Married Strangers

[Holly]

In theory, this has the potential to be a fascinating book. The story follows three couples, all of whom have their relationship issues and disagreements. The chapters alternate between each couple, with some minor story overlapping. Each perspective is third-person narrative, with Shania's chapters being first-person. It was hard to tell who the actual story was about.
Rayna is a newlywed who discovers that marriage is not always a daily fairy tale. Aja has issues of her own with her husband's ex, finances and a young suitor, whose advances she doesn't completely discourage. Shania is recently engaged to Mr. Perfect when her sister shows up with a drug-dealing boyfriend and her own issues.

The story is billed as "real life", and one that people can relate to, if it is assumed that every person questions why they got married. Perhaps other people can relate to that. I can't. I've never doubted my marriage, my reasons for marriage or my husband.

I found the story choppy and uneven, with little character development and nothing that drew me to any of the couples. Honestly, most of the time I found myself annoyed with them and their attitudes. It was contrived and forced and then suddenly, every thing was wrapped up too neatly. As it jumped around, I kept wondering if I'd missed some information somewhere. I think it was a story with a great deal of potential. Certainly the issues addressed here are real. Perhaps it would have been better if it had actually centered on one main couple and how they worked through things, rather than three different ones.