About the Book
What would you do if you found the spark that made you feel whole again?
After twelve years of marriage and two kids, Merit has begun to feel like a stranger in her own life. She loves her husband and sons, but she desperately needs something more than sippy cups and monthly sex. So, she returns to her career at Jager + Brandt, where a brilliant and beautiful Danish architect named Jane decides to overlook the “break” in Merit’s résumé and give her a shot.
Jane is a supernova—witty and dazzling and unapologetically herself—and as the two work closely together, their relationship becomes a true friendship. In Jane, Merit sees the possibility of what a woman could be. And Jane sees Merit exactly for who she is. Not the wife and mother dutifully performing the roles expected of her, but a whole person.
Their relationship quickly becomes a cornerstone in Merit’s life. And as Merit starts to open her mind to the idea of more—more of a partner, more of a match, more out of love—she begins to question: What if the love of her life isn’t the man she married. What if it’s Jane?
My Review
When Merit decides to return to work after needing more of an identity that just wife and mother, she expects to put in the hours and feel fulfilled again. What she did not expect was her blossoming friendship with her boss, Jane. Jane is older, wildly comfortable in her own skin, and while the two women clash professionally from time to time, they each have a respect for one another that goes beyond the office. When Merit begins to suspect her feelings for Jane go beyond looking up to her as a mentor, she has to do a lot of soul-searching. Could she possibly be in love with Jane? What about her own marriage of twelve years – and her sons?
This novel eloquently explores the deeper dynamics of female friendships with a slow build tension around modern day expectations on women. As a bystander watching the friendships unfold, I truly wondered what decisions Merit would make and I was guessing up until the last page. It’s a fascinating situation that many women especially face nowadays – how to live your authentic, best life yet overcome the burdens and the backlash that come with doing just that. This novel was compelling, thought-provoking and while there were a few times the scenes got a little long for me, it’s still one I would recommend for your summer reading list.
4 stars
