I adored this book. Belles story captured me from the beginning. I felt her pain and confusion like it was my own. I kept waiting for an explanation; a brain tumor, a mental health diagnosis - something to explain the situation! But there was nothing, and that was devastating for me as a reader, I can't fathom how it felt for Belle. I don't want to give any spoilers so I really won't say anymore about the actual story. What I will say is this book was excellently written. Belles' story unfolded flawlessly and kept me coming back for more. I would love a follow up at some point!

belle’s life is upended when her husband tells her he wants a divorce - a decision that comes out of nowhere. in this memoir, we follow along on belle’s journey from meeting her husband, dating, preparing for marriage, the births of their children, all the way to the start of the pandemic when he blows up her world. the major life change forces her to retrace her steps throughout their relationship and question her choices - should she have done things differently? was she a terrible wife (leading to the divorce)? why won’t her ex-husband give her an answer as to why he made this decision? what do you do with yourself over the coming years if that answer never comes?
reading this memoir felt like going through it with one of your girlfriends. the financial decisions that belle made early on in their relationship/marriage are teachable moments for young people - particularly women - who may be embarking on relationships of their own. do your due diligence and thoughtfully consider the (possible) legal ramifications before making any major financial decisions.
when belle published her essay on the divorce in the modern love column of the new york times, she did so because she thought it could help at least one person going through the same experience. belle’s memoir is also going to do the same thing. whether your own divorce leaves you with more questions than answers or someone you love is currently going through it, belle’s perspective is open, honest, and respectful. i appreciate that she was willing to share her story with readers.

thank you to random house publishing group for providing this book for review consideration via netgalley. all opinions are my own.

A vulnerable portrayal of a seemingly happy marriage that fell apart quickly and without warning.

Belle tells the story of how she and her husband met, their passionate relationship, and the family that they built together. When she finds out about her husband's infidelity, he suddenly turns into an unrecognizable person, forgoing all that they've built and showing no compassion towards her or their children.

The writing is articulate and Burden's narrative voice is very compelling. I could feel her confusion and distress through the pages, and I empathized with her painful circumstances. This intimate portrait of the unraveling of a marriage was filled with candor and raw emotion. I was touched by her generosity in sharing her story and her unwavering strength in the face of such adversity.

I have such mix feelings on this book.

First, it is so well written I could not put it down and I am very picky about what I read, especially when it comes to memoirs.

I come from a family with a dad that cheated on my mom (thankfully, she is not on social media, so I can say that). I saw firsthand what happens and it has left lasting impressions on me - some good
ones (my mother is such a strong person) to bad (wow, I did not matter to my dad, not really).

I will state this right now, that man is something else and he does not deserve his family - no question about that and he deserves whatever karma is coming to him.

When it comes to men and love, something seems to happen to many perfectly strong women, we get stupid (me included). It was so obvious that James had disconnected and was actually doing what was best for HIM. The whole prenup thing just got me mad. Yet. Belle said it herself, it was her fault, everyone told her about the prenup, but she was so in love she throw away all advice - See what I mean about smart women,,,

Her writing style is wonderful. You feel her pain, you feel her fear. She built James enough, for many readers to have a strong opinion on this man and his actions. I found myself rooting for her at times and wanting to yell at her at other times. This is a direct testimony to the writing.

The pace was also excellent. She does not go deep into useless details. She tells us what we need to read. The story moves forward well.

This was a very frustrating read - but I loved it and I hope she writes a follow up in a few years so we can follow her journey.

There are certainly other books out there about the dissolution of a marriage, but I believe this is the best one I've ever read. Even though I have never even been married, Belle Burden's writing is so relatable that I was immediately drawn into her story, shocked as she was by the sudden ending of what she thought was a long and happy marriage. Her writing about her journey in life and marriage and through the aftermath of that marriage's abrupt ending carries just the right level of intimacy to make this my favorite kind of memoir, one in which I'm eager to follow the author wherever they might lead me even if their actual life is nothing like mine. Surely Belle Burden made waves in her social circle by coming out with her story, and for her to do so took courage, but this is such a compelling and well-written book that it's hard to believe that it's her first one.. I hope she continues to write, as I would eagerly read anything she produced in the future.

This book was super interesting. Book had substance, Husband had his issues, and wife and children certainly didn't deserve the treatment he gave them. Bravo to author.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

Strangers seemed familiar to me as I began reading the memoir. The story felt like it could belong to any of the women in my friend group. Motherhood, marriage, professions, parents, and life are all carefully explored and highlighted throughout the book. Burden does an excellent job of grabbing your attention, and I was immediately invested in her story. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Absolutely loved this memoir and could not stop myself from consuming it in one sitting. It almost reads like a beautifully poetic literary fiction, so much so that I had to remind myself it actually is a memoir. This takes you from the day of the discovery through the dissolution of a marriage and what comes after. It is written so beautifully in a way that sets it apart from other memoirs. I felt like I actually walked this journey with the author the entire time. With vivid descriptions of her emotions in the aftermath of what happened, I was in my feels. There’s no wild salacious drama in this memoir which is what it makes it so relatable for so many of us.

Strangers is a heart wrenching memoir an intimate raw look at a sudden divorce of a husband deciding to walk away after years of a seemingly happy marriage.Belle Burden draws us into her heartache her shock as her world breaks in one day. this is a painful story told as she slowly but surely regains her independence becomes herself again her own person..I cheered Belle Burden on & am so impressed with her strength.#NetGalley #strangers

Strangers is a memoir written from that silence — from the ache of being left and the deeper ache of realizing you left yourself long ago. Belle Burden writes like someone sifting through dust and memory, searching for the shape of her own life beneath the roles she was taught to play.

The prose is spare but tender. The grief is not loud, but it lingers in the bones. This is not a story of revenge or reinvention—it’s something braver: the slow, careful work of seeing yourself clearly.

A book for anyone who has ever looked in the mirror after a loss and asked, “Who am I without them?”

It’s gentle. It’s fierce. It’s true.