If you enjoy Southern fiction, then you know that Lauren K. Denton does it so beautifully and The One You're With is certainly no exception. I always know that when I pick up one of her books, I am going to get a lot of heart and a beautiful story that I will no doubt enjoy. And while I certainly did enjoy this story, I must admit that I didn't connect with the characters in this particularly stories as much as I would have liked. It was a good story and beautifully written as I have come to expect, I just didn't connect with the characters as I normally do and as such didn't enjoy it quite as much as I have other books by the author. Was it still a good read? Absolutely. Would I still recommend it to fans of Southern fiction? Of course. It was an enjoyable read even still!

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

This book was a pleasant read, I didn't expect that, to be honest. The family drama seemed real and it was so easy to read and get into the story. Not bad at all. 3.5

Lauren Denton never disappoints and this new novel set in the evocative Southern States is a satisfying read about a modern family whose lives are upturned by the arrival of a teenage, pregnant daughter, Riley. The problem is that she is the result of a brief affair Dr.Mac Swan, the otherwise loving family man, had before he was married. A daughter he did not know existed. Through flashbacks we follow Mac and his wife Edie back into their young romance, and past secrets that might be revealed as they work out how to welcome Riley into their traditional family. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Well written with good characterization.

Mac and Edie were high school sweethearts. Everyone knew they were the couple that would make it. Except for one summer in college when they took a break, that was true. Both had successful careers, two great kids and a happy marriage. They lived the picture-perfect life. Until it wasn't. When a young woman arrives at Mac's clinic, his life is upended and that summer 19 years ago comes back in waves. Mac's time as a dock worker and Edie's summer in NYC are conjured up and the two have to decide if their relationship can weather this storm.

Denton did a great job showing all the feelings of all the characters. She did a great job at setting up the two sides of each coin and left the reader wondering what was going to happen. It could have gone either way. Ultimately, I was good with how it ended. We walked through a lot of heartache to get there, though.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A deeply poignant book that moved me. It stirred all kinds of questions and emotions and allowed me to explore some really tough scenarios with Edie and Mac. They had it all: perfect life, family, jobs, and everything you could ever want. Until secrets come to light and their foundation is rocked. The rawness of the situation is not glossed over, and some tough conversations ensue as memories and reality come crashing together. It is like a scab being ripped open and covering with a band aide is not possible. Dedication to family and honoring vows are strong themes and I was thoroughly pleased with this book.

I received a complimentary copy, with thanks, from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own and freely given.

The One You're With is a novel surrounding young love of Edie and Mac as well as the summer they were apart. High school love broken up and falling for another during the summer break Graham and Cat are characters as well but more in the background to the prime characters of Edie and Mac. The summer love baby all grown up shows up 18 years later causing Mac to have to explain and Edie to determine her feelings she experienced in the past. I like the character development although not a fan of Edie and her wishy washiness. The book has dual timelines the past and present. It shows how everything could be broken but patched for so long and what you thought was perfect is flawed.

I enjoyed the book and the development of characters during the dual timelines. How Mac and Edie explored their lives separately while young but one took their life a little less planned. The exploration of youth can have long term explanations.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I found this book to be absolutely refreshing and very thought-provoking. Mac and Edie had everything going for them: a strong marriage, two great kids, successful careers. But 20 years after the fact, the consequences of the one summer they spent apart arrive at their doorstep. The book is presented as a dual timeline by both Mac and Edie in present day, as well as during the summer of their separation. I am completely sympathetic to Edie’s journey as she must face her own truth about that summer, sort through her wildly conflicting feelings, and and eventually take them out and deal with them one by one. I found myself rooting for Mac along the way, and really admiring how he handled everything, and made the best of a lousy situation. I love that their marriage was presented as a strong foundation for everything else they had built together, and yet a single moment can change the course of their lives in the blink of an eye. I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, and was under no obligation to write a review.

“And if you can't be with the one you love, honey
Love the one you're with”
Stephen Stills


And how do you know you’ve made the right decision? There are many ways to shake up a comfortable long marriage. Having an eighteen year old pregnant daughter show up at your office is certainly a dramatic one. That’s what happens to Dr. Mac Swan when Riley comes to visit. Although his long ago summer fling with her mother Kat was never forgotten, Mac came back home to Edie, his childhood sweetheart, and continued his medical studies. Edie spent that same summer interning as an interior decorator in New York and toying with the idea of starting a business (and a relationship ) with Mac’s best friend Graham. Now years have passed and neither Mac nor Edie is totally happy with their life together because of compromises they have made in their professional lives. Enter Riley. The uproar that follows is to be expected but what happens after the initial shock shows everything that binds friends and family together.

This is a beautiful, warm, well-written novel. The characters are so real you feel like you have met them somewhere. Tears, anger, drama lead to a totally satisfying ending. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Lauren K. Denton for this ARC.

I absolutely adore Lauren K Denton and I was thrilled to read this newest novel from her. It was an intriguing topic and couldn't wait to see how she played it out. The characters were wonderfully written and while I didn't agree with Edie's reaction some of the time, I understood where it was coming from. Mac is a stand-up guy, learning as he goes, and the kids were fantastic.

No one in this story was perfect and I loved that; These characters were real, facing real problems, and I'm many out there could identify with any and all of them.

Denton does not disappoint, a true master of Southern fiction.

For fans of family relations and drama, I think this book is a winner. It gave a realistic picture of an "old married couple" and all the "what ifs' and I enjoyed learning to navigate their new family dynamic through the pages. It was well written and enjoyable.

I can't ever turn down a Lauren Denton book! Admittedly, I usually read thriller/suspense/mystery books, but her books are always a great break from the craziness of that genre! This book didn't disappoint! It was wonderful. And that cover! Beautiful!

How do you know the person you married is The One? Did you make the right choice when you had the opportunity?
These are the questions Edie and Mac wrestle with after being married for almost 18 years and a surprise visitor makes an entrance to their lives that is a reminder of the summer they took a break to decide if each other was the others The One.
I enjoyed the book a lot, but found myself incredibly frustrated with both lead characters for not talking to each other and trying to solve their issues. Especially Edie blames Mac a lot for things he had no control over without taking a good, honest look at herself too.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

Filled with complicated relationships and family drama, this book is a great read told with lots of emotion. Mac and Edie have been married for about two decades when a surprise shows up at Mac’s office—his offspring from an affair he had the summer before his senior year in college. Riley is a teen herself, with her own problems, including an unplanned pregnancy and no family to help her out. Since Edie knew nothing about Mac’s dalliance, she was blown out of the water and into a reality that she wasn’t really prepared for. After all, she and Mac have two children and a whole community that will be curious about this new addition to their family. The plot continues seamlessly as each member of the family adjusts to a new normal. Told through the eyes of Edie and Mac and in two timelines, the period of the affair and the present, this book was a mesmerizing and fascinating look at family dynamics and how something can change everything in an instant. The characterization was realistic and very relatable. The plot was totally absorbing, with just enough complications to keep me guessing about what direction this family would go in. With a theme of being honest and of making wise choices, this book is a definite must-read for fans of domestic drama and romance.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Thanks NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Lauren K. Denton for an ARC to review.
When a young woman enters Mac's practice, the life he has constructed with Edie comes to a crossroads
An emotional tale that I truly loved but I have to admit I was so annoyed with Edie.

Another masterpiece by Laura K Denton. This novel captured my attention w/ its cover. However, I was instantly drawn to this story by the end of Chapter One. Beautifully written. Memorable characters. Five Stars.

Edie and Mac were high school sweetheart hearts and are now married with two beautiful children, Avery and Thomas. Edie is an interior designer and Mac, a pediatrician. They seemed to have the perfect life, until one day a young woman walks into Mac’s office and shattered his world, claiming she is his daughter. Secrets Mac thought he left in the past are now out in the open. Will these secrets destroy his marriage and everything he and Edie have created over the last twenty years? You’ll have to grab a copy to find out.

This was my first time reading a book by Lauren K Denton. It was a sweet yet predictable story about marriage, family and life. While I enjoyed The One Your With I found it rather a slow read towards the middle of the book but it did picked up again towards the end.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The One Your With in exchange for my honest review.

Edie and Mac, together in one form or another from middle school along with Graham formed ties that bind and tether their lives into adulthood. Edie and Mac marry and are living lives many would envy. Into his office comes a young woman with a ticket to a past long forgotten. It’s a mix of emotions dormant too long and questions too big to ignore. Renter Graham the key to a project and a future only the stars knew existed. A marriage like the sea can smooth or destroy. Here you find like Edie answers differ and love endures.

The One You’re With

Rating: 3/5

What would you do if one summer could change the course of your lives forever?

Mac and Edie Swan have always been the perfect couple. High school and college sweethearts, they were destined to be together. Except for the one summer they broke up, it has always been the two of them.

When a young girl shows up at Mac’s office holding information about his past, it sends Mac and Edie questioning their past decisions - and if everything you know or believe you know can change in an instant.

A sweet plot and lovely story telling, The One Your With is a solid novel by Denton. I found myself looking for more storytelling and more character development. Good for the beach or a quick day read, but ultimately lacks the depth it needs to be truly fantastic.

Thank you to Lauren Denton, Thomas Nelson, and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Read if you like:
+ Virgin River
+ Family Dramas
+ Southern Settings

This was my first time reading one of Denton's books, and I immediately requested more of her novels from my library! The One You're With is written in a dual-timeline, going back and forth between present day and twenty years before.

Edie and Mac seem to have the perfect life. Two beautiful children, a comfortable home, and successful careers; it seems like they have it all. But looks can be deceiving, and the secrets they've been keeping just might destroy their marriage. When a young woman--a female version of Mac--walks into his paediatric office, Edie and Mac's life is turned completely upside down. Can they get past this? Will their marriage survive when long ago events are finally revealed? How will indiscretions from decades past impact their family?

The One You're With is a beautiful tale of forgiveness, learning to trust, family, and love. The characters were raw and real, and the storyline pulled me in and kept me up way past my bedtime. I also enjoyed reading a novel centred around a married couple instead of the usual dating relationships. I highly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys contemporary Christian fiction.

*I received a complimentary copy of The One You're With through the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.