Love in Mid Air

by Kim Wright

A chance encounter with a stranger on an airplane sends Elyse Bearden into an emotional tailspin. Suddenly Elyse is willing to risk everything: her safe but stale marriage, her seemingly perfect life in an affluent Southern suburb, and her position in the community. She finds herself cutting through all the instincts that say "no" and instead lets "yes" happen. As Elyse embarks on a risky affair, her longtime friend Kelly and the other women in their book club begin to question their own decisions about love, sex, marriage, and freedom. There are consequences for Elyse, her family, and her circle of close friends, all of whom have an investment in her life continuing as normal. But is normal what she really wants after all? In the end, it will take an extraordinary leap of faith for Elyse to find--and follow--her own path to happiness. An intelligent, sexy, absorbing tale and an honest look at modern-day marriage, Love in Mid Air offers the experience of what it's like to change the course of one's own destiny when finding oneself caught in mid-air.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Contemporary, Relationships, Modern, Literary Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

When I was a kid I was so obsessed with books I used to check out four at a time from the library - that was the limit in the small NC town where I was raised - then walk down the street, sit under a tree, and read them as fast a I could so I could go back to get four more.

Now I am the author of Love in Mid Air, The Unexpected Waltz, The Canterbury Sisters, and the most recent, Last Ride to Graceland, all published by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster.

I also write the City of Mystery series which includes City of Darkness, City of Light, City of Silence, City of Bells, City of Stone, and the Christmas-themed novella, The Angel of Hever Castle. This series is set in the Victorian era and deals with another of my obsessions, the founding of the first forensics unit in Scotland Yard. My chief detective, Trevor Welles, struggles to be a modern man in an antiquated system.

I am the mother of two grown children and recently became a grandmother for the first time. (I highly recommend it!) My hobbies include ballroom dance, travel, and dogs.

Reviews

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an unmistakable respite from the contemporary fiction that I typically read, I optimistically chose Kim Wright’s debut novel, LOVE IN MID-AIR. I completely immersed myself in a surprisingly interesting cache of characters unconstrained in their lucid display of similar and diverse views of love, marriage, friendship, and infidelity while attached to a suburban lifestyle which not only suggests privilege, but also ambiguity with respect to some of the mores that ordinarily unite or divide such a community.

Elyse Bearden’s life might appear quite appealing to the vast majority of women who would relish a lovely home replete with comforts and the financial security that her husband Phil, a dentist provides. Though secure in her social surroundings and a loving mother to her daughter Tory, Elyse’s personal discontent propels her into an unexpected, yet welcome opportunity for an affair with a fellow passenger, also married with a family, but sharing similar restlessness within the routine confines of his daily life. Gerry’s apparent affluence provides the rather sufficient means to travel hither and yon, thus affording both those highly desirable, yet unrealistic elements of anonymity and mystery.

“…I didn’t start calling my marriage a failure all at once. At first, I tried…There’s just the tiniest bit of hypocrisy around the whole issue---everyone agrees you should Work on Your Marriage, but if you’re ever caught actually Working on Your Marriage, you look ridiculous. And the only thing worse than being unhappily married is being ridiculous…” - Pages 50-51

Kim Wright’s insightful portrayal of Elyse’s tangible “angst,” is vividly authentic, and her instinctive ability to quickly tug the reader through the pages to discover how this circuitous plot will expose the unfaithful wife, affect the requisite resentful friend, possibly enlighten the painfully clueless husband, and reveal the unavoidable dichotomy that marriage often engenders. We also examine some of the indefinable aspects that husbands and wives judge as happiness and hindrance within the often inflexible framework of marriage. With considerable wit and zesty humorous episodes to divert us, almost voyeuristic in our scrutiny, we commiserate and share the immeasurable fluctuations through the characters’ life experiences, expectations, and personal introspections. While the primary focus is on Elyse, it would not be the impressive narrative it is without her circle of friends and their husbands, especially her closest friend Kelly.

“When I was a teenager my grandmother used to tell me, ‘You marry the man, you marry the life,’ and it seems to me logical, perfectly ordinary karma, that the reverse is also true. If I leave this man then I must leave this life…” - Page 181

Elyse’s ultimate journey clearly reminds us that often a woman’s primary quest for fulfillment, self-indulgence, or that intangible “what if,” outside the context of family has the power to leave a path of destruction in its wake. For those who define infidelity as an unacceptable moral or selfish choice, this may not be a desirable read. Personally, I believe such decisions and their consequences belong to the person who makes and lives with them, and I do not profess to judge. In this vein, Kim Wright is remarkable in expressing the characters’ various points of view without meandering prose, compelling behavioral excuses, or blameless justifications. As readers, we are encouraged to draw our own conclusions which tend to rely upon our own mores, life experiences, and personal values. LOVE IN MID-AIR may not be a book for everyone, but it definitely is one that captures you from beginning to end.

[Siv30 · Rating 4 out of 5]

הספר הזה נע סביב 3.5 או 3.8 כוכבים לא ארבע אבל הוא כל כך הפתיע אותי בתכנים שלו שאני בהחלט מוכנה לעגל לו ל 4 כוכבים.

אליז בירדן פוגשת בג'רי בטיסה. הוא בנקאי השקעות היא מכיירת כדים ושניהם אומללים בנישואים שלהם. הוא נותן לה את הכרטיס שלו ואחרי תקופת התלבטות הם נפגשים בנמלי תעופה שונים ברחבי ארצות הברית.

אבל, מה שמתחיל כהבטחה לעוד רומאן בגידה עמוס בתיאורי סקס מהר מאוד הופך לחיבור על מהות הנישואים, האושר בתוך נישואים, על יחסים זוגיים ועל חברות בין נשים שבאמת אין בינהן כלום למעט מגורים בשכונה אחת וילדים שלומדים באותו בית הספר.

רומאן הבגידה הופך למבחן מי יהיה אמיץ לפרוץ את הגבולות ולהשיג את האושר שמסתבר שכולנו מחפשים. והבגידה נדחקת הצידה והופכת לשולית כשהידידות והחברות מעמיקות.

הספר בכלל לא קליל כפי שציפיתי ויש בו גם מהניו אייג'יות שמטיפה לחיפוש עצמי ולאושר.

בעיקר יש בו סיפור טוב על החיים ועל מה שקורה לנו בהם: סיפור על תשוקות, חלומות ומאווים. על הישגים, שימחות הקטנות, האכזבות והתיסכולים, על ההתרחקות מנקודת המוצא שהיתה לנו ככשהיינו צעירים וכשנישאנו, על הפיצויים השונים שאנחנו מוצאים בחיים ועל החיים המודרניים והמחיר שנשים משלמות בהם.

זו היתה בהחלט הפתעה נעימה גם אם הדמות של אליז לא היתה מושלמת בעיניי והחברות שלה היו מרגיזות בהחלט עדין הוא סיפק לי רגעים של מחשבה והנאה.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

There are some books that need to be read when you’re at the right place in your life to be able to fully appreciate it. If you’re super happy in your current relationship I could see this being a very negative book, from that perspective. If you’ve had your relationship ups and downs and even occasionally daydream of simply running away from life, I believe you’d be able to understand this book more.

This was a very powerful book, and at first glance not a very happy one. Elyse Bearden is a married mother of one who has realized lately that her marriage is stale. After meeting a man on a plane ride home that she later begins to have an affair with, she begins to really question what she wants out of her marriage and what she wants out of her life. She doesn’t fall in love and daydream about running away with this man, but he alone has transformed her thoughts and her overall expectations.

‘Thinking about him is addictive, I know that from yesterday when I became so drunk with memory that I took to my bed like some old-time Hollywood starlet.’

Finally coming to the conclusion that she can’t stay in this marriage and continue to live the way she has been. She unfortunately realizes that if she really wants to leave, she’s going to have to leave a lot more than just a marriage.

When I was a teenager my grandmother used to tell me, “You marry the man, you marry the life,” and it seems to me logical, perfectly ordinary karma, that the reverse is also true. If I leave this man then I must leave this life.

Simply put, this was a very heartbreaking novel. Elyse was a very vivid character and her story was quite authentic. The ending wasn’t your traditional tale of happily ever after; however, it is a tale of life continuing even when you didn’t think it could.

[Ruth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book.. what can I say. I thought the characters were shallow. I could hardly keep their histories straight and they were all so shallow and dissatisfied with their lives. Elyce the main character I kind of hated from the beginning and I just didn't believe in the immediate connection she makes with Gerry on the plane. There was almost nothing to it and we are supposed to believe there was this huge spark between them that compelled them to become lovers. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to feel sorry for her?.. or empathize with her "bad" marriage? I thought her pathetic actually along with her friend Kelly.

[Edward McKeown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cautionary tale of what happens when you treat a woman like an item of househould furniture. This is a voyage into the female mind and the nature of friendships between women. Not my usual reading, but I know the author and I found it very unusual and interesting, taking my mind in directions it doesn't normally go. Kim writes in a very natural way. I always hear her voice when reading her work I am in good company in liking the work as People, Kirkus and Publisher's weekly agreed with me. Sharp, witty, incisive and a bit scary, highly recommended

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though the underlying plot of a woman assessing her unhappy marriage is a common one, I found this treatment of it very unusual and original. I was delighted that the book focussed on a woman making decisions about her marriage rather than finding herself left behind for a younger woman. I mean, I'm married and so obviously frown upon the idea of adultery, but the thought of living in a marriage like Elyse's where your partner doesn't really see you or hear anything you say, and is content to be content (even knowing that you are not) is so crushing that I could understand why Elyse grasped at a relationship where she could at least feel a passionate connection to another person. I was also surprised that in a book about so many women, I couldn't really find a character that I thought I would like in real life, and yet still I enjoyed the book so much.

One thing I really enjoyed was Wright's use of old movies in the novel. Most of my friends also love watching old black and white movies for the romance of them, whereas most of our husbands love watching new action movies with lots of special effects. I found those scenes involving the movies very true to life.

This is one of those books I will recommend to my friends even though it is rather bleak in its look at relationships because I think it expresses some of the fear that so many of us have about where our marriages may end up. I didn't think the book itself was bleak, just the view of relationships as not one of the characters was truly happy. Of course, maybe none of us is ever really truly happy- maybe we just read too many books where it all ends happily ever after. I also thought the question of religion quite sensitively and accurately handled, a nice change from so many books I've read in the last couple of years.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

From my blog:

This is author Kim Wright's debut work and if this book is any indication, she is looking at a successful career as a writer. Because this book is a literary grand slam.

From the first page, I was hooked. Hooked on Ms. Wright's writing style, hooked on the story and hooked on the characters. I literally snuck reading in whenever I could, so anxious was I to find out what was going on in Elyse's world, putting off sleep and household chores to read.

Elyse was a complex character. On the one hand, I liked her and felt for her predicament. On the other, she is nothing like me and I sometimes wanted to beat my head on the wall in frustration. Ms. Wright did a smart thing in making Elyse's husband Phil a likable, decent man, a good father and good provider but a man she simply did not, and could not, love.

Elyse's girlfriends, members of her book club, were a wonderfully varied bunch, each one an individual in her own way, from best friend Kelly, to the "perfect" pastor's wife Nancy, to recently divorced and recently outcast Lynn, to sweet and somewhat left in the shadows Belinda. So vivid were these characters I could actually visualize them and hear them talking as I read the book. Ms. Wright has proven herself to have an excellent ear for dialogue and none of the conversations in Love in Mid Air sound scripted or pretentious. You could be listening to your own girlfriends while thumbing through these pages.

While the seemingly obvious love interest in the book would be Gerry - - the man who convinces Elyse that her marriage has gone stale, or always been stale - - I felt that the real love story in the book was the friendship between Elyse and Kelly. These two were friends that truly loved each other, that depended on each other through thick and thin. They had a real understanding of each other that neither woman shared with any other person in the book. It was a welcome diversion to have two such devoted people, with their individual flaws, who weren't a romantic couple.

Despite the subject matter of Love in Mid Air (because adultery would hardly be a fun subject), I thoroughly enjoyed the book. In fact, I didn't realize until I had finished the book that the story was relatively sad - - a woman who felt trapped in a marriage that everyone else considered successful and happy, and a husband who believes everything to be fine and can't grasp the seriousness of his marital situation.

For the more conservative readers, this book may be a bit too much to handle. There is the obvious adultery, and there is a smattering of sexual situations and strong language. This is definitely not a book for kids. Love in Mid Air is, however, a perfect read for a book club as there are so many debatable discussions and issues that would spark conversation for hours.

I would highly recommend Love in Mid Air to anyone looking for a read that will get your mental juices flowing and really make you think. Is any affair forgiveable? Is Elyse a bad person? Is Gerry?

Love in Mid Air isn't your typical love triangle story - - it sets the classic love story on its ear. Elyse may not be an easy character to root for in some cases and the same could be true for Phil, for Gerry or for any of the characters in the book. But it's a story that will have you quickly turning pages, staying up into the night to finish it and it will remain with you after you turn the last page. While I found the ending debateably happy, I was satisfied with the book and left with an appreciation for my husband.

[Gaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Love In Mid Air. Elyse is the lead character and although her failing marriage to Phil and her love affair with Gerry are critical and these relationships move the action forward, Elyse's friendship with Kelly is just as significant to the novel. It's the camaraderie and friendship of the different women in the book club, despite their small differences and occasional rivalries that made the characters come alive for me.

It's the dialogue that sets Love In Mid Air apart. Elyse's internal dialogues are a delight - the biting wit had me shaking my head and smiling at the same time. The book deals with infidelity, love, happiness, and the sacrifices we each make in our journeys towards self fulfillment.

ISBN-10: 0446540447 - Hardcover
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (March 29, 2010), 320 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. I usually am deeply irritated by novels about infidelity because I can never figure out why the character doesn't do the right thing and divorce their spouse BEFORE they go out looking for someone new. Of course, that tends to make for a very short novel when the characters behave in sensible and rational ways but it almost always makes me not like and not care about characters who behave so dishonorably.

Anyway, back to this novel, I really liked this book, not because of the infidelity and the problems with her marriage which I always find a bit trite, but because of the way the book explored how her actions impacted the lives of everyone around her. I also liked that the book ended in the same way life often does, messy and unresolved. This is really an author to watch.

[Jason Pettus · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)

So why do I continue to read so-called "chick-lit" novels on such a regular basis, a lot of people ask, when I end up despising so many of them? Well, because I'm convinced that there actually are a few titles out there in the world that manage to be not only smart and unexpected but that wallow in the tropes loved by so many middle-class, middle-aged women; and since the signal-to-noise ratio in this particular genre is so shockingly high, I feel a constant obligation to go actually find these few great chick-lit novels that exist in the world, as a public service if nothing else to all of CCLaP's middle-class, middle-aged female readers (and there's a surprisingly large number of you out there). For example, take Kim Wright's Love in Mid Air, which at is heart tells a fairly simple and typical story for this genre (suburban mom has an affair) and makes sure to hit every chick-lit mark that seems to even exist (Shopping! Bookclubs! Church groups! Etsy businesses! Wine in the afternoon! Idiotic husbands! Soccer games! Er, shopping!), but that miraculously avoids being the kind of "Devil Wears Prada" dreck that sets smart readers' nerves on edge; instead, it's an incredibly nuanced and preternaturally insightful look at how these kinds of situations actually tend to play out in the real world, a hyper-intelligent blend of character and action that contains one of the most instantly addictive first chapters I've ever read in any genre.

Part of that can be chalked up to the complex main character herself; a cynical and funny woman but with only slightly better-than-average looks, she compensated when younger by being transgressive and sexually adventurous but has grown larger, softer and more Christian in middle-age, making the poetically intense start of her surprise dalliance just as much a shock to us as her, and drawing us into the ways it serves as a catalyst for her to simultaneously recapture some of her youth and also finally claim some of the traits of the confident, vaguely erotic older woman she was always destined to become. And part of this book's success for sure can also be chalked up to its incredibly engaging style, which oh-so-blessedly for chick-lit treats its males as complex, sympathetic wholes instead of the mustache-twirling cartoon characters so many of these types of novels do; readily admits the faults of our heroine and isn't afraid to show her sometimes acting pretty badly herself; contains the kinds of subtle observations about well-known situations that only a master storyteller can pull off; and is filled with the kind of dry, gently subversive humor that made even bitter, science-fiction-loving ol' me giggle in public on a regular basis. (Two of my favorite moments: the main characters stumbling across a forgotten freezer in their church basement, filled with a hundred frozen 1950s-style "emergency casseroles," many made by spinsters who have been dead for decades; and how the Hallmark store at the mall suddenly transforms into an exotic import shop in Manhattan in our protagonist's eyes, the day after consummating her affair for the first time.) One of those rare books whose score kept getting higher and higher in my head as I read more and more of it, I suspect that this will be showing up on CCLaP's best-of lists at the end of the year as well, a little-known gem within a genre that tends to muddle in the mind's eye many times into a big, shiny, high-heeled mess, and a worthy companion not only to Tom Perrotta's Little Children but the classic predecessor that both often reference, Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary. It comes strongly recommended to CCLaP's entire audience.

Out of 10: 9.5

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

From my blog...
Love In Mid Air is a novel, which looks into the world of marriage, one woman's in particular, who realises she no longer cares about her marriage. While Kim Wright wrote a splendid novel, it simply made me sad to think there are women living lives such as the woman in this novel. Kim Wright's character development is well done and one can easily imagine listening to Elyse, Belinda, Nancy, or Lynn and yet I related to none of her characters. I continued reading, hoping something would connect with me, after all; I am a woman, I have children and I have been with my husband for 20 years and yet nothing clicked, for which I am grateful.
The novel is about an almost 40-year-old Elyse, her husband Phil, and their 7-year old daughter, Tory and while on the surface, they appear to have it all with Elyse having a sound network of friends, her daughter well adjusted, and her husband a successful dentist, on a trip back from a show, Elyse sits next to Gerry, an investment banker, who is also married and has 3 children. Between their respective connecting flights they share passionate kisses and he gives her his business card. Elyse thinks of him often and eventually gets the nerve up to ring him. Since the accidental meeting of Gerry, Elyse realises her marriage is dying and again asks Phil to go to marriage counseling. They finally agree to go to counseling with Pastor Jeff, who happens to not only be their pastor and Gerry's best friend but also Elyse's friends' husband. The reader views Elyse's life through her eyes. She is clearly not happy in her marriage, admits her husband is a wonderful father, yet she believes she needs more than what she has. She walks daily with her friends Kelly, Belinda, Nancy, and Lynn, each with their own sets of problems. At one point in the novel Elyse decides to meet up with Gerry in New York claiming to be going to see her friend Debbie. The author writes, "Debbie is my escape chute-every married woman has one." This was the moment that sealed the deal that I definitely could not relate to these women, especially not Elyse. Maybe I am naïve, blessed or blessedly naïve, but I simply could not understand these women. However, there usually is a however with me, Love In Mid Air is wonderfully written and the ending is beautifully done. I would like to think that everyone has a friend such as Kelly and while I personally could not relate well with this novel, it is beautifully written, with descriptive prose, raw emotion and realistic characters. Love In Mid Air would make an excellent choice for a book discussion group.

[Nely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elyse Beardon is on a flight back home to her husband and daughter when she sits down next to a stranger and they begin a conversation. This man and the feelings he brings out in her will make her question where she is in her life. She has been married for almost a decade now and her husband Phil is a great man... her only problem is that she has been trying for years to make their marriage work and she has begun to realize it is a losing battle.

Love in Mid Air is Elyse's struggle to find some semblance of happiness in her life. She knows that not everyone is happy with their lives 100% of the time, but she feels that settling is not something she wants to do. Ms. Wright creates a woman who is very real, dealing with issues that are very relateable. Divorce is not something to take lightly and Elyse's struggle with it is intense and honest.

What I truly enjoyed about this story, is that Elyse is not always likable, her story is not always clean cut and she might not have a fairytale ending... but that is life. I think Ms. Wright did a phenomenal job of tackling a subject that I'm sure is very real to many women out there. This is the type of book that will make you think back on your life and your relationship and you will be grateful for what you have... or, in some cases, you might relate to Elyse's story.

This is one that I think will be a great pick for book clubs since it is very thought-provoking - or just one to be enjoyed for its great writing, realistic characters and real-life scenarios. All in all, a great read!

This book was provided for review by Hachette Book Group as part of their blog tour.

[Elizabeth Torphy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am trying really hard to find a romance book...and this wasn't it! The only reason I finished this book was because I started it. The writing was adequate but the story had no meaning, depth, or validity. Did we even know anything about the Gerry???? He was a guy on a plane. That is it. He was a nameless, faceless man with whom she could have sex with. To call it "love" is insulting and adolescent. I can't even say the sex was well done. It too was described like the color of beige. The main character.....I wanted to desperately relate or sympathize with her; to feel her angst. She was a selfish, whiny little girl with little maturity or empathy for another human being. She was far from believable as a 38 year woman. She had the maturity of a 22 year old girl and the selfishness of a teenager. Maybe that was the point...she just didn't grow up and needed to find herself. But she did it at the expense of the all those people around her. This could have been more. But the character was weak. I just didn't relate to her at all. If her husband had been a jerk, or they didn't have sex, or he was not trying so hard to make her happy....then maybe she would have an excuse to be so unhappy. But she was so self consumed and "horny" she couldn't see what was what most people strive for in a lifetime. She was no "hero" that I would want to read about. Too many other good stories out there that are sexy to give you what your are looking for. Fly by this book....not worth boarding!

[Jolene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks for passing this on Irene!

This was definitely a page-turner. Once I started reading it, I was determined to get through it. Unsettling (for me) from the very start. Kind of like seeing how the other half lives.

I have to admit that I found Elyse despicable in the "Fall" section. I started getting into the characters a bit more in "Winter." Toward the end I was rooting for Phil and Lynn (and Tory).

While this story is not qute my cup of tea, Wright is a good writer and curiosity propelled me through the book. I am definitely going to pass this book around, so I can discuss it with some of my friends.

I don't know that the women in the book deserve all the credit they get, but then again Wright makes a good case for the fact that some of the men get a lot more credit than they deserve. Phil is hardly a villain and I'm still perplexed as to why some of Elyse's friends stand by her when she's brought the whole house down.

At the very least, this novel will make you reflect on what you want out of your marriage/spouse. Whether or not you're the sort that can be content is another issue entirely.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book yesterday, I got behind on reading and realized, oh no, I have a blog tour tomorrow. So I pick up the book and start reading, and reading, and reading. I find myself so utterly engrossed in Elyse's life that I have completely tuned out of my own. That is what this book did for me, it let me lose myself for a little bit.

I feel a strong connection with Elyse, she is strong, she knows what she wants but she just doesn't quite know how to get it. She loved her daughter and her BFF but she also loves herself enough to know that she needs something to change. Through out the whole book I just want Phil to look at her and see her, but unfortunately he can't hear me.

This book is exactly what I think a book should be. It is thought provoking and real, so real that is almost feels magical, it is exciting and sad, it makes you think. This book gives you an escape and it strips away your own thoughts and fears about marriage so that you can glimpse some of your own happiness or unhappiness. For good or bad, I think this book will incite change.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elyse meets a man on an airplane and this one single act has changed her forever. She isn't the type of person who does the outrageous, spur of the moment, true love things like most hopeless romantics do. Now, here's the kicker, Elyse is married. She wants to trade her whole boring life for something more. This change in Elyse now has her friends wondering if life has more to offer them as well.

I love it when a woman's eyes are opened and she learns that it's time to start living her life her way and forget what everyone else wants. (It strikes close to home.) I absolutely adore Elyse and I hope to read more about her in the future. Two thumbs up!

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book rocks! i'm a 30 year old male, probably not the intended audience for this book. but guess what? I'm completely hooked. i won't go with the cliche line, "I can't put it down." I can put it down, i just don't want to. it really is a compelling, thought-provoking story. check it out for sure.

[Lstirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can see why this book has mixed reviews. As someone who has been in a marriage similar to Elyse's, I felt like she was in my head. The plot was rather mundane and lacking in suspense, but I still couldn't put it down. If you want a glimpse inside the head of a woman trapped in an unhappy marriage, this is a great read. If you want love, revenge and drama, this is not the book for you.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this on my flight from New York to Roanoke. It's a fresh take on a novel about relationships. While so many focus on what happens AFTER a marriage goes awry, this one talks about HOW one goes awry in a very readable way.

[Rochelle Roth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just finished Love in Mid Air by Kim Wright tonight. It was a fast read but I rated it 3 stars. The writing was really good but I didn’t love the characters. It’s about a woman who is coming up on 40 years old, her 10 year anniversary coming up and she meets a man on a flight and realizes her life as a stay a home mom and wife to a dentist is not what she wanted after all.

This was a 3 Star because although it was written well, the only feelings I felt through out the whole book was anger and annoyance. It takes place in a upper class suburban town and all the main characters are woman who are unhappy in their marriages but do not communicate with their husbands in a real way. It seemed that there was a lot of whining and moaning and it just annoyed me the whole time. I’m actually really surprised I finished it but it was like watching a train wreck I had to see how it ended.

[Tami]

Did not finish. Just not that interested in the story line.

[Jonita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elyse Bearden is on a flight on the way back from a pottery show when she makes a decision that will change her life. She switches seats with a stranger and ends up sitting next to Gerry, the man who will cause her to question everything that she's ever believed in. After a brief but chemistry-filled encounter with him, she returns home to her passive husband Phil, her fulfilling pottery business, and her young daughter Tori, but suddenly things don't look the same as they always have.

Weeks later, Elyse finally gathers enough courage to call Gerry. The chemistry between them is still there, and they meet up in a hotel. Their affair has officially begun. In the next months Elyse alternates between trying to save her failing marriage while falling for Gerry. Her friends and fellow book-club members try to convince her of all that she will lose by walking out of her marriage, and by doing so spark heated discussions about their own flawed personal lives. Ultimately Elyse must decide if all that she will gain by walking out on her marriage will be worth all that she loses.

Anyone who has ever been married knows that it's not all a walk in the park. Yes, there are good times, bordering on perfection. For every good time, there seems to be a bad time too; many marriages eventually reach the point when one contemplates walking out the other, even if that final step is never taken. Our divorce rate (almost 40% of Canadian marriages ended in divorce in 2003) should emphasize that point. "Love in Mid Air" was a reflection on marriage- the sacrifices that we make to stay married, the times when we wish that we could leave, what can be lost by staying, and what we can gain by leaving. It was interesting to me that Elyse spends much of the book giving her marriage one last shot. She attends counselling with her husband, she tries wearing sexy lingerie for him, and she tries to be more agreeable in his prescence. Yes, she's involved in an affair with Gerry at the time (including monthly hotel visits and frequent phone calls), but she's still giving her marriage one last effort. Some could argue (and some in the book do) that Elyse isn't being fair- she should either concentrate on her marriage, or she should leave Phil and concentrate on her new relationship, but I would have to say that at least she did make an effort. The fact that these continued efforts didn't work attest to the fact that her marriage really wasn't working anymore.

I only had one small problem with the book, and that was within the conclusion. A particular event occurs towards the end which wrapped things up tidily, but I felt that the particular event essentially excused Elyse from her actions. Cheating is wrong (although not always black and white), even during the last gasps of a marriage. I think that Elyse should have had to fully face the consequences of cheating on her husband.

Aside from that, I found the book enjoyable and found it very thought-provoking. It presented the institution of marriage from a variety of different directions. It would make a fantastic book club selection, as evidenced by the fact that it was chosen as the SheKnows.com book club selection for August/September.

*originally posted on my blog, http://book-chic.blogspot.com*

[Anna Griffith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Check out my blog for more extensive reviews and more!

PROS: Honestly, the writing was fantastic. The characters were dynamic, the story was engaging and it had none of the "slow bits" I so dread in a book. It was also written in present tense, and I love it when writers successfully change up the "norm" with regard to tense and person.

CONS: Let me temper this by saying that I am not a prude when it comes to books. I have read many books about divorce, affairs, etc. and generally they do not bother me. This one bothered me a lot. The author and the characters seemed to be of the opinion that ideally, a woman would have an affair and/or leave her husband. Her husband was not abusive, not cruel, not anything that would make me say "run for the hills." Mostly, she was just bored. Now, I understand that women leave their husbands for this reason all the time, and I am not here to debate the validity of doing so. What I objected to, was the attitude that if women all weren't such spineless pansies, we would have all ditched our men a long time ago, that this was the ideal situation, when I think it clearly is not ideal at all. Now divorce is a sticky subject, and I can't say I never agree with it, but affairs, in my opinion, are not. I had a problem with the character constantly sneaking around behind her husband's back and seeming to feel no guilt or consequences from it. I almost put the book down after the second or third chapter, but decided to give it a chance to see what the ending was. Without giving anything away, let me just say that I was not satisfied.

[Kathy (Bermudaonion) · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Elyse Bearden is on a flight home from Phoenix she meets a man that makes her question her life. She comes to realize that she’s not happy and begins to wonder what she should do about it. Should she give up so much of what she values – her home, her friends, her marriage – and take a chance, or should she stick with the safety of what she knows?

Love in Mid Air by Kim Wright is the story of Elyse’s struggle. Much of the struggle is internal, but some of it is discussed with her friends as well – as a matter of fact, I was a little surprised at just how much she discussed with her friends.

I love Kim Wright’s writing and was caught up in Elyse’s story from the very beginning, even though I couldn’t relate to her at all. I felt like she blamed her unhappiness on other people and couldn’t figure out what was so bad about her husband. Having said that, I do think there are a lot of women who will be able to relate to Elyse and her discontent. I just wonder how many would make the same decision she did. Love in Mid Air made me think about what I value in life and how lucky I am. It was worth reading for that alone.

[Scherry Siganporia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers! Have you ever been angry with the person you love? Have you ever wished 'he/she' went away ..far away from you for a day, a week, a month?? Do you realise how it is to live everyday and do the same routine..?? Well...the authoress does make us question our own relationships through this lovely story...written fabulously well...clearly bringing out the conflicts within a relationship. What struck me while reading this book is...all women think the same way!! So if you are dying to read something which resembles a desperate housewife serial (minus the plotting to get each other's men!) and to sit by a window and sip tea with a nice novel which make you feel like your relationship is heaven...this is the book for you! Aha! The main plot is also of a sudden unexpected attraction and an affair which develops...but it goes to show...how an affair starts and on what terms and conditions do you go on....and on....lying, cheating and well also being very happy...

Happy reading,

From me :)

[Kdevoli · Rating 2 out of 5]

A forty something suburban housewife meets an exciting stranger on a plane and starts an affair with him. This woman is so self-absorbed she makes the woman in "Eat, Pray, Love" look like Mother Teresa. She's always saying the wrong thing, sharply, and hurting people's feelings. Not sure it's worth finishing just to see if her sad marriage is saved.
Update - finially finished this. I had been planning to give it three stars, but before I could write my little review I read Joyce Maynard's "The Good Daughters", which only made Midair slip down another notch in my estimation. Both books are about flawed women, but I found the main character in Midair so pathetic, there was really nothing about her at all that I liked or cared about. Probably shouldn't have wasted my time.

[Jacqie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this one as fast as I could. The main character is a late-thirties housewife who is also an artist. After a fateful meeting on a plane on the way back from a conference, she realizes that she truly does not want to be married anymore to her husband, "a perfectly nice man who I just can't seem to love." The novel is pitch-perfect in its exploration of the emotions of letting go. Fears of losing married friends, how your child will react, whether you can make it on your own financially- this book pulls no punches. Everyone who has ever had difficulty with or doubted the strength of their marriage will relate. It's this great honesty and clarity with the little details that make Love in Mid Air well worth reading.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love in Mid Air is an introspective and honest tale of marriage and the importance of friends. Written by a woman, seemingly for women, men would benefit from reading this inside look into not just a woman's head, but her heart. Clever plot connections and descriptive intimate scenes broaden this books appeal to readers of both genders. I hope more men will read Love in Mid Air. I am certain women will.

[Christine Paiva Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel was quite dire and depressing, but I loved the style in which it was written. The language was most poetic.
The relationship btwn Elyse & Kelly was the most interesting part of the story, for me. I loved all Elyse's friends and the town she lived in. I did not love the ending, but I admit it kept me thinking LONG after the last page was read.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I completed this book within 24 hours. I had such a hard time putting it down. Kim managed to draw me into each character with vivid descriptions and amazing writing. The fact that this a debut novel would lead me to believe the author is going to have a very long successful career! I would highly recommend this book to anyone!