An Unfinished Marriage

by Cindy Bonner

Told in alternating first person points-of-view, An Unfinished Marriage begins in October 1988. Sarah Glasser, 36, and Adam Glasser, 40, live on the outskirts of Austin, Texas, in a Victorian house they are renovating. Their fifteen-year marriage, already frayed by loss and past disappointment, is further damaged when Adam comes home hours late from a business meeting, drunk and agitated. He has been with Sarah's best friend, Carolyn Jeffrey, at her Austin apartment. He claims they have only been talking, but Sarah is suspicious. Adam tells her he isn't happy, that he's no longer in love with her, and he's leaving. He has no plan for where he's going he just wants out.




Shaken and frightened by the thought of life alone raising their two sons, Joel and Cody, and finishing the work on the house by herself, Sarah talks Adam out of leaving so compulsively in the middle of the night. With reluctance, he agrees to stay but the reconciliation is tenuous and uneasy. This incident sets the stage for all that stormy arguments, Adam's binge drinking; their unsatisfying sex life; his purposeful absence from family obligations and social gatherings; and Sarah's eventual, inevitable rebellion and slow-burn affair with the contractor, Troy Middleton, who is in charge of the renovation of their century-old house.




While the collapse of a marriage is a tried-and-true plot, the characters in An Unfinished Marriage are complex and relatable, with humor lightening the drama and propelling the novel forward. Ending in a surprising yet satisfying way, the layers of the story peel away to reveal familiar feelings of devotion, betrayal, selfishness, and the complicated love between women and men, parents and children, and friends who sometimes become enemies.

346 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2024

About the author

I’m the author of 6 literary and historical novels. I’ve written (and had published) short stories, essays, and book reviews. I've taught writing workshops for several writers guilds and for Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio. I'm the mother of two sons, the grandmother of one grandson, and the daughter of a World War II veteran who recently passed away at age 88. I have two cats, and am also an avid watcher of birds, the weather, and the political goings-on in Washington, D.C. And I'm a bottomless well of spotty information on history and the meaning of life.

Reviews

[Wanda McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started reading An Unfinished Marriage by Cindy Bonner, I couldn't put it down. A fan of Bonner's historical novels, I knew she could tell a compelling story. But this contemporary novel, told in the voices of the three people involved, went far beyond the boundaries of a good read. It made me realize how difficult it is when a long-standing marriage is unraveling and what lengths a person will go to put it back together even at the expense of his or her own happiness. The story is real and happening in homes across the world, yet it was personal to me and my experience. I highly recommend this beautifully written book for anyone who appreciates a true look at contemporary marriage and the difficult choice to either finish a marriage or save it.

[WineDahlia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I read a book in less than 24 hours, however I could not put this one down. I highly recommend An Unfinished Marriage!

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great look into a crumbling marriage. This novel explores multiple aspects of why many marriages fail and you get to see both MC POV.

[DFenton]

Ms. Bonner writes about real life issues in “An Unfinished Marriage”. A marriage has gone stale though the years. Partners have grown apart for various reasons. Neither are sure what they want anymore. Life changes and so do we. I appreciate the authors style of bringing each character to life, and by sharing all sides of the story. Great read, I couldn’t put it down and finished in 3 days. I must say I’ve found this to be true in all of this author’s books I’ve read. Enjoy, it’s a good one!

[Amy Reno · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The characters are so well written. I was drawn into the story and couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed the writing so much, I have already started another book from this author. I found that the editing was lacking. But the writing more than made up for that.