Happens Every Day by Isabel Gillies is a must read for any woman who has ever gone through a heart breaker relationship! This is the personal story of Isabel's love affair with her husband Josiah, their marriage, the birth of their two beautiful sons, and their unfortunate divorce.
Isabel starts at the beginning of her and Josiah's relationship; where they met, and how they fell in love (he was previously married and had a young son). Her style of writing describes to the reader the little details of their lives; where they lived, what they ate, what they did for fun, their jobs, friends they hung out with, their parents and so much more. In essence you followed their relationship from meeting each other to becoming friends, lovers, husband and wife, and ultimately becoming the parents of two boys all in a relatively short period of time. Josiah was a university professor and Isabel was an actress on the prime time television series; Law and Order-Special Victims Unit where she played Detective Stabler's wife Cathy. They lived in New York City and loved it. When Josiah was offered a teaching position in Ohio they decided to relocate so Isabel pretty much gave up her acting career to become a full time wife and mother.
Moving all their belongings, two young boys, and a dog proved to be quite the undertaking. Josiah and Isabel had fallen in love with a beautiful old home and quickly went on to renovate a number of the rooms. Their hard work and tireless effort paid off, for both of them loved the results. Josiah started teaching and Isabel kept herself and the boys busy with vegetable gardens and farmer's markets. There were faculty parties, neighborhood bar-b-ques, and many more local events to attend, so the family quickly acclimated themselves to their new home and community. Isabel herself starting teaching a drama class at the university too. Life was really, really good- or so it seemed.
Welcome Sylvia, a new temporary faculty member; young and beautiful and supposedly engaged to be married. Isabel quickly takes her "under her wing" and they become fast friends. However, in time it seems that Sylvia is spending more and more time with Josiah. Of course Isabel doesn't think much about this, Sylvia is almost a member of her family. Besides, Sylvia is now married but why is her husband still out East instead of living here in Ohio with his new bride? Hmmmmmm.
Heartbreak happens, without any real warning or any real problems to speak of, Josiah wants out of their marriage. Of course he doesn't admit to his love affair with Sylvia but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to put two and two together.
Isabel fights the fights and loses. She loses the love of her life, Josiah (at least at this point in her life), her marriage, and the family life she has cherished. However, she stands tall and picks up the pieces of her life and with the two boys moves back to New York. She and Josiah divorce and eventually he marries Sylvia.
You will especially love the fact that Isabel herself narrates this story. She does an absolutely wonderful job too. Any woman who has gone through a heart breaker break up, divorce, amicable or not will relate to this story. Break ups and divorces happen every day. Grab the audio book and enjoy. Of, if you prefer, grab the book. Once you start reading it you won't be able to put this book down!
P.S. Isabel Gillies has written a sequel to "Happens Every Day," the title is "A Year and Six Seconds." It is available in our library system!
