Well. This one is certainly worthy of a book club discussion or two. The "wife" in this novel is Jodi, who has lived with Todd for 20 years. They've never married; Todd wanted to get married, Jodi never did due to issues with her childhood. No kids. Again, Jodi didn't want them. She keeps a tight reign over her emotions, her life, and her part-time practice as a psychologist. She lives a good life with Todd as long as she ignores his chronic cheating.
Todd is struggling through bouts of depression; his inability to stay faithful to Jodi is never an issue with him. It's just the way he is and he offers no excuse for it. They have an unwritten rule: it's never talked about directly; innuendoes are used to refer to his overnight trips and weekends away; and unbeknownst to him, Jodi gets back by doing little things to Todd that make his life miserable for brief moments of time. He has no idea Jodi is behind such small things; small blips that disrupt his daily schedule.
Until the day his young girlfriend tells him she's pregnant and they have to get married.
This is the turning point in the story; this is the beginning of the descent on the highest hill of the roller coaster. Todd and Jodi are nuts. Plain and simple. Both are so fundamentally damaged they can't even begin to see it. And this will cost them both.
This novel is a quick read; you will find that you don't like anyone in the novel. Not one person. There is no one to like. It makes you wonder just how many people are clinging to a life they think they want and ignoring all the wrong things that are in it.
Read it. Discuss it with someone. It is a page turner, and it will leave you dwelling on the story of Todd and Jodi for a long time.
Rating: 8/10 for a few twists and turns, and characters that are deeply flawed and don't even know it.
Available in paperback and e-book
Ahhhhh..interesting characters to say the least. I believe there are so many of the damaged one's out there....that this book could be closer to the truth than one can first imagine.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to buy on e-book.
xo
Jo
Sounds like a good book with bad characters. Great review.
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ReplyDeleteYou should read "Surviving Bigfoot and the Dixie Mafia" because it's a great book.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book, add it to my to read list.
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