About Accidents of Marriage
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Washington Square Press; Reprint edition (June 9, 2015)
For Madeline Illica, the love of her husband Ben was her greatest blessing and biggest curse. Brilliant and charming, Ben could turn into a raging bull when crossedóand despite her training as a social worker Maddy never knew what would cross him. When Ben was in a conciliatory mood, they worked on techniques for communication and anger management, but on the day of the accident, nothing seemed to help.
Accidents of Marriage holds readers from the first page to the last.
“This novel’s unsparing look at emotional abuse and its devastating consequences gives it gravity and bite, while a glimpse into a physically damaged mind both surprises and fascinates.”—People Magazine
“A complex, captivating tale.”—Boston Globe
“A deft exploration of the borders of abuse and the aftermath of tragedy, the triumphs and disappointments of recovery, and the possibilities of faith and forgiveness.”—Star Tribune
“Unputdownable and unforgettable. I just loved it—and I’ll now read everything Randy Susan Meyers writes.”—Liane Moriarty, NYT bestselling author of The Husband’s Secret
My review:
Accidents of Marriage is the newest work from author Randy Susan Meyers and the first of her work that I’ve read. What I will say right off the bat is if you’re looking for a feel good, happy ending read, this is not that book for you. That being said, I really loved this book regardless and I have a feeling this story and these characters will stay with me for quite some time.
Maddy and Ben are a married couple with three children. Both career people, they have to balance a lot on a daily basis. One of those things is Ben’s temper that regularly rises beyond a reasonable level. All of the daily things that seem so annoying or frustrating like laundry and school lunches seem unimportant after a terrible car accident leaves Maddy in a coma and eventually navigation a long and frustrating recovery. It’s that terrible accident that gives Ben some much needed perspective. Unfortunately it comes a tad bit too late.
My heart broke for this family. It broke for their broken marriage and the children left in the wake. It broke for Maddy and her injuries. It broke for Ben who I am still really pulling for and have hopes that one day we will get an update that he and Maddy were able to work things out. Even though this was a sad story, it was also relatable in some ways. Life is hard. Marriage is hard. Parenthood is hard. We all let these things get to us and lead us to be upset at times. Saying things we don’t mean in the heat of anger or frustration. But the thing this book remind me was that no matter what, love and life are precious and should be treated as such. It reminded me that it can all change in the blink of an eye and that we should be grateful for the things we have and let the trivial things go. Take time to appreciate our loved ones because you never know what tomorrow may hold…for that I am beyond grateful that I read this book.
So again I say, if you’re looking for a happily ever ever this is not a book for you. But if you’re looking for an emotional and poignant read with a message that shouldn’t be ignored, pick this story up. I know many of you will enjoy this book as much as I did. Thank you, Ms. Meyers, for a moving tale.
Four-and-a-Half Loves
Purchase Links
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About Randy Susan Meyers
The drama of Randy Susan Meyersí novels is informed by her work with families impacted by emotional and family violence.
Her newest novel,†Accidents of Marriage, examines the slippery definitions of†emotional abuse and explores tragic circumstances forcing a family to challenge the dynamics that have long-defined them.
Randy is a founding member of Beyond The Margins, a site dedicated to the craft of writing and the business of publishing, and coauthored the guide,†What To Do Before Your Book Launch, with writer M.J. Rose.††She lives in Boston with her husband, where she teaches at Grub Street Writerís Center.
Find out more about Randy at her website, and connect with her on Facebook,†Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.
Not a feel-good story for sure, but a story that will stick with readers for a long time.
Thanks for being a part of the tour!
Books like this really remind me of what’s important in life.