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More Than Friends
Friendship, love, and forgiveness . . .The Maxwells and the Popes have been friends forever. The women were college roommates, their husbands are partners in the same law firm, their kids have grown up next door to each other, and the two families share both vacations and holidays.
Like Wisteria Lane, the "perfect" suburban street of Desperate Housewives, all is beautiful and serene -- until an accident forces these close neighbors to look beneath the surface. And when their idyllic lives are unexpectedly shattered by a moment that can never be erased or forgotten, their faith in one another -- and in themselves -- is put to the supreme test.
In this moving, unforgettable story, Barbara Delinsky exquisitely captures the depth and complexity of the human heart as few writers can.
484 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 27, 2007
303 people are currently reading
1814 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Delinsky
309 books4,364 followersI was born and raised in suburban Boston. My mother’s death, when I was eight, was the defining event of a childhood that was otherwise ordinary. I took piano lessons and flute lessons. I took ballroom dancing lessons. I went to summer camp through my fifteenth year (in Maine, which explains the setting of so many of my stories), then spent my sixteenth summer learning to type and to drive (two skills that have served me better than all of my other high school courses combined). I earned a B.A. in Psychology at Tufts University and an M.A. in Sociology at Boston College. The motivation behind the M.A. was sheer greed. My husband was just starting law school. We needed the money.
Following graduate school, I worked as a researcher with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and as a photographer and reporter for the Belmont Herald. I did the newspaper work after my first son was born. Since I was heavily into taking pictures of him, I worked for the paper to support that habit. Initially, I wrote only in a secondary capacity, to provide copy for the pictures I took. In time, I realized that I was better at writing than photography. I used both skills doing volunteer work for hospital groups, and have served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and on the MGH’s Women’s Cancer Advisory Board.
I became an actual writer by fluke. My twins were four when, by chance, I happened on a newspaper article profiling three female writers. Intrigued, I spent three months researching, plotting, and writing my own book - and it sold.
My niche? I write about the emotional crises that we face in our lives. Readers identify with my characters. They know them. They are them. I'm an everyday woman writing about everyday people facing not-so-everyday challenges.
My novels are character-driven studies of marriage, parenthood, sibling rivalry, and friendship, and I’ve been blessed in having readers who buy them eagerly enough to put them on the major bestseller lists. One of my latest, Sweet Salt Air, came out in 2013. Blueprints, my second novel with St. Martin’s Press, became my 22nd New York Times bestselling novel soon after its release in June 2015. Making Up, my work in progress, will be published in 2018.
2018? Yikes. I didn’t think I’d live that long. I thought I’d die of breast cancer back in the 1900's, like my mom. But I didn’t. I was diagnosed nearly twenty years ago, had surgery and treatment, and here I am, stronger than ever and loving having authored yet another book, this one the non-fiction Uplift: Secrets From the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors. First published in 2001, Uplift is a handbook of practical tips and upbeat anecdotes that I compiled with the help of 350 breast cancer survivors, their families and friends. These survivors just ... blew me away! They gave me the book that I wish I’d had way back when I was diagnosed. There is no medical information here, nothing frightening, simply practical advice from friends who’ve had breast cancer. The 10th Anniversary Volume of Uplift is now in print. And the money I’ve made on the book? Every cent has gone to my charitable foundation, which funds an ongoing research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Connect with me on Facebook: facebook.com/bdelinsky
Look for my photos on Instagram: instagram.com/barbaradelinsky
Following graduate school, I worked as a researcher with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and as a photographer and reporter for the Belmont Herald. I did the newspaper work after my first son was born. Since I was heavily into taking pictures of him, I worked for the paper to support that habit. Initially, I wrote only in a secondary capacity, to provide copy for the pictures I took. In time, I realized that I was better at writing than photography. I used both skills doing volunteer work for hospital groups, and have served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and on the MGH’s Women’s Cancer Advisory Board.
I became an actual writer by fluke. My twins were four when, by chance, I happened on a newspaper article profiling three female writers. Intrigued, I spent three months researching, plotting, and writing my own book - and it sold.
My niche? I write about the emotional crises that we face in our lives. Readers identify with my characters. They know them. They are them. I'm an everyday woman writing about everyday people facing not-so-everyday challenges.
My novels are character-driven studies of marriage, parenthood, sibling rivalry, and friendship, and I’ve been blessed in having readers who buy them eagerly enough to put them on the major bestseller lists. One of my latest, Sweet Salt Air, came out in 2013. Blueprints, my second novel with St. Martin’s Press, became my 22nd New York Times bestselling novel soon after its release in June 2015. Making Up, my work in progress, will be published in 2018.
2018? Yikes. I didn’t think I’d live that long. I thought I’d die of breast cancer back in the 1900's, like my mom. But I didn’t. I was diagnosed nearly twenty years ago, had surgery and treatment, and here I am, stronger than ever and loving having authored yet another book, this one the non-fiction Uplift: Secrets From the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors. First published in 2001, Uplift is a handbook of practical tips and upbeat anecdotes that I compiled with the help of 350 breast cancer survivors, their families and friends. These survivors just ... blew me away! They gave me the book that I wish I’d had way back when I was diagnosed. There is no medical information here, nothing frightening, simply practical advice from friends who’ve had breast cancer. The 10th Anniversary Volume of Uplift is now in print. And the money I’ve made on the book? Every cent has gone to my charitable foundation, which funds an ongoing research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Connect with me on Facebook: facebook.com/bdelinsky
Look for my photos on Instagram: instagram.com/barbaradelinsky
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
June 3, 2011
This author made a big crime while writing this book:
The crime of a stupid premises.
The premises that tells us Sam and Take had sex but did not want to have sex with one another. Sam imagined his wife and Take Grady.
Sorry, what?
Yeah, that’s what I said.
"I made love with you, but it was her body I used."
Annie struggled with that thought. It didn't make sense. "But how?
There's no confusing the two of us. Her body's nothing like mine."
"I wasn't looking. So help me God, I didn't see a thing. I was only
thinking that I'd had a great victory and that I was sharing the
excitement with my wife."
"But it wasn't me, it was Teke," she cried. Her chin quivered. Her
Sam wouldn't do that. "I don't understand. I thought we had it
all."
"We do," he pleaded. "The problem isn't our relationship, it's me. Me.
I'm the one who blew it. I'm the one whose brain wasn't working the right way. I'm the one who let
my desire for you spill over into another woman."
My desire for you to spill over into another woman?
I am feeling soooo nauseated at the moment.
First of all how will the heroine now ever know when ‘his desire’ could…you know…spill? Pardon the pun.
I tried to imagine myself in this situation.
Me and my fiancé,with whom I am in a 3 year relationship have a couple we are really good friends with. I tried to think up a situation where I was horny, went home,found my Slobodan’s best friend there, had sex with him and not really understood it was him, seeing as how I only have passion for my fiancé.
It just isn’t do-able. I am sorry. It’s not. You stop. You just stop. Even if you start, you stop.
These two in the book had full blown sex! And he fu.king came! Do you understand me? They had climaxes! No way. There is no way in which this could have been about other people.
I could understand Take a bit.
Well, not really. She wanted someone to get her mind of Grady,ok. But she thinks of how Sam could be Grady…they are nothing alike! Get a grip on yourself woman!
And even if she did not think, this makes her selfish. Very selfish, because she is upset she decides to cheat, ok, but with her best friends husband?
That only makes you a bitch, nothing more, even if you had it rough.
The only sane person in all this I Grady who tells us:
Grady focused on Michael. After a time, in a voice hard with
conviction, he said, "You'd have called him if your marriage was
good."
"It was," she protested. She was desperate to believe it.
"It couldn't have been, or you'd never have done it with Sam."
"If that was true, why did Sam do it with me?" she asked. "He adores
Annie. They have a terrific sex life, a terrific marriage."
Grady raised his eyes. "I wouldn't have cheated on you if you were my
wife, and you wouldn't have cheated on me."
"But I'm not your wife!" she shouted and the anger was back. "You
precluded that."
The accent being on his declaration that he would not have cheated. In a good marriage there is no cheating and that’s final. So what about Annie and Sam?
Really, what about them?
Sam still rumbles how he was ‘having sex with Annie’.
Well, I have no idea if this was the author fault (seeing how the author is the one who made up this stupid plot anyhow) but the character said ‘Jesus Take’ before they had sex. TAKE! Ok? NOT Annie.
So this whole thing is one giant mess and I know that, but then JD and Sam talk and we are faced with the fact that Take could be pregnant. She was not, thank God, because I could just not handle that drama but still-the things that Take told herself and Grady at that moment stunned me speechless. I just read about Take talking how she liked babies but Sam’s would have complicated things. I am sorry, I know she was not pregnant but if she was, she would have kept it? Really? OMG! What a moron! Is she insane? To keep that baby would be the stupidest thing ever! And if she did not destroy Sam’s and Annie’s marriage up to that point I think that by having Sam’s kid she would! Don’t you?! All of this made me dislike her even more. Boohoo she had a life without love. Boohoo the love of her life went to jail. Boohoo she was almost raped. Boohoo she likes to have a lot of kids. Booohooo..poor her. We just read and read about poor Take but all I see is selfish Take. She wanted security. That is why she stayed with JD even thou she did not love him and didn’t even like the sex! Poor her all the damn time even thou she just acts how ever she likes, hurting who ever is around never for a second thinking about CONSEQUENCES!
So how could she even think about babies? Think more of the lines of ABORTION you stupid lame woman! And you know what? You are the worst friend ever!
But let me get back to Sam:
"You've blown your credibility. It's gone. Your word isn't worth
shit."
"Jon--"
"And there's no hope of redemption?" Sam asked. "Remember when you
were six and threw a ball through the front window after you'd promised
not to throw against the house? Or when you got your driver's license
and promptly backed out of the garage into the mailbox after you'd
promised you would be so careful?"
"It was an accident."
"Precisely. Accidents happen. Because of that, and because you felt
awful, and because I loved you, I forgave you. Well, what about me?
Don't I deserve the same?"
He is comparing bad driving and a ball to cheating? Ughhh. Is he really? It’s not just me going crazy,right?
Sam is sometimes very condescending to people about his cheating. To his kids, to JD, even to Annie sometimes. He just brushes it off because it was a mistake.
Well, uh…again I have to say, you could have stopped, you knew who you were fu.king, you climaxed with another woman, you got an erection and you fu.ked her in her living room all because your wife was not at home when you won your case. The only person who needs to understand things a bit more is you,mister!
He also talks a lot about love. Everybody and their grandma know and say how much he is in love with Annie. Well, to be truthful, his cheating was not something I could understand and not something I could relate to on any level. This made me question his love for real. Not just in the form of Annie’s little doubts- but really questioned it.
Also him and Take both spend a lot of time analyzing and coming up with the same conclusion-they did not feel a thing for one another. No attraction. Nothing. Sam even wonders how he maintained an erection. Well, what ever. This whole ‘plot’ reeks of fantasy. It is just not plausible. I am sorry, but it's not.
On the other hand, I liked Annie getting it on with her assistant thou. It was the brightest part of this book for me! I hate books where the hero cheats and the the heroine is a martyr trough the whole thing. Still, I wish he was really in love with Annie. It would be so cool! He did tell her he loved her, did he not? Le sight. In my mind he did love her.
It bugged me a bit when Sam later said that it was ok because she was thinking of him when she kissed J. and it was the same as his cheating with Take. Annie was thinking more in the lines- I love my husband and I will not do this.
And guess what? She stopped! So eat that up Sam, you jerk!
The assistant didn’t really overdose because of her, he was just a diabetic like the facts state but he loved her in my eyes.(yes, yes wishful thinking!) Because to be frank? Annie was lovable. She was the only one of the grownups that I wanted to cure of the hurt. All of the others-JD, Sam, Teke, were egocentricall in their own way and could just rot in hell if they wanted for all I care.
At first I saw Annie as a typical spineless creature, but she was not, really. She was the best thing in this book. She freaked out and had trust problems. She almost got a lover. She did not just sit and mop. She was mad! And she was enraged! But still the voice of reason, and the safe harbor off all the children. She did not want to loose the husband that she loved and was happy with for 10 years of her life. She understood the obstacles and fought for what she wanted. I respect her for that. I have no idea how I would have reacted. But I think that maybe if my marriage was a good one for half of my life-I would have stayed and made the moves she did. It would be more fun for her to have a new life with her 10 years younger assistant, but still. :)
The only thing I did not like was her forgiving Take. Again, yes yes, poooor Take but I as the universal viewer saw how much she was plain stupid, shallow, greedy and tame.
Yes tame. She liked the luxury, and I do not mean the money. She liked the known! But she was still not above having…well sex with her best friends husband when she was hurt and lonely. Talk about selfish. In my book she should have been cast off.
The other characters and sub plots left me cold. I cared not a sec for Grady, his kid, the older kids pregnancy plot,the younger ones fight,and most of all I cared nothing about JD.
I think the only reason I even read this book was because Annie interested me and I wanted to know what she decided and how she coped. To be frank, I hated the ending because these two families were again chummy with the only difference being Takes divorce and mar ridge to Grady.
Well, call me crazy but I would have at least bought a house a bit further down the road and stopped having all my holidays together. Really. What was the point? Are we waiting for Sam's affections to spill again?
So,all in all it could not go above 2 stars. It just did not have a logical plot and most of this book was plain boring even thou we had kids in comas, avenging fathers, lost jobs, old loves etc. And I have no idea how the author made me so sleepy with all that action going on.
So, a forgettable read that I would not recommend.
The crime of a stupid premises.
The premises that tells us Sam and Take had sex but did not want to have sex with one another. Sam imagined his wife and Take Grady.
Sorry, what?
Yeah, that’s what I said.
"I made love with you, but it was her body I used."
Annie struggled with that thought. It didn't make sense. "But how?
There's no confusing the two of us. Her body's nothing like mine."
"I wasn't looking. So help me God, I didn't see a thing. I was only
thinking that I'd had a great victory and that I was sharing the
excitement with my wife."
"But it wasn't me, it was Teke," she cried. Her chin quivered. Her
Sam wouldn't do that. "I don't understand. I thought we had it
all."
"We do," he pleaded. "The problem isn't our relationship, it's me. Me.
I'm the one who blew it. I'm the one whose brain wasn't working the right way. I'm the one who let
my desire for you spill over into another woman."
My desire for you to spill over into another woman?
I am feeling soooo nauseated at the moment.
First of all how will the heroine now ever know when ‘his desire’ could…you know…spill? Pardon the pun.
I tried to imagine myself in this situation.
Me and my fiancé,with whom I am in a 3 year relationship have a couple we are really good friends with. I tried to think up a situation where I was horny, went home,found my Slobodan’s best friend there, had sex with him and not really understood it was him, seeing as how I only have passion for my fiancé.
It just isn’t do-able. I am sorry. It’s not. You stop. You just stop. Even if you start, you stop.
These two in the book had full blown sex! And he fu.king came! Do you understand me? They had climaxes! No way. There is no way in which this could have been about other people.
I could understand Take a bit.
Well, not really. She wanted someone to get her mind of Grady,ok. But she thinks of how Sam could be Grady…they are nothing alike! Get a grip on yourself woman!
And even if she did not think, this makes her selfish. Very selfish, because she is upset she decides to cheat, ok, but with her best friends husband?
That only makes you a bitch, nothing more, even if you had it rough.
The only sane person in all this I Grady who tells us:
Grady focused on Michael. After a time, in a voice hard with
conviction, he said, "You'd have called him if your marriage was
good."
"It was," she protested. She was desperate to believe it.
"It couldn't have been, or you'd never have done it with Sam."
"If that was true, why did Sam do it with me?" she asked. "He adores
Annie. They have a terrific sex life, a terrific marriage."
Grady raised his eyes. "I wouldn't have cheated on you if you were my
wife, and you wouldn't have cheated on me."
"But I'm not your wife!" she shouted and the anger was back. "You
precluded that."
The accent being on his declaration that he would not have cheated. In a good marriage there is no cheating and that’s final. So what about Annie and Sam?
Really, what about them?
Sam still rumbles how he was ‘having sex with Annie’.
Well, I have no idea if this was the author fault (seeing how the author is the one who made up this stupid plot anyhow) but the character said ‘Jesus Take’ before they had sex. TAKE! Ok? NOT Annie.
So this whole thing is one giant mess and I know that, but then JD and Sam talk and we are faced with the fact that Take could be pregnant. She was not, thank God, because I could just not handle that drama but still-the things that Take told herself and Grady at that moment stunned me speechless. I just read about Take talking how she liked babies but Sam’s would have complicated things. I am sorry, I know she was not pregnant but if she was, she would have kept it? Really? OMG! What a moron! Is she insane? To keep that baby would be the stupidest thing ever! And if she did not destroy Sam’s and Annie’s marriage up to that point I think that by having Sam’s kid she would! Don’t you?! All of this made me dislike her even more. Boohoo she had a life without love. Boohoo the love of her life went to jail. Boohoo she was almost raped. Boohoo she likes to have a lot of kids. Booohooo..poor her. We just read and read about poor Take but all I see is selfish Take. She wanted security. That is why she stayed with JD even thou she did not love him and didn’t even like the sex! Poor her all the damn time even thou she just acts how ever she likes, hurting who ever is around never for a second thinking about CONSEQUENCES!
So how could she even think about babies? Think more of the lines of ABORTION you stupid lame woman! And you know what? You are the worst friend ever!
But let me get back to Sam:
"You've blown your credibility. It's gone. Your word isn't worth
shit."
"Jon--"
"And there's no hope of redemption?" Sam asked. "Remember when you
were six and threw a ball through the front window after you'd promised
not to throw against the house? Or when you got your driver's license
and promptly backed out of the garage into the mailbox after you'd
promised you would be so careful?"
"It was an accident."
"Precisely. Accidents happen. Because of that, and because you felt
awful, and because I loved you, I forgave you. Well, what about me?
Don't I deserve the same?"
He is comparing bad driving and a ball to cheating? Ughhh. Is he really? It’s not just me going crazy,right?
Sam is sometimes very condescending to people about his cheating. To his kids, to JD, even to Annie sometimes. He just brushes it off because it was a mistake.
Well, uh…again I have to say, you could have stopped, you knew who you were fu.king, you climaxed with another woman, you got an erection and you fu.ked her in her living room all because your wife was not at home when you won your case. The only person who needs to understand things a bit more is you,mister!
He also talks a lot about love. Everybody and their grandma know and say how much he is in love with Annie. Well, to be truthful, his cheating was not something I could understand and not something I could relate to on any level. This made me question his love for real. Not just in the form of Annie’s little doubts- but really questioned it.
Also him and Take both spend a lot of time analyzing and coming up with the same conclusion-they did not feel a thing for one another. No attraction. Nothing. Sam even wonders how he maintained an erection. Well, what ever. This whole ‘plot’ reeks of fantasy. It is just not plausible. I am sorry, but it's not.
On the other hand, I liked Annie getting it on with her assistant thou. It was the brightest part of this book for me! I hate books where the hero cheats and the the heroine is a martyr trough the whole thing. Still, I wish he was really in love with Annie. It would be so cool! He did tell her he loved her, did he not? Le sight. In my mind he did love her.
It bugged me a bit when Sam later said that it was ok because she was thinking of him when she kissed J. and it was the same as his cheating with Take. Annie was thinking more in the lines- I love my husband and I will not do this.
And guess what? She stopped! So eat that up Sam, you jerk!
The assistant didn’t really overdose because of her, he was just a diabetic like the facts state but he loved her in my eyes.(yes, yes wishful thinking!) Because to be frank? Annie was lovable. She was the only one of the grownups that I wanted to cure of the hurt. All of the others-JD, Sam, Teke, were egocentricall in their own way and could just rot in hell if they wanted for all I care.
At first I saw Annie as a typical spineless creature, but she was not, really. She was the best thing in this book. She freaked out and had trust problems. She almost got a lover. She did not just sit and mop. She was mad! And she was enraged! But still the voice of reason, and the safe harbor off all the children. She did not want to loose the husband that she loved and was happy with for 10 years of her life. She understood the obstacles and fought for what she wanted. I respect her for that. I have no idea how I would have reacted. But I think that maybe if my marriage was a good one for half of my life-I would have stayed and made the moves she did. It would be more fun for her to have a new life with her 10 years younger assistant, but still. :)
The only thing I did not like was her forgiving Take. Again, yes yes, poooor Take but I as the universal viewer saw how much she was plain stupid, shallow, greedy and tame.
Yes tame. She liked the luxury, and I do not mean the money. She liked the known! But she was still not above having…well sex with her best friends husband when she was hurt and lonely. Talk about selfish. In my book she should have been cast off.
The other characters and sub plots left me cold. I cared not a sec for Grady, his kid, the older kids pregnancy plot,the younger ones fight,and most of all I cared nothing about JD.
I think the only reason I even read this book was because Annie interested me and I wanted to know what she decided and how she coped. To be frank, I hated the ending because these two families were again chummy with the only difference being Takes divorce and mar ridge to Grady.
Well, call me crazy but I would have at least bought a house a bit further down the road and stopped having all my holidays together. Really. What was the point? Are we waiting for Sam's affections to spill again?
So,all in all it could not go above 2 stars. It just did not have a logical plot and most of this book was plain boring even thou we had kids in comas, avenging fathers, lost jobs, old loves etc. And I have no idea how the author made me so sleepy with all that action going on.
So, a forgettable read that I would not recommend.
November 30, 2023
This may be the dumbest reason for cheating EVER. If there were good reasons for cheating at all.
I'm actually nauseated.
I'm actually nauseated.
June 29, 2018
Sam Pope rushes home to tell his wife Annie that he has just won a big case. He and Annie normally celebrate big wins with sex. But Annie isn't home. So he does what any reasonable, rational man who loves his wife would do - he pops next door and bangs his best friend's wife. Teke, his (very) temporary partner was mooning over a long lost lover, but Sam was there, so what the heck, right? And to make matters worse, Teke's young son witnesses the quickie, flees the house, and gets hit by a truck. A truck driven by Teke's long lost lover. But not to worry! In a year's time, the child is almost as good as new, all is forgiven, and everyone is looking forward to the next chapter in their lives.
Noooooope. Just nope.
Noooooope. Just nope.
June 25, 2011
Completed this book must say i really did'nt get how can Sam get turned on n have sex with Teke n what a pathetic unbelievable reason though i was doing it with her but i was thinking of you ohh get lost lost will you,Teke less said better she knows she is betraying her best friend ,she made the first step n her reason she was thinking of her first love "Grady" ohh please you wanted to get laid you should have caught a stranger n had sex with him thinking him to be Grady but screwing with your best friend's husband ,just cannot forgive these 2 people
Annie i liked her character but she forgave Teke,i would have never ever let that woman again in my house near my house n kids and Sam i m confused with him he grovelled enough n was ashamed n paid the price but still i have my doubts about Sam
JD a mean selfish double standard man ,hated him but he took the right decision of divorcing,Teke-Grady went through a lot when they were younger liked their back up story
for no reason at all these 2 people destroyed a marriage-friendship and what irritated me most was the way the culprits tried to justify their crimes urrggg!!!
I have changed my review and rating after re-reading it,I had skipped some parts but now after re-reading whole book i m tearing my hair apart with anger,frustration n irritation
Annie i liked her character but she forgave Teke,i would have never ever let that woman again in my house near my house n kids and Sam i m confused with him he grovelled enough n was ashamed n paid the price but still i have my doubts about Sam
JD a mean selfish double standard man ,hated him but he took the right decision of divorcing,Teke-Grady went through a lot when they were younger liked their back up story
for no reason at all these 2 people destroyed a marriage-friendship and what irritated me most was the way the culprits tried to justify their crimes urrggg!!!
I have changed my review and rating after re-reading it,I had skipped some parts but now after re-reading whole book i m tearing my hair apart with anger,frustration n irritation
April 1, 2021
Spoilers again...
Dang. This book was a little nuts with the angst. There are some unhealthy-ish co-dependent relationships with another couple and that couple's kids, which results in a level of familiarity that made the main event in the book even possible. One of the H's is pretty caricaturish - he's a total douche: self-absorbed, almost completely motivated by financial success and power, cheater, misogynist, asshole. His wife is a bit Stepford-ish. I had a hard time identifying with her much at all because I just don't know women like her these days...she seemed to fit squarely into some Wife Stereotypes of the late 80's and 90's. I also didn't like her because she was the OW. Get a life (and stick with your own H), sister.
The other couple felt more real and more likable to me, even the Cheater. They certainly seemed to have a much closer relationship, but that changed pretty early in the book. I related to the working professor mama who fretted about the time (or lack thereof) she was able to devote to her beloved family. I liked how the H groveled AND busted his butt to demonstrate through his actions that he was all-in on their family and working toward rebuilding trust. He said it a lot, but his actions were what did the trick for me. His attempts at the beginning to hide his actions were 100% smarmy and predictably disappointing, but once the genie was out of the bottle, he owned it and started working on trying to repair the damage.
I struggled with how exactly the infidelity occurred. Why exactly the H couldn't keep his pants zipped up and keep himself away from the tempting neighbor/OW baffled me. But then again, some men's penises just seem to have minds all their own. As I continued to read, I had to tamp down my disbelief surrounding just how the main event happened, and when I was successful, the resulting angst was better.
The writing is fantastic. The pacing is great. It is definitely dated, but I'm ok with that. If you are able to suspend your disbelief surrounding that major event (and like kind of dated romances), then you will probably like this story.
Dang. This book was a little nuts with the angst. There are some unhealthy-ish co-dependent relationships with another couple and that couple's kids, which results in a level of familiarity that made the main event in the book even possible. One of the H's is pretty caricaturish - he's a total douche: self-absorbed, almost completely motivated by financial success and power, cheater, misogynist, asshole. His wife is a bit Stepford-ish. I had a hard time identifying with her much at all because I just don't know women like her these days...she seemed to fit squarely into some Wife Stereotypes of the late 80's and 90's. I also didn't like her because she was the OW. Get a life (and stick with your own H), sister.
The other couple felt more real and more likable to me, even the Cheater. They certainly seemed to have a much closer relationship, but that changed pretty early in the book. I related to the working professor mama who fretted about the time (or lack thereof) she was able to devote to her beloved family. I liked how the H groveled AND busted his butt to demonstrate through his actions that he was all-in on their family and working toward rebuilding trust. He said it a lot, but his actions were what did the trick for me. His attempts at the beginning to hide his actions were 100% smarmy and predictably disappointing, but once the genie was out of the bottle, he owned it and started working on trying to repair the damage.
I struggled with how exactly the infidelity occurred. Why exactly the H couldn't keep his pants zipped up and keep himself away from the tempting neighbor/OW baffled me. But then again, some men's penises just seem to have minds all their own. As I continued to read, I had to tamp down my disbelief surrounding just how the main event happened, and when I was successful, the resulting angst was better.
The writing is fantastic. The pacing is great. It is definitely dated, but I'm ok with that. If you are able to suspend your disbelief surrounding that major event (and like kind of dated romances), then you will probably like this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
July 16, 2023🤦♀️👎🤦♀️👎🤦♀️👎
I stopped and started this so many times. It was hard to finish.
First issue: it is still a betrayal if you were thinking of your wife
Second issue: when you say the name of you wife’s best friend before you commit the act you are not thinking only of your wife
Third issue: when you say bffs name again your not only thinking of wife.
So author I see what you were trying to do but it didn’t work.
Plus all the consequences this was just not my fav book.
Oh and everyone remains friends. 🤦♀️
I stupidly did a reread: I took a star away so now it’s down to 0.
There was and is no reasonable reason for the infidelity to happen on either side.
I stopped and started this so many times. It was hard to finish.
First issue: it is still a betrayal if you were thinking of your wife
Second issue: when you say the name of you wife’s best friend before you commit the act you are not thinking only of your wife
Third issue: when you say bffs name again your not only thinking of wife.
So author I see what you were trying to do but it didn’t work.
Plus all the consequences this was just not my fav book.
Oh and everyone remains friends. 🤦♀️
I stupidly did a reread: I took a star away so now it’s down to 0.
There was and is no reasonable reason for the infidelity to happen on either side.
January 26, 2012
This book was about 100 pages too long and tedious at times. Like many of the other reviewers I had a tough time wrapping my brain around the "I accidentally had sex with your best friend but I was thinking of you" premise. I don't know how I expected it to end but after a lot of whining a it seemed fat bandaid was slapped on the families and everyone was happy. Not her best.
June 25, 2011
Reviewed @ Girls Without a Bookshelf.
Infidelity, being the ultimate betrayal, is terribly difficult for any couple - let alone family - to face. So imagine if it happens to two very close-knit families: The Maxwells: J.D. and Teke, their children Leigh, Jana and Michael. And the Popes, Sam, Annie, and Jon and Zoe. It all begins one afternoon when Sam and Teke loses themselves in a moment of passion. Worse, Michael walks in on them and runs away, only to get hit by a truck, which results in a coma. Now, if that drama isn't heavy enough, the truck's driver happens to be Grady, the love of Teke's life.
This book really evokes intense emotions from the readers, because the crushing betrayal is aggravated by the fact that the families are so close, and MIchael being hurt is a direct effect of the trauma of seeing something that should never have happened. Pain and resentment abound, and I shed a lot of tears for Annie in this book, because I felt she deserved the most sympathy. The emotions of the characters are compelling and it is easy to get to know each character and their motivations. The characters are really varied and well-differentiated, and each of these differences dictate the path of the story.
What isn't easy to understand though, are the reactions of the adults to the infidelity. Annie for me was too forgiving - she was such a martyr! I guess she's real enough in that you always hear about women who forgive husbands/boyfriends who have cheated on them. Personally for me, although not vindictive per se, forgiveness comes hard and long and forgetting may never happen. So I felt Annie forgave too easily. I hated how the offending parties, Sam and Teke, tried so hard to brush off their sins under the "it's a one time mistake", "it's in the past", and the one I hated most: "we did not have an affair" umbrella of worthless excuses. As if that changes things! No mature, rational adult is vulnerable to their excuses because they were shallow, appalling and very, very flimsy. I've always hated that 'blinded by lust' excuse that authors use, because well, it's unrealistic!
It really threw me off how both of them downplayed the relevance and gravity of them cheating. It was as if they were trying so hard to make it look as if it never happened because it apparently meant nothing to both of them - but come on, cheating is cheating no matter what, and it is a big, big mistake even if it 'meant nothing'. They consistently hid behind the fact that it 'was not an affair' - are we to take it lightly because it was not? The book never really justifies it enough, and that's even worse because of the closeness of the family.
Sam also had the guts to be all condescending to their children, which was ironically immature of him to do because they were teenagers and not six years old! They don't understand not because their young, but because there's nothing to understand. Sam was such a typical male - expecting to be forgiven because he had admitted the sin and apologised. Bollocks! He didn't even try very much. He also dared to excuse his unfaithfulness by saying that he wasn't unfaithful at all because he was making love to Annie in his mind! And that he only used Teke's body. You know what that sounds like? It sounds like a well-thought, well-practiced excuse. Who comes up with that s***? What really got to me was when he was doing it with Teke, he said "Jesus, Teke" - which does not support his excuse of thinking of Annie, and also makes it known that he knew who it was he was screwing. I really lost respect to him after that, and once you lose respect for a character... it's hard for him to redeem himself again.
Teke is just as bad, because she was so self-absorbed, always thinking about Grady. Instead of redeeming herself to Annie, she only called on her to again, talk about Grady. How very unrepentant! And although by no means her fault, the book seems adamant to excuse Teke's behaviour due to troubled past - as if that gives her the right to cheat! So really, I felt that Sam and Teke got off very lightly in this book - it was very frustrating. Sure, J.D. is cruel and doesn't seem to deserve his due damage (he also cheated, by the way), Annie deserves every bit of grovelling from Sam and Teke! Having said that, Teke is a devoted mother - she did suffer her own share in her marriage, and more after her indiscretion, especially from J.D. who had absolutely no moral right to judge her. After a while it's hard not to sympathise with Teke, but I don't feel she apologised to Annie in particular, which given that they were the best of friends, should have done so in the first instance.
There were two redeeming characters in the book for me - Grady and the children. Grady is one very interesting character, and although he is often on the edge of the main picture, he has a very solid presence. The children were the most rational of the bunch, and in a book about infidelity by the parents, that says a lot.
More than Friends is slightly predictable - it ultimately revolves around the ramifications of infidelity on two different families, and the outcomes that result from said consequences. It's also about forgiveness and starting over. It shows how people cope very differently to an indiscretion; how it changed lives, how it strengthens bonds and how to ultimately live with it.
Sadly, it seems to me that wanting to re-read the book doesn't stem from the desire to wallow in the message it conveys, but from the pleasure of seeing those who should have been more tormented suffer repeatedly.
More than Friends is a painful, frustrating read - the characters are flawed and does grate at one's nerves. But it also does explore family life and values, and despite not liking the characters much, I don't regret reading the book...much.
Infidelity, being the ultimate betrayal, is terribly difficult for any couple - let alone family - to face. So imagine if it happens to two very close-knit families: The Maxwells: J.D. and Teke, their children Leigh, Jana and Michael. And the Popes, Sam, Annie, and Jon and Zoe. It all begins one afternoon when Sam and Teke loses themselves in a moment of passion. Worse, Michael walks in on them and runs away, only to get hit by a truck, which results in a coma. Now, if that drama isn't heavy enough, the truck's driver happens to be Grady, the love of Teke's life.
This book really evokes intense emotions from the readers, because the crushing betrayal is aggravated by the fact that the families are so close, and MIchael being hurt is a direct effect of the trauma of seeing something that should never have happened. Pain and resentment abound, and I shed a lot of tears for Annie in this book, because I felt she deserved the most sympathy. The emotions of the characters are compelling and it is easy to get to know each character and their motivations. The characters are really varied and well-differentiated, and each of these differences dictate the path of the story.
What isn't easy to understand though, are the reactions of the adults to the infidelity. Annie for me was too forgiving - she was such a martyr! I guess she's real enough in that you always hear about women who forgive husbands/boyfriends who have cheated on them. Personally for me, although not vindictive per se, forgiveness comes hard and long and forgetting may never happen. So I felt Annie forgave too easily. I hated how the offending parties, Sam and Teke, tried so hard to brush off their sins under the "it's a one time mistake", "it's in the past", and the one I hated most: "we did not have an affair" umbrella of worthless excuses. As if that changes things! No mature, rational adult is vulnerable to their excuses because they were shallow, appalling and very, very flimsy. I've always hated that 'blinded by lust' excuse that authors use, because well, it's unrealistic!
It really threw me off how both of them downplayed the relevance and gravity of them cheating. It was as if they were trying so hard to make it look as if it never happened because it apparently meant nothing to both of them - but come on, cheating is cheating no matter what, and it is a big, big mistake even if it 'meant nothing'. They consistently hid behind the fact that it 'was not an affair' - are we to take it lightly because it was not? The book never really justifies it enough, and that's even worse because of the closeness of the family.
Sam also had the guts to be all condescending to their children, which was ironically immature of him to do because they were teenagers and not six years old! They don't understand not because their young, but because there's nothing to understand. Sam was such a typical male - expecting to be forgiven because he had admitted the sin and apologised. Bollocks! He didn't even try very much. He also dared to excuse his unfaithfulness by saying that he wasn't unfaithful at all because he was making love to Annie in his mind! And that he only used Teke's body. You know what that sounds like? It sounds like a well-thought, well-practiced excuse. Who comes up with that s***? What really got to me was when he was doing it with Teke, he said "Jesus, Teke" - which does not support his excuse of thinking of Annie, and also makes it known that he knew who it was he was screwing. I really lost respect to him after that, and once you lose respect for a character... it's hard for him to redeem himself again.
Teke is just as bad, because she was so self-absorbed, always thinking about Grady. Instead of redeeming herself to Annie, she only called on her to again, talk about Grady. How very unrepentant! And although by no means her fault, the book seems adamant to excuse Teke's behaviour due to troubled past - as if that gives her the right to cheat! So really, I felt that Sam and Teke got off very lightly in this book - it was very frustrating. Sure, J.D. is cruel and doesn't seem to deserve his due damage (he also cheated, by the way), Annie deserves every bit of grovelling from Sam and Teke! Having said that, Teke is a devoted mother - she did suffer her own share in her marriage, and more after her indiscretion, especially from J.D. who had absolutely no moral right to judge her. After a while it's hard not to sympathise with Teke, but I don't feel she apologised to Annie in particular, which given that they were the best of friends, should have done so in the first instance.
There were two redeeming characters in the book for me - Grady and the children. Grady is one very interesting character, and although he is often on the edge of the main picture, he has a very solid presence. The children were the most rational of the bunch, and in a book about infidelity by the parents, that says a lot.
More than Friends is slightly predictable - it ultimately revolves around the ramifications of infidelity on two different families, and the outcomes that result from said consequences. It's also about forgiveness and starting over. It shows how people cope very differently to an indiscretion; how it changed lives, how it strengthens bonds and how to ultimately live with it.
Sadly, it seems to me that wanting to re-read the book doesn't stem from the desire to wallow in the message it conveys, but from the pleasure of seeing those who should have been more tormented suffer repeatedly.
More than Friends is a painful, frustrating read - the characters are flawed and does grate at one's nerves. But it also does explore family life and values, and despite not liking the characters much, I don't regret reading the book...much.
November 11, 2023
Didn’t really care for the storyline and definitely didn’t like the way it ended. Annie was too much of a door mat in my opinion.
February 21, 2009
This is a story that explores how making the wrong decision in a moment of emotion can change the fabric of your life in a dramatic way. An interesting way to look at the subject of infidelity and make you realize how easy it may be to slip with the right circumstances. I did think the guy got off too easy though.
January 19, 2023
Cheating yes, stupid premise? Yes! I still felt for the h and thought the husband was a moron. Also, totally subjective here but my opinion, lol, this had a 70's ~ 80's hero with a freaking thick mustache and all I could think about was Burt Reynolds. And I don't think BR was sexy, sorry.
I know I'm damning this with faint praise, but just like "The Mill House", I do re read bc I totally like the scene when the h finds out she's married to a above mentioned moron.
I know I'm damning this with faint praise, but just like "The Mill House", I do re read bc I totally like the scene when the h finds out she's married to a above mentioned moron.
May 5, 2010
i picked up this book as it was a recommended author similar to jodi picoult, who i have been reading a lot of lately and really enjoy. this book just didnt do it for me. the complete basis of the book wasnt believable. while the aftermath was interesting, i just couldnt get past the event itself. there wasnt enough build up to make me believe it.
March 3, 2014
Such a ridiculous plot, this would not happen in life. I'm sorry. Too unbelieveable.
May 27, 2014
Pure soap opera, unbelievable coincidences, unrealistic outcomes.But if soap is what you like, then its not bad.
August 6, 2012
Other than the flowery, purple language that inspired lots of eye rolling and cringing, I can't believe this book was written by a woman!
The main character in this book sleeps with his wife Annie's best friend Teke. He then rationalizes this choice by blaming Annie because she wasn't waiting at home when he wanted to have sex. Um, what? He actually tells Annie it doesn't count because while he was having sex with Teke's body he was thinking of her! I think he put it like "making love to you only with Teke's body.' Again: WHAT??
Not to mention Teke: she is married, but thinking about an ex-lover so she decides to screw her neighbor and best friend's wife? It just isn't believable.
So already we have an unbelievable situation and two unbelievable characters. Let's add another one: Teke's husband JD. He is so repulsive and misogynistic that he comes across as cartoonish. Why would Teke marry him in the first place? Why is Sam such great friends with him?
The 'plot' of this book seems to stagnate while these fools try to work their marriages out, except when random things happen for no reason. One of the kids runs away. There is an attempted suicide by a character who comes into the book for who knows what reason and then vanishes. My favorite is when Teke's daughter finds out she's pregnant. She has never been educated about birth control, believing that she 'couldn't or wouldn't get pregnant the first few times' and because her boyfriend 'almost pulled out'. The blame is on the mother, who didn't get the Pill FOR her. Even when the blood tests come in she doesn't believe them, insisting that she doesn't 'feel pregnant'.
The women are stupid, the men are despicable, the sex scenes are cringeworthy, the plot is clunky. Why does this book get good reviews?
The main character in this book sleeps with his wife Annie's best friend Teke. He then rationalizes this choice by blaming Annie because she wasn't waiting at home when he wanted to have sex. Um, what? He actually tells Annie it doesn't count because while he was having sex with Teke's body he was thinking of her! I think he put it like "making love to you only with Teke's body.' Again: WHAT??
Not to mention Teke: she is married, but thinking about an ex-lover so she decides to screw her neighbor and best friend's wife? It just isn't believable.
So already we have an unbelievable situation and two unbelievable characters. Let's add another one: Teke's husband JD. He is so repulsive and misogynistic that he comes across as cartoonish. Why would Teke marry him in the first place? Why is Sam such great friends with him?
The 'plot' of this book seems to stagnate while these fools try to work their marriages out, except when random things happen for no reason. One of the kids runs away. There is an attempted suicide by a character who comes into the book for who knows what reason and then vanishes. My favorite is when Teke's daughter finds out she's pregnant. She has never been educated about birth control, believing that she 'couldn't or wouldn't get pregnant the first few times' and because her boyfriend 'almost pulled out'. The blame is on the mother, who didn't get the Pill FOR her. Even when the blood tests come in she doesn't believe them, insisting that she doesn't 'feel pregnant'.
The women are stupid, the men are despicable, the sex scenes are cringeworthy, the plot is clunky. Why does this book get good reviews?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2010
TRASH! read while my sister sleeps by Barbara Delinsky and LOVED the book within the first few chapters it was like reading a trashy
Harlequin novel..didn't finish book
Harlequin novel..didn't finish book
July 20, 2023
Please see Camille's review!
January 18, 2020
I will never read another Barbara Delinsky novel ever again. NEVER. Quote me.
Cheating is my deal breaker. Most everyone knows it by now. But I read this book a while back when it wasn't as much of one and I was open to maybe seeing if it could be done right. No cop outs like the betrayed spouse is actually a rotten person. No weird or stupid justifications or anything of the sort. But like... a proper display of what infidelity does to families and relationships.
So what did I wind up getting? Would you believe a little of both?
Two couples: Sam and Annie; JD and Teke. They all have kids that are split around the same ages. A nice friendship and family dynamic. Then one day Michael, the youngest child of JD and Teke skips school for the first time in his life and what does he come upon as he enters the home that he thought was empty? His mother having sex with his best friend's dad. Just right out in the living room with the door open and everything. Naturally he's horrified and runs and he's so blind in his horror he runs into the street and gets hit by a car.
And that's the basis for our plot. We see all the results of these events and the consequences. It sounded like it'd be intriguing, right? But... it really, really wasn't.
We deal with the adults first in the revelations. JD is naturally pissed and very crude in how he addressed his wife after learning what she did and how their son is in the hospital. Teke doesn't really explain her reasons. But Sam does when he talks to Annie and it's because he was horny for her but she wasn't available so he used his imagination to see Teke as the wife so he could get his rocks off. I swear to fucking God that is basically what he said. Oh and meanwhile, we find out that JD is more focused on the fact it was his best friend that his wife slept with and not just that she cheated because guess what he's been doing their whole marriage? Oh what a terrible man, isn't he? *rolls eyes*
Kids come next after Michael recovers and I just wanna point out the stupidity of adults sometimes because it should have occurred to them that his siblings and best friends are gonna wanna know how the hell he let himself get hit by a car. They should have taken into account that he would be asked and that yes, Michael would reveal what he fucking saw. But no, every adult was just forced to watch on in horrified helplessness because they didn't try to speak to their children ahead of time. So now you've got the 18 year olds shutting themselves off from their parents while the younger preteens are losing their shit.
From here, it gets worse and as it gets really heavy handed on justification. Sam is literally the worst person in this book by far. Comparing his "error in judgement" to the time his oldest damaged a car or something to talk about forgiveness and ugh. Oh but I don't wanna forget Grady. He's Teke's ex and the one she was fantasizing about when she decided to screw Sam. Yeah, he's a character. When he's not poaching around this woman and basically trying to steal her away, the asshat is trying to scold Michael for his justified feelings of hurt and betrayal and blaming and just the audacity.
Only people I really liked were the kids but I really think they were just plot points. Ways to lead to development for the grown ups.
Ultimately, this was my greatest reading mistake and one I don't intend to make again. Too much fuckery disguised as true to life issues. Pfft.
Cheating is my deal breaker. Most everyone knows it by now. But I read this book a while back when it wasn't as much of one and I was open to maybe seeing if it could be done right. No cop outs like the betrayed spouse is actually a rotten person. No weird or stupid justifications or anything of the sort. But like... a proper display of what infidelity does to families and relationships.
So what did I wind up getting? Would you believe a little of both?
Two couples: Sam and Annie; JD and Teke. They all have kids that are split around the same ages. A nice friendship and family dynamic. Then one day Michael, the youngest child of JD and Teke skips school for the first time in his life and what does he come upon as he enters the home that he thought was empty? His mother having sex with his best friend's dad. Just right out in the living room with the door open and everything. Naturally he's horrified and runs and he's so blind in his horror he runs into the street and gets hit by a car.
And that's the basis for our plot. We see all the results of these events and the consequences. It sounded like it'd be intriguing, right? But... it really, really wasn't.
We deal with the adults first in the revelations. JD is naturally pissed and very crude in how he addressed his wife after learning what she did and how their son is in the hospital. Teke doesn't really explain her reasons. But Sam does when he talks to Annie and it's because he was horny for her but she wasn't available so he used his imagination to see Teke as the wife so he could get his rocks off. I swear to fucking God that is basically what he said. Oh and meanwhile, we find out that JD is more focused on the fact it was his best friend that his wife slept with and not just that she cheated because guess what he's been doing their whole marriage? Oh what a terrible man, isn't he? *rolls eyes*
Kids come next after Michael recovers and I just wanna point out the stupidity of adults sometimes because it should have occurred to them that his siblings and best friends are gonna wanna know how the hell he let himself get hit by a car. They should have taken into account that he would be asked and that yes, Michael would reveal what he fucking saw. But no, every adult was just forced to watch on in horrified helplessness because they didn't try to speak to their children ahead of time. So now you've got the 18 year olds shutting themselves off from their parents while the younger preteens are losing their shit.
From here, it gets worse and as it gets really heavy handed on justification. Sam is literally the worst person in this book by far. Comparing his "error in judgement" to the time his oldest damaged a car or something to talk about forgiveness and ugh. Oh but I don't wanna forget Grady. He's Teke's ex and the one she was fantasizing about when she decided to screw Sam. Yeah, he's a character. When he's not poaching around this woman and basically trying to steal her away, the asshat is trying to scold Michael for his justified feelings of hurt and betrayal and blaming and just the audacity.
Only people I really liked were the kids but I really think they were just plot points. Ways to lead to development for the grown ups.
Ultimately, this was my greatest reading mistake and one I don't intend to make again. Too much fuckery disguised as true to life issues. Pfft.
December 23, 2011
I'm giving this a 2 because it was PAINFUL to listen to. Yes, I listened to this rather than read it. The story was okay. Nothing that was particularly moving or will stick with me, but not horrible either. I would NOT recommend ever listening to a book read by Barbara Rosenblat! Four words - MANAGE YOUR SECRETIONS, SILENTLY! It sounded like she was moving spit around in her mouth and every swallow was audible. Whomever approved the distribution of that narration obviously didn't listen to it first. If you want to give this book a go, definitely read it.
July 6, 2015
The premise of this book was goofy. Sam celebrates all of the accomplishments in his life with sex with his wife. When he comes home for this purpose but cannot find her, he runs over to their best friends' house to look for her and has sex with his best friend's wife. He claims it was just her body he wanted and nothing else. If you can get past that, then the story which follows about consequences and life's choices was pretty good. I just couldn't get past the reason for all of the consequences.
April 8, 2011
I generally enjoy Ms. Delinsky's books, but this one had me on edge. The cheating just about did me in. These people are all close friends and they aren't swingers. One bad thing after another happens and I'm just so upset over it. The pain caused by betrayal was a bit too much for me and the collateral damage just made me sad. Since this is a contemporary romance instead of the spank books I'm reading, it just didn't do it for me. Not what I'm looking for when reading romance.
November 25, 2020
I just can't. I hate these people and I only managed to get 42 pages in. J. D. needed to be thrown into the road and repeatedly run over... the way he talked to and thought about his wife was disgusting and literally made my stomach hurt. Seriously, I had to look and see when this garbage got published because I was pretty sure it was at least the '90's but JD's attitude was pure 1950's. F*cking chauvinistic creep.
not-for-all-the-tea-in-china
January 29, 2022Mmc couldn't wait to celebrate with his wife, "accidentally" entered their friend's house, then "accidentally" f* the woman of said house. The cheater's excuse: he stupidly, I mean "accidentally" assumed that the woman he was f*ng was his wife.
Lmao 🤣
That plot is one of the most ridiculous I know. Too funny. 😆
Lmao 🤣
That plot is one of the most ridiculous I know. Too funny. 😆
March 7, 2020
DNF (Did Not Finish) -- A rare case where I gave up after one chapter. The writing had me concerned at the get-go, but the events of the first 10 pages or so struck me as so ludicrous I decided to bail out. Apologies to the author ... I may try her again some other time on a later effort.
January 2, 2022
Really??? The only good part of this book is showing how one bad decision can change your entire life. But seriously??? The husband can't wait for his wife to celebrate but ends up having sex with her best friend and neighbor??? Really??? Are we no better than that??
July 1, 2017
I hate Teke... kills the story
June 15, 2018
Not a lot of depth but some good lessons to remember. Humans are not perfect and forgiveness is a part of a happy life. Two families raised their families together, vacationed together, were very intertwined. When two of them breach the vows of marriage, everything breaks loose. It’s interesting how they work it out. They realize what is important and all of them end up changed for the better. It’s a little overly simplistic but entertaining reading.
February 17, 2019
More melodrama than most of this author's books (think Danielle Steel). Still, I liked the characters and sympathized with their difficult situation. It kept me wondering about the outcome of their lives, so that was a plus.
January 11, 2026
I liked it...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2016
Seriously this book didn't make me feel anything but anger and disgust. Yes people make mistakes but the reason behind the affair was rediculous and the characters were shallow and unsympathetic.
Annie and Teke were college roommates, their respecive spouces Sam and J.D. have been friends since childhood and work together at a law firm. One day Teke and J.D.'s son Michael witnesses Teke and Sam getting intimate and feeling betrayed runs into the street and gets struck by a car putting him in a coma.
I find it difficult to find any sympathy for Sam or Teke. Sam cheats on his wife with her best friend even though she is the one he wants to sleep with? That doesn't make any sense. He rationalizes his behavior by saying that he was thinking of Annie while with Teke. And his "reason" behind the affair? Everytime he wins a case him and his wife have sex. His wife is busy so he sleeps with his wife's best friend who is conveniently available. It is this stupidity that makes Sam a character I cannot have any sympathy for. And I am supposed to believe he loves his wife.
Teke is even worse. While sleeping with her best friend's husband she is thinking of her ex-boyfriend. Sure her husband is a waste of space but that gives her the right to damage her best friend's marriage as well? Instead of changing what makes her unhappy she takes others down with her. With friends like her who needs enemies.
And poor Annie believes she caused the affair by having low self esteem. She doesn't think she is attractive enough so her husband went elsewhere. The husband says it's because she wasn't there when he needed her. But he was thinking of her so it's alright. I don't think so! That just makes it that much worse.
And then it is all tied up with a big happily ever after ribbon. Michael wakes up, Teke gets back together with the ex she was thinking about while sleeping with her best friend's husband, and Annie forgives Sam. So what happens the next time he wins another case and his wife is busy? If it didn't take any urging the first time there's not much stopping a repeat.
The characters made it hard to even like them much less find any sympathy for. Sam was stupid, selfish, and arrogant. Teke was shallow and heartless. J.D. was just awful. Annie was the victim for NO reason. This is a book I'll never read again.
Annie and Teke were college roommates, their respecive spouces Sam and J.D. have been friends since childhood and work together at a law firm. One day Teke and J.D.'s son Michael witnesses Teke and Sam getting intimate and feeling betrayed runs into the street and gets struck by a car putting him in a coma.
I find it difficult to find any sympathy for Sam or Teke. Sam cheats on his wife with her best friend even though she is the one he wants to sleep with? That doesn't make any sense. He rationalizes his behavior by saying that he was thinking of Annie while with Teke. And his "reason" behind the affair? Everytime he wins a case him and his wife have sex. His wife is busy so he sleeps with his wife's best friend who is conveniently available. It is this stupidity that makes Sam a character I cannot have any sympathy for. And I am supposed to believe he loves his wife.
Teke is even worse. While sleeping with her best friend's husband she is thinking of her ex-boyfriend. Sure her husband is a waste of space but that gives her the right to damage her best friend's marriage as well? Instead of changing what makes her unhappy she takes others down with her. With friends like her who needs enemies.
And poor Annie believes she caused the affair by having low self esteem. She doesn't think she is attractive enough so her husband went elsewhere. The husband says it's because she wasn't there when he needed her. But he was thinking of her so it's alright. I don't think so! That just makes it that much worse.
And then it is all tied up with a big happily ever after ribbon. Michael wakes up, Teke gets back together with the ex she was thinking about while sleeping with her best friend's husband, and Annie forgives Sam. So what happens the next time he wins another case and his wife is busy? If it didn't take any urging the first time there's not much stopping a repeat.
The characters made it hard to even like them much less find any sympathy for. Sam was stupid, selfish, and arrogant. Teke was shallow and heartless. J.D. was just awful. Annie was the victim for NO reason. This is a book I'll never read again.
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