The whole thing about cheating is that most times the cheaters don’t really have a reason. They just do. Pointless. Just like the books.
Jackson and Ellary were together since they were 16. Then he was very much enjoying a bj from his assistant. Then he got caught, and was like I made a mistake. You’re the one I love.
Ellary had no purpose in life. 9 years married. Thats it, never made anything of her life. Pointless as well. The best she could do is a barista job when she leaves Jackson. Thats the best these women have going on for them? Only to quit when she goes back to him.
Ellary goes on a date with Clayton and asks herself why she is not falling in love with him since he is such a nice guy? After coming out of a marriage of 9 years, after being with Jackson since she was 16.
And then to wrap this all up towards their HEA she suddenly goes but I still love him.
I marvel at having a second chance I don’t deserve. “Thank you for your trust. I will never shatter it again.
Let’s call a spade a spade. He cheated because he felt attraction to someone else and she built up his ego. I appreciated the therapy but it didn’t touch enough on that fact that he was selfish enough not to think of the repercussions of his actions…not until after the fact. Even then he thought he could talk his way out of it. He learned the hard way that actions have consequences. At times I felt his inner monoglue was more about him thinking about how he could hurt her, rather than the act itself. I know in a way they are one and the same but I felt he was more worried that he’d hurt her, rather than being regretful about the actual act itself. It was also never explained the month after the first kiss with the OW. I’d want to know what their interactions were like in that time….were they flirting? Spending time together? What were his thoughts? He explained he felt guilty, but it he was functioning just fine after the first kiss. These gaps in the story frustrated me.
There were also a few repetitive moments where we were told the same things twice. Them both Identifying his godfather/boss as only his boss on numerous occasions was confusing as they were so close, Ellie knew his boss as a family friend so why not identify by him be name? It happened quite a few times so it stood out to me.
I think the author originally wrote the story with Jackson actually having intercourse with the OW, then changed it to a bj, which is why it stated they’d had sex. I get why, but again it threw me off, of course it’s still cheating and a sexual act but it needed to be clearer.
Overall I enjoyed the story. I did feel Jackson’s remorse and I believed their reconciliation.
I enjoyed their healing and growing together. Jackson proved himself in the long run. However I like gut punches and more emotions when reading a cheating book.
Cheating books are tough because most send terrible messages unless the woman gets a new love interest or at least dates other people. This man ENJOYED cheating. Enjoyed it! Smile on his face and lied about the emotional affair and a precious kiss while his wife was trying to get pregnant. Nothing could have fixed this unless they had been apart for years and he was celibate while she dated. This was a no. Not sure I’ll give this new author another chance or not
I enjoyed that this felt like a real story and not an AI regurgitated story. I did feel like the thought life was a bit extensive and should have been cut back as it made the story drag. I did NOT like that the author thought it was a good idea to have her date and it made him look weird to hit on a woman he just met, was pregnant, and just going through a divorce. Creepy. I was glad that the author portrayed her as a strong woman who realized she wasn't ready to date and that she didn't find her value by hooking up with another guy. I also wasn't a fan that she would try to fix him up with her sister. I know, I know it's just a story but who wants to date a guy who was so attracted to her sister he asked her out within minutes of meeting her. You'd always wonder if he still was attracted to your sister. We didn't really get to see her process what happened in therapy. It was an ok read.
Very readable. I didn't agree with the characters decisions, but enjoyed reading it.
My issue is the compressed timeline. The resolution wrapped up very quickly. He cheated, she walks away and they spend months apart. Then they start talking and the final decision about the marriage is wrapped up in weeks.
I was recommended this book n I love a good betrayal and grovel, I was a little confused on the betrayal though. There wasn’t a lot of backstory of how a husband who loves his wife dearly could just let that happen so easily but then I was also confused whether there was actually sex that took place or not as through the book they say it was head job but then other times call it sex…… Zachary knew he messed up and he did feel guilty and sorry for his actions and my heart hurt for Allery since she didn’t see this coming at all. I was glad with the HEA and would read more from this Author just wish a few things during story were a little clearer. ❤️❤️❤️
2.5 rounding up to 3. Would try author again. Good gut punch moment, just got a little bored with how long reconciliation was, wanted more drama to keep me interested
Debut, so not rating this story. But. Seriously. Though. MC is someone who should never be forgiven. MC actually silences his phone after FMC repeatedly attempts to reach him to tell him he is finally going to be a father. He is straight up telling the assistant she blew his mind with that bj while grinning at her affectionately and ready to get to the penetration part of the party only to realize the FMC is standing right there watching him get sexual gratification from OW. Then, he literally stands there, pants down and hanging out like a limp noodle, telling his wife its "not what it looks like." Oh...of course, honey...silly me. Let me get a kleenex and wipe that pink lipstick off your overly small penis. No biggie. Dude. Bro. You already disrespect her by dismissing her calls to screw another woman, but now you have to go ahead and try to disrespect her intelligence by gaslighting her?! Ya. No. (To be fair...after finishing this story I can see why the MC assumes she will fall for it because she sure as shoot took that nasty man back with little to no work on his part).
Again, you can not make me believe that the MC has any remorse for his actions with OW. Especially as this is not the first time he is physical with her. A kiss with someone who isn't your spouse is still cheating you nasty douche nozzle. Lest not forget, prior to that kiss, MC is already in a full-blown emotional affair with the OW. Really, the only remorse I see from the MC is for getting caught. He is an absolute loser and does not deserve forgiveness. FYI: Using a pregnancy as a vehicle to bring characters back together is lazy writing, especially when one character is a nasty cheating piece of selfish work.
There were so many cop outs in this strange, boring little book.
❌the h (Ellary) is pregnant (they’ve been trying for years and she’s had miscarriages) so she’s excited to tell her husband, the Zero (Jackson). She arrives in his office in time to see him coming as his assistant gives him a blow job. Since the h got her pregnancy confirmation the very day she discovered the cheating, it felt like we were building up to a big reveal about the baby. The bastard would find out he’d screwed up so much more than just his marriage. Instead, the author has him see her one random day in the grocery store (at two months along) and just know she’s pregnant. It completely stole a really emotional conversation.
❌ the assistant the Z cheats with, quits her job and leaves town in record time (basically before the H’s pants are even pulled up or he’s wiped her pink lipstick off his cock) which ngl is kind of a relief, but in books like this angst should be first priority, so that was a massive cop out. The OW causes absolutely no tension
❌The h initiates a divorce and then calls it off at 80% so it felt like seeing a lawyer was just her throwing a reactive tantrum rather than making a serious decision
❌ we get the dullest therapy sessions, where the Z somehow comes to the conclusion that he cheated because of a loss of appreciation. He was going pro in the NHL, then hurt his knee and became a small town paper pusher. Apparently his assistant on her knees made him feel like a star again 🙄 we never saw any of that worshipful relationship or the work that lead to his epiphany on page. Another cop out.
❌This couple can’t get a quickie divorce and are together a lot because of the baby. Everyone knows in cheating books a baby is nothing but a plot device to keep two people tethered to each other, so another cop out.
❌ couples in these kind of books never talk to each other about anything that matters, and these two were no different. I suppose the philosophy is that actions speak louder than words, but all the angst is in the anger, the pain, and tears so not laying that out on page is a cop out.
Cutesie little ending with them, having sex for the first time on page, moving back in together, him re-proposing with a potato chip ring, and a gender reveal party 🤢 but it was far from serious enough, she was giving a cheater a second chance ffs and this author was happy with fluff.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Ellie & Jackson together since high school, have a good marriage. No outward signs that anything is wrong. Nothing inward either, at least not that is shared by the author. Until one day, Jackson makes a "mistake" And then, a month later he blows up his marriage. Literally, but not with pyrotechnics. Ellie leaves and files for divorce, Jackson spirals. Oh, and she's pregnant. With the baby they've been trying for for 6 years.
This isn't groundbreaking, nothing new really other than there's nothing given by the author that would alert the reader as to why Jackson cheats or even that he's going to until his first mistake. But you don't find out about that until after the blow up. There's no miscommunication, no absences, late nights etc.
Jackson gets therapy but it isn't detailed, we get a few sentences but no specifics. There isn't a ton of internal angst or self flagellation. It's there but not like some books where it's as if you're reading their journal. I kind of miss that in this book actually, because it gives me a true feeling that there is remorse. I mean, yes, some books it's over the top repetition. I guess I like a moderate amount of self flagellation lol.
I wish we got to see them together in counseling but we don't.
What Ellie sees really stuck with me. Especially certain aspects, and I wanted that to be addressed but it wasn't.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sometimes the phrasing is odd. It's set in small town northern Michigan, but I don't think the author's first language is English. Not a big deal, just distracting. Decent read.
Ellie and Jackson have been together since high school. They have been married 9 years and have been trying to get pregnant for 6 years.
Ellie finds out she’s pregnant, gets a blood test to confirm, and has tried calling Jackson a couple of times, at work, with no response.
When she shows up to his office, he is getting a bj from his 23 year old assistant.
Ellie watched him finish and then he looks up.
She walks out, throws her wedding ring on the floor and tells him it’s over.
We learn that one month prior, Jackson had kissed this woman in the lunch room.
He said it was a mistake and it would never happen again (but he kept it from his wife).
Needless to say, he has no good reason as to why he hooked up with this woman after saying he wouldn’t ever again.
Ellie files for divorce immediately.
She does not tell Jackson that she’s pregnant for a few months.
He starts therapy, she doesn’t take him back but they get to a place where they can be civil with each other and he can support her pregnancy. He is madly in love with her and wants to get her back but is putting her needs first.
After a lot of work through individual counselling and couples counseling, they are able to move forward and give their marriage another chance.
They really love each other, and it’s clear that Jackson is willing to do whatever it takes to earn her trust back.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was a very engaging, emotional read; I found myself tearing up in parts. Fairly simple story with very intense but straightforward emotional journeys. I really enjoyed it.
Ellie & Jackson. She's on her way to tell him about her pregnancy, after years of infertility and walks in on him cheating on her with his assistant. That's how the story starts. She obviously dumps his idiotic self and embarks on her own journey of independance, while he starts a path of self-reflection and healing.
Unlike a lot of other books with similar tropes, there isn't a ton of delving into the "why" he did it - which is actually refreshing. He gets therapy, he grovels like a madman and he fights to get her back. No prizes, there is a HEA. Whether the punishment fits the crime, that's really subjective but I was happy with how it all worked out.
This was so emotional. The Hero was such a dumbass. This story starts out with a bang. The wife discovers she's finally pregnant after years of wife and hubby trying desperately to get pregnant, and when she goes to the office to tell her hubby, she walks in on him getting blown by his assistant.
The story of this couple's break up, struggles with the impending divorce, and then the couple finding their way back to each other again, was all pretty angsty. I enjoyed this author's writing style too. She balanced this trope nicely. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by her in the future.
It was alright. It didn't seem like there were any new ideas in this story. The h and H have been trying for a baby for six years. The h confirms her pregnancy with a doctor's appointment, then calls and texts her husband to let him know she's on her way to his work. She walks in on him getting a bj from an assistant. The assistant does not really become the OW as she resigns and leaves the company immediately. She wants to apologize to the h. She is advised not to. The H moves out and drinks for two weeks, then begins the work of becoming the man the h deserves. There is some half hearted reflection on motivation and character that comes from therapy. I didn't feel tension and angst.
Another therapy fix's all book. Gawd I'm so bored with these books. I've read better than this and they are all so predictable too. I'm getting fed up of reading the same words.... Gaslighting and therapy. Actually that's not true, I've just read 1 where the MMC actually sailed off into the moonlight with his mistress and they all lived their happy lives away from each other. Not all marriages have to be saved through therapy. People do grow apart, and partners can end up detesting each other for the part they've played in how the marriage ends. Let's have some honest books..... PLEASE!
The on page cheating was rough and just not satisfied that he felt more guilty about a kiss than a BJ and if he felt that much guilt how did it happen again. The story gives no real explanation. He had an emotional affair that led to physical affair. He groveled enough for me but I had a hard time with some of His POV and what was said by him during the incident. All in all I’m glad it ended with a HEA
Cheating = H kisses OW then a while later gets BJ from OW
h sees H with OW = h walks in to see the H finishing with OW and OW wiping her mouth
Grovel = h immediately leaves the H and divorces him. h also doesn't tell the H she is pregnant for a bit. H must work hard through word and deed and therapy to fix himself. h eventually takes him back.
On the happiest day of your life you catch your husband and his assistant having oral sex. You just wanted to share the good news of your pregnancy. Now your life is shattered.
Two issues: 1. Why didn’t work for 7 years? 2. Hate lying even for good reason.
Well written and weirdly heartwarming. Jackson put in the work right away. They both had great support systems. And it's not completely roses and sunshine because they know, and have experienced, the bumps that come along with infidelity. I'm glad they got back together, which is weird for me because I'm almost always of the 'scorched earth' mindset.
I enjoyed it for the most part. I just think there should have been more around the closer with the OW. She knowingly cheated with a married man so I find it a little unrealistic that she would just fade away. Also considering they got together so young it seems like it would have been more of a struggle to overcome him now having more sexual partners.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was a great book. The MMC had a good redemption arc. Having divorced my husband but reuniting after his own redemption arc, I could totally relate to the MFC emotions. I could feel her gut-punch, and empathize with the angst felt.
Ok that was a rough start to a book. Poor Ellie. Jackson oh Jackson. I did love how Jackson and Ellie slowly started being friends and let their love grow again. They didn’t even plan it that way. I was perfect. Loved it.
I love a good redemption story, but this was not it. His reasons for betrayal seemed like an afterthought. He didn't grow or learn. He wasn't worth the work of staying with him. The entire thing fell flat and was completely unsatisfying to read.
I really liked the book. The story, the writing, the characters. I do read a few cheating books and good ones are hard to find. This is one I'd read again!