Back in 1998 HBO presented a miniseries called FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON, and the eleventh part focuses on the astronauts' wives, most prominently in the episode Marilyn Lovell and Susan Borman. I found Susan's story fascinating: the Bormans were friends with the Kennedy family and the assassination of Bobby Kennedy hit both Susan and Frank hard. Susan was also terrified of what might happen if the Apollo systems failed while the astronauts were on the moon; she went so far to write an obituary for her husband and his crewmates before they left for the moon. Eventually the stress caused her descent into alcoholism.

So I was eager to read this book until I got a few chapters into it. I found it very simplistically written and not a pleasing narrative to tell the story.

This is a tale as old as time. Love, but not only love, true love, that can and does endure through the hardest of hardships that spans decades of time and trials. This is the story of an extremely ambitious Frank Borman who rises through the ranks of the Air Force to the very top, only to trade that in to become an Astronaut, and his story doesn't end there. It is also the story of Susan Borman, who rises to be the best in each role she's assigned, Military Wife, Mother, Astronaut wife, Mrs. Borman, and even....finding out who Susan is without any of these titles and/or people needing/wanting of her. This story covers how Susan grew up and adhering the the "bible" to live by, The Army Wife by Nancy Shea, which in the end was the absolute worse thing she could have done, as it set her on a downward spiral path that was just waiting to self-destruct. What will Frank do, when his best friend and rock start to crumble under the weight his life's projection has placed her on? You'll have to read to find out. It's an absolute gem of a real story that I am so glad has finally been told.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

A truly inspirational novel on one of America’s great heroes! Not only was his life inspirational, but his wife was also a hero in her own right. What they endured and the problems they overcame, while holding on to each other through out it all, makes this a must read for all!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Frank Borman is a noted astronaut for being on the first spaceflight to the moon. He was also a self-centered cad. His career ambitions took precedence over everything, including his wife and sons. If Susan didn’t want a photographer inside their house during liftoff or landing, he brushed her off, “It’s good for NASA, do it.”
Alcohol numbed her pain. After she suffered a nervous breakdown, Frank finally realized what a scoundrel he was and tried to change. They enjoyed several good years before her descend into Alzheimer’s.
This is not a pretty picture of NASA ( or test pilots) as it raced the Soviets to the moon. Too many astronaut marriages failed because of the mission first mentality and men’s willingness to fool around. The real heroes were the women behind them.