Monogamy: A Novel

"I’ve been an admirer of Sue Miller’s novels ever since The Good Mother came out in 1986. But throughout all these years, I’ve always found her to be a challenging writer to review: that’s because, in summary, her plots tend to sound contrived, and this story is no exception. A married couple – a bookseller and a photographer in Cambridge, Mass. – are about to celebrate their 30th anniversary when the husband suddenly dies and the wife subsequently learns of an affair. In Miller’s hands, this melodramatic premise becomes transformed into felt life. She continues to be one of our most emotionally profound and nuanced writers."