Degrees of Love: A Novel

by Lisa Slabach

Overview

In this powerful debut, a successful businesswoman embarks on a journey of self-discovery that will shake her to the core. Like the shiny new BMW parked in the driveway of the Silicon Valley home she shares with her husband, Matt, and their two boys, Susan Sinclair exudes confidence and style. Newly promoted to a prestigious Senior Vice President position at her firm, Susan is the picture of personal and professional success. Yet appearances are deceiving. With each advance in Susan's career, Matt has grown more distant. But he refuses to admit there is a problem, and Susan, determined to give her boys the close-knit family life she never had, forces herself to play along. Then she meets her new boss, Reese Kirkpatrick. She and Reese become a crackerjack team, but little by little, pleasure mixes with business. For the first time in a long time, Susan feels seen and appreciated for who she is. In a moment of weakness, friendship becomes something more. Now, unable to stomach the façade her marriage has become yet unwilling to decimate her family by moving forward with Reese, Susan faces a choice that could cost her everything—including her children . . . but possibly bring her more than she can dream.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781543907223
Publisher:	BookBaby
Publication date:	12/01/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	344
Sales rank:	753,714
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Degrees of Love is Lisa Slabach's first novel. She is currently working on her third full-length manuscript and a collection of short stories inspired by her experiences growing up in a small farm community in Washington's Yakima Valley. In addition to writing, Lisa works for a Fortune 500 Company, leading a sales team in the financial industry. She currently resides in Davis, California with her husband and has two daughters who are both pursuing careers in film.

Editorial Reviews

08/03/2020

A woman craves happiness and balance in Slabach’s piercing debut. Susan Sinclair, 36, lives a predictable, mundane life in a San Francisco suburb and is in a passionless marriage with her husband, Matt. Susan accepts a promotion to v-p in her financial services firm, despite Matt’s reservations—he’s uncomfortable with the job’s demands, which require more time away from him and their two boys. When Susan meets her new boss, charismatic, New York City–based Reese Kirkpatrick, there is both steamy chemistry and mutual respect, and they begin an affair. That summer, Susan leads a double life with equal parts satisfaction, joy, and guilt. She wants to excel at her career and indulge in the stimulating and comforting life Reese offers, but she adores her sons. Slabach’s depictions of longing, yearning, and love are palpable at times (“Before long, my tears kept pace with the rain. The pain in my chest was so crushing I could barely breathe. I couldn’t let go of the pain, so I embraced it.”), though there are a few false moments in which Susan implausibly manages to balance everything perfectly. Susan’s personal decisions and consequences feel familiar and real in this smart and sensual novel. (Self-published)

Publishers Weekly