Immersing read, and loved that it was told from the perspective of the internal thoughts and occasional unorthodox outbursts of a marriage counselor who has very definite opinions about the couple who have come to save their marriage - or have they? Appreciated the unique new twist on this story, while it was repetitive at times, this lent itself well its true to life perspective. This book will not be for everyone, but it will stay with me for some time.

A years worth of marriage therapy.....I was engaged throughout; I liked that the story only took place in the therapist’s office...therefore only three points of view although there were many other characters in the story. Thanks to net-galley for advance digital copy.

Writing: 3.5 Plot: 3.5 Characters: 4

A surprisingly interesting book — all the “action” takes place in the marriage counselor’s office where Steve and Gretchen meet weekly for the 9 months following their split. I don’t have a history with therapy and probably have a jaded view of how helpful therapists usually are, but I found this view into the detailed process both plausible and fascinating. The novel enumerates the session conversations, revealing the bad habits and miscommunications that can develop between people without their realizing it.

Sandy (the therapist) makes it clear to her clients that she has never been a “neutral” marriage counselor. “You can ask whatever you want,” she says. “I don’t do the therapist-must-keep-her-distance thing.” She views the “marriage” as an entity in and of itself and allocates an odd looking chair in the room to be its representative.

I have no insight as to why John Jay Osborn of “Paper Chase” fame is writing a novel about marriage counseling, and with a female therapist to boot. I’m always nervous when a man writes a book from a woman’s perspective (and similarly unhappy when a woman writes a book from a man’s) but in this case Sandy comes across as a gender neutral being. Her role in the therapy, and her thoughts, actions, and words, could equally well have elonged to a man. Even her name appears to have been chosen to be gender neutral.

The book felt slightly too long — while realistic, the repetition required in good long term counseling can get a bit dull for the reader — and the ending was a bit too sappy for me (not in the way you’d predict), but I did find it a fast and absorbing read.

Good for fans of Irvin Yalom.

Like many, I really had high hopes for this book. It is the story of Gretchen and Steve who have recently separated and are going through therapy. The book is primarily written as a description of their therapy sessions. While initially this sounded like a very interesting way to tell a story, I found it exhausting. The constant rehashing of minute details and minor irritations finally got the better of me and I had to give up.

A fly on the wall perspective of marriage and therapy, Listen to the Marriage by John Jay Osborn is a voyeuristic account of what it can really take to stay married, how a relationship can fall apart and come back together, and what it's like in a therapist's office.  The walls come down, the tears come out, and lives can change.

Gretchen and Steve are separated, but they are trying to work on things, they've been married for so long that it makes sense to try and figure it all out. Even though both people in the marriage have done wrong, both have cheated on their spouse, it's time to learn to communicate and try to love each other again.

As I watched these therapy sessions unfold, it felt like I was really watching someone's marriage. This book gave me some really good tools to use in my marriage, and also for when I start to counsel people for my job (when I graduate). I know that sounds weird to say about a fiction novel, but it's true. The author did quite an incredible job with the research needed for this novel. The characters were strong, yet flawed, and they both had issues that needed work. That made the story so much more real and raw.

One of the best parts of this book is that every word spoken, every chapter written, takes place inside the therapist's office, so you don't get to see what Gretchen and Steve are like on the outside. It gave some sort of mystery to their characters, but in a good way. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, a really great book to read when you're feeling like watching reality tv but nothing good is on.

At times, Listen to the Marriage reminded me of In Treatment, the HBO series starring Gabriel Byrne, in which most of the action takes place within the therapist's office. But here we have an in depth analysis of only one couple, Gretchen and Steve, who as the book begins are already living separately. Sandy, their counselor, has issues of her own which are revealed to the reader, but also surprisingly at times to her clients. To someone not versed in therapy or who has never had this experience, it can be a daunting, mysterious process, one in which progress may or may not be made mostly through incremental steps. I have never read such a detailed account of struggle and pain, and found it heavy going at times, but then, isn't that an essential ingredient of therapy. The writing is beautiful, and the experience, rewarding.

A short book calls for a short review. Especially when I'm not sure exactly what to say.

I read a few reviews from other readers, and almost all of them say the same thing: This book is unique. It's unlike any they've read before. But after that, opinions diverge.

Personally, I enjoyed the book for the same reason I enjoy reality tv. I'm a voyeur.

I enjoyed being a fly on the wall of someone else's counseling sessions..

The length of the book is a strength. I think if it were any longer I would have lost interest.

The book is well written, but I didn't always understand all of the inferences made and I thought some of the plot points didn't really make a lot of sense.

I think Listen to the Marriage is a solid 3/5 stars.

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I found Listen to the Marriage to be rather unusual, but in a good way! It takes place entirely in a marriage therapist's office. I could not put the book down staying up later than I should have just to see what was happening. Because of personal issues I am going through, the book really resonated with me. The therapist even provided me with a different way of looking at issues, that's something for a fictional book to accomplish. I did have a few complaints: I felt Steve, the husband, was overly accommodating. Don't get me wrong, he needed to change his behavior but I thought the speed with which he did that was unrealistic. My second concern, I thought the ending rushed, the marriage issues resolved too quickly. But overall, thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Ridiculous. Imbalanced. Lacking. Too much stilted dialogue and an odd marriage situation where no two people would even try to work it out.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a story like no other that I have read. The whole story takes place in Gretchen’s and Steve’s therapist’s office where they are taking marriage counselling due to their recent separation. Each chapter was a session in the therapist’s office. Both Gretchen and Steve have committed adultery and while that was the catalyst of the break up, the marriage breakdown was about much more, more specifically, terrible communication skills. Having never been married, I found the process of this couple going through marriage counselling and working through marital issues fascinating. I found it to be a very enjoyable read.

Super interesting concept for a book: a husband and wife and their marriage counselor hashing out their relationship. Thought provoking and original. I did feel like it could be slightly repetitive but I guess that’s accurate to therapy.

Read this intriguing novella in one sitting because I simply couldn't help myself. There is an unexpected inexorable pull right into the story in the way the author through third-person paints the narrator's two clients (and herself) so thoroughly that although you only get the reported behaviour they are fully realized. Was riveted.

Great concept! One husband, one wife, one marriage counselor. Yes, other characters are mentioned in passing, but only these three appear in this book. The premise is the almost year-long period of marriage counseling for one married couple, Steve and Gretchen, as they meet every week in the marriage counselor's office. Will they resolve their issues, or not?

I read the Kindle version, and at about 75% to 80%, I was getting a bit tired of going round in circles on some of their issues, but that quickly passed. I could not find any history on the author, John Jay Osborn, but I'd bet he has some experience as a counselor. Very will written, and gives real insights into what can go on in a marriage.

Thank you to #NetGalley and publishers Farrar, Straus and Giroux for a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review. #ListenToTheMarriage

This was a great book. The character development was fantastic, and I loved the ending ;) I will definitely be reading more of John Jay Osborn in the future--you have a devoted fan!

What an interesting concept for a book! Listen to the Marriage is written in the voice of a marriage therapist and a couple who is on the verge of divorce. Over the course of a year, you read their uncoupling and communication struggles, which sounds deadly, but is fascinating! I was very impressed with the way I raced through this book!

The author has written a book, not for everyone, but a terribly interesting story of a marriage in trouble from lying, cheating, mistrust and terrible communication. The characters were not terribly likable, however, they were well developed and you found yourself really wanting to know what would happen next. The entire book takes place with the context of the the therapist's office, with an occasional reference to the city of San Francisco, where the wealthy clients are living. Well written, well developed story, which suprisingly, was mesmerizing. A solid four star review!

Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for a pre-publication ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you netgalley for the copy of the Listen to the Marriage in exchange for an honest review. I was very intrigued by this book premise. I really enjoy a podcast with the similar premise of listening in to marriage counseling sessions. I am sad to say this book did not provide the same experience. I think it was very slow moving. I think the characters were extremely unlikable and the choices they made did not make you cheer for their marriages. I would not recommend this book.

The summary of this book calls it "riveting." I am pretty sure that is NOT a word I would use to describe it. It was slightly interesting but also extremely repetitive and annoying. Steve and Gretchen are separated and seeing marriage counselor Sandy. Then entire book takes place during their sessions with Sandy both together and apart. I've never been to a marriage counselor or separated from my husband but if I ever do either, I hope that I have a better counselor and I don't act like Steve or Gretchen. I don't really like either of them at all. They are both really immature and nasty to each other. They have two little kids which makes the whole thing even worse. I kind of figured what was going to happen at the end from the beginning which made it predictable. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either. The sessions are kind of mundane after about halfway through and I started to get bored. This is probably how marriage counseling goes, lots of accusations and fighting and disagreeing so from that perspective it was good but I guess I just didn't like any of the characters, even the counselor. The writing was good though and kept the book moving along--it's pretty short and easy to get through. Interesting but be warned the people in the story are nasty and mean to each other.

John Jay Osborn presents in his novel an unusual concept: what if besides listening to each other, a couple listened to their marriage as well?
Gretchen and Steve have been married for a long time, but are now in the middle of a separation and facing the possibility of divorce. Attempting to give their relationship one last attempt at salvation, they visit a marriage counselor who will attempt, in the course of ten months, to get Gretchen and Steve not just to listen to each other again, but also to their broken marriage, desperately in need of repair.
Osborn's narrative unfolds in a single setting, the therapist's office, told from the point of view of Steven, Gretchen and their marriage counselor. While this may seem minimalistic, it evokes the spirit of a dark and moody art house film that is conversely abundant with the possibility of resurgence.
Osborn's novel depicts an eagle-eye view of a broken marriage, and the effort and will that it takes to piece it back together.

Thanks NetGalley for providing this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. If you've been married for one year or thirty I think you will find this book to be of interest in the dynamics of what it takes to make a relationship work. As like all marriages, each one is unique and this book is the story of just one couple and their therapist as they try to weave their way through their difficulties. It can get tedious at times, since they do an incredible amount of talking, as the entire book takes place inside the counselor's office. I found I was not fond of either the husband or wife but was rooting for them to work things out. It seems it's so easy to dissolve a marriage so you have to respect people who truly make an effort to find a way to move through the difficult times, as indeed all marriages, especially those longer in length, have them!

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for an advanced eGalley of "Listen to the Marriage: A Novel". 

Gretchen and Steve are on the brink of divorce. Steve doesn't seem to understand the needs of his wife, and Gretchen is fed-up and ready to live a life that no longer includes him.

Enter Sandy, the somewhat unconventional marriage therapist who hopes to guide both to a solution that makes sense.

As the three work towards finding a solution, lines are crossed, emotions are breached, and promises are revisited. And as the end draws near, you'll begin to wonder if Steve and Gretchen's marriage is worth saving, or if they'd be better of going their separate ways?

While the reader is only given total access to Sandy's perspective--the only understanding you have of Gretchen and Steve is via what they share verbally, and what Sandy is able to intuit from their body language and "reading between the lines"--it did not take away from understanding both Steve ad Gretchen. You were able to draw your own conclusions about both based on their reactions and what shared in their personal visits with Sandy. 

The entirety of the book takes place within the walls of Sandy's office, save a few parking lot references.

That said, I would tell anyone opting to read this book that it is less about Gretchen, Steve, or even Sandy, than it is about the "work" of repairing, rebuilding, and/or redefining a marriage.

Each "session" Sandy has with the couple--either alone or separately--is meant to reinforce the idea that, at the end of the day, you have to be willing to disconnect yourself from the ego that drives you, in order to connect with your spouse and create a partnership. If you can't do that, then you can't sustain a workable marriage long-term. 

We as people are always evolving, but the "marriage" always expects the same thing: work, commitment, and trust. 

If you need to go beyond the room, and beyond the doors of the discussions happening within the pages, then you're not going to appreciate watching "the work" that takes place within the pages of this book. Nor will you be able to understand how masterful Sandy is in guiding her clients towards a solution that will work.

This is a book about marriage, in all its messy splendor, and I highly recommend it to anyone who can appreciate just how tricky it can be to try and clean up the messes we constantly make. 

Note to Publisher: Review will be published on blog site and Goodreads on September 26, 2018.
Link to blog site will be: https://wordpress.com/post/wannabeomnilegent.wordpress.com/515