A Beautiful, Terrible Thing
A Memoir of Marriage and Betrayal
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A Beautiful, Terrible Thing
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Narrated by:
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Jen Waite
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By:
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Jen Waite
About this listen
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 AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Editorial reviews
Editors Select, July 2017
Even if you’ve never experienced betrayal at the magnitude the author has, I think it’s safe to say we’re all familiar with the sensation of being blindsided - and it’s that connection that makes this moving, unflinching memoir so powerful. In her own words and voice, Jen Waite describes how one shocking revelation of infidelity led to the discovery that her devoted husband, the father of her newborn daughter, was not the person she believed him to be - and that he might, in fact, be a psychopath (her own diagnosis, admittedly). With raw honesty, Waite fearlessly recounts the grief it caused her. At first her narration is understated, but as the story progresses, it becomes a downright intimate experience. Her voice breaks when she talks about the most painful parts of her ordeal and rises with the hint of a smile as she recounts the early days of her relationship and later, when she begins to triumph on her own. This can’t have been an easy story to put to paper, let alone read aloud, but Waite did an excellent job with both tasks. —Sam, Audible Editor
Critic reviews
“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)
What listeners say about A Beautiful, Terrible Thing
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jes
- 07-20-17
Vulnerable and Emotionally Available.
I liked this book a lot. I read it in a little over a day, the storyline so compelling. For anyone who has gone through something similar, this book helps validate your feelings and emotional reactions.
Overall, even with it's at times overwrought writing and emotional baggage, this was a great book with an unsurprising ending. A bit tone deaf and petty but all in all a enlightening and definitely I was unable to stop reading.
I already plan to buy copies for a couple of friends. Definitely recommend.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Matt Lockwood
- 08-24-17
Gripping
Such a well constructed audiobook that at times I forgot that the author was telling me her own, harrowing true story.
This will sound odd– but I kinda feel like a better person for reading this book because the author explains the personal impacts of all these crazy events so well that I walk away with insights about life that I don't think I otherwise would have had.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- LaceATX13
- 12-06-17
Amazing Book!!!
Would you consider the audio edition of A Beautiful, Terrible Thing to be better than the print version?
I didn't read the print version of the book. But with that being said, I think listening to Jen Waite tell her story in her own voice brings the story to life. You can hear each emotion - pain, disappointment, anxiety, hope and redemption portrayed as she tells her story. It is like you are there with her through the life changing events.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Jen Waite, of course. She is the true definition of strength. She may have stumbled, but she got back up, dusted herself off, and showed the world she wouldn't let this devastation define her and her daughter's life.
Which character – as performed by Jen Waite – was your favorite?
Sebastian - he truly has as "old soul" for a young child.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The whole booked moved me. Since Jen's story mirror a time in my life so closely, I couldn't help but feel each emotion she felt while telling the story of such a life changing event.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kendall Terwilliger
- 08-06-17
Amazing story!
I couldn't turn it off. I felt like I knew Jen after listening to her voice. I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next or how much more she could take! Sadly, This, this type of "sickness" is so much more common that we all realize. Jen did a brilliant job of putting her painful feelings into words and I'm praying for happiness for her and her daughter. Thank you for sharing your story, Jen.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- lawmom611
- 08-09-17
Several things interfered with the story
The first was the narrator. The monotone predictable rhythm of the narration was maintained through the entire story. Worse, however, was the narrator's "vocal fry," a phenomenon much criticized in the media and found most prominently in young women. The voice of the author is the best (worst) example of this I've ever heard. It was grating! Next, there were many grammatical errors. Finally, I found it difficult to accept that when the author was pretty sure her husband was cheating, she continued to confront him even when it was clear he wasn't telling the truth. She then involved her parents and his parents in trying to get him to admit his transgression. This went on and on and on. With the money involved on both sides of the family, all doubt could have been resolved almost immediately by hiring a private investigator. I also couldn't believe that the author revealed to her husband every tactic she was using to verify his cheating. This should have cut her off completely from the flow of relevant information. No doubt, the husband's behavior was beyond horrible. There was no discussion, however of what creates the psychopathic personality and whether there is effective treatment. I finished listening to the book, but might not have if it had gone on a moment longer.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mary J. Sewright
- 07-21-17
Comforting and Healing
I could relate to so many things in this story. It left me encouraged. Grateful that this experience was shared.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Grace Abarca
- 09-11-21
WOW
Honestly didn’t really know what to expect out of this book. But it exceeded any expectations I did have. I could not turn it off. A beautiful tragic story carried by strength and family.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Steve N.
- 12-14-21
Well Done!
This is a different kind of story in that it's more of a testimonial. If you're looking for something with a lot of twists and turns, you may want to pass on this one. On the other hand, if you want a well written cautionary tale about the innerworkings of sociopathy and the havoc in can wreak on innocent, good people, check this one out. Kudo's to the Author (who is also the narrator) for having the courage to put this one out there. .
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 06-11-22
Thanks for a window into your trauma and healing
Thanks to Ms. Waite for sharing her personal story. She describes the breakdown of her marriage with honesty and grace but also acknowledging the overwhelming trauma she went through. Sometimes people don’t know how strong they really are but they find out in a way they really didn’t want to.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 07-31-17
Interesting memoir - reads like a psych thriller
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
I did find the listening to be time well-spent. I had heard about this book on a podcast, and I was very interested in the story. I found myself looking forward to my commutes to listen to more and unravel the events of the past that lead up to the present.
What other book might you compare A Beautiful, Terrible Thing to and why?
This book reminds me of true crime books where you read that the couple seemed so wonderful and happy together, and then something terrible happens. Jen is lucky that she was able to get out when she did for the safety of herself and her daughter, as her husband was very unstable.
Would you be willing to try another one of Jen Waite’s performances?
As a narrator, Jen wasn't great, though I think it was more impactful to hear the story told in her own voice. I wouldn't want to listen to her as a narrator for others, but for this book it made sense and I was able to put aside some of her timing and pacing issues and enjoy the book.
If this book were a movie would you go see it?
I wouldn't go see in the the theater since I don't love depressing movies. But I would watch it at home - it would make an interesting movie.
Any additional comments?
The podcast that I heard about this book on had framed it as a woman married to a psychopath. So though the whole book I kept thinking 'I'm not sure if he's a psychopath?' and that kind of influenced how I was thinking about the book. I also found that the author tended to downplay her obvious privilege - she leaned on her parents to support her and her daughter (literally) and there were times when she would describe something that I thought was kind of ridiculous for an adult. But overall it was an interesting book and made my commute more entertaining.
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3 people found this helpful