This is a touching novel of a happily married, loving couple torn apart by a sad, selfish decision.
Anna and Mark have been very happily married for ten ears and are looking to have a baby. Mark, one day and our of the blue, announces that he is leaving Anna and disappears. His behavior is completely foreign to the Mark Anna though she knew.
Anna embarks on a search for Mark aided by her sister, Sophia, and by Mark's estranged father, Richard. She learns that there is more to Mark than he ever divulged and this news makes her ever more vigilant to find him.]<ark has his own personal reasons for leaving but not loving Anna is not one of them.
This novel is a journey through Anna and Mark's struggles to cope with the realities of life facing them and in finding a way to survive.

"The Man I Thought You Were" by Leah Mercer

What happens when your perfect marriage suddenly comes to an end? Your husband has walked out on you, has quit his job, left all his belongings at home and has pretty much disappeared without a trace. What would you do? Anna waits patiently thinking Mark will be home within a day or so. But when he doesn't return home after several days she starts trying to grasp at any straw she can to find her husband. This is not the Mark she knows and loves and has been married to for over a decade.

Mark has just walked out on his wife. Left his whole life and all his belongings behind. He has pieces from his past that he feels he must urgently address as his present is uncertain. And leaving Anna is the best thing to do. At least this way she will be hurt once, not daily, over time, as he addresses his past and present. He knows what it was like being the caregiver to his sister when she was ill and then died. He is saving his wife from anything remotely related to that, isn't he?

Leah Mercer has written a heartbreaking and heartwarming novel about loss, gain, denial, truth, friendship, honesty, marriage, family and love. She explores the human heart and mind in many different aspects not just between her main characters, Anna and Mark, but also from the viewpoints and relationships with many other individuals in their lives. She explores the grey areas of what one person may deem as right while another deems those same actions as wrong; although both sides may have a valid point of view.

She has written a moving and eloquent novel that embraces the reader from word one and keeps them thinking and ruminating long after the last word.

Rating: 4.8
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

** I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Anna and Mark have the seemingly perfect marriage, until Mark walks out without belongings or explanation, leaving Anna to piece together what's gone wrong. Not wishing to create any spoilers, Anna's then forced to investigate Mark's past to begin to understand his actions - a journey Leah Mercer ensures includes plenty twists and turns. The Man I Thought You Were isn't a typical psychological thriller in that it's also part family drama, crammed with poignant emotion. I particularly enjoyed Anna's relationship with her elder sister, Sophie, who has troubles of her own to resolve. Siblings supporting siblings is a recurring theme in The Man I Thought You Were - a theme I very much enjoyed.

The Man I Thought You Were.

What makes a caring husband walk out and leave his wife, his job and his home? Anna doesn't know but she's determined to find out. Mark does not want Anna to find him but faces a difficult journey and a search of his own. This novel explores how well we really know our partners and their past history and reveals how secrets can return to haunt you as it tells the love story of Mark and Anna from both viewpoints. A sad yet uplifting novel full of engaging characters facing dilemmas and struggling to deal with them. I enjoyed reading this Leah Mercer novel as much as her first.

I couldn't put this book down. I was so immersed in the story. I've also got Who We Were Before. Great author

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.

It was hard for me to get into this book at first, I just wasn't feeling it.

Anna and Mark have the perfect marriage. One night as she is preparing dinner Mark tells her he is leaving her. He leaves immediately without packing any of his belongings. Anna can't believe it and begins to unravel when he doesn't return & she can't find him. Anna has to search for clues in Mark's past as to why he has just left not only her but his whole life behind.

The problem I have is that I just couldn't believe that Mark would walk away from Anna without any explanation, if he loved her so much. I get that the secrets in his past led him to this decision but it just seemed ridiculous.

Such an emotional roller coaster. I wanted to knock sense into Mark making him see the errors of his choice. I wanted to guide Anna to find answers and solutions. This story stresses how important trust and communication are to a marriage. They put themselves through torment that wasn't necessary but yet it was important. You might want to read this one in private to experience the emotions and tears without embarrassment. Netgalley provided my early copy and my review written voluntarily.

This is the first time I have read a Leah Mercer book, though I have read books by Talli Roland before, another name Leah writes under. It was a good read, and kept me wondering how it would end. It was also beautifully written. It goes deep, and where Anna's character was concerned, I felt I knew her well. What I couldn't get past though was the way Mark, Anna's husband, chose to deal with his illness. It didn't make sense, considering Anna and Mark were supposed to be such a tight knit couple. I'd say more, but I don't want to spoil the story for other readers. The ending seems fitting, and all in all I would recommend this book.

I was unable to put this book down! It's a very intense read about a couple who thought they were in a happy marriage until he comes home and tells her he is leaving with no explanation as to why. The story here is so gripping and I was so invested in it and the characters, I had to find out what happened. It covers some quite deep issues and I felt every emotion possible whilst reading this book.

If you want a deep, thought provoking read then don't hesitate, pick up this book on release day and get reading.