From the author of The Wife Between Us comes a story of a marriage that one day seemed fine on the outside, and in a matter of a minute a secret will tear it apart. I enjoyed every addicting, fast moving chapter.

Josie asks to borrow her husband's phone to make a call when she discovers an email that will change her life and marriage as she knows it. Instead of collapsing she takes an investigative approach and is determined to figure out what happened. Throughout the story she will work through memories to find where it all may have gone wrong.

Although she didn't collapse she was devastated, but she was stronger than she gave herself credit for. She didn't ask for her marriage to fall apart, but it happened and she is forced to reflect on what she wants - and if she can forgive - on her own terms. She doesn't know what these terms are and will work through them throughout the story.

I enjoy quick, thought-provoking reads. It may have not gone nitty gritty into Josie's inner thoughts, but it did make you pause and think. What would I do if I were Josie? What would I do if I were Frank? This would certainly be a good book club discussion.

The Ever After is the newest novel by Sarah Pekkanen that just releases this month. Josie, a stay-at-home Mom of two, discovers that her husband, Frank, is cheating on her. The story follows the couple to see if their marriage will survive after the affair while Josie uncovers more secrets and lies. I was pretty disappointed with this book considering that it was one of authors who wrote The Wife Between Us. The plot sounded interesting, but the storyline is mundane and lacks any depth at all. I guess gives a realistic view of how a marriage can survive in the aftermath of an affair, but the way it was written just made it seem like complaining. At first I felt sorry for Josie, but as the book dragged on, it felt like she was complaining about her life, how she can’t trust her husband, and how her small kids drive her crazy, and the fact that she’s a stay-at-home home. I just could not sympathize with anyone in this book. The sad part is that this book did have the potential to be really good, but ended up failing. I would recommend skipping this at all costs. I’d recommend skipping this.

Ok, this was pretty depressing. I kind of thought it would be more juicy but instead it was just agonizing. A woman deciding whether to stay with her husband after he cheated. There was nothing unique about this, I feel like I've read this book over and over. No twist, nothing new here . . . it was a deep dive but I didn't connect with these truths and these feelings. I would probably pick up another book by this author, though, because the writing was fine if not good.

The Ever After comes out next week on June 5, 2018, and you can purchase HERE.

"Was it really an affair, though?" Josie asked. "I mean, I know it wasn't right, but you barely did anything."

Karin nodded firmly. "I have to take responsibility for this. I can't ever minimize what I did. It became an affair the moment I answered his text. The moment we created a secret."

I wasn't sure whether I was going to give this book a 3 or 4 star rating, but erred on the higher side for a few reasons. I think that this book is finding some readers who were first introduced to Sarah Pekkanen's writing with The Wife Between Us, the book she co-wrote with Greer Hendricks. While that book was fabulous, it was pretty different from Sarah Pekkanen's previous books, and readers who are coming to this book expecting more of the same are going to be surprised. This book is much more similar to Sarah Pekkanen's others, and with that in mind I found it to be a contemplative, character driven story about marriage. It's a pretty quiet book despite the life-exploding content, but isn't that how life sometimes is? The most difficult things we might experience might not start with something explosive, but instead with a whisper?

This book takes you on an emotional roller-coaster of a journey as you follow the heartache Josie is going through and the questions she asks about where and how things had gone all wrong. Was she going to end the marriage? Was she going to try to make it work, for the sake of her family? for her children? How could she ever trust her husband again, if they decided to try to make their marriage work?

This book pulls you in from the very beginning. I read this book in just under 24 hours, it was such a gripping, thrilling novel I was unable to put it down for very long. It was my first book written solely by Sarah Pekkanen and I am a fan, it was so gripping and entertaining!

If you are a fan of thriller and suspense books, then this is a must read for you. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Pekkanen has written a book that made me feel like Josie and her family were my friends. There was a lot of depth in all the characters. Very enjoyable, hated to reach the last page.

I was a huge fan of The Wife Between Us which Pekkanen co authored with Greer Hendricks but I had never read her solo stuff before. This is very different from TWBU, it’s more of a psychological drama than a thriller, so I just wanted to make sure that you guys were aware of that, because if you’re looking for something similar it’s really not. BUT this was good, just in a totally different way, think less tension, no twists, straight up women’s fiction with an emphasis on Josie’s emotional journey.

I liked the way this was structured, it may even have been my favorite aspect, it was set mostly in the present as Josie deals with the effects of her husband’s betrayal but there are a handful of chapters that go back to important times in Josie and Frank’s relationship. I loved the insight this gave the reader into their history, it added depth and dimension to their characters. Josie was a really relatable character, she’s one of those every woman type of people, you either feel like she could be you or you know someone like her. Her actions, choices and thoughts read as very genuine and raw, I think her behavior was an accurate portrayal of how someone in her situation would act.

My only slight complaint is that it was fairly predictable but not in annoying way, I just knew pretty much exactly what would happen well before it actually did, but as this isn’t a thriller, it wasn’t a huge issue. Recommended for those looking for a well written, insightful read that leans to the lighter side.

The Ever After is another family rich drama by Sarah Pekkanen. Josie suddenly discovers that her husband has been having a relationship with another woman despite what she thought was their happy marriage and two young daughters. Josie and Frank must decide how much their marriage is worth fighting for and whether they truly want to continue along the path that they had long envisioned for themselves. Read and enjoy!

What I Liked

*While I could not personally identify with the plight of the main character in this book, I have had a front row seat to someone in a very similar situation for the last several months and I feel like The Ever After will be very relatable to a lot of women. There is a note from the author in the beginning of the book that shares a statistic that an affair occurs in one of every three marriages. There are many reasons I can’t imagine myself ever getting married, but kudos to all you who are because I can not imagine trusting someone enough to do it.

*I do really like Sarah Pekkanen’s writing. This is my third book by her and I find her writing to be very compulsive. Even though it’s a lot of introspection and very little action, I had a hard time putting the book down. Josie’s character development was very well done and if you are a fan of character-driven stories, then I definitely recommend Pekkanen’s books.

What I Didn’t Like

*Josie was kind of hard to like most of the time. I thought a lot of her reaction was normal and justified, but she did kind of stop being a parent to her daughters for awhile and I didn’t think that was ok. I also thought that all of the flashback chapters kind of painted her as a shrew and Frank as the long-suffering husband. I felt like this was to help justify why Frank did what he did (not excusing it, but still a reason for it) and it just didn’t sit well with me.

*I didn’t like the ending (it’s why I’m rating this 1/2 a star lower than I probably would have otherwise). I had a very definite opinion about which way I wanted the story to go and it didn’t go that way. I do think that there will be people that will really support the ending, though. I think it might depend on your own emotional baggage you bring to the book.

Overall

Overall, I did enjoy The Ever After. I really liked the writing and how relatable the story felt to me, even though it’s not a situation I’ve personally experienced. I thought the ending was a little rushed, though. After spending such a long time dissecting Josie and Frank’s relationship, I thought the resolution deserved a little more page time, as well.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 3.5 Stars

Josie is a young mother who believes that while her marriage may not be without flaws it certainly is solid. That is until the day Josie and her husband Frank are rushing to get their two young daughters to a birthday party they make a stop at a Starbucks where Josie realizes she forgot her own phone and needs to borrow Frank’s.

Before Frank returns to the car an email pops up on his phone that looks as if Frank has been having an affair. Livid and hurt Josie is more in a state of shock in the beginning but she knows that she needs to find out the details of just what her husband has been up to before she can make any decisions about their future.

The Ever After by Sarah Pekkanen is a domestic drama that takes a closer look at a couple that are experiencing some rocky times in their marriage. While reading this one I found myself quite on the fence with my feelings for the book and going back and forth on it’s merits.

One thing you will find is that Sarah Pekkanen is certainly a talented author as it is easy to move right through the story with her great writing. However, the longer the book went on I found myself thinking quite often, is this it? I just wanted the story to be more than it actually is. There’s certainly drama and the aftermath but I had a hard time with the fact that there really isn’t any answers either although I suppose that would be a realistic approach to a woman in that predicament it felt a let down in a book. When done with this one I know I will certainly read more from this author in the future but this one was just one of those it was ok but forgettable to me reads.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

3.25 Stars* (rounded down).

The moment Josie discovers that she has been betrayed by her husband, Frank, her life is shattered. The discovery of an email exchange between her husband Frank, and another woman on his cell phone, changes everything. Trust is gone. Wiped away in mere seconds. Love, destroyed. Their family? Torn apart.

What makes someone cheat? And how does one cope? “The Ever After” is a domestic drama which explores the subject of infidelity in a marriage. Josie’s feelings are both raw and real and the author, Sarah Pekkanen, explores the subject with complete and utter authenticity. In a way, this novel almost reads like a self help book, and while it was a bit predictable, it was a quick, easy read, with relatable characters, whose lives you can’t help but be drawn into. If you like domestic dramas, “The Ever After” might just be right up your alley.

Thank you to Rachel Brenner at Atria Books, NetGalley and Sarah Pekkanen for a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads.

What would you do if you found out your husband, your devoted and loving husband was actually having an affair? Would you verbally attack and throw him out? Or, would you use all the social media at your fingertips to learn all you can first and then devise a course of action?
Such is the situation Josie Moore finds herself in when she innocently reads a text I her husband, Frank’s, phone in this thought provoking achingly painful book. One can truly feel the shattering of trust, the misgivings created by recollections and the strength of Josie as she unravels her emotions, feelings and thoughts in this rocky road to her best solution.

Josie finds out husband, Frank, has cheated on her with a work colleague, Dana. Josie is determined to find out as many details as possible even calling Dana and then later having a conversation with Dana’s husband, Ron. For Josie, the not knowing was worse than knowing. She needed answers. Frank is heartbroken that he has done this to Josie and their two girls and will do anything to regain her trust. Will Josie be able to give Frank a second chance? Does she even want to give him the chance?

I found this to be a fairly typical story of husband cheating on wife. With that being said, I did enjoy reading the book and felt all the emotions with Josie. I feel like the ending was perfect for how the story played out.

An excellent insight into the marriage of a contemporary couple, Josie and Frank Moore. Josie thinks that her marriage is absolutely perfect; a loving husband who is a wonderful father and great provider as well as two adorable children. Josie finds out that Frank is having an affair and the downward spiral begins to drag their family into an emotional and heartbreaking pit. Josie does find that her strong character brings her back and she is able to deal with all the decisions that need to be made. I really enjoyed this well-written story of a sad time in life that happens everyday in our society today. Highly recommended!

The Ever After by Sarah Pekkanen will be available June 5, 2018 by Atria Books. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

I read the first half of this book in a few hours, and then took a few more days to (slowly) finish. I think part of that is a reflection of the book itself— at first I was desperate to know what would happen with Josie and Frank- would she stay or go? Uncover more secrets and deceptions? I don’t intend to spoil the book, but the second half feels a lot like dialogue without action.
I could compare reading this book to driving: you get in the car and slam the gas, but then let go. You start off speeding (a lot of action in the beginning) but then you slow down until you almost don’t realize you’ve stopped.
That being said, it was great writing and not a hard read. Didn’t change my life in any way.

Do you remember the exact moment you created a secret? When the truth is revealed, you may wonder back in time to that moment. How you could have prevented it. Whom you should have told. So when Josie borrows her husband's phone and sees nine words that shatter her seemingly happily ever after marriage, she looks back at such moments. Then Josie goes to far lengths to uncover more secrets before determining if her marriage is worth saving.

I am a fan of Sarah Pekkanen's earlier novels. They are quality women's literature with real issues and intriguing storylines. So I expected her usual in new release Ever After. And it is. But unfortunately, I was disappointed and had to fight the urge to not skim. Perhaps because I could not relate to the marriage difficulties which were the focus. Or maybe it was the lengthy passages that were too wordy and unnecessary. Either way, I could have passed on Ever After but you may think differently. Like Pekkanen's other novels, there are more than a few women out here that can connect to her stories.

Happy Early Pub Day, Sarah Pekkanen. Ever After will be available Tuesday, June 5.

LiteraryMarie

So let me preface this with: I absolutely loved THE WIFE BETWEEN US. It's on my Top 2018 reads list, and it was the first book I read in 2018.

That being said, I go into this review, after finishing the book, totally disappointed. THE EVER AFTER started out really good, and it instantly captured my attention. I enjoyed the letter to the reader, and I think that's what really did it for me. But after the first few chapters, it really started to go downhill.

Josie believes she is happily married to Frank. Low and behold, her marriage is not happy. He is cheating on her. Soon, Josie makes it her mission to find out everything that is going on with this affair, the small details, literally everything. Once her fact-finding mission is over, nothing happens.

This whole book lacked passion. There was no passion in the marriage, no passion for the kids, no passion for anything. It was frustrating. There wasn't anything to keep me on the edge of my seat. I often shook my head due to Josie's inner dialogue. At times, I couldn't even feel sorry for her because of her back and forth. I felt for the situation, but neither character really struck me as genuine.

Small details of the book confused me and left me wondering why. <spoiler> Like why Frank never asked for his phone back. Or his complete 180 from being a selfish husband to someone who volunteered at the soup kitchen and went to church.</spoiler> It lacked suspense, it lacked believable, strong characters, and it lacked the depth I was wanting from the characters and from the book.

As the book went on, I wasn't sure if I was going to root for the couple or what. By the end of the book, I felt like nothing was truly resolved, and whatever was resolved, did not go below the surface. I went away from this book just feeling disappointed at the outcome.

This book was absolutely amazing, although sad. The characters were so genuine and real, I could feel both sides of the marriage and the pain they were living.
I think it painted a very accurate picture of what an affair does to a marriage and what happens after one spouse learns of the others infedility. I think it also showed that not just one is effected, but the entire family and that although there is never an excuse for cheating, it can happen because all have forgot to nurture their marriage. Highly recommend! Quick, brutal read!

This story was sad and very true to life as many people, unfortunately, have been through a situation very similar to Josie's. I thought it was handled well and covered appropriately. I enjoyed the writing style, but I just did not stay fully interested because I did not feel like a lot actually happened. I liked the journey of Josie and how she reached out to others for support, but I guess I wanted more of a darker insight to a dysfunctional marriage. That may not be what the writer was going for and that's ok- I still enjoyed it because of the literary talent.

A riveting tale of domestic infidelity and the ensuing aftermath. My heart broke for the main character Josie as she navigated through the harsh, raw emotions of finding out her husband had an affair. It was definitely interesting and eye opening to watch her wade through the different feelings and realizations of her marriage and the relationship she had with her husband. Unfortunately this is an all to common narrative these days but it was nice to see it done in such a thought provoking and realistic way, focusing more on the emotions as a whole and not just the anger. Very well done and I look forward to more from this author. * I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review *