From Bethany Chase—whom bestselling author Emily Giffin calls “a great new voice in fiction”—comes a wise and delightfully relatable novel about a woman’s journey to rebuild her life, and her heart, after a stunning betrayal.
Can you ever really know the person you love?
She never saw it coming. Without even a shiver of suspicion to warn her, art curator Caroline Hammond discovers that her husband is having an affair with a man—a revelation that forces her to question their entire history together, from their early days as high school sweethearts through their ten years as a happily married couple. In her now upside-down world, Caroline begins envisioning her life without the relationship that has defined it: the loneliness of being an “I” instead of a “we”; the rekindled yet tenuous closeness with her younger sister; and the unexpected—and potentially disastrous—attraction she can’t get off her mind. Caroline always thought she knew her own love story, but as her husband’s other secrets emerge, she must decide whether that story’s ending will mean forgiving the man she’s loved for half her life, or facing her future without him.
Compassionate and uplifting, Results May Vary is a bittersweet celebration of the heart’s ability to turn unexpected troubles into extraordinary strength.
Praise for Results May Vary
“Chase has written an incredibly charming novel about shifting from being completed by a man to becoming a whole woman. Witnessing Caro’s growth is a pleasure.”—Library Journal
“Bethany Chase writes with a realism of expression that allows readers to empathize and appreciate the characters’ personalities and frustrations. The push and pull written into interpersonal dynamics between characters feels true to life, and is best seen in Caroline’s relationship with her sister. The surprises keep readers alert and the tempo of the novel holds their attention until the very last page.”—RT Book Reviews
“This latest novel from Chase will appeal to anyone who has ever looked up to realize they define themselves by those surrounding them. Caroline’s exploration of self-discovery is a familiar one, yet Chase has a way with phrasing and a thoughtful approach that pushes this one notch above the others. . . . A good fit for fans of Emily Giffin and Kristin Hannah.”—Booklist
“An altogether addictive read . . . Chase creates characters a reader can truly care about [in] a novel that doles out both laughter and tears.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Results May Vary is an openhearted and sweetly rendered story of lost love and found strength.”—Melissa DeCarlo, author of The Art of Crash Landing
“Relatable, engaging, and ultimately uplifting, as it explores the secrets hidden beneath the surface of a marriage that seems enviable . . . You'll root for Caroline as she struggles through heartbreak toward an unexpected new future.”—Sarah Pekkanen, author of The Perfect Neighbors
This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
Caroline and Adam have lived a happy married life. Everything is going great, until it's not. Caroline finds out that her husband is having an affair with a man. This completely shakes her to the core. She feels like she doesn't know the guy she married. She's very conflicted on making the marriage work or moving on.
Caroline has been in a relationship since she was 17-years-old to the same guy. She was never able to mature on her own and focus on herself. Even though she's very heartbroken over the affair, she takes this is an opportunity to learn about herself. I was worried that Caroline would be portrayed as a weak woman, but she wasn't at all! She was beyond sad, which is very understandable, but she didn't let this bring her down. The strength that Caroline possesses made me cheer for her so much. She picked herself back up and continued with her life. She tries to make her marriage work, but when she finds out even more shattering secrets that Adam had kept from her, she realizes her marriage can't be saved. Does she stay in her house to cry? Not at all! She moves on with the help of her sister and her best friend.
I couldn't like Adam. His words would be so perfect. He would be a full on romantic, but I couldn't swallow it. It was almost as if he was trying way too hard, and he kind of was. I didn't like how he treated Caroline. He was kind of manipulative, but it was hard to notice when everything he would say would be "nice". Also, he would believe that Caroline owed him to try to fix their marriage. This got a rise out of me like you wouldn't believe. I was so glad that Caroline made the decision to move on from him, and find love for herself.
Caroline's relationship with her sister is one that I absolutely adored. Ruby and Caroline are so loyal to each other, despite the age difference. I loved how present Ruby was in the story and how she was there for Caroline through everything. Their love was so palpable. They weren't just sisters; they were best friends.
The author did a beautiful job in wrapping up this story. I wasn't sure in which direction the author would take Caroline's story, but the blinders fell somewhere along the way and I was able to enjoy it!
Results May Vary takes us on an emotional journey of a woman finding herself. It's a story filled with heartbreak, a beautiful sister bond, and ultimately finding love and having hope amidst adversity.
I received a finished copy from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review.
This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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5 August, 2016:
Finished reading
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5 August, 2016:
Reviewed