations of her soon-to-be ex-husband.
Jillian’s quest to begin again gained my empathy, and I rooted for her to reclaim her dignity and follow her passions. An array of other central characters—Hadley, Bodhi, and Gunnar—each had compelling dispositions that made them essential to helping Jillian deal with obstacles and making decisions. McInnes also does a nice job of exposing the detriments and harm of narcissism and elitism through the lost-cause character of Lawrence.
The novel effectively alternates its chapters with narratives employing different voices that nicely mirror and merge Jillian’s past and present. The climatic end is particularly perfect, reminding me of the brilliant narrative structure of a movie like La La Land, which takes viewers to the very last frame of the film before delivering its coda. In similar fashion, McInnes builds an engaging story with plenty of anticipation and drama, and she takes us to the last lines with Jillian’s choice of how she’ll move forward.
Leaving us with much to reflect upon is also perfect for this novel that explores the trials of starting over and rediscovering self-worth after the anguish of betrayal. In the end, McInnes delivers a touching story of one woman’s journey that enables us to consider our own weaknesses and strengths in the face of traumatic setbacks. With lovely descriptions and profound musings throughout the novel, McInnes blends classic myths into Jillian’s “epic” story of the next stage of her life.
January 22, 2023
Jillian is married to Lawrence a College professor, they have a son Evan.
Jillian catches Lawrence with one of his students.
Hadley is Jillian’s best friend since childhood who comes to her rescue to take her back home where they grew up.
Bodhi was her 1st love.
Gunnar is Bodhi’s friend and a war vet.
This is a story of seeking and finding oneself, a new chapter, a new beginning. Just when you think your life is where you thought it should be or would be, it’s not. Truly relatable and coming of age of what’s not the norm in today’s world. It’s beautifully written and gave me hope.
#romantic #fiction #adultery #newbeginnings #purpose .
Thank you to Goodreads , the Publisher and Author for picking me to win this amazing #kindlebook in exchange for a review, I loved it.
Jillian catches Lawrence with one of his students.
Hadley is Jillian’s best friend since childhood who comes to her rescue to take her back home where they grew up.
Bodhi was her 1st love.
Gunnar is Bodhi’s friend and a war vet.
This is a story of seeking and finding oneself, a new chapter, a new beginning. Just when you think your life is where you thought it should be or would be, it’s not. Truly relatable and coming of age of what’s not the norm in today’s world. It’s beautifully written and gave me hope.
#romantic #fiction #adultery #newbeginnings #purpose .
Thank you to Goodreads , the Publisher and Author for picking me to win this amazing #kindlebook in exchange for a review, I loved it.
January 15, 2024
Color me Suprised
I was not expecting to like this book. I was wrong. It is not a whining characterization of a middle aged woman feeling sorry for herself. It is a sad middle-aged woman finding herself in bits and pieces and knitting them all together to create a better, stronger woman. It creeps up on you as you read along and discover there are no great awakenings just little discoveries and flashes of light in the darkness leading to a more complete human who can only get better. This is a quiet book worth reading.
I was not expecting to like this book. I was wrong. It is not a whining characterization of a middle aged woman feeling sorry for herself. It is a sad middle-aged woman finding herself in bits and pieces and knitting them all together to create a better, stronger woman. It creeps up on you as you read along and discover there are no great awakenings just little discoveries and flashes of light in the darkness leading to a more complete human who can only get better. This is a quiet book worth reading.
January 3, 2023
Well written!
Life isn't always what you have planned. This book is about friendship, love, divorce and finding ones self again. When you live life for others you tend to lose yourself, then getting divorced and having to remember who you were is scary. Worth the read!
Life isn't always what you have planned. This book is about friendship, love, divorce and finding ones self again. When you live life for others you tend to lose yourself, then getting divorced and having to remember who you were is scary. Worth the read!
March 30, 2025
Awesome story
I loved this story and most of the characters, but how Jill put up with Lawrence for 20 years is beyond comprehension. I was only disappointed that it ended when it did.
I loved this story and most of the characters, but how Jill put up with Lawrence for 20 years is beyond comprehension. I was only disappointed that it ended when it did.
June 1, 2022
The ending got me
I really e n joyed this book it reminds me that so much in life can chan ge in a heartbeat. One of those hang on life throws curve balls.
I really e n joyed this book it reminds me that so much in life can chan ge in a heartbeat. One of those hang on life throws curve balls.
July 28, 2022
A good read.
A satisfying story about breaking and remaking. Can't think of fifteen more words for this review. Women: don't marry jerks.
A satisfying story about breaking and remaking. Can't think of fifteen more words for this review. Women: don't marry jerks.
January 10, 2023
MEHlodrama
January 10, 2023
Meh-lodrama
Grooming is NOT sexy. Lawrence is a gross-o.
Grooming is NOT sexy. Lawrence is a gross-o.
January 20, 2023
Enjoyed the book.
February 16, 2023
I won this Kindle edition book in a Goodreads
Giveaway. Thank you to everyone involved.
A great book - highly recommend.
Giveaway. Thank you to everyone involved.
A great book - highly recommend.
May 21, 2025
It's a good book about a woman coming into her own self and her journey.
January 18, 2023
Awesome book!!
I love this book from start to finish. If I had the time I would have read it in one sitting. The jilliad: novel, is well written. It made me feel like I was right there in the story.
The main character Jillian reminded me of myself because she was a people pleaser. She put other peoples needs and wants before her own. Her life changes course and she learns how to stand on her own two feet. Is it was so good I don't wanna spoil it for anyone. I definitely recommend reading this book.
I love this book from start to finish. If I had the time I would have read it in one sitting. The jilliad: novel, is well written. It made me feel like I was right there in the story.
The main character Jillian reminded me of myself because she was a people pleaser. She put other peoples needs and wants before her own. Her life changes course and she learns how to stand on her own two feet. Is it was so good I don't wanna spoil it for anyone. I definitely recommend reading this book.
October 11, 2025
Nicole McInnes's story of midlife reinvention is both emotionally raw and deeply hopeful. Committed to her marriage and motherhood, Jillian finds herself unexpectedly facing an empty road as an empty nester and divorcee. With the foundation of her life shattered, she reconnects with a girlfriend who reminds her of the passion she bypassed in her adult life. This is a smart, funny, and moving story of a woman who decides that the second half of her life will be spent on her own terms, turning an act of betrayal into her biggest opportunity to become her truest self.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews