The truth about Ben and June A novel

Ben and June were blindsided by the pregnancy, but they knew they had no right to be. They had been married for years, they had two stable incomes, and they loved each other. But when Mikey arrived, June's gnawing suspicion that she wasn't cut out for motherhood only grew stronger. She tried to feel maternal, even setting timers to focus solely on bonding with her infant son; but every trick failed. So when June goes missing, Ben tries to retrace her steps and get inside her head to bring her back. In her debut novel, Kiester dives inside the murky, muddled world of postpartum emotions to share how a stable marriage can crack under the strain of parenthood, insecurities, and stress. Never blaming June or Ben for the problems in their relationship, Kiester allows each character to explore the allure of alternate paths and the pain of missed opportunities. Fans of Marian Keyes, Janelle Brown, and Kimberly Belle will appreciate Kiester's ability to blend the drama of a domestic thriller with a touching portrait of parenthood.

Spouses Ben and June Gilmore have been drifting apart for years in Kiester's bittersweet debut. After a period of increasingly erratic behavior, June disappears, leaving Ben with their newborn son. Ben's initial anger morphs into concern, then guilt, as he reads her journal entries, talks with other moms in their social network, and reflects on his deteriorating marriage. A key theme is the Greek tragedy of Medea--June, a former professional dancer, was cast to play the character in a major ballet production, and the story of a "powerful sorceress to nothing more than a jaded, housebound mother and wife" resonated with her. Through Ben's reflections and June's writings, Kiester artfully depicts the highs and lows of the marriage, including a death in the family and the unexpected pregnancy that caused their relationship to slowly implode, as well as June's feeling that Ben was "cheating on her with his work" at his law firm. Though the conclusion feels a bit trite, Kiester demonstrates a compassion for her characters and draws in the reader with her understated approach. Even though the ending comes up short, there is plenty to chew on along the way. Agent: Sarah Phair, Sanford J. Greenburger Assoc. (June)