Results May Vary: A Novel
Aug 2016 · Sold by Ballantine Books
4.0star
2 reviews
Ebook
352
Pages
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About this ebook
From Bethany Chase—whom bestselling author Emily Giffin calls “a great new voice in fiction”—comes a wise and delightfully relatable novel about a woman’s journey to rebuild her life, and her heart, after a stunning betrayal.
Can you ever really know the person you love?
She never saw it coming. Without even a shiver of suspicion to warn her, art curator Caroline Hammond discovers that her husband is having an affair with a man—a revelation that forces her to question their entire history together, from their early days as high school sweethearts through their ten years as a happily married couple. In her now upside-down world, Caroline begins envisioning her life without the relationship that has defined it: the loneliness of being an “I” instead of a “we”; the rekindled yet tenuous closeness with her younger sister; and the unexpected—and potentially disastrous—attraction she can’t get off her mind. Caroline always thought she knew her own love story, but as her husband’s other secrets emerge, she must decide whether that story’s ending will mean forgiving the man she’s loved for half her life, or facing her future without him.
Compassionate and uplifting, Results May Vary is a bittersweet celebration of the heart’s ability to turn unexpected troubles into extraordinary strength.
Praise for Results May Vary
“Chase has written an incredibly charming novel about shifting from being completed by a man to becoming a whole woman. Witnessing Caro’s growth is a pleasure.”—Library Journal
“Bethany Chase writes with a realism of expression that allows readers to empathize and appreciate the characters’ personalities and frustrations. The push and pull written into interpersonal dynamics between characters feels true to life, and is best seen in Caroline’s relationship with her sister. The surprises keep readers alert and the tempo of the novel holds their attention until the very last page.”—RT Book Reviews
“This latest novel from Chase will appeal to anyone who has ever looked up to realize they define themselves by those surrounding them. Caroline’s exploration of self-discovery is a familiar one, yet Chase has a way with phrasing and a thoughtful approach that pushes this one notch above the others. . . . A good fit for fans of Emily Giffin and Kristin Hannah.”—Booklist
“An altogether addictive read . . . Chase creates characters a reader can truly care about [in] a novel that doles out both laughter and tears.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Results May Vary is an openhearted and sweetly rendered story of lost love and found strength.”—Melissa DeCarlo, author of The Art of Crash Landing
“Relatable, engaging, and ultimately uplifting, as it explores the secrets hidden beneath the surface of a marriage that seems enviable . . . You'll root for Caroline as she struggles through heartbreak toward an unexpected new future.”—Sarah Pekkanen, author of The Perfect Neighbors
Can you ever really know the person you love?
She never saw it coming. Without even a shiver of suspicion to warn her, art curator Caroline Hammond discovers that her husband is having an affair with a man—a revelation that forces her to question their entire history together, from their early days as high school sweethearts through their ten years as a happily married couple. In her now upside-down world, Caroline begins envisioning her life without the relationship that has defined it: the loneliness of being an “I” instead of a “we”; the rekindled yet tenuous closeness with her younger sister; and the unexpected—and potentially disastrous—attraction she can’t get off her mind. Caroline always thought she knew her own love story, but as her husband’s other secrets emerge, she must decide whether that story’s ending will mean forgiving the man she’s loved for half her life, or facing her future without him.
Compassionate and uplifting, Results May Vary is a bittersweet celebration of the heart’s ability to turn unexpected troubles into extraordinary strength.
Praise for Results May Vary
“Chase has written an incredibly charming novel about shifting from being completed by a man to becoming a whole woman. Witnessing Caro’s growth is a pleasure.”—Library Journal
“Bethany Chase writes with a realism of expression that allows readers to empathize and appreciate the characters’ personalities and frustrations. The push and pull written into interpersonal dynamics between characters feels true to life, and is best seen in Caroline’s relationship with her sister. The surprises keep readers alert and the tempo of the novel holds their attention until the very last page.”—RT Book Reviews
“This latest novel from Chase will appeal to anyone who has ever looked up to realize they define themselves by those surrounding them. Caroline’s exploration of self-discovery is a familiar one, yet Chase has a way with phrasing and a thoughtful approach that pushes this one notch above the others. . . . A good fit for fans of Emily Giffin and Kristin Hannah.”—Booklist
“An altogether addictive read . . . Chase creates characters a reader can truly care about [in] a novel that doles out both laughter and tears.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Results May Vary is an openhearted and sweetly rendered story of lost love and found strength.”—Melissa DeCarlo, author of The Art of Crash Landing
“Relatable, engaging, and ultimately uplifting, as it explores the secrets hidden beneath the surface of a marriage that seems enviable . . . You'll root for Caroline as she struggles through heartbreak toward an unexpected new future.”—Sarah Pekkanen, author of The Perfect Neighbors
Ratings and reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Kristina Anderson
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August 12, 2016
Results May Vary is a new novel by Bethany Chase. Caroline Fairly Hammond is going to an art gallery with her husband of fifteen years, Adam. The photographer, Patrick Timothy (Rubinowitz is his real last name) is having an exhibit. Jonathan Brast, their friend, as well as his latest girlfriend, Alicia are attending as well. Caroline is looking at the photos when Alicia asks if she wants to see some special photos that are not on exhibit. Caroline agrees and Alicia pulls her into the office. When Caroline sees the intimate photos, she understands why they are not on display. They are very sensual (erotic) pictures of two men in bed. Caroline notices a birthmark on one of the men that looks very similar to her husbands. Adam comes looking for her, and Caroline points out the birthmark. She then sees the look on Adam’s face and realizes that Adam is the man in the photo. The other man is Patrick Timothy (the photographer). Caroline is shocked, upset, outraged (and so much more). Caroline ends up going home with Jonathan and stays at his apartment for a week before finally returning to her home in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Caroline is an art curator for MASS MoCA. Caroline’s sister, Ruby comes to visit. Ruby is hoping to cheer her sister up, but she also just got out of a relationship and lost her job. Caroline has to find a way to deal with Adam’s betrayal, work through it, decide how to proceed with her marriage, and move on with her life. Join Caroline on her journey in Results May Vary. Results May Vary is nicely written and deals with an issue that many women and experience every day. I found Results May Vary a slow paced novel. Caroline does the usual post-betrayal things of evaluating what went wrong, what could have caused it, etc. (but it did not feel real). Caroline then takes off her wedding rings and proceeds with her “new” life (whiplash). Caroline just did not come alive for me (I found her to be a very self-absorbed person). We actually get very little information on Adam. More is revealed about him near the end of the novel (mostly he comes across as a jerk). I am not quite sure how these two stayed married (they did not seem to have much in common and even lived apart during the week). The more interesting character was Ruby, Caroline’s sister. She embraced life and lived it (even started her own business when she got fired). The action does not pick up until the latter portion of the story (the last 20% or so). I’m afraid that I found Results May Vary predictable. I was hoping for something different or unique in this book that would make it stand out from the crowd. I give Results May Vary 3 out of 5 stars (it was okay, but not for me). I really wanted to like this book, but instead I had a hard time finishing it. While this book was not for me, other readers have enjoyed it and you may as well. I received a complimentary copy of Results May Vary in exchange for an honest evaluation. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
About the author
A native of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Bethany Chase headed to Williams College for an English degree and somehow came out the other side an interior designer. When she’s not writing or designing, you can usually find her in a karaoke bar. She lives with her lovely husband and occasionally psychotic cat in Brooklyn, three flights up.
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