I was seeing this book everywhere. People were talking about it. Reviewers were raving about it. I am very glad that I let my fear of missing out win over, because this book was worth the hype.

I find it difficult to rate someone’s memoir. Yes, I can rate it on the writing, whether or not the story hooked me, and if it made me feel something. I ended up reading through this memoir quite quickly. It was compelling, heartbreaking, maddening and, boy, did I feel something. It takes a great deal of courage to tell your story, to put your life out there for people to dissect and discuss. I think that it was a brave thing to do. It has the potential to help other people going through marital issues and divorce. It may even make you look twice at your own relationship.

Whenever I read a novel, I like to try and put myself in the main character’s shoes. I really wish this had just been a character and not a real woman who was blindsided by the man she loved. As a woman who has been happily married for many years, this book disturbed me to my core. I did put myself in her shoes and I felt every emotion that Belle was describing: every pang, pit in my stomach, the rejection, betrayal, and the utter confusion by the behavior of her husband. I had every conceivable idea that I could concoct as to what had happened to her husband. Who does that? What underlying issues did he have? How could you just change your whole relationship with your children? I felt so much for Belle and her children, and I certainly felt a plethora of emotions for her husband.

Strangers was raw, intense, and revealing. Burden invited readers into an extremely difficult time in her life, exposing the relationships, the heartaches and anguish, but she also showed the perseverance and the hopefulness, too.

*5 Stars