I'm still kinda on the fence about this one. Some parts I could easily understand and relate to, some parts made me stop for a bit and think about them, and some parts I just skimmed through. All in all, I d say it was ok.

Thank you to Further Publishing and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

With this book, the reader really has to hit the ground running as the decision to take the gap year is announced in the first chapter. I think an important element that is missing is how did Emma and Rob get to this point? What led to the downfall of their marriage, especially after so many years? I didn’t find either main character particularly likable, which is usually something that causes me to struggle in books. The writing style also felt choppy. So this one was just meh for me.

Emma has been married to Rob for over twenty years and she needs a break. Being with him fills her with more exhaustion than happiness, and she’s not even sure that she loves him anymore. So she asks Rob for a full year of living apart with no contact so she can find herself.

The first chapter was really rocky. This was written in third person dual point-of-view, and the first chapter decided to have both perspectives at the same time. What this meant was a small paragraph from Emma’s POV, then a small paragraph from Rob’s, and back and forth. It gave me whiplash, and made for a very confusing experience. After the first chapter, the perspectives are broken up into a chapter for each character which was much more reasonable.

I was really hoping for a beautiful story about how Emma and Rob find themselves and find their way back to each other, but that really didn’t happen. Once they move away, they barely even think about each other. They just go on about their lives as if their spouse doesn’t exist. They really should have had small moments of missing each other while going about the mundane tasks of the day. In addition, these characters were supposed to grow on their own and find themselves, but I didn’t see much growth at all, and I don’t even feel like I got a good feel of the characters through the entire book.

Emma and Rob were just awful characters. I don’t mean awful in the way that an author writes on purpose so we can either learn from mistakes and/or watch them grow into better people. This was awful in a way that was wholly unnecessary to the story. They have a child, and when he is deciding to drop out of college, they both deride him and tell him he can’t have a future without staying in school. Emma gets mad at a coworker for trying to get to know her better, and she gets frustrated with the younger generation of coworkers for wanting a work/life balance. Rob gets upset at how he can’t call female coworkers “darling” anymore. In many interactions, Emma and Rob show themselves to be close-minded and not good at listening to the needs of others.

The story didn’t have much tension, and I had no motivation to keep turning the pages. If this wasn’t an ARC I promised to review, then I would have DNFed it from lack of interest. I have read many ARCs in my day, and I was disappointed by the number of typos in this one; I hope this version had a few more edits before being published.

I absolutely loved this book. I read it in one sitting. It has great characters that were very relatable and a fast moving plot. It is laugh out loud funny but also has a strong soul and a pure heart that kept me reading. Just loved it. Want to see more from this author.

2.5/5

Looking at the title and cover, I requested it expecting one of these two things:

- Option One: a funny ride for the female character, escaping the "marriage prison" and discovering friends and life, flirting, changing jobs, etc.
- Option Two: a meaningful journey towards self-discovery, about the yearning for the idea of the freedom of single life and, once having tasted it, wanting to return to the comfort of marriage.

I started reading, excited about the idea and the laughs that would come, as the story mixes a bit of both, but the result was a little bit on the disappointing side.

The husband, Rob, is described as a loving but dull alcoholic, skilled in his job but lacking a high level of education (I don't know why *that* was so important). The wife, Emma, is described as a college-educated woman stuck in life: a job in the wrong company, boring marriage, lack of sex and a kid leaving for college. The result of it is Emma asking Rob for a year without any contact in order to rediscover herself, her needs and what she wants in life.

Their year is quite different for each of them:

Rob is handed a beautiful construction project surrounded by capable women, as an analogy to his frustrated marriage, and has to navigate the ways to work alongside these young colleagues and their new views on work and life. During this time, he grows in depth and develops a self-consciousness that is quite enjoyable. There is quite a lot of solitude, so we spend long periods in his head, understanding his actions, backstory, motivations and problems.

Emma, on the other hand, finds a place to live in the centre and goes out with her younger colleagues. She flirts with a guy, and yes, she sticks with this first younger man she encounters after "leaving a marriage where she felt stuck". I found it kind of depressing. And disappointing. In addition, she reconnects with her college friend, Kendry, who stays single and free, but has her own problems. Emma soon discovers that this freedom is not "for free".

What I appreciated:

First, I enjoyed the portrait of Melbourne, I went back to sweet memories of the city and found myself promenading and gazing again at the sight of crystal skyscrapers on both sides of the Yarra River.

There are a couple of scenes that I found funny, one with Emma and Erik at his house, and some with Rob and Sareena, who is the most likable character in the whole thing. She pushes Rob and explains things in a way he understands; in the end, she is the one who helps him evolve into a less old-fashioned, providing macho role.

I also enjoyed the generational clash Emma has to struggle with. Her 48-year-old woman's lifestyle and ideals against the late-Millennial/GenZ's.

I liked that Emma was not right about everything: she pushes her son into college and he soon discovers that it's not for him, she doesn't understand nor supports this, but Rob does. However, I found it satisafying that she doesn't give up and goes back to the marriage at the end, although things don't go well for her outside of it.

I didn't enjoy that she had everything handed to her, though. She listens to a podcast, then she starts running but doesn't follow, she asks for interviews and does not prepare for them, she wants to enjoy life but she seems to rely heavily on others for direction—what does she do the rest of her time? I can't say I liked nor connected with her decisions much, even though she's only some years older than I am and I kind of realted with her experience.

Also, even though there are chapter separations as the seasons pass, I found it hard to know how much time had passed between one scene and the next: days? weeks? months? There was no clear indication and I felt lost many times.

In conclusion, I must say that I expected more of the story, however I must also confess that the end... it was kind of satisfaying. That's why, even though I doubted between 2* and 3*, I'll gave it 3.

I really wanted to like this book but it fell flat. I felt Emma was obnoxious and completely selfish and unlikeable. Rob was oblivious. And honestly I struggled with the ending a ton.

This was not great for me. The writing is fine and the story well paced. I just didn't like Emma. At all. I gave it some time thinking she'd grow on me, but it didn't happen and I didn't feel any real sense of connection.

**Review of *The Marriage Gap Year* by Yannick Thoraval**

Yannick Thoraval’s *The Marriage Gap Year* is a delightful romp through the ups and downs of modern relationships, and it’s as refreshing as a glass of sparkling water on a hot day—only with more laughs and fewer calories!

Thoraval introduces us to a couple on the brink of crisis, embarking on a "gap year" that’s not just for students anymore. The premise is both clever and relatable, and you’ll find yourself chuckling at their misadventures as they navigate a world of self-discovery that’s hilariously chaotic. Who knew a year off from marriage could involve so much awkwardness, unexpected encounters, and a touch of existential dread?

The dialogue is sharp and witty, and the characters are so endearing you’ll want to invite them over for a coffee (or perhaps a glass of wine, given their antics). Each chapter offers a new, laugh-out-loud scenario that showcases Thoraval’s talent for turning the mundane into the absurd.

If you’ve ever considered a break from your own relationship—if only for a moment of peace from the remote control wars—this book will resonate deeply. With a perfect blend of humor and heart, *The Marriage Gap Year* is a reminder that sometimes, stepping back is the best way to move forward.

So grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and prepare for a journey that’s both entertaining and surprisingly insightful. You’ll laugh, you’ll nod in agreement, and you might just reconsider your own plans for the year ahead!

The Marriage Gap Year tells the tale of Emma and Rob, who, after 26 years of marriage, decide to take a year off to figure out what they truly want from life and their union. Although the story follows both characters, Emma's perspective is given much more weight. I liked that Emma's experiences weren't completely romanticized, as her decisions had financial consequences. Although there were moments when the story seemed to drag on, I was interested to see how they handled the situation.

TW: infidelity

When their son goes away for college, Emma finds that she just can’t spend another day in her marriage as it is. She proposes time apart, a full year. Her husband, Rob, doesn’t seem to feel one way or another about it, so he goes along with the separation.

With minimal backstory to establish how they arrived at this point in their lives and marriage, the year begins. They each try spending their time doing what they want and learning more about themselves.

The challenge for me is that we essentially hit the ground running, doing our best to follow these characters without really knowing who they are, and how they became that way. It's easy to make assumptions based on how the characters behave, I just felt like we lacked insight into their foundations.

Thank you to Further Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I found the premise of this story okay. It had good potential. What I struggled with the most with this book was the lack of flow. It felt slightly choppy.

I enjoyed Rob’s character development. Thought the entirety of the novel, he grew, matured and developed a fully realised sense of self within his marriage. Emma, however, really frustrated me. She made very selfish and immature decisions that I couldn’t agree with.

I enjoyed the side characters, however there were a lot of side plots to try and keep up with.

The Marriage Gap Year is the story of Emma and Rob and how after 26 years of marriage, Emma proposes they take a gap year to assess what they each really want out of life and marriage. The story follows both characters but the story tilts far more to Emma's side of the story. I appreciated that Emma's experiences were not altogether idealized, ie. there are financial ramifications of her choices. The story dragged on a bit at points but I was eager to see how they resolved the situation.

All in all a 3.5 stars rounding up to 4 for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of The Marriage Gap Year in exchange for an honest review. This book is available now.

The Marriage Gap Year by Yannick Thoaval. This was a solid 3.5 stars for me.

The story follows a couple taking a one-year break after two and a half decades of marriage. The wife initiates the separation, feeling stifled, and each chapter alternates between the husband’s and wife’s perspectives as they navigate their journey throughout the year.

I loved the premise and how the story concluded. The increasing involvement of their son added depth to the narrative, and the settings—like the wife’s office, the husband’s worksite, and the music festival—were beautifully described. I also really enjoyed the house illustrations sprinkled throughout the book.

However, I felt the pacing could have been stronger. Most of the book (about 90%) is spent on internal conflict that felt stagnant at times. Additionally, I would have liked more insight into the characters' thought processes leading to their final decision.

That said, I’ll definitely be checking out more of Yannick Thoaval’s work. The writing style was excellent, and I look forward to seeing what else the author has to offer.

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and Yannick Thoraval for an advance ebook.

Emma and Rob (mostly Emma) decide they are not happy in their marriage and decide to take a gap year away from each other with no contact to see if they can save their marriage.

I loved the opening scene to this book, a couple having an argument in Ikea? Very relatable and funny. Men just DON’T get it.

Now, I really enjoyed the opening scene and it gave me high hopes for the rest of the book, it had so much potential but just fell a bit flat for me. I really had to push myself to finish this book but it just didn’t call to me. There were some really great bits but some dull moments too. I enjoyed Emma’s side of the story, but Rob’s story didn’t pique my interest as much.

I would however, be interested in reading more from this author.

During a cringey visit to IKEA, the store where relationships go to die, Emma finally blurts out to Rob that she is no longer happy in their 26-year marriage. It’s been decades of stagnation, boredom, frustration. Emma is desperate to get more than whatever this is out of life. She wants more meaningful work, connections, thrills, joy – and more passionate sex. It’s been ages. Rob knows their marriage isn’t perfect, but it’s good enough…isn’t it? He’s loyal, solid, a good provider. He’s been there for her. What more does she want, anyway?

As a last-ditch effort to salvage their sanity and maybe, just maybe, come back together happier, Emma suggests taking a Marriage Gap Year. Time apart, no calls, no texts. This feisty communications manager wants the comms switched off between them for the next 12 months. As Rob and Emma embark on their Gap Year, the sparkling Instagram-perfect expectations Emma envisioned don’t quite match the reality. But the more time they spend apart, the more Rob and Emma both begin to remember who they were before the kids, the jobs, and their endless responsibilities.

This book was brilliant. It reminded me of an early Taylor Jenkins Reid book called "After I Do," only better. Characters, plot, writing, humor, descriptions, relationships. They all come together seamlessly here and create a stunning experience. Well done!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

What a beautiful quotable book this was.

“Couples did things. They found workarounds, ways to enjoy the best of each other and avoid the inconveniences. They got bigger beds, or separate beds; they slept in separate rooms, or in separate houses. It was their marriage, after all, and they were free to make the rules.”

So. The marriage gap year explores the life of Rob and Emma and how their growing conflict in their marriage of 26 years prompts them to take a gap year from each other. Both explore their personal lives with fresh perspectives after Parting ways.

I didn't like the fact that Emma was having a physical relationship with Erik, a guy a lot younger to her. It was quite absurd and obnoxious as she was already in marriage with Rob and had just taken a break as a breather. Later I learnt in the book as to why she did that. But in my opinion it's still not justified.


Also I just don't know whether the ending was a cliffhanger because it was not clear whether they decided to part ways, however they did decide to live separately.

Coming to what I like about the book is that it highlights the complexities of marriage, how society perceives it. Both Rob and Emma were very determined towards their career choices despite their adult son who moved to study overseas. Also the book has a lot of wise quotable text thereby making it unputdownable.

I thoroughly liked it although it took me a little while to finish. I highly recommend this book to someone feeling low or has marriage troubles to go through this book. Hope you might have some help

"The Marriage Gap Year" by Yannick Thoraval has an intriguing premise: after 26 years of marriage, Emma decides she wants a year off, completely without contact. The question hanging over the novel is, what will become of their marriage?

Unfortunately, for me, the book was a letdown. The story alternates between Emma and Rob as they embark on separate journeys of self-discovery. Rob begins building a house, while Emma makes career changes and meets new people. Neither character is particularly likable, and being stuck in their heads feels tedious.

At around the 25% mark, Emma begins an affair with Erik, which is when I nearly gave up on the book. At that point, a conversation could have taken place, and the marriage might have ended. Yet, the story drags on for the entire year before they finally have the discussion.

The writing style is frustratingly choppy, lacking any real flow. Throughout the novel, very little happens, and then the ending is rushed. Rob wants to stay in the marriage, but Emma, who admits to the affair, no longer does. Rob gets about two pages to process his grief, and that’s it.

In the end, despite the potential of the premise, "The Marriage Gap Year" fails to deliver, with flat characters, slow pacing, and a dissatisfying resolution.

I thought this book was well constructed, and overall very well written. Lots of humor and feel good moments. This is a very non-traditional rom com, but it sort of...worked?! I haven't ever read this author before and I can tell he's a person who enjoys not just the good OR the bad, but the in-between. I enjoyed this read, and will be interested to see what this author does next.

3.75/5.0

The Marriage Gap Year was an easy enough read but ultimately lacked the depth required to be satisfying. I don't feel the reader has enough backstory to understand Emma's point of view and motivation to take a gap year from her marriage. A "fine" read, all the same. 3 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

I never want to leave a bad review, and I never want to DNF a book… so I stuck it out with this book. This story should have taken me a day to read… it took 5.

I loved the idea of the book, until I really started to hate the MFC. She is selfish. She gets jealous over a picture when she’s actively hooking up with someone else. She doesn’t want to define that relationship and gets upset when he hooks up with someone else, which he was also wrong for since he literally brought her to an event.

The only parts of the story I enjoyed were Robs. Watching Rob grow and mature with the help of the crew on the job site, but even his parts felt dragged on about the house.

In the end I was sad for Rob, he tried and he waited and did nothing except grow and learn to appreciate his wife more, all for her to basically say I want to stay married but not be together.

I gave this story 2 stars for Robs growth and the side characters.