I like the idea of this book. The idea that marriage can get hum-drum boring is not a new idea. I am happily married and there are times that we have to shake it up some. That is what Cass wants to do. She needs to make sure that she is happy with her life before starting a family and committing to the rest of her life with Jonathan. Do I agree with her way? Nope, not even a little but I respect that she doesn’t want to start a family and then tear it apart if she is that unhappy that she cannot stay with her husband.

The book is divided into three parts with alternating chapters between Cass and Jonathan. There were quite a bit of repetitive thoughts, a lot of talking about what might happen, what could happen, what should happen but yet not much happen. I struggle to connect with anyone in the story. Cass seemed to want the separation but then didn’t want Jonathan to find any happiness without her. Jonathan was a pushover. He couldn’t make Cass stay but yet gave in to every request she made without pushing for what he wanted.

The premise of the story was interesting and the ending was predictable. I couldn’t not finish the book once I started reading because I had to know if Cass and Jonathan actually ended up together but it was slow reading for me.

Taking a Break from Marriage

Cass and Jonathan appear to have everything in a marriage: good jobs, financial security, and a lovely New York apartment. They’ve been married five years and are discussing whether to have children, but Cass isn’t so sure they’re ready. Her childhood, divorced parents and financial insecurity, have something to do with it. She suggests a six month separation to test their commitment.

Jonathan is surprised. Cass can be irritating, but he loves her. His wealthy family has given him more security, but in the end he agrees with Cass. She takes a job in Los Angeles. This puts them a continent apart the only real contact when they fly their dog back and forth for joint custody.

I wasn’t impressed with either Cass or Jonathan. I thought she was selfish. Marriage isn’t easy. You have to try to communicate. Putting distance between you and your partner only leads to more problems. I liked Jonathan better. He seemed the more balanced of the two. His marriage wasn’t perfect, but he felt comfortable and didn’t want to change things. Both partners made regrettable choices when they were apart.

Their story is told in alternating points of view which gives insight into each partner’s good and bad qualities. The novel is character driven with a thin plot. However, it’s a fast read and would make a good book to take on a vacation.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

The Intermission is women’s fiction and a genre I like to sit back, relax, and get lost in someone else’s drama.

Jonathan and Cass have been married for five years and while their marriage started off with a bang, it has slipped off to the predictable and interest seems to be waning. Cass has an idea that they wouldn’t separate per se, but have a six month intermission. Jonathan is in New York while Cass will be staying with a friend in Los Angeles. The only contact will be a monthly hand off of their dog. Jonathan didn’t see this coming and is confused by the arrangement while Cass is reveling in her new independence.

It was a slow start, but as I read on my interest was piqued as Jonathan and Cass’s lives apart start to play out. Each with their own jobs, lives, and secret pasts in the spotlight. Are they willing to confront each other with truth or will pride and stubbornness prevail?

Thank you NetGalley, Elyssa Friedland, and Berkley Books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

Thank you netgalley and @elyssafriedland for my advanced reader copy of The Intermission .
After 5 years of marriage the spark is no longer there for Cass and Jonathan Coyne. Jon definitely notices but he is content to continue along with the way things are going. After all, they are going try for a baby soon so things will surely get better, right? Cass, on the other hand is not satisfied. As a child of divorced parents, she wants to make sure that their marriage will go the long haul before bringing a child into the mix. Plus, there are some things about her that Jonathan doesn’t know. Therefore, Cass proposes a spilt, a 6 month intermission, after which they will decide what is going to happen with their marriage. Jonathan is initially hesitant but soon finds himself jumping in with both feet. What is going to happen after their intermission? Will the Coynes decide they can’t live without each other?

I liked the premise of this story and I thought I would enjoy it more than I did, but there was not enough dialogue for me so the story was very dry. On top of that, I did not care for either character and I did not think they were relationship compatible. I started off not liking Cass and feeling sorry for Jonathan but then I get to the point where I was like f him too lol. Despite my feelings for the characters I think I would have enjoyed the book more if there was more dialogue.

4 A Marriage Interrupted Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟 intermission: an interval between two parts of an event ie a marriage...

Cass and Jonathan have been married for six years... from the outside they appear to be the couple who have everything... great jobs, a beautiful apartment, disposable income.... but, both Cass and Jonathan have secrets and doubts... so, before they start trying to have kids Cass decides they need a break... an intermission.... A six-month timeperiod Where they can figure out if they are happy in their marriage, if they are with the “right” person.... but, will this truly be an intermission or will it be the final act???

I found this an interesting idea... I also think if my ex-husband had approached me with this idea my reaction would have been... hasta la vista 🤬 during this time out Cass takes a job in LA and moves to the opposite coast... this leads to a crazy custody arrangement with their dog flying him every 30 days across the country usually on the redeye.... this also leads to more distance and more room for doubts... both Cass and Jonathan made some bad and telling decisions during this intermission.... it is always interesting to take a peek into other peoples relationships, probably why we all have such a fascination with reality television.... I spent most of this book trying not to pass judgment and analyzing the relationship between these two... should they stay together or are they better off apart?

I found Jonathan the more likable and sympathetic of this couple...Cass came across a bit selfish and calculating.... I also found most of the marriage problems stemming from her insecurities that were routed in her dysfunctional childhood, so very understandable.... we all bring so much baggage to a marriage, don’t we? We all probably bring some secrets as well, does your spells know absolutely everything about you? Now of course all secrets are not created equally.... I just read the blurb for this book, in the blurb the secrets in this marriage are described as “gut wrenching” ummm... I don’t think so, and I really think Cass’s secret was blown out of proportion... by her! Jonathan was a pretty understanding and devoted guy I think he would’ve really been OK with it, but.... then they would have had to open up and be completely honest with one another, something Cass had some trouble with.... I think the issues in this marriage could’ve been solved with some good marriage counseling, but then we wouldn’t of had this most interesting book....

Absolutely recommend to those of you who enjoy a character driven story about relationships and human behavior.... and if you are like me and like to play amateur psychologist this one is definitely for you!

*** many thanks to Berkley for my copy of this book ***

INTERMISSION by Elyssa Friedland follows Jonathan and Cass as they navigate marriage together and apart. It’s an interesting concept that sometimes hit close to home and other times seemed to be a stretch. The story captures many feelings people get in married life about the little things seeming so big until big things actually happen. Friedland again covers how important communication is in a relationship and gives you characters that you like one minute and don’t as much the next. I really enjoyed reading Friedland’s prior novel, Love and Miss Communication, and saw many similarities in the writing. If you liked that book, you’ll likely enjoy this one as well.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Married for 5 years, Cass and Jonathan, take a 6 month “intermission” from their marriage before deciding to have a baby. Will taking a break from each other strengthen or destroy their relationship?

"One thing she was sure of; mature love wasn't anything like new love."

This was such an intriguing premise, and I couldn't wait to read it. Unfortunately, I had a difficult time connecting with either character as they were each so confused about themselves and their relationship. Do they still love each other? Do they want to stay married, or would they be better off with someone else? What happens when they finally open up to each other and share all of their little, and not so little, lies and omissions? Will their marriage survive The Intermission??

"Being married wasn't something you wore on your finger; it was something you wore on your face."

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Location: New York City and Los Angeles, California

Such a compelling and mesmerized story!It was fast paced,unique and emotional.The story is told from both characters, the wife and husband and this helps a lot making the story more intimidate! Cass and Jon are just two people trying to figure if they are really still meant to be together.

I may not be married, and I don't know how married couples are but still this book make me think a lot of things about everything.I loved the set up and I find it different from what I have read so far!

“We do what we need to do to make ourselves feel better about our choices.”

If you are looking for a refreshing and fast paced story that will make you wondering about your own life and your choices this is perfect!

Another winner from Elyssa Friedland. It's a story that will grab you from the very beginning and not let go until the end. This is a book you definitely need to pick up and make sure you have plenty of time to dedicate because it's definitely unputdownable. Happy reading!

My Review of “The Intermission” by Elyssa Friedland Berkley Publishing July 3, 2018

Elyssa Friedland , Author of “The Intermission” has written a unique, honest, emotional, and intriguing novel about marriage. Is it any wonder that deep secrets can cause trouble in relationships, and become something much bigger than they originally were? I appreciate that Elyssa Friedland has explored secrets, problems of communication, and questions of marriage. The Genres for this story are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. The timeline for this story is in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters and events in the story. The story is told in alternating points of view from the two main characters.

The author describes her characters as complex and complicated. After being married six years, Cass and Jonathan Coyne are about to start having a family. Both characters come very different backgrounds, and dysfunctional families. Jonathan seems relatively happy with Cass and his dog, and is in shock when Cass tells Jonathan that she needs time out or an”intermission” from their marriage. Cass questions if they really know each other. Both have deep secrets that they have not told one another.

The couple take this “intermission” with little contact, except for the custodial arrangements of their dog. During this sixth month period, both characters taste their freedom, and try to adapt.

I love that the author discusses the importance of communication, honest and loyalty. Is anything perfect.? Shouldn’t one face the problems of their past so they can move forward? I highly recommend this thought-provoking novel to those readers of Fiction and Women’s Fiction. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Books, and Elyssa Friedland for the opportunity to read and review this book - I really enjoyed this one!

Cass and Jonathon have been married for 5 years. They are on the verge of starting a family but Cass decides that she needs to make sure they are meant to be and the only way she can do that is with some separation from her life - an intermission. She flees to California to live with a college roommate, while Jonathon stays in NYC. They meet monthly to exchange Puddles, their beloved dog.

Told in alternating chapters from Cass and Jonathon's points of view, this is a glimpse inside a marriage and the secrets that were kept from each other that threaten to topple them.

A book about family, commitment, honesty - while these characters weren't always totally likeable they were totally relatable! A great summer read!

Cass and Jonathan seem to have it all: a great apartment in NYC, tons of money, and hopefully a baby on the way soon. But can a relationship built on a foundation of lies actually last? Cass starts to question this herself and decides that what they really need is a break, or “intermission,” from their marriage. She’ll spend hers in LA, rediscovering herself, while Jonathan will just sink under his heavy workload until she gets back, or so she thinks. The reality is quite different, and while absence can often make the heart grow fonder, in this case the couple starts to grow apart. As the truths about what they’ve done to each other and the secrets they’re keeping start to spill out, you might find yourself thinking that they’re better off apart, or that they truly deserve each other! Friedland leaves you guessing until the very end, and this book is just begging to be read on vacation by a beach somewhere.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of "Intermission" by Elyssa Friedland.
Honestly, I hated both Cass and Jonathan for the majority of this book and I kept reading because I wanted to see if they'd ever get redeemed. Ultimately, they did enough that this book is a 3 not a 2. But I can't really say that I enjoyed myself while I read this book. It fell into that typical marriage-conflict story problem of if they'd had even one honest conversation the plot would be gone. That's really frustrating to read. And both Cass and Jonathan did bad enough things that they deserved to have their marriage end. It made it hard to root for them. Basically, the advantage this book had on me was I wasn't sure how it was going to end and then the ending was okay enough that I didn't walk away completely hating it. But I don't think I'd recommend it to anyone else either.

The Intermission takes on real world marriage issues and serves them on a “What if” platter. What if you and your spouse could have time apart to see if you were happier, with no rules? That is the essence of this book. I admit that parts were tough to read, as I found myself relating to the very real characters and could easily imagine myself in their roles. I did enjoy the book, the author’s writing style, and the character growth throughout the book.

An absolutely riveting story. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and will be recommending it to customers in our store!

Was not a huge fan of the book. I skimmed most of it. The book felt really slow to me and there just seemed like a lot of over explaining which I do not enjoy.

This was a very unique read. I do not agree with the idea of having an "intermission" in a marriage...but putting that aside I liked what this book had to say about relationships and marriage. I liked both Cats and Jonathon but was definitely frustrated with their choices from beginning to end. I felt both of them blew things out of proportion and communicated terribly. But...that is probably realistic of most people in how they act in relationships sometimes. I hoped the dog would have had a bigger role in the story but that's just my dog obsession talking. Overall...I enjoyed this story and it definitely made me think about myself and my actions and how grateful I am for my husband.

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I found that with each chapter, I was drawn in further and further. It was like peeling an onion (except that I'm not a big fan of onions), with each layer we were pulled into the story of Cass and Jon(athan) and the story of their "intermission" in their marriage.

While I didn't identify with the characters because they were self-entitled, clueless to real life, and especially Cass, always had to be right. However, their complex story as to how and why they got to where they were in their relationship and life, was really intriguing. The author wrote this so well. It was realistic, without being trendy and dumbed down.

I have to say this is one of my favorite books so far this year and would recommend it as a great summer read. Thank you to Berkley Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

The Intermission by Elyssa Friedland alternates back and forth between the two varying viewpoints of a couple who's been married for 5 years. Jonathan thought the marriage was moving along seamlessly and he was excited to grow their family only to be told by his wife, Cass, that she thought they needed a break from each other before they brought children into the equation. As the break continues Cass and Jonathan begin creating a possible new normal for themselves as they evaluate the future for themselves. A thought provoking story that will leave you pondering whether the right decision was made. Read and enjoy!

Cass and Jonathan are six years married and take a break to make sure their marriage is worth hanging on to before they have a child. The story is the Cinderella type; poor pretty smart girl marries wealthy, nice boy. It is well written with alternating chapters in Cass and Jonathan's voices, and the author does a good job with their two voices. The nuances of a marriage where the partners have become stuck in their routines and own lives were well portrayed, but as past secrets emerge, the two main characters become more and more unlikeable. Somehow the importance of 'privilege' throughout this novel in the lives of these two people gives it less weight as a meaningful story in today's world.