The One You're With by Laura Denton Review

 Happy Friday Friends :)

I pray you've all had a great week, and I want to thank you all for joining me for another book review here on The Preppy Book Princess.

My hand is still feeling pretty sore (I talked in a previous post here about this), and because of that, I'm struggling a little bit with keeping up with reading and reviewing. 

However, I'm definitely trying to still do my best, and today I'm excited to share a review with you all from a new to me author.

The One You're With by Laura Denton:

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: July 6th, 2021

Genre: Christian Fiction/Contemporary

Synopsis:

Written in Lauren K. Denton’s signature Southern style, The One You’re With tells a story of marriage, choices, and what a good life really looks like.

High-school sweethearts Mac and Edie Swan lead a seemingly picture-perfect life in the sleepy-sweet community of Oak Hill, near Mobile, Alabama. Edie is a respected interior designer, Mac is a beloved pediatrician, and they have two great kids and a historic home on tree-lined Linden Avenue. From the outside, the Swan family is the definition of “the good life.” And life is good—mostly. Until a young woman walks into Mac’s office one day. A young woman whose very existence threatens all Mac and Edie have built and all they think they know about each other.

Nineteen years after a summer apart, with a family and established lives and careers, the past that Mac and Edie thought they left behind has come back to greet them. For the first time, constants in their lives are called into question: their roles as parents, their reputation as upstanding members of the community, and the very foundations of their marriage. As they wade through the upheaval in both their family and professional lives, they must each examine choices they made long ago and chart a new course for their future.

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

I've seen a lot of really positive reviews for this one floating around, and while I did still enjoy it, I didn't end up having the same experience as everyone else apparently.

I was initially drawn to this one as I was intrigued by it being about a couple who have been married for quite a few years. This isn't something I see done anymore by a lot of authors, and I'm always interested when I find such a title. Marriage is a lot of work, and I love when books examine the complicated truth that happily ever after doesn't mean everything goes perfectly onwards from the moment you say I do. On that topic, I think that the author did a fantastic job of realistically portraying what a couple would be going through that discovers the husband has a daughter he never actually knew anything about. All of a sudden questions emerge, and both Mac and Edie find themselves wondering if they made the right decision all those many years ago?

On the surface, this was a pretty great novel that acknowledges some pretty harsh truths, and showcases the importance of true communication in any relationship. However, I have to be honest and state that it really didn't end up being what I was hoping for, and that was mainly due to the main characters. I thought they both acted completely juvenile and self centered for a large portion of the story, and Edie, in particular, really grated on my nerves and had me not sympathizing with her in the slightest. She draws everything out to be only about herself, and she's often downright hypocritical when she calls out her husband on not telling her the truth, and yet then doing the same thing herself.

My favorite character of the story ended up being Riley, and I loved seeing the maturity she showcased throughout many of the tough situations she finds herself in, and the way she's able to put things behind her and try her best to bond with her newly discovered half siblings.

All in all, I did enjoy this one for the most part, but the main characters and the fact that it's largely about love triangles kept it from being a new favorite. I don't think I'd personally reread it, but I would still be willing to pick up a book from this author in the future.

Final Rating: 3/5.

Thanks so much to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to advance read and review this!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Thomas Nelson) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your weekend :)