A refreshing take on the typical 20-somethings that most RomComs feature. I always look for books that feature non-traditional characters (in this case older characters) and those that feature more than just the typical tropes. This book showed how marriage is so much more than just the union between two people... and that each of them have to love and find themselves before they can love each other.

Is a marriage gap year realistic... probably not, but it still inspires lots of thought provoking ways and efforts that can renew even a longstanding relationship.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ebook.

I really LOVED the idea of this storyline, but it fell flat to me. I just couldn't get into the characters as much as I had wanted to. Maybe it'd work better for audio but just my opinion.

Thank you for the ARC!

So while I enjoyed the concept of the story and the idea of it after being married for so long I get it…I also don’t know how I entirely feel about the book. The FMC was absolutely awful. She was so short with everyone and honestly wanted to have her cake and eat it too. She wanted everyone to do and agree with her. Her story kind of made me think of Idea Of You but she was just so judgey. I wish there would have been more to her friend Kendrys story instead of just being like oh she overdosed on drugs and is in rehab it’s fine. Of all things why did the FmC not push on this? And then to get jealous of her husband for standing with a woman in a photo yet she’s out boinking a young guy and he gets upset and she basically tells him to get over it? So much of this book weirded me out and rubbed me the wrong way

While this book was unique and had a plot line like no other book I have read, I didn't quite click with the book and the characters.

The reasons for the marriage gap year wasn't detailed and was abruptly thrown at the readers in the first few pages. I wish there was more background, or possibly flashbacks from both characters to fully understand why Emma wanted a gap year. With this, I felt like there was barely any conclusion and it was highly rushed. I enjoyed the two POV's from Emma and Rob, but Rob's story was incredibly boring. There was only one instance in his POV that he was not at work, and only reading about his job at a construction site quickly got boring.

I did, however, really enjoy the supporting characters. I felt like Emma's friends were enjoyable to read about, and I found myself getting really intrigued with Kendry's story. The sketches and drawings from Rob''s POV were really well done and really added to understanding his work.

Overall, I just felt like there was so much more potential for this book!

Thank you so much to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ARC!

I tried so hard to get into this book, I really did! So much so that I spent the second half of January, and all of February, trying. Eventually, I decided to call this what it was: dnf. It PAINS me to not finish a book, which is why I think I spent so long trying to read this one. There was nothing at all wrong with the book. The premise of this book is what drew me in. As a woman who married young, and as a result has been with their husband for half of their adult life, I truly related to the main character's struggles with complacency; however, overall, I just didn't fall in the love with any of the characters. I didn't feel like I needed, or really even wanted, to know what was going to happen next. I hope to pick it back up and try again, but the first go around was not the time for me.

Thank you to the Publisher, Yannick Thoraval, and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book!

I enjoyed the overall the,e of the story. However, I thought the plot of the story was slow. As it switched back and forth between the two main characters, there wasn’t much advancement in the plot. I think there could have been several scenes deleted due to the fact that they were so repetitive to other scenes throughout the story.

The Marriage Gap Year by Yannick Thoraval is like a reality show you can’t stop watching—except with better writing and fewer dramatic rose ceremonies. Emma and Rob decide to take a “marriage gap year” and quickly realize that single life isn’t just mimosas and self-discovery. The book is hilarious, heartfelt, and occasionally feels like free therapy. Thoraval’s writing is sharp, witty, and painfully relatable. If you’ve ever questioned life, love, or your own decisions, this one’s for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Interesting premise that got me thinking about what I’d do if I took a gap year from my life. I liked how Emma, Rob, and Will each had their own journey and were able to arrive at themselves, however uncertain. Loved the message that there’s no one right way to do life, that we get to do what works for us, no matter how it may seem to others.

I had a hard time finishing this story. I love the premise of it and I love way that the main characters are trying to find themselves during their “year break” from their marriage. At some points I felt like the story was going too fast and at other points it felt like it was going too slow. Overall 3/5 because it was a good story!

I was ready to hate this. It had my "you can't do that" reality back up lol! I don't think you can Just take a break for a year had me in it's initial choke hold. But then I let that go and relaxed into a much more nuanced and sweet book. It.manages to not make that the icky hook. And is just telling a book about love,growth and how sometimes what we see(especially now with the rediculous fakeness f sm posting) isn't what is real. And what IS real is what you make of it together. Between these two I felt tender moment and explorative moments.
A good read. A great holiday read.
Oh and is IKEA seriously going to do something about it relationship dooooom disease,ha.

I can appreciate that this book tests the boundaries of what I've read in your typical contemporary romance. It was unique and I admire the way that the book was written.

I sadly don't think that I was the target audience for this story as I DNF'd at 30% in. I definitely think there is a future in which I would reread this book if the timing is right for me.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of The Marriage Gap Year, and it’s the perfect addition to the shelf alongside I Give My Marriage a Year and other unconventional romcoms. Funny, sweet, and insightful, this book makes for an ideal holiday read—one that puts you right in the shoes of Emma and Rob as they navigate the cracks in their not-so-perfect marriage.

What I loved most was how the story challenges the idea of a "perfect" relationship. As Emma and Rob take their marriage gap year, the novel explores whether one person is ever truly in the right (or wrong) in a partnership, making for a refreshing and realistic take on love, growth, and self-discovery.

The characters feel incredibly real—flawed, sometimes frustrating, but always compelling. This isn’t your typical romance with a neat and tidy love story; instead, it’s an honest, sometimes awkward, and ultimately heartwarming journey of two people finding themselves and each other again.

If you love stories that are as introspective as they are entertaining, this one is a must-read. So grab a cup of tea and enjoy—this book will definitely hit the spot. 💛

Quaint little romance book where actually both characters are a little grumpy lol with a nice happy ending. Romance is just hits right sometimes.

This book had me hooked from the very first scene—because what’s more relatable than a marriage crisis unfolding in an IKEA? Emma’s frustration after 26 years of stagnation is raw and real, and when she suggests a "Marriage Gap Year," I couldn’t wait to see where it led. Rob, on the other hand, is blindsided—he thought their marriage was *fine*, and his struggle to understand Emma’s need for more is both heartbreaking and, at times, hilarious.

What I loved most was how this story doesn’t take the easy way out. Emma’s solo journey isn’t all dreamy self-discovery; it’s messy, surprising, and filled with the kind of reality checks that make you root for her even more. Meanwhile, Rob’s perspective adds depth to the story—it’s not just about Emma finding herself but also about whether they can find their way back to each other. The novel balances humor, heartbreak, and hope in a way that feels incredibly authentic.

By the end, I was completely invested in Emma and Rob’s journey, both separately and together. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Melbourne and the beaches of San Remo, this book is more than just a rom-com—it’s an honest, thought-provoking look at love, marriage, and what it really means to grow. If you enjoy witty, emotionally rich stories about relationships and second chances, this is one you won’t want to miss!

I have ready one of the OG books on this trope but this book felt short for me! I felt a lot of things could have framed and written better

Have you ever wanted to take a break from your marriage? See what happens to one couple in The Marriage Gap Year by Yannick Thoroval.

The Marriage Gap Year initially intrigued me with its unique premise: a married couple of over 20 years, Emma and Rob, decide to take a "gap year" apart to reassess their relationship. However, after reflecting on the book, I found myself less enthusiastic. The concept felt flawed—Emma, the protagonist, unilaterally decides on the break without mutual agreement, and the lack of clear boundaries on romance or affairs during their separation only creates confusion and tension.

While the story is relatable and offers some insights into human relationships, I struggled with the characters. Emma’s stubbornness and lack of growth made her hard to root for, while Rob, who starts as the antagonist, actually showed more growth throughout the novel. The couple’s lack of connection outside of their child made it hard to engage with them as individuals, let alone as a couple.

Though the book provides some interesting reflections on love and relationships, it left me feeling conflicted. I gave it 3 stars but ultimately felt it lacked resolution and depth.

The Marriage gap year tackles a complex and timely theme, but its slow pacing, repetitive narrative, and lack of emotional depth ultimately detract from its potential. While the concept of a marital separation as a catalyst for self-discovery is intriguing, the novel fails to fully explore the nuances of the situation. Readers seeking a fast-paced and emotionally engaging exploration of marriage and self-discovery may find themselves disappointed. This reviewer, unfortunately, falls into that category. While the premise held promise, the execution left much to be desired.

The Marriage Gap Year by Yannick Thoraval is a contemporary romance that delves into the complexities of long-term relationships. The novel centers on Emma and Rob, a couple married for 26 years, who decide to take a year-long break from their marriage to rediscover themselves and reassess their relationship.

What I love about this book is its fast-paced flow, which the author smoothly narrates the events without disrupting the reader's enjoyment. This plays a significant role in bringing out deeper themes like marital stagnation and how a marriage crisis affects children’s lives. The characters are well-developed, with the right depth to make the story even more engaging.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy thought-provoking relationship dramas, contemporary romance with emotional depth, and stories about self-discovery and second chances in love.

This book was an enjoyable read. I like the concept, and i support that it mentions real life situations that are often not talked about, but its so real. However, there are a couple of things that made me less excited. Firstly, it did not feel memorable. Secondly, i dislike the fmc, mostly because she blames all her marital issues on her husband, where this was clearly mostly her problem. You can read about him trying so many different ways to improve, be better for her, and to make it up to her, whereas she has not tried to make it up to him or improve herself at all. This also made the ending a bit anticlimactic, if im honest, because it was missing that resolving part.
The best part of this book was honestly the workfield of Rob, the husband, with plenty of builder women with a good heart, good values, and lots of banter.
I was a bit torn between a 2 and a 3, but as im writing this review, i only feel more bothered, therefore i ended with a 2. I wish i would have loved it, and im sorry for that.

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review