Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

This book was sort of slow in the beginning until Tessa realized there was something wrong in her marriage with Nick which was at the end.  Anyhow, I completely understand where Tessa is coming from.  She was first, a career woman, but became a housewife.  I use to think housewives were pathetic but there were reasons they become that.  Unless, they didn't have kids then I would probably think they are gold diggers.  However, Tessa quit her job to take care of her husband whom is a surgeon and her two children.  Since her husband is a doctor, you can imagine how long he is at the hospital and rarely at home with his family.  This is the first obstacle in their marriage.  The other is when Tessa doesn't pay much attention to their relationship since she's busy being a perfect housewife.  This means socializing with her childrens' friends' mothers.  This may seem like a minor task but hasn't everyone gone through high school.  You wonder who your friends are and always trying to stay in the group.  Well, my high school life wasn't like that but it was in middle school.  Moving on, now you know Nick and Tessa isn't working so great.  So, Nick falls for a patient's mother, Valerie.  She was first a woman that looked like she needed to be saved.  She couldn't keep her eyes off Nick and she can hold a conversation without bringing up the next parent board meeting.  Nick starts an innocent friendship with Valerie.  This developed into an emotional affair.  Of course, everything leads to sex.  This is when Tessa questions Nick's too many absences but she kept telling herself that Nick would never do that to her and his family.  But he did.  And she confronted him, kicked him out, do whatever you would think you'd do when you got cheated on.  In the end, Nick comes home and beg for forgiveness. You would think Nick would pick Valerie because for a moment, he loved her and felt numbness for Tessa.  I will not tell you whether Tessa accepts Nick or not but I want you to ask yourself, would you?  Why did Nick pick Tessa in the end?

By the way, if you are a regular Giffin reader and have not read this book yet, Rachel and Dex makes an appearance!!! I miss them so much.

EssSee