The Twenty-year Itch

by Linda Kelsey

For all fans of Thursdays in the Park, Quartet or Amour .

Can love survive long-term in the twenty-first century? Julie is beginning to doubt it. When her husband of twenty years announces that he is chucking his job to embark on an adult gap year leaving his salary and Julie behind, she puts her marriage under the microscope.

Turning to her friends for comfort and advice, Julie finds that their relationships are falling apart too. Surely they can't all be innocent victims? Or all bad wives? Is there no such thing as an enduring marriage? Does that twenty-year itch just have to be scratched?

While this emotional maelstrom rages around her, meeting someone new is the last thing on Julie's mind. Until a chance encounter propels her onto a sexual collision course with a man who spells danger . . .

310 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2009

Reviews

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Twenty Year Itch is my first novel by Linda Kelsey and won't be my last, really looking forward to reading her other titles!

This story is about Julie, her sister and two friends though the focus is more on Julie and her life after her husband decides to take a gap year from his job as a medical journalist, and get this, also from their marriage. If my husband told me he needed a one year break from me I’d help him pack and toss him to the kerb, lol.

Very well written with a realistic storyline.

A thought-provoking read. Recommended.

POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2020: #37 - A book with ’20’ or ‘twenty’ in the title

[chippyvale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked out this book from the library on a whim since my exams just ended and boy, am I glad I did. :) It chronicles the lives of Julie, Aggie, Valentina and Gemma, with the focus on Julie of course. When Julie's husband Walt announced that he was leaving for a Gap Year, Julie felt as though her world had fallen and she sought for solace from her friends. But as it turned out, her friends had stories to tell; Julie in a way ended up as "Aunt Agony".

What I really like about this novel is the emotional depth Kelsey had given to each woman. Yes Julie was the main focus, but the other female characters were not neglected as well. Same goes to the spouses of the women in the novel.

I don't quite consider this to be chick lit because of the emotional depth in the novel. It's highly worth the read, and I'll be on the lookout for more novels from Kelsey. :)

[Bev · Rating 1 out of 5]

Κυριολεκτικά τι; Όλοι απατουσαν τους συζύγους τους. Το ηθικό δίδαγμα εδώ ήταν απάτησε τον άντρα σου μπορεί να σου βγει σε καλό (να καταστρέψει δύο οικογένειες και να μην μπορείς να απολαύσεις τη σχέση σου). Επίσης είχε αρκετό fat shame?????

[Rachael]

I thought the medical details were unnecessary. Also quite sexist, the woman with the busy career made to feel guilty.
& I disliked the times when he,for example kissed her, she said no, & he kept going til she changed her mind. That's not romance!