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A Beautiful, Terrible Thing

A Memoir of Marriage and Betrayal

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A Beautiful, Terrible Thing

By: Jen Waite
Narrated by: Jen Waite
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About this listen

A woman discovers her marriage is built on an illusion in this harrowing and ultimately inspiring memoir.

“Be forewarned: You won’t sleep until you finish the last page.” (Caroline Leavitt, author of Cruel Beautiful World)

One night. One email. Two realities.

Before: Jen Waite has met the partner of her dreams. A handsome, loving man who becomes part of her family, evolving into her husband, her best friend, and the father of her infant daughter.

After: A disturbing email sparks suspicion, leading to an investigation of who this man really is and what was really happening in their marriage.

In alternating Before and After chapters, Waite obsessively analyzes her relationship, trying to find a single moment form the past five years that isn't part of the long con of lies and manipulation. Instead, she finds more lies, infidelity, and betrayal than she could have imagined.

With the pacing and twists of a psychological thriller, A Beautiful, Terrible Thing looks at how a fairy tale can become a nightmare and what happens when “it could never happen to me” actually does.

©2017 Jen Waite (P)2017 Penguin Audio Divorce & Separation Mental Health Personality Disorders Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Marriage Memoir Health Fiction Divorce Memoir

Editorial reviews

Editors Select, July 2017

Even if you’ve never experienced betrayal at the magnitude the author has, I think it’s safe to say we’re all familiar with the sensation of being blindsided - and it’s that connection that makes this moving, unflinching memoir so powerful. In her own words and voice, Jen Waite describes how one shocking revelation of infidelity led to the discovery that her devoted husband, the father of her newborn daughter, was not the person she believed him to be - and that he might, in fact, be a psychopath (her own diagnosis, admittedly). With raw honesty, Waite fearlessly recounts the grief it caused her. At first her narration is understated, but as the story progresses, it becomes a downright intimate experience. Her voice breaks when she talks about the most painful parts of her ordeal and rises with the hint of a smile as she recounts the early days of her relationship and later, when she begins to triumph on her own. This can’t have been an easy story to put to paper, let alone read aloud, but Waite did an excellent job with both tasks. —Sam, Audible Editor

Critic Reviews

“Waite has a knack for showing the ways that cognitive dissonance can chart pathways in the mind that cause emotional confusion to obscure rational thought.” (Meghan Daum, New York Times Book Review)

“[Waite's] memoir is a great source of strength.” (Hello Giggles)

“Heartbreaking and riveting.” (Bustle)

"Like Big Little Lies, A Beautiful Terrible Thing is a startling reminder that fairy tales aren't real. A master class in suspenseful storytelling, Jen Waite recounts the lies, betrayals, and infidelity she endured with unrestrained honesty and deft candor. I couldn't turn away." (Jillian Lauren, New York Times best-selling author of Some Girls: My Life in a Harem and Everything You Ever Wanted)
All stars
Most relevant  
This book got my interest from the get go. It was painful to hear what Jen had to go through but so very interesting what she discovered about her husband. And I do love a good ending!

Beautifully written & narrated

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I loved this book- Such a complex situation told with the right amount of detail.

The narration was great, i felt the mood shift between the chapters, and the story was truly interesting.

A complex story told beautifully

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This book was incredibly therapeutic for me and would be for anyone who has been the victim of narcissistic abuse, gaslighting, or the trauma that occurs as a result of engaging with a sociopath. It helps you revisit your past experiences and heal your trauma through an objective lense, psycho-analysing the manipulation Jen experienced and cross-referencing it with your own. It is raw, vulnerable and insightful; her story deserves to be heard!

A must-read for victims of sociopaths

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For anyone who has ever been through deceit, an affair, their husband leaving them at the most vulnerable of times - this book will resonate. Jen beautifully verbalises the unexplainable emotions and demystifies the “feeling crazy” factor ..... you know when you know someone is lying to you but you have no proof and end up walking away feeling like maybe you are just going crazy.... but you know you aren’t crazy.

I strong recommend for anyone who has been through/is going through a divorce where your partners behaviour just doesn’t seem to add up.

It resonates beautifully

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Wow! This is the first book I have not been able to put down. I finished it in less than 2 days. The way Jen writes and tells her story is very intriguing. (By the way she has an amazing memory). Down to the last detail. The way the story goes back and forth you’ll not be able to stop listening either.

Incredible. Could not put it down.

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Binged this book. It was amazingly written. It was heartbreaking and sad. Thought it all she finds strength and I’m so glad.

Heartbreaking and powerful

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I’m so happy I listened to this.
I almost didn’t continue as it was so painful after my own experience of betrayal that I almost didn’t live through, even tho that was two years ago, it came straight to the surface.
Most painful experience of my life.
But im so glad I continued the book, finished it quite quickly.
Im so happy Jen left, had support of her parents and gained a life, free from abuse and betrayal.
I wish there was a bit from present day to see how she is now.

Thanks for writing it!

Validating and inspiring— Thank you!

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The narrator seemed quite stop-start, almost robotic which I found a little frustrating. The story took a long time to get going too.

eh

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This woman’s husband was a jerk, but there is nothing in her description to indicate that he was a sociopath. If most women who are exposed to sociopaths in relationships had the authors experience, they’d consider themselves lucky.

Instead, this is a tale of two immature people who were not ready for an adult relationship. The author self diagnoses her ex in a pop psychology reduction of an actual personality disorder.

You’ll read far more harrowing accounts on reddit.

Misdiagnosed

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