TEMPTING FATE

An affair threatens a woman’s marriage, yet it also forges unexpected bonds that transcend the narrow definition of family.

At 43, Gabby is certain the best years of her life are behind her. Eighteen years of marriage to Elliott, a highly successful gastroenterologist, have given her two lovely daughters and a secure future, but she’s feeling anything but sexy. While her friends dress to the nines for a girls’ night out, Gabby dresses simply, hoping to camouflage the more womanly curve of her hips. As her friends desperately chat up older men, Gabby finds herself drawn into a deeply flirtatious conversation with a gorgeous man 10 years her junior. Matt listens avidly to her thoughts, making her feel desirable and even beautiful. Soon, several martinis as well as the witching hour have passed. Although Gabby hasn’t been literally unfaithful, as her friendship with Matt intensifies over the coming weeks, it is only a matter of time. Their one night of passion splashes cold water on Gabby’s face: How could she risk her marriage and family for a fling with a man who may appreciate her but could never build a life with her? Her infidelity, however, can't stay hidden for long. The next year is fraught with anxieties and epiphanies, as her marriage falters and her daughters struggle to forgive her. Green (Family Pictures, 2013, etc.) charts a broad emotional terrain, ranging from frustration and desire to shame and resignation. Gabby’s transgression may detonate a bomb in her personal life, yet out of the wreckage emerges a love more flexible, more tolerant and more inclusive.

A Scarlet Letter for the 21st century.