‘A Perfect Marriage’ is a romantic novel by Australian-born author, Alison Booth. The story is told in the first person by our main character, Sally, in both the past and present tense, blending her memories with contemporary events.

The book is beautifully presented with the cover design rich in simplicity and symbolism. We quickly learn that Sally is a widow so the fact that the rose has a damaged stem, suggests from the outset that maybe her marriage to Jeff had been less than perfect.

The author touches on sensitive issues to move the story along but I didn’t really feel a great connection with any of the cast. Sally has the most depth because we share her thoughts as she takes control of her life and finally makes peace with the past.  Unfortunately, I found her fairly solemn and a little bland.  Anthony, the new love interest, seemed too good to be true; however, if he makes a habit of kissing ladies on the tip of the nose, I’m surprised no one has yet given him a black eye.

Literary devices are useful tools for an author to use when the action is thin on the ground. I therefore appreciated the time and place anchoring as well as the flashbacks, foreshadowing, conflict and a tiny bit of suspense.

The issue I have with a narrative completely dedicated to the perspective of one person, is that it loses the opportunity to explore the points of view of the supporting players. Sometimes this can work but in this instance, I found myself wanting to know more about Zoë and what happened between her and Jeff.  How much did Charlie remember from her childhood about the dynamic between her mother and father?  How does she feel about her mother embarking on a new relationship?

In a hugely competitive genre, I was desperately seeking something original to recommend this novel.  There is no graphic padding so it will offend no one and if you enjoy a gentle non-demanding romantic read, then this story is for you.

I was hoping for a twist or two in Sally’s journey towards jettisoning her emotional baggage but the reveal wasn’t too much of a surprise.  In summary, it was nicely written but rather too predictable and formulaic to achieve a four or five star rating.  Others may find depths I’ve missed and therefore my award is a respectable three-and-a-half stars.

About the Author

Alison Booth’s latest, the compelling novel A Perfect Marriage, was published by RedDoor Publishing in March 2018. A story of love, family and secrets that is already garnering glowing reviews, it is in the genre of contemporary fiction/domestic noir.

Alison’s dazzling debut novel, the best-selling Stillwater Creek, is set in a beautiful NSW coastal town and is an unforgettable, heart-warming novel about love and loss, betrayal and hope. Published by Random House Australia in 2010, it was Highly Commended in the 2011 ACT Book of the Year Award. Her second book, The Indigo Sky – a big-hearted tale of family and friendships – followed a year later. The enchanting Jingera trilogy concludes with the publication in June 2012 of A Distant Land, a heart-rending but life-affirming story of love and the callous twists of fate.

Born in Melbourne and brought up in Sydney Australia, Alison obtained her PhD from the London School of Economics. She currently divides her time between the Australian National University. and the UK. Over the years, she has published a number of short stories, as well as many academic journal articles and several nonfiction books.

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