What He Doesn't Know (What He Doesn't Know Duet, #1)
Kandi Steiner
On the northeast side of town, there is a house. The house was once magical, filled with love and joy and plans for the future. Inside its walls are many things that belong to me — my books, the china from my mother on my wedding day, the beautiful cage once home to two birds, now empty, just like me. And a man. A man who also belongs to me. A man I no longer wish to keep. A man who, no doubt, has not slept, though the sun is rising. Because the house where he waits is where I laid my head to rest every night for eight years. Until last night. No one who knows me would believe Charlie Pierce, the quiet, bookish girl who never made waves is pulling out of the driveway of a man who isn’t her husband. But they don’t know me at all. I don’t even know me. Not anymore. They say there are two sides to every story, and I suppose in most cases, that’s true. But the one I live inside of? It has three. On the northeast side of town, there is a house. But there is no longer a home.
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0Uh my heart! This was just as good on the 2nd read ❤❤❤
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Damn this is another one that was way more than what I was expecting.
This opens with the main character, Charlie, admitting that she just cheated on her husband. Then the story flashes back to 2 months earlier and the events that led to that night. Between a strained marriage, the return of Reese, her childhood friend and first love, and the tragedy of her past, Charlie is broken and tired. But as Reese helps put her back together things only become more complicated.
I think what was so surprising and amazing about this book was the way it handled the topic of infidelity. I spent this whole book completely unable to decide who I was siding with, because there honestly was no right option. This highlights the struggles of marriage; the heartache and loss that can break apart even the strongest relationships.
"They say there are two sides to every story, and I suppose in most cases, that’s true. But the one I live inside of? It has three."
What I Liked
1. The lines between what was right was so perfectly blurry here. Through the whole story I just wanted what was best for Charlie but I honestly struggled with what option that was. Relationships and life are messy, I loved how this showed that things aren't always black and white.
2. I always appreciate when stories highlight fertility or conception issues. This is a topic that's dear to me and I felt like it was handled really well in this.
3. There wasn't a ton of steaminess in this, but the main scene between Reese and Charlie... damn.
What I Didn't Like
1. Okay my only dislikes are audiobook exclusive things, so if you're planning to read this physically, ignore the rest of the this. This audiobook has a voice cast for each of the main characters - Reese, Charlie, and Cameron (who only narrates once). I liked Reese's narrator just fine, but really disliked Charlie's. Her voice was so overly breathy and it just felt so unnecessary and uncomfortable. I HAD to listen to this on 1.5 speed to make it less cringe worthy.
Overall I really loved this. I binged this entire book in 2 days and plan to start the second book right away tomorrow.
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