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A Beautiful, Terrible Thing
- A Memoir of Marriage and Betrayal
- Narrated by: Jen Waite
- Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins
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A Beautiful, Terrible Thing
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Summary
A woman discovers her marriage is built on an illusion in this harrowing and ultimately inspiring memoir.
“Be forewarned: You won’t sleep until you finish the last page.” (Caroline Leavitt, author of Cruel Beautiful World)
One night. One email. Two realities.
Before: Jen Waite has met the partner of her dreams. A handsome, loving man who becomes part of her family, evolving into her husband, her best friend, and the father of her infant daughter.
After: A disturbing email sparks suspicion, leading to an investigation of who this man really is and what was really happening in their marriage.
In alternating Before and After chapters, Waite obsessively analyzes her relationship, trying to find a single moment form the past five years that isn't part of the long con of lies and manipulation. Instead, she finds more lies, infidelity, and betrayal than she could have imagined.
With the pacing and twists of a psychological thriller, A Beautiful, Terrible Thing looks at how a fairy tale can become a nightmare and what happens when “it could never happen to me” actually does.
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Editor reviews
Editors Select, July 2017
Even if you’ve never experienced betrayal at the magnitude the author has, I think it’s safe to say we’re all familiar with the sensation of being blindsided - and it’s that connection that makes this moving, unflinching memoir so powerful. In her own words and voice, Jen Waite describes how one shocking revelation of infidelity led to the discovery that her devoted husband, the father of her newborn daughter, was not the person she believed him to be - and that he might, in fact, be a psychopath (her own diagnosis, admittedly). With raw honesty, Waite fearlessly recounts the grief it caused her. At first her narration is understated, but as the story progresses, it becomes a downright intimate experience. Her voice breaks when she talks about the most painful parts of her ordeal and rises with the hint of a smile as she recounts the early days of her relationship and later, when she begins to triumph on her own. This can’t have been an easy story to put to paper, let alone read aloud, but Waite did an excellent job with both tasks. —Sam, Audible Editor
Critic reviews
“Waite has a knack for showing the ways that cognitive dissonance can chart pathways in the mind that cause emotional confusion to obscure rational thought.” (Meghan Daum, New York Times Book Review)
“[Waite's] memoir is a great source of strength.” (Hello Giggles)
“Heartbreaking and riveting.” (Bustle)
"Like Big Little Lies, A Beautiful Terrible Thing is a startling reminder that fairy tales aren't real. A master class in suspenseful storytelling, Jen Waite recounts the lies, betrayals, and infidelity she endured with unrestrained honesty and deft candor. I couldn't turn away." (Jillian Lauren, New York Times best-selling author of Some Girls: My Life in a Harem and Everything You Ever Wanted)
What listeners say about A Beautiful, Terrible Thing
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- thetruthshallsetyefree
- 31-12-23
A very good read
Mental health affects us all. This is a courageous look at the highs and lows of a love affair that was not what it seemed. Overall a very uplifting story and will be of comfort to those of us who’re a member of the club.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- donna coleman
- 02-04-23
Read once but not one to fuss over
A reasonably well told story but not necessarily one that I would recommend or read again. This is in no way a reflection on the author or the experience she had its just a topic that is very sad.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- DP0619
- 26-11-22
Loved It
A brutal and honest portrayal of falling to quickly and the devastating aftermath. The writer captured it beautifully .
The narration felt quite flat and monotone to begin with but it suits the subject matter .
I really enjoyed it .
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Izzy Yoga Teach
- 14-11-22
Naturally heartfelt
I enjoyed this book very much ..I think ..maybe I simply valued it? Apart from being a good listen and easy on the ear, the content, the education and the experience is more useful to si many women than first seems.
I found it uncomfortable too, because so many of the offending male's characteristics are familiar to me as a mother with a daughter.....
Jen is candid, honest and pulls no punches. An intelligent woman's journey, of subtle but no less catastrophuc abuse ...Thank you...
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 15-11-22
Boring
Boring. Dull. Predictable. Self indulgent.
Even the narrator sounds bored. Her voice is dull and irritating.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Jackson
- 25-11-22
Very slow and infuriating
Struggled to finish this. I found the story incredibly frustrating and the story very slow. Although an interesting plot I couldn't help but cringe as the use of 'babe' seemed to be used in every sentence and the I listened to more than 3 hours where the same plot went round and round in circles. I spent most of the story either rolling my eyes or telling the characters to act decisively and do something about it. Very disappointing!
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Rae-Gene Holmes
- 24-09-24
Nothing
I am not sure if this individual has a psychologic problem or he is, as many men are: simply a lying philanderer. Just another story of a woman’s heartbeat.
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