For Better and Worse by Margot Hunt

Review:
For Better and Worse
by Margot Hunt

By Phoebe Breed

For Better and Worse by Margot Hunt was one of my November Book of the Month Club picks. I enjoy mysteries and thrillers, so I thought this book would be a good fit for me. I was also drawn by the legal component to the story, as both main characters are lawyers. However, this story did not leave me guessing as much as I’d like. Also, the twists that I didn’t see coming, I didn’t love. For example, the “resolution” in the ending left me with more questions than answers. However, if you are a reader who does not need neat endings, this psychological thriller may be for you!

On their first date back in law school, Natalie and Will Clarke bonded over drinks, dinner and whether they could get away with murder. Now married, they’ll put the latter to the test when an unchecked danger in their community places their son in jeopardy. Working as a criminal defense attorney, Nat refuses to rely on the broken legal system to keep her family safe. She knows that if you want justice…you have to get it yourself.

What I Liked

You may have caught on by now that I’m a fan of strong female characters, and Nat is just that. I liked her resolve, decisiveness, and smarts.

I was surprised to find that I enjoyed the shift in narrators. On page 173, Will takes over for Nat as the narrator, which helps fill in several gaps. Then, Nat resumes the narrator role again on page 275, to conclude the story. I appreciated having both perspectives.

I liked the ethical dilemma that this book in centered around: just how far would you go to protect your child?

What Wasn’t My Favorite

As I already mentioned, I was not a fan of the ending. There were more questions than answers after I read the last page. While this leaves the door open for a sequel if For Better and Worse does well, it didn’t leave me feeling satisfied by this book.

I have a hard time with the “stay together for the kids” mentality in marriages. Nat and Will’s marriage is obviously troubled, but the amount of time dwelling on whether they should stay together for their son or not made me roll my eyes.

While shifting narrators filled in a different side to the story, Will’s character was not my favorite. While I may not agree with everything that Nat does and thinks, I at least enjoyed her personality. The hundred pages that Will narrates just made me annoyed with him.

Rating /5