Reviews

I Give My Marriage a Year by Holly Wainwright

estherleslie's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. It was a bit confusing with a lot of jumps in timelines but I enjoyed its honesty and reality that a marriage is something you are forever working on. Twas an enjoyable read.

meggles's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

roriora's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

geenybell's review against another edition

2.0

Two stars because it was enjoyable and easy to read and given the genre - a predictable level of depth. The characters were two dimensional and difficult to like or empathise with. Both of them made no effort in the way of communication - and as per a lot of fiction- the therapist was not at all what a real therapist would be.
I enjoyed the references to the places I live my life in- Redfern, Erskineville, Newtown.
At times it scraped the surface of the nuances and complexity of a long term relationship… but just didn’t quite get there.
Still- smashed it in under a week, and didn’t hate it.

alicesayshi's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Fluffy, sweet and touching. 

vikart's review

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

 I Give My Marriage a Year is a book about a husband and a wife who find their relationship troubled. Eventually, the wife, Lou decides to give her marriage a year by doing her best to fix their relationship in some somewhat absurd ways as the first month she starts with “sex”. 

This book is extremely lacking in detail about pretty much anything that’s going on despite the fact that it let’s you feel how infuriatingly annoying both of the main characters can be. To fix her marriage, Lou decides to, initially, have intercourse with her partner every single day for a month instead of… Well, talking to him? Their lack of communication is deadly obvious from the very start of the book. 

I think this was so bad for me as I vividly remember me going up to my partner and complaining so many times that he asked me why I am even finishing it about 3 times… 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy

Minor: Vomit, Abortion, and Death of parent

jol69's review against another edition

2.0

Unlikeable main protagonist, in fact most of the characters were unlikeable to some degree. Some aspects of Lou's gripes I understand. Overall this book was a let down.

melissa_bookworm's review against another edition

4.0

I have mixed feelings about this one. Lately I've been looking for escapism in the novels I read, and this was definitely not an escape. It was viscerally real. The characters were well developed, and though I didn't 'like' them per se, the story was well told and very realistic. The narrative might be a little triggering for people that have had marriage problems; although I can't empathise its told so well you can really feel the pain!

CW:

Spoiler

infidelity, abortion (somewhat coerced), death of a parent (in the past), relationship turmoil, talk of divorce

ashe_13's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

gabrielle_erin's review against another edition

5.0

This book was simply STUNNING. I have never read such an accurate portrayal of what it is like to be in a long term relationship and have to put in the work to make it function. Many novels discuss the more digestible side of love, but it is not often we see a story wholly focused on the aftermath of when a marriage breaks down, and Wainwright does this so intricately and with such poise. A new favourite - and Australian too! Will absolutely be reading her next book.