The Trouble with Marriage

by Debby Holt

Rare book

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 7, 2008

About the author

Debby Holt lives with her husband in Bath. She started writing short stories when her five children were small. She wrote her first novel, The Ex-Wife’s Survival Guide in 2006. Since then, she has written three more: Annie May’s Black Book, The Trouble with Marriage and Love Affairs for Grown-Ups. Having been a spectacularly useless teacher in the past, she is fully aware of how lucky she is to be doing something she loves.

Reviews

[Keris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Trouble With Marriage is more Joanna Trollope than Sophie Kinsella, but there is nothing wrong with that.

It's subtitled 'What happens after the 'happy ever after'?' and I was looking forward to astute observations on marriage, love and parenthood... And I wasn't disappointed.

When Robin - popular, handsome and confident - asked Tilly to marry him, it was the happiest day of her life. Ten years later and, although still utterly

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[Nicola Clough · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and on the whole I enjoyed it at times I did find it slow and would loose what I was reading. It was full of laughter and romance and break ups to.
Robin and Tilly have been together for years and been happily married the sparkle has gone now and it's the usual of paying bills and bringing up children and a dog have taken over life. Tilly can't stand her in laws and hates it that they move near and interfere to much. She wants her marriage to survive but can it can she over come what comes in her way and be happy with robin or not.

[P.L. Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this unpredictable book. The reader (me) really didn't foresee the outcome coming -- if you like. The author leaves us wondering about the fate of some characters other than the two main ones. That to me is a good thing as one can now imagine their future lives. Worth a read.

[Sammy Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dead easy chick lit read, usually ladies, I'd recommend

[Sarah Hills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book was written quite a while ago it's still very relevant today.
It's a very well written book and an excellent storyline. It's about relationships, in marriage, family and friends.
So much happens in this book and I feel bereft now I've finished it.
I want to know more of what happens to each of our couples and Rhona.
We are not exactly left hanging but, as in life there are no hard and fast solutions.
Does our heroines marriage survive? I would like to think so.
Does the nasty mother in law get her comeuppance?
I'll be thinking of this book and it's outcomes for a while yet.

[Coreene Archer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

Not predictable and a fun read. I would recommend this book for reading on the go...I read it in the kitchen, bedroom on the train. Captivating!

[Rae Callander · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good summer read

[Sophie Houston · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Deserves a better cover!

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook
Summer holiday novel

[Pauline McFarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this, after all the crime novels I've been reading lately, it was so nice to read something g so wonderfully light.

[Sosa Coleone · Rating 4 out of 5]

You didn't truly value the first part you lost with the ring

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Worth a skim while multitasking, but that's about it.

[Julia Langnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly enjoyable, had a good time.

[Shirly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've decided to hide my entire review so as not to give away the ending - its supposed to be a big reveal. I think I liked how it ended, certainly more than if she had started a relationship with the forced in "Adonis" that was kind of an unhinged weirdo that didn't seem to respect what the main character wanted.

I found that throughout most of the book, most of the male characters tend to either do what they want to her or just convince her that they know better, and that hit a nerve for me. The doctor at University that made her do things to him/in front of him and called it treatment? At no point does she realize that is majorly fucked up and she should file a report. That guy she almost hooked up with when Robin comes back from India? He goes back to her place, they have had some drinks, she tells him she's not sure, she doesn't think so... and he tells her "be quiet, Tilly" and keeps on trying to have sex with her. He would have had his way with her were they not interrupted by Robin's arrival. Again, this is not okay, this is a sexual assault, and Tilly doesn't seem to realize it.
The "Adonis", Graham, kisses her several times in public to spite her estranged husband or her vicious mother-in-law, but almost every day his touch seems unwelcome, certainly not initiated or encouraged by her. Several times after such an embrace, she's mad and tries to convey her upset, only to be met with him smug disregard. Yuck.
And her husband - I mean.... no. She gets pregnant and he accuses her of tricking him into it. He leaves her for months, he doesn't attempt emotional support, physical support, or even friendship while she's mothering two young kids and pregnant with a third. He never stops to ask her how she's doing, how she's dealing, how his baby is developing in the midst of this shitstorm of drama and exertion. I am not sure you deserve that second chance, Bud.

I won't say there's nothing here. I'm glad that she starts to do things more for herself, such as seek out a new career besides the one she was very dispassionate about. I'm glad she stood up for herself to others, including her husband, and let him know that his shit stinks too. I understood the spirit of the ending - that there is no perfect, no happy-all-the-time, just the imperfect trying to make what was once really good be good again.


Quote I liked, and really feel atm:
"Perhaps, she thought now, this was how it began, with one partner choosing not to express unpalatable opinions and the other partner choosing not to hear the silences. Perhaps, as year follows year, it becomes easier to to say nothing at all until one day all that is left is to ask about the chips."

[Aileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tilly is married to Robin she has known him since university, theyare
married, have 2 children and a dog Tilly works part time as a
Classroom Assistant, Robin works very long hours and the sparkle has
gone from their marriage, they lead busy life’s, the in-laws have moved
nearer so as they can meddle into their life’s more!! Also Robin’s
ex-girlfriend is back on the scene. Tilly has unplanned news and Robin
is not pleased about it, does it throw them apart? Can there marriage
survive?
I really liked this book, from the pretty cover to the end, I would
definitely recommend, and will look out for more books by this author
in the future.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marriage is really not easy. Not all lovey dovey and yet it helps us grow to be better persons. We also can never do it alone, the support from others are very important too. Bitter words from in laws hurt most and husband and wife must help to protect each other.

Children often blame themselves when parents quarrel or break up, it's so true... We should never have to play such mind games with them. And yes they love us unconditionally and think parents are always the greatest.

Enjoyed the ending as it was what I wanted and families must MUST stay together however tough it may be.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Beautifully written
- Very fast paced
- Very emotional (I CRIED)

I felt a real connection to Tilly and the problems with in her marriage.
The story was beautifully executed.

Debby Holt is like another Sophie Kinsella! I will be sure to pick up more of Debbie's books in the future!

I didn't except to enjoy it so much!

[Nana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story about the up and down between a married couple. Robin annoyed me at some parts, and I thought the ending was rather predictable..was expecting a bit of a twist in the end. But nevertheless, I was entertained!

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay as a beach read, but ultimately I found it to be a bit depressing, with some characters doing some pretty unfortunate things and really being let off scot-free. Can't say as I particularly recommend it...

[Ros]

Funny, loving it! Halfway through!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this was the book I liked best of the three that I read by Holt

[Cheryl Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very heartwarming book that will take you on a drive of going from a dangers of a failed marriage to what ends in a happy ending. So much to make you think about how sometimes when you love someone so much, it just needs time to see how much you can really love before deciding something doesn't work anymore. Filled with dramas like a disapproving mother in law who wished to put her son and his hot ex girlfriend together, leaving the pregnant wife and two kids, toxic relationship that the people involved couldn't see but Tilly as a friend could, and a mad man who seemed crazy in love with Tilly but has no ending in the book with her.

[Fyrephoenix]

Waiting for a Kindle version