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  • A Beautiful, Terrible Thing

  • A Memoir of Marriage and Betrayal
  • Written by: Jen Waite
  • Narrated by: Jen Waite
  • Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (54 ratings)

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A Beautiful, Terrible Thing

Written by: Jen Waite
Narrated by: Jen Waite
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Publisher's Summary

A woman discovers her marriage is built on an illusion in this harrowing and ultimately inspiring memoir.

“Be forewarned: You won’t sleep until you finish the last page.” (Caroline Leavitt, author of Cruel Beautiful World)

One night. One email. Two realities.

Before: Jen Waite has met the partner of her dreams. A handsome, loving man who becomes part of her family, evolving into her husband, her best friend, and the father of her infant daughter.

After: A disturbing email sparks suspicion, leading to an investigation of who this man really is and what was really happening in their marriage.

In alternating Before and After chapters, Waite obsessively analyzes her relationship, trying to find a single moment form the past five years that isn't part of the long con of lies and manipulation. Instead, she finds more lies, infidelity, and betrayal than she could have imagined.

With the pacing and twists of a psychological thriller, A Beautiful, Terrible Thing looks at how a fairy tale can become a nightmare and what happens when “it could never happen to me” actually does.

©2017 Jen Waite (P)2017 Penguin Audio

What the critics say

“Waite has a knack for showing the ways that cognitive dissonance can chart pathways in the mind that cause emotional confusion to obscure rational thought.” (Meghan Daum, New York Times Book Review)

“[Waite's] memoir is a great source of strength.” (Hello Giggles)

“Heartbreaking and riveting.” (Bustle)

"Like Big Little Lies, A Beautiful Terrible Thing is a startling reminder that fairy tales aren't real. A master class in suspenseful storytelling, Jen Waite recounts the lies, betrayals, and infidelity she endured with unrestrained honesty and deft candor. I couldn't turn away." (Jillian Lauren, New York Times best-selling author of Some Girls: My Life in a Harem and Everything You Ever Wanted)

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What listeners say about A Beautiful, Terrible Thing

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A riveting, raw story about betrayal and heartache

Jen is a gifted writer. She recounts her horrible story with palpable emotion, and eloquence.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Sadly, predictable ...nothing earth shattering

I enjoyed the story and the performance. But, I expected something really terrible to be revealed about her ex husband (drug lord, international witness protection, undercover CIA agent....) but no. Just another cheating guy with compulsive lying.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very enlightening!

Wow! Exceptional book! Sat through it in one sitting, coiuld not get enough. It took me through so many emotions that I thought had been dead and buried. I identified with her on so many levels. I felt her still raw emotion when her voice shook and became choked with that forever lump in the throat that seems always on the surface. I cried for her, for myself, for her daughter. I learned lots about sociopathic behaviour, narcissism and how our own blind behaviours or idealism can get us into these relationships. Its a long healing and recovery. I highly recommend this book for those in it, coming out of it and done with it!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing.

It brought me so much clarity and closure to my own personal experiences with a sociopath. Simply amazing. I recommend this to everyone going through the healing process.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Gripping...

Ignore the negative reviews, this was more compulsive than the last 50 thrillers I have read, but then I have been with a sociopathic ex and a narcissist sister. I learned a lot and cried with her. If you are looking for a 'husband with a steak knife scenario you won't find it, but if you have been betrayed, you will find hope.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

She was the voice of her own book! Loved it!!

Amazing and keeps you wanting more! The emotions that she is able to express with her voice makes it pure gold!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing Plot

This was a great story… and I wish she would narrate other books… so many disappointing narrations… but I loved hers.

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