Ten years is a long time to have an affair. So of course I had to pick it up and get the tea ☕️

Something I value about contemporary stories above most other aspects is honesty. This has it in abundance, ironically so (since this is called The Ten Year Affair). This was such an honest, raw, and realistic story that dives into the psyche of people who are stuck rotating between what they want and what they have. I can’t promise this book will be for everyone, but there will be plenty of people that will read this, relate and take plenty away from it.

This was one of those books where there isn’t a perfect character and there isn’t a clear party or person to root for. All of the character characters are flawed and almost equally so. What you want to happen for these characters calls into question what you value above all. Your sanity? Your happiness? Your loyalty? Your obligations? The way you’re treated?

I really enjoyed reading through this book and being able to reflect on my own life while also being hilariously entertained by Cora and the rest of the cast. It was witty, quick, modern and had a unique format that makes you think twice about the title.

The few things I didn’t like were that the book did get a bit monotonous in the middle, the dual timelines sometimes made the narrative unclear and I did want to feel a bit deeper for the characters by the end but I didn’t get there all the way.

Overall, if you love to explore the aspects of marriage, parenting, fidelity/infidelity, relationship dynamics, this is for you!

I could have read this in one sitting if I'd had that much uninterrupted time. None of these characters were completely likable to me, yet I cared so deeply about what would happen to all of them? I also appreciated the experimental timeline (one real and one imagined). It was only sometimes difficult to distinguish what was actually happening. Still, it did not ruin the read for me. I'd still recommend it to anyone who isn't squeamish about adultery stories.

4.25 ⭐️

THE TEN YEAR AFFAIR by Erin Somers

Cora and Sam meet at a baby/parent class when they trade exasperation over another mom who's trying to feed her 10 month old broccoli and already trying to potty train him. In a sliding doors set-up, there's Cora's imaginary life where she embarks on an affair with Sam side-by-side with her real life as a harried parent of two with a husband dealing with depression and mushrooms growing out of her wall.

The details in this novel are very relatable and on point. There are many chuckles and empathy with Cora as she distracts herself from her humdrum life with a fantasy affair. It balances humor and seriousness well. I don't want to give anything away, but I was a bit underwhelmed when reality crossed the fantasy, which was probably the point.

I think this might be confusing on audio because of the very quick time jumps of the sliding doors format between reality and fantasy. I hope the audiobook has two distinct narrators for Cora's "real" life vs. her "fantasy" life. I also think it would have been a more compelling premise if Cora and Sam had more layers to their relationship.

THE TEN YEAR AFFAIR publishes October 21, 2025. Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun read, I was very often laughing out loud. Great characters, interesting lives. I will say that the timelines of the 'real' lives and the 'imagined' lives sometimes made it a tad confusing, or necessitated a reread of a few paragraphs. But in the long run, this is fun and very interesting. Great concept and well written, because after all, don't we all live and think like that? Recommended.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected eproof ARC of 'The Ten Year Affair' by Erin Somers - expected release date of 10/21/2025.

ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book made me realize I'm not a fan of the 'sliding glass door' writing style. The FMC spent 75% of the book describing her dual timelines, one in real life with her husband, the other in an imaginary affair with her male friend from baby class. To me, the story dragged on too long. By the time the affair actually happened, many years into their friendship, it was just ho-hum and boring compared to her fantasy life with him. I had a hard time keeping up with the pacing of the timeline. I knew it was a 10 year affair because of the title, but there were many times I was lost on specifically where they were in the decade. This book did have some high points though. I laughed out loud quite a few times - Opal was so funny and I really liked Jules too. The writing was well done and descriptive without being overly so.

A slow-burn rollercoaster of secrets, stolen moments, and emotional landmines, The Ten Year Affair dives deep into the messiness of love, loyalty, and all the gray areas in between. It’s equal parts gripping and infuriating—you’ll judge the characters, then feel sorry for them five pages later. It’s perfect for anyone who loves their drama with a side of moral conflict and beautifully written heartbreak.

Cora and Sam meet at baby group and the chemistry is undeniable... the problem is they are both married to other people. They start a friendship and it goes from there. This book is about the choices we make. What do we owe our partners and ourselves. There are two timelines Cora can take in the book. The writing was sharp and the characters were messy but relatable. I was invested and needed to see how this book ended. A great read for anyone that wants to read about relationships, families, and adultery.

Grateful to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

Cora and Sam meet at a baby group and begin a friendship that eventually extends to include both their partners and their children. Over the years, Cora and Sam's flirtation become an escape for Cora and she imagines timelines where they give in to their attraction and have an affair.

I really enjoyed this novel - it was incredibly well written and spoke to the yearning for all of the things that you can't have when your life hasn't turned out quite the way you expected. Cora's mental escapes into her affair with Sam ask profound questions about escapism and fantasy and at what point does a fantasy turn into infidelity. The relationships and conversations between the characters are complex and evolve realistically over the time in the novel.

One of those rare books that's so much more than it seems - got under my skin and stayed there. Why do we make the choices we do? What is happiness? What do we owe the people we marry and the people we love? How do we live our lives? It sounds heady, but it goes down so smoothly you don't realize until it's over how philosophical and provocative it is.

This won't be for everyone, but those that this book is for, will fall madly in love with it. The writing was done so well especially for a touchy topic. To be in the middle of a bunch of morally wrong choices you are left almost rooting for characters in a version of reality that should be unlikable but sometimes aren't. I love the characters, and they were written so loud and well rounded. I felt like I was their next door neighbor, like I was another member in book club. I was helping set up for birthday and congratulations parties. I may as well have been sitting 3 feet away on a yoga mat asking for a toothpick. Reading this felt like finding a really good smelling candle that you only light on good days or special occasions, I didn't want the book to end, I wanted to keep being slipping into different daydreams and hearing about the kids growing up, the way their lives changed over time and how life and love are complicated but it's a choice to actively work on raising a family and keeping love alive in all its forms.
Thank you for the EARC.

4.5 Stars Rounded Up

Let me start by saying, in a typical romance, infidelity as a trope drives me nuts. It often feels overused, insecure, and lazy. But a novel that is entirely about a long-standing, will-they-won't-they affair? Now that is my cup of tea. I love domestic stories full of gossip, tension, and messy relationships, and this one delivered all of that with humor and heart.

In The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers, we follow Cora, a thirty-something who is married to Eliot. They are your standard middle-class couple: two kids, jobs, and a new house just outside the city. At a baby group, Cora meets Sam. He is also married, also a father of two, and his wife Jules is a high-powered lawyer. As Cora and Sam begin spending time together through these parenting circles, Cora starts imagining what it would be like if they had an affair. The novel then branches into two parallel narratives, one grounded in reality and the other in Cora’s imagined world of their affair.

As the story progresses and the two families grow closer, the imagined affair starts to feel less far-fetched, like something that could actually happen given the right (or wrong) circumstances.

This novel was sharp, witty, and surprisingly heartfelt. I didn’t love any of the characters, but I felt for them, which to me is even more powerful. It is one of those books that leaves you thinking about the choices we make and the lives we imagine for ourselves. I’m already looking forward to reading more of Erin Somers’ work.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

When Cora meets Sam at a baby group in their small town, the chemistry between them is undeniable. Both are happily married young parents with two kids, and neither sees themselves as the type to engage in an affair. Yet their connection grows stronger, and as their lives continue to intertwine, the romantic tension between them becomes all-consuming—until their worlds unravel into two parallel timelines. In one, they pursue their feelings. In the other, they resist.

For fans of Brandon Taylor (Real Life, The Late Americans), The Ten Year Affair delves into the messy lives of Cora and Sam - friends, neighbors, and wannabe lovers - over ten years. I loved Somers' writing and the way they make the mundane interesting. Cora has rich inner dialogue that I loved. I would definitely recommend this novel to friends and fellow readers, and can't wait for more from Erin Somers!

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for a review.

4 stars. I honestly just saw for fans of big Swiss and wanted to read immediately. Cora (married) meets Sam (also married) at a baby group and they immediately hit it off. Every time they see each other the connection and romantic tension grows stronger and stronger. There is two timelines though, one where the affair happens, and one where they resist having the affair. Reality and fantasy start to blur. This was so creative and I just loved the writing style. I have literally never read anything like this and I enjoyed it so much. As always thank you Simon & Schuster for the earc.

This book is WOW! I loved how it kind of takes you along 2 different plot lines. It's messy and I wasn't sure who to root for. I wasn't rooting against anyone, however. I want to read more of this author.

Sam and Cora meet in a baby class; they are instantly attracted to each other. The book tells their story for the next 10 years.

I don't know if Cora was supposed to be an unlikable narrator or not, but she honestly has my heart. This story was so moving and unlike anything I've ever read before! I was so invested in it! The yearning and tension was unbeatable. The timelines and the sliding doors aspect was so interesting. I was laser focused the entire time I was reading it. I hope and pray this gets adapted to film. This debut from Erin Somers deserves the highest praises! I'm excited to see what she comes up with next!


I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book on NetGalley. This review is honest, unbiased, and completely my own.

This was definitely a fresh take on the world of adultery. Told by Cora in a constantly shifting fantasy/reality set-up, you wonder the whole time whether she and Sam, who meet in a baby class, are going to take things to the next step as they both try to navigate their own unsatisfactory, unfulfilling marriages. Cora goes back and forth between her actual life, where she works a mediocre job, has a disappointing marriage, and is in the doldrums of motherhood and her fantasy life, where she meets Sam at different locations to do the unspeakable. Neither of their significant others have an inkling of what's going on. This book really brings into question marriage, family life, and the big question of "Is this it? along with questions of morality, infidelity, and relationships--both marital and platonic. I was left a little disappointed with the ending, but that might just be a personal thing. Overall, a solid story that is well-written with an interesting play on timelines.

Cora and Eliot Sam and Jules

Thanks to NetGalley for loan of this book. I haven’t read a book recently that has touched me so deeply. I saw myself so many times in this book and I’m sure this author has captured the essence of a lot of us. I won’t spoil your read but would love to be able to share this book with others. We have two fairly recently married couples the wife of one and the husband of the other attend a baby group on infant care and they are immediately physically attracted to one and other, what happens next is unexpected. I may be in the minority that this book resonates with but I don’t think that’s true. The last sentence blew me away, it’s so true. A few hints; disappointment, self worth, fantasy and grass is greener.

Great book.
Sam and Cora meet at a baby class and their relationship develops from there. The book spans over 10 years and you read how their families grow closer and apart. So much happens.