A heartfelt debut that explores the complexity of a modern-day marriage when a new mother vanishes one morning and her husband must retrace events of their recent past to bring her home.
Love isn’t something that happens to you; it’s something you must choose every day.
From the moment Ben and June met in a hospital waiting room on New Year’s Eve, their love has seemed fated. Looking back at all the tiny, unlikely decisions that brought them together, it was easy to believe their relationship was special. But now, after several years of marriage, June is struggling as a new mom. At times, she wonders about the life she didn’t choose—what might have been if she hadn’t given up the lead role in a famous ballet to start a family. Feeling like a bad mom and more alone than ever, she writes to her deceased mother, hoping for a sign of what she should do next.
Waking to the sound of his baby, Ben realizes that June is gone, along with her suitcase. As Ben attempts to piece together June’s disappearance, her new friends mention things he knows nothing about—a mysterious petition, June’s falling-out with another mom, her strange fixation on a Greek myth. The more Ben uncovers about June, the more he realizes how little he actually knows her. And now the only way to bring June home is to understand why she left.
One of the central themes in The Truth About Ben and June is the Greek tragedy Medea. June, a former professional ballet dancer, had been cast to play the lead before becoming pregnant with her son. She resonates with the story which becomes apparent through the flashbacks and June's journal entries—techniques Kiester uses to propel the narrative.
Told through alternating perspectives of husband and wife, The Truth About Ben and June is an honest look into the highs and lows of marriage—as well as motherhood—and how many women sacrifice their careers in order to be the primary caregivers in their families.
Kiester treats her characters with care in this solid debut. All-in-all good effort, even with the convenient conclusion.
ALEX KIESTER has a degree in creative writing from Rhodes College and has worked as a copy editor and a book editor. The Truth About Ben and June is her debut.
Kiester lives with her husband in Austin, TX.
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