Review: “The Edge of Discontent”
This book came to me via an ARC program, and I chose it because the blurb was intriguing.
The Premise
At thirty-seven with two teenagers and a husband who isn’t bringing home the bacon, Trudy is unhappy with life. When an attractive ex-coworker suddenly shows up and proclaims he always had feelings for her, this seems to be the change she’s needed to shake things up in her life. Matthew is a sexy and successful man (everything her husband James isn’t!) who makes her feel like a woman again. Is the allure of this other man worth risking the life she’s built, or would taking a chance with him be her biggest regret?
The Pros
This was an interesting read that deals with adulthood, motherhood, marriage, and infidelity — serious themes that are often unexplored in the wide gamut of books about relationships. I really appreciate that these types of books exist rather than the typical run-of-the-mill romance, and I absolutely love difficult-to-love characters as both a reader and a writer of what I call “real-life romance”, so this was right up my alley as it was certainly realistic — painfully so, at times!
I also really liked the relationships portrayed with other women, showing other types of marriages to highlight how Trudy and her friends were all unhappy in different ways. This is so true in today’s world especially, as it seems divorce and separation seem more common rather than the long-term partnerships that previous generations were able to achieve. I think we are all on that “edge of discontent” — always wanting the greener grass and the flashier partner or job. Trudy’s actions — however deplorable — were so relatable, and this novel made me quite introspective. I also liked the ending; while reading, I was dreading an “all-tied-up-prettily” ending, and I was ultimately so very thankful that it wasn’t. Life is messy and we make mistakes — and while luckily, mistakes aren’t the end of the world and there is always hope that things can be healed somehow, there should be repercussions.
The Cons
Though I enjoyed the story and it kept me interested throughout, I did wish for a few things that could have made it even better. The “twist” was evident from a mile away; I was hoping this would have been more nuanced so it would be more shocking when it was revealed. Also I felt like the dialogue was a bit too “detached” at times which left the sensation that it was not natural speech or behaviour for the characters — for instance, when Trudy bluntly tells her husband that she’s been getting attention from other men and he should pay attention to her so she won’t cheat. More “showing, not telling” could have been employed to make it more subtle and draw me in deeper as a reader.
Conclusion
Overall, I enjoyed the writing style and the plot was engaging. Even though I was internally conflicted with disliking the main character (and that’s the whole point!), I was intrigued and kept wanting to read more. The author aptly delivers a hot mess of a character that you want to root for, while also despising them for their naivete — and that is a talent! I would recommend this book to others, particularly female readers over 40. I look forward to more from this author.
