Happens Every Day

An All-Too-True Story

By: Isabel Gillies

Narrated by: Isabel Gillies

Isabel Gillies had a wonderful life—a handsome, intelligent, loving husband who was a professor; two glorious toddlers; a beautiful house in their Midwestern college town; the time and place to express all her ebullience and affection and optimism. Suddenly, the life Isabel had made crumbled. Her husband, Josiah, announced that he was leaving her and their two young sons. "Happens every day," said a friend.

Far from a self-pitying diatribe, Happens Every Day reads like an intimate conversation between friends. It is a dizzyingly candid, compulsively readable, ultimately redemptive story about love, marriage, family, heartbreak, and the unexpected turns of a life. On the one hand, reading this book is like watching a train wreck. On the other hand, as Gillies herself says, it is about trying to light a candle instead of cursing the darkness, and loving your life even if it has slipped away.©2009 Simon & Schuster, Inc.; ©2009 Isabel Gillies

Critic reviews

"Isabel Gillies has written a heartbreaking memoir about the wild unpredictability of the human heart. She is stunningly candid and reminds every reader that, yes, lives fall apart, husbands leave wives, people start over -- Happens Every Day. Gillies is moving, funny, authentic, and never a victim. Her voice is instantly compelling." -- Elisabeth Robinson, author of The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters

"Isabel Gillies tells the story of the breakup of her 'perfect' marriage with astonishing honesty, sharp humor, and not a shred of self-pity. This is a memoir that reads like a gripping mystery and a moving coming-of-age tale." -- David Auburn, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Proof

"What a strange and wonderful surprise: a gorgeous, funny, exuberant book about the disastrous end of a marriage. A loss like Gillies's might happen all the time, but it's rarely met with the passion, compassion, energy, and warmth that suffuse every page. With charming candor, she lays bare her sorrow and her joys, and finds a true -- and instructive -- talent for transformation and happiness." -- Maile Meloy, author of Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It and A Family Daughter

Awesome

I’m not a reader at all but this book caught my attention from beginning to end

my story

every page of this book was my story of course my feelings and pain except mine hasnt ended that nicely highly recommend

Great book!

I felt like I was in her shoes the entire time. It was filled with emotions and a lot of detail. Very well written!

Not only a good book--she is a great narrator

At first I didn't realize the author herself was the narrator--but then I realized she's a professional actress so of course she would make a great narrator. I am picky about narrators, but usually overlook the issue when writing a review. However, I enjoyed Gillies' voice, tone, and narration so much that I say Please, Please, if Gillies ever takes time off from acting hire her to narrate more books. Her voice is really easy on the ears!
As for the book, it is better than fiction! I am sorry she had to go through this, but there is a lot of heart in this book that will be of comfort and help to others in the same boat. I couldn't "put it down" (wrong phrase for an audiobook...let's just say I kept wearing down my battery on my player.)

Great read for a hard time

Author brings the story of love and heartbreak to you in a very real way.