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A review by ladylaurenexplorer
Life Without You by S.P. West
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Now this is the cheating angst that I’m talking about!
At first I wasn’t really sure how I was going to like the book especially with us beginning in the present day. But a good majority of the book is in the past when she starts to have feelings that something is wrong with her husband.
And then I was pleasantly surprised when we got his point of view in the past as well, during the time that he was cheating on her. So even though I don’t condone what he did. It was very nice to understand his thought process behind it. It was also pleasantly surprising to see how her actions were perceived as pressure. Whereas in her mind she was just trying to be a good wife!
I also loved how far in the present we went because it shows growth especially on both their ends.
He needed time to understand the trauma and pain that he put not only his wife but all of his friends through when he was facing his demons. He also needed help from someone to understand how he got that way and made it through. (Addiction)
She needed space to grieve for the loss of her husband and other things. Most importantly she needs to build herself back up and understand that she deserves respect and she’s worth it. She deserves better than what he was giving her in those last few of months.
I hate that they came back together because of a accident. But I am also glad that she didn’t just take his groveling. She made him work and when it became a little bit too much for her she did the right thing in the end.
On his part I’m glad that he at least tried and I’m glad that he was persistent and his regrettable actions and behavior. He needed to prove himself to her after all this time and he did.
At first I wasn’t really sure how I was going to like the book especially with us beginning in the present day. But a good majority of the book is in the past when she starts to have feelings that something is wrong with her husband.
And then I was pleasantly surprised when we got his point of view in the past as well, during the time that he was cheating on her. So even though I don’t condone what he did. It was very nice to understand his thought process behind it. It was also pleasantly surprising to see how her actions were perceived as pressure. Whereas in her mind she was just trying to be a good wife!
I also loved how far in the present we went because it shows growth especially on both their ends.
He needed time to understand the trauma and pain that he put not only his wife but all of his friends through when he was facing his demons. He also needed help from someone to understand how he got that way and made it through. (Addiction)
She needed space to grieve for the loss of her husband and other things. Most importantly she needs to build herself back up and understand that she deserves respect and she’s worth it. She deserves better than what he was giving her in those last few of months.
I hate that they came back together because of a accident. But I am also glad that she didn’t just take his groveling. She made him work and when it became a little bit too much for her she did the right thing in the end.
On his part I’m glad that he at least tried and I’m glad that he was persistent and his regrettable actions and behavior. He needed to prove himself to her after all this time and he did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Grief