Maggie's Turn

<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1597024505i/29941823.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br>Well, this story sucked. <br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1552021109ra/27171077.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br>Maggie was an awful mother. I don't blame her for walking away from her dick of a husband, but leaving her kids without any warning and freaking them TF out, then refusing to come back home to them again because, by golly, it's HER turn to be a self serving asshole. <br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1597023823ra/29941814.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> <br>Not that the kids were really worth coming home to, as they were both selfish jerks as well. And Andrew was such an arrogant and demanding dick, who only cared about himself. I never got around to sympathizing with or even liking Maggie again after her actions, and I pretty much detested the rest of her family. The entire reason I read this story <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="9a82f9fd-8160-4100-bfdc-03b623ff448c" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="9a82f9fd-8160-4100-bfdc-03b623ff448c">was for the cheating theme</label>, but that wasn't really a big part of this story like I had expected. This wasn't worth the investment by the ending. I wish I had my time back. <br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1597023953ra/29941815.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]>

3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads<br />======================<br />S<br />P<br />O<br />I<br />L<br />E<br />R<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />Bob Seger is one of my favorite singers and Maggie's journey has the perfect soundtrack!<br /><br />Andrew had an affair with another woman for a year. While Maggie took care of, first her father dying of cancer and then her sister also dying of the disease, he was neglecting both his children and wife while having a hot affair with a younger woman.<br />In my point of view what he did and his selfishness has no explanation or forgiveness. Added to his anger at having to give up his lover. He is a despicable human being.<br />As the story unfolded I was hoping that Maggie would actually leave him and move on. Maggie is treated like a servant by him and the children. He wasn't worth it.<br />But she takes him back after a reality check on his part.<br /><br /><blockquote>Maggie tried not to take Kaia’s rudeness personally, but her heart felt heavy as she switched AM on the stereo to CD and listened to Bob Seger sing “Roll Me Away,” a song about escaping down a Western highway. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Andrew hadn’t kissed her good-bye. Not even a peck on the cheek. When was the last time he had really kissed her? She couldn’t remember. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Plus, he also had a bigger goal in mind: he wanted to become mayor of Woodroe someday, just as his father had been. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Andrew asked. He didn’t keep track of Maggie’s work schedule and rarely asked her about it. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Not once in twenty-three years of marriage had he had cause to worry about where she was or what she was doing. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Bob Seger continued singing his greatest hits over and over, and Maggie didn’t grow tired of them. Bob was right— it felt so good to finally feel free. She was smiling again, singing along with the CD, feeling the weight of the world, her world, being lifted off her shoulders </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Frankly, she felt she wouldn’t even be missed. Andrew was always so busy, and the kids paid so little attention to her anymore. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>I’ve often wondered how you get off so lucky not having to drive Kaia in when you work only a block from school,” Derrick said. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Maggie drove the kids to school. That was her job. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>As far as he was concerned, her life was perfect. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>He paid so little attention to what she wore. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Not only because he had no idea where Maggie was but also because he didn’t know as much about their daily life together as he should have. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Going home meant facing reality, and after the stress of the past two years, Maggie could no longer face the heartbreak and disappointment that lay behind her. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>He gave Derrick the name and phone number of Maggie’s workplace— he’d written it on a piece of paper, because he didn’t know it by heart since he never called or visited Maggie at work. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>“Who pays attention to clothes?” Derrick’s eyes scanned Andrew. “Looks like you pay a lot of attention to your own clothes.” </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Noticing his wife’s outfit, or even how she looked in it, wasn’t something he’d thought to do. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>He didn’t mention it to his coworkers, and he hoped she’d be found before they learned she’d been missing. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Andrew’s tone had brought back all the unhappiness she’d felt over the past few years. He sounded like the same old Andrew— more annoyed with her than concerned. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>His world consisted of his job, his meetings, and his activities. He expected his daily schedule to dictate the lives around him. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>“If you won’t come back on your own, I can stop you, you know,” Andrew finally said. “I can cancel the credit cards and close the checking account. Without money, you’ll have to turn around and come back.” </blockquote><br /><blockquote>“I have my own money, remember? My own checking account and my own credit card. You were the one who insisted we separate our money a few years ago when you accused me of wasting it on unnecessary stuff for the kids. The family checkbook is on the dresser, where it always is when I’m not using it. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>I’m only spending what I’ve earned, not your money. Besides, there’s the money my dad left me, too, so there’s not much you can do.” </blockquote><br /><blockquote>“Maggie, is this your revenge for what happened last year?” Andrew asked in a softer tone. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>The money threat hadn’t worked, but she couldn’t possibly have enough money in her own account to gallivant around the country for very long. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>he racked his brain and realized that he’d never even asked her how much money her dad had left her. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>How could he possibly have insinuated her trips to Seattle were vacations? If he thought planning funerals and attending to family matters were vacations, he was an insensitive jerk. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Andrew hadn’t offered to join her or help her on either trip. He was too busy with work and his committee responsibilities, and he thought it best for her to go alone. At the time, Maggie tried not to resent his absence. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>As time went by, she realized that he hadn’t accompanied her to Seattle out of selfishness, and it upset her that she’d let him get away with it. Her disgust for him grew deeper when she’d learned what he’d been doing while she was away. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Thinking about Maggie disrupted his work, which only aggravated him more. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Apparently, Maggie hadn’t stocked up before running away. It seemed to Andrew that was the least she could have done. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Oh God, he just wasn’t cut out for this. And he blamed Maggie for going off and leaving him with all her unfinished work. It wasn’t fair. Just as it hadn’t been fair to wait for almost two days to call and tell him she was okay. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>You need to come home. And if you don’t, well, I’m not going to be held responsible for what happens to our marriage.” “You’ve never taken any responsibility for our marriage before,” Maggie said calmly. “So why should I expect anything different now?” </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Maybe if you were here doing your job, there wouldn’t be a problem.” </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Maggie hated it when he said the kids were her job. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>“You can call it whatever you wish, because I don’t care what you think. I’m feeling good about myself for the first time in years, and I’m going to enjoy it. You had your fling. Now, it’s my turn to have mine.” </blockquote><br /><blockquote>When a pretty coworker started flirting with him last year, he’d felt alive again. And he’d liked how that felt. But in the end, it had only made him feel good in the moment. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Andrew didn’t care how Maggie bought groceries. He was in charge now, and they were doing it his way. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Maggie had always done the shopping and cooking, and he’d never paid any attention to it. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Since he’d never really paid attention to what Maggie did, or who she worked with, this surprised him. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>He’d always gone to work and didn’t worry about where the kids or Maggie were. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>The kids were Maggie’s job. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Wow, Maggie thought. Andrew actually helped with dinner. She couldn’t remember the last time he’d assisted her in making a meal, or even offered to help. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>“I don’t know, Maggie. That would be expensive, and opening a new business is always a big risk.” </blockquote><br /><blockquote>He’d never gone bowling with Maggie or the kids. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Maybe if he told her he’d give up some of his committee work and spend more time with the family, she’d consider forgiving him for his affair. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>It had been more than a year since Maggie had found out about it and he’d ended it, though a bit reluctantly. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>She had just been there, convenient and willing, and despite knowing it was wrong, Andrew had given in to temptation. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>He’d been seeing the other woman for almost a year when Maggie had told him she knew about the affair and that he either had to end it or lose his family. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>This is a small town, Andrew. You know that as well as I do. People talk. Did you really think you could keep your affair a secret? Everyone in this town likes Maggie. She’s a nice person, a good mother, and she gives her time to help benefit this community. She didn’t deserve what you did to her.” </blockquote><br /><blockquote>But what you did to Maggie . . . that was low. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>The point I’m making is that you have a pretty wife who cares about other people and who is a good mother, and how did you repay her? You cheated on her with a woman who wasn’t even half the woman Maggie is. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>It was Maggie who had to go through each day, trying to hold her head up high and ignore the whispers behind her back and pretend that everything was okay. You didn’t even have the decency to hide your affair. You paraded around town with that woman at your side. So you’re right. Maggie had her reasons for leaving. And her number one reason for leaving was you.” *** </blockquote><br /><blockquote>“Don’t worry, Andrew. I know how much you love your money. I wouldn’t dream of using the family money frivolously,” Maggie said. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>You ended up being just like your mother after all. You walked away and left your family behind, just like she did.” </blockquote><br /><blockquote>“How dare you compare me to my mother?” she said, her voice low and menacing. “You left us long before I ever drove away. I was the one who raised the kids while you made excuses to be at work late or volunteer all over town. I was the one to drive them to school, care for them when they were sick, take them to activities, and attend all their sporting events, school conferences, field trips, and plays. I was with our children every second of every day, taking care of their needs, and yours. I didn’t abandon them, you did. Just like you abandoned me.” </blockquote><br /><blockquote>“A few mistakes? Maggie, he cheated on you. And after you caught him, he just wanted you to forget it ever happened and go back to the way things were. That’s terrible. He didn’t even care how his cheating affected you. If Matt ever cheated on me, I’d throw his ass out the door and never let him in again.” </blockquote><br /><blockquote>without Maggie, his life was falling apart. He had never realized just how much she did to make things easy for him, and it irritated him to have to acknowledge that. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>“Imagine how he felt,” Maggie continued. “His friends seeing what he saw. His father betraying his mother. He was devastated. He was so upset when he came home that I asked him what was wrong. I could see he didn’t want to tell me, to hurt me, but he also knew I needed to know. So he told me what he’d seen. I had to hear about my husband’s affair from my son. Can you even begin to imagine how that made me feel?” </blockquote><br /><blockquote>“You have to, Andrew. Because I can’t cover for your mistakes any longer. It’s up to you to bring your family back together again. I’m tired of trying to do it all on my own.” </blockquote><br /><blockquote>His affair had made her feel inadequate as a woman and a wife. It hadn’t mattered that he’d chosen her over the other woman in the end. He’d broken her trust and he hadn’t yet proved to her that he was truly sorry for it. She was tired of making excuses for him. There were no excuses left. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>“I’m ashamed to say I never actually thought about what you did at work,” </blockquote><br /><blockquote>You have a complete life I didn’t know anything about, and I never took the time to ask you about it.” “I just assumed you didn’t care,” Maggie said honestly. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>“Yes, you chose to stay with your family. You chose to stay with me. But that was it. You stayed, and so did your resentment and your anger at having been caught and having to give up something you weren’t ready to give up. You brought all that into our home, and things haven’t been the same since.” “I never loved her, Maggie,” </blockquote><br /><blockquote>“But you never tried to win me back, did you, Andrew? You thought an apology was all you needed to find your way back into my heart. The affair hurt. It hurt me deeply. But do you know what hurt more? The fact that even after you’d made your choice, you didn’t do anything to fix us. You didn’t want me enough, or love me enough, to fight for me. If you’d really loved me, you’d have tried harder to bring me back to you. Your anger, resentment, and indifference are what hurt me the most.” </blockquote><br /><blockquote>He had been angry at being caught like a child with his hand in the cookie jar. He’d resented ending the affair and blamed Maggie for it. </blockquote><br /><blockquote> <u> I rooted for her to kick the cheater and be with Rob!</u><br />Bob was now singing “We’ve Got Tonight,” a slow, mellow song. </blockquote><br />

<br /><br />I would warrant that most women feel as Maggie does, at some time during their marriage. We in western society, have set the bar so high in terms of the cost of living - mortgages, vehicles, schooling and our children's expectations - that millions of women have to go to work, frequently in low-paid, physically hard jobs. This does not mean, however, that these women have help at home from their husbands and children - oh no, like Maggie, they are expected to do it all.<br /><br />As one of these women many years ago, I emphasised with Maggie and cheered her on. I could relate to how she just kept going one morning and couldn't seem to stop. For her own sanity, this had to come to pass, and she was lucky she could afford to do so.<br /><br />Her husband, Andrew, was an arrogant idiot, typical of many men in his socio-economic bracket and ambitions. I have seen this happen many times over the years, and sadly, the wives just put up with it to their detriment.<br /><br />Maggie's journey is peopled by delightful and realistic characters in this well-written novel. I enjoyed the historic and geographical imagery shown through Maggie's photography and how the heroine got stronger as she gained self respect and confidence. I also liked that the fact that her emotional and physical exhaustion was gently revealed, rather than the reader hit with a sledge hammer. <br /><br />Many books with this theme show the heroine as a complete, over weight wreck and subject to extreme makeovers, but Deanna Sletten has introduced the reader to an ordinary weary, travel-worn woman who becomes determined to save herself and does so without high drama. Naming each of the characters which impact upon Maggie's life along the journey different versions of the same name is a masterstroke which gives continuity to the whole, backed up Maggie's favourite singer. No spoilers :)<br /><br />A terrific read! And I shall be reading more by this clever author.<br />

One dimensional selfish characters. Did I care that the husband had an affair for a year? Nope. Did I care that the wife took off without telling anyone, leaving the husband to take care of the kids? Nope. Did I care about the kids- Kaia and Kyle? Not really. Because the characters were one dimensional and none of them developed throughout the novel. I was bored by these silly people.

I really need to stop reading books just because they are free with Kindle Unlimited.

I was delighted by how enjoyable a read <i>Maggie's Turn</i> ended up being. I immediately was drawn into the story and was connected to the characters.<br /><br />Maggie is a wife and mother who has been underappreciated for years and has reached her breaking point, so one day she just takes off. First with the intention of only being gone for a few hours, however that quickly evolves into a journey that takes her through many states and making many new experiences. <br /><br />Andrew, Maggie's husband, definitely needed a wake up call. His behavior was horrible and I could understand why Maggie felt she had to get a break. I loved the scenes with him realizing how much work Maggie does, not only around the house but for others as well, and that everything she does isn't as simple as he thought.<br /><br />I personally didn't like that Maggie went off alone with men and put herself into situations that caused her to be tempted to cheat. I won't say whether or not she actually did anything but I feel, and this is a view I know isn't shared by everyone, that when you are married you should never put yourself into a situation that might cause you to stray - physically or emotionally. <br /><br /><i>Maggie's Turn</i> was a great book and one that I recommend.<br /><br />***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

Well written, the husband is selfish and self absorbed and I don’t believe he was redeemed.

<br /><br />Well the topic of this story has been done before, but this is much better than ones I have previously read that are similar.<br /><br />Maggie and her husband works, but they have two children, as is per usual in most households the wife takes the brunt of all the housework, shopping, cooking, seeing to the kids, attending school meetings and fetes etc etc and umpteen etcs <br /><br />But dad was also doing an important job he was working full time to feed and clothe his family until.....<br /><br />yep, he betrayed Maggie.<br /><br />Maggie had enough and one day she just drove away from it all.<br /><br />Leaving dad to cope and manage without her.<br /><br />The outcome to this was predictable but I did feel the story was told superbly by this authors as she writes so well. <br /><br />Three stars doesn't mean it was awful, it means that its predictable and been written about so many times before, but, its an alright book that I would gladly recommend. <br /><br />Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via Net galley for my copy

I have read this story before in many other novels, and it was written considerably better. The writing was OK, although very trite &amp; silly in many spots. The biggest problem was the character of Maggie. What a whining idiot. I could not stand her. And the other characters were very one-dimensional. And really how convenient to inherit $400K and your super frugal spouse claims he did not know...even after you told him. Ridiculous!<br />I have read two other books from this author &amp; they were so far superior to this book.

I think most every wife or mother feels like Maggie at times - like they just want to run away and escape their everyday life. Probably every husband and father feels that way at times too. Unfortunately most of us don't have the financial resources to do what Maggie did in this novel. The story was sort of enjoyable when read as a total fantasy, but much of it was so unrealistic it was hard to believe in it. She not only walked away from her family but from her job, apparently without any notice or contact, but yet everyone there still loves her and thinks she is great. She leaves her clueless husband to deal with the house and kids while everyone in town thinks she is the most marvelous person who has ever lived. I'm sorry, but she did seem pretty selfish to me. The fact that her husband was also selfish and disconnected from the family doesn't give her permission to just run away from her responsibilities and act out all her fantasies. Miraculously while she was gone not only did he reform and learn to love and appreciate her, but the kids transformed from grumpy, sullen teenagers into kids who want nothing more than to help with the housework and spend their weekends hanging out with their parents. All this change and transformation, but no mention of possibly going to some counseling or getting other help to recover from the problems in the marriage. Parts of the book were entertaining and made me wish I could just escape my responsibilities and live the carefree independent life, but I felt a lot of it was just not grounded in reality.