Accidents of Marriage

“An emotional roller coaster, Accidents of Marriage grabs the reader by the hand and doesn’t let go until the very last page.…Author Randy Susan Meyers dissects emotionally abusive marriages and living with traumatic brain injuries with great attention to detail. She explores not only how these issues affect the married couple, but also their children and extended family.” —Skagit Valley Herald

“A page-turner about spousal abuse, with a decidedly different twist.” —The Missourian

“This family’s ordeal could not be more timely or better rendered in this unsparing account.” —Fredericksburg.com

“Randy Susan Meyers’s third book proves what her first two books promised: she is a genius at providing glimpses into the hearts of families in trouble. Her understanding of human weakness adds to her ability to create unforgettable characters that will stay with you long after the book is closed.” —Medina County Public Library, Kimberly J. Byrd Lucas

“Meyers insights are thought provoking.” —The Sydney Morning Herald

“Madeline’s husband Ben is both a blessing and a curse – and Maddy is never sure how he’ll react when something or someone crosses him. One day, however, his temper gets the best of him and the consequences leave Maddy fighting for her life. A captivating tale dealing with the complex – and totally unputdownable – topic of emotional abuse.” —4 Star Review, Hot Picks, Closer (UK)

“This oppressive tale of a twisted marriage is utterly compelling. Maddy loves Ben, but lives in fear of his moods. When she’s badly hurt in a car crash caused by his temper, the whole family have to re-evaluate their lives.” —Sunday Mirror (UK)

“Madeline and Ben’s marriage is tempestuous to say the least, and she spends most of her time trying to keep the peace. But when Ben’s temper leaves her hospitalised, Madeline has to make a tough decision in this emotional read.” —Fabulous Magazine in The Sun (UK)

“A poignant look into a real marriage and the consequences of emotional abuse for each member of the family.” —Essentials  Magazine (UK)

“Excellent job showing each character’s needs and desires, and making them sympathetic, even when you want to dislike them.” —The Reporter Group

“Meyers serves up an unsentimental depiction of decent people who almost lose it all – and are the better for it.” —Shore News Today

“Meyers weaves her story so intensely that you might forget you are reading a fictional tale. You will breathe, eat and think of these people as your own family members. That, to me, is spectacular writing. I hope you get a chance to read it this year.” —Claudette Stockwell, Children’s Librarian Assistant, Killingly Public Library

“Accidents of Marriage…is an excellent book, and having dealt with brain injury in my own family, I could relate to the stages of recovery, from the brain injury and coma, to the rehab and beyond. The technical medical information was well written in a simple way that helped me understand Maddy’s struggle with her “new” brain. Brain injuries are not only difficult for the injured but also those who have to watch their struggles. I think this title would be a great book club choice.” —Joanne Mengel, Fond Du Lac Public Library

“Ms. Meyers is truly a special writer and if you haven’t read any of her novels, you are truly missing out. She has a unique ability to create not only memorable characters but very real ones. She gets to the heart of the matter in her stories, and she creates characters that resonate with female readers. She also makes her readers think and I think that might be one of her most special skills.” —Booking Mama

“Accidents of Marriage was a simply…amazing story. So layered and tightly woven, I could barely pull myself away until the very end. I was very much in the mood for a strong story that would consume me, and I found it. It was thought-provoking, packed an emotional punch I still haven’t recovered from, and though I felt drained, it was the kind of emotional drain that leaves you smiling and in a bit of a daze. If you’re looking for a big, beautiful, powerful story about a family torn apart, struggling to put the pieces back together, this is it.” —The Bookish Babe

“Accidents of Marriage is an emotionally compelling family drama that is raw, gritty and breathtakingly realistic. The characters are well-drawn with all too human flaws and imperfections. The storyline is absolutely heartbreaking but Randy Susan Meyers deftly handles difficult topics with an amazing amount of sensitivity. A riveting and highly complex novel that I highly recommend.” —Book Reviews & More by Kathy

“This book covers serious topics with sensitivity. The characters are flawed but real, and I think if you identify with what Maddy’s going through prior to the accident you won’t be cringing and what happens next, because it’s gritty and raw not a photoshopped version of how the situation might play out….This book gave me lots of food for thought and despite the subject matter it was a brilliant and entertaining read.” —The Bookbag (UK)

“Exploring emotional abuse and traumatic brain injury with unblinking honesty, Accidents of Marriage is a blindingly clear and immediately engaging account of life inside of a marriage and the choices that can make the difference between living in hell and salvation.” —Broken Teepee

“I felt EVERYTHING reading this book, I am not exaggerating. I am struggling with this review because nothing will do it justice, you just please have to read this novel. The way it is written is just incredible, word for word this book grabbed on and refused to let go….With family loyalty, marriage vows, love, trust, faith all on the line. This book takes a peek behind the doors of a very real marriage and family home, one that could be yours even, or next door or a friend, nothing unrealistic about it at all….An astonishing novel. One of my all time favourite novels ever.” —Booklover Catlady

“Meyers paints a vivid and wholly believable picture of a family enduring a crisis. This is a wrenching read, but Meyers tells the story with her characteristic empathy and attention to her characters’ very real, very human flaws.” —Bookish

“Randy Susan Meyers hits another home run for me, after having read her novel The Murderer’s Daughters last year…. Highly recommended for: fans of family-in-crisis contemporary fiction & serious “women’s fiction”, including– Randy Susan Meyers, and perhaps of Diane Chamberlain, Jodi Picoult, Heather Gudenkauf, Kristin Hannah, and other similar authors.” 5 stars —My Home of Books

“Fans of Randy Susan Meyers and new readers alike will be thrilled with this book. A touchingly woven story about a family who falls apart and then must find a way to be a family again even if they are a different family from the kind they were before.” —Books & Life

“Bottom line, Accidents of Marriage was a powerful novel about the intricacies of marriage. It is hard, it can be brutal, it can hurt, but if you just hold on it can be the greatest thing ever. Such a good story with so many different points that cause you to reflect on your own situation. Definitely worth the read.” —Charlotte’s Web of Books

“Accidents of Marriage is a poignant and thought provoking novel. Meyers takes readers inside the hearts and minds of the characters. The story should resonate deeply since it about overcoming tragedy and the challenges a family must face.” —Bookstophere blog in Working Mother

“Maddy is a woman on the edge, and sometimes she wonders how she got there. Years ago she fell head over heels for her husband, Ben. He was a dashing public defender who was passionate and dedicated to his work. Now, years later, Maddy just tries to keep life on an even keel for her children as her husband becomes increasingly aggressive. In the car one night, Ben’s temper boils over and Maddy is left fighting for her life. Told in Maddy, Ben and 14-year-old Emma’s voices, this is a profound and deeply touching story about the lies we tell ourselves and the efforts we go to hide from the truth. Brutally honest.” —Cayocosta 72 Book Reviews

“Accidents of Marriage by Randy Susan Meyers is not loud or flashy in the way that many bestsellers are these days; it’s true merit lies in the compelling, true to life description of a family at the brink of disaster.” —Luxury Reading

“I insist you buy this book ASAP and, once you start reading, do not plan on doing anything else until you finish. It is simply brilliant! This is the story of a challenging marriage, made more challenging by what happens.” —Great Thoughts

“The latest page turner from Randy Susan Meyers, Accidents of Marriage never lets go of the reader from the first page to the last.”
—Read-Love-Blog

“This book is at times a tough read because it is so emotionally raw and gut-wrenching, yet at the same time, it is a book that you just can’t put down. I found myself completely wrapped up in the lives of Ben, Maddy and Emma – the three narrators of the story. I love that Randy chose to tell the story using three narrators – this really allows us to understand and even explore the full consequences of a man with anger management issues. We see not only his side of things, but his wife’s perspective and his daughter’s. These are all multi-dimensional characters and we fully see that.” —Always With a Book

“Reading about the unraveling of a family can be painful, especially when the situations and dialogue are as realistic as in Accidents of Marriage….The idea of Massachusetts Must Read titles is that they foster discussion; Accidents of Marriage would definitely make a great book club title. Readers could talk about the roots of problems like those Ben and Maddy faced in their marriage; about the process of recovering one’s “self” after a brain injury; about different forms of abuse; about the children in a situation like this; caregiving after an accident; and about the people in Ben and Maddy’s extended family.” —Bay State Reader’s Advisory

“A wonderful writer, Randy Susan Meyers shares this story with care and honesty. It is difficult to decide who to love but this cast of amazing characters will stay with you long after the book is finished.” —Reading & Eating

“I enjoy reading and I have to admit I haven’t read a really good book until recently. I mean a book that makes you cringe with hatred & cry with happiness. Accidents of Marriage by Randy Susan Meyers did just that for me.” —My Springfield Mommy

“Oh, Randy Susan Meyers plays our emotions like a virtuoso with Accidents of Marriage and the story of a woman whose dreams of happiness eventually fade into a sort of limbo existence where everything hinges on her husband’s state of mind when he gets home….This is one fall read you won’t want to rush through.”
—Drey’s Library

“Accidents of Marriage is an excellent book. It’s well-written, with characters who are absolutely real and who sneak into your own life a bit too. It puts a marriage under a microscope, and I’m sure most of us will recognize bits of ourselves there if we’re honest. It ends on a realistic note but I found hope there too.” —5 Minutes for Mom

“Accidents of Marriage is an emotional story that will pull at your heart and the characters are very well developed. I felt like I was sitting right there with them and I was laughing and crying with them. This is the first time I have read Randy Susan Meyers and I plan to read her previous books based on how much I fell in love with her writing in this one….Accidents of Marriage is a provocative and stunning novel that will resonate deeply with women from all walks of life, ultimately revealing the challenges of family, faith, and forgiveness.” —Susan Dyer, Fresh Fiction

“Thank you Randy Susan Meyers for just writing a book that basically just reached out and stomped all over my heart…. This book is going to be the book for book clubs. There will be something for everyone to discuss.” —Traveling With T

“The frank way that Meyers portrays emotional abuse and the ‘redness’ of anger is so beautifully written, you’re forced to understand the reality of living with someone who has anger issues.…A definite must read – Meyers portrays a look at abuse we don’t see too often in novels, and it’s disjointing. A novel that will stay with you long after the words end.”—Chic Toronto

“What a great book. Randy Susan Meyers has tapped into a marriage that hasn’t been right for a very long time. The interaction of all the characters is wonderful. I read Accidents of Marriage in two days. Not wanting to put it down as I was very involved in this tragic family story.” —Sharon Salituro, Fresh Fiction

“Throw in a husband with a bad temper and an accident that changes everyone’s lives, and you have a very well-written melodrama…. Meyers nailed the push-and-pull of today’s marriages, as well as dealing with the ideas of abuse encased in love.” —Laurie’s Lit Picks

“Chapters are written from the perspectives of Maddy, Ben and their 14-year-old daughter, Emma, and they add up to a compelling, heartbreaking, important story. Meyers is a very special writer, and this tale of emotional abuse and its consequences on an entire family is thought-provoking and timely.” —Midlife at the Oasis

“Accidents of Marriage is a terrific book club pick; there are so many meaty things to discuss in this book.” —Bookchickdi

“If you are married, you need to read this. It really highlights the effects of verbal and emotional abuse, not just on the person who is taken it head on, but everyone around them that feels the effects and/or witnesses it.” —Sara’s Organized Chaos

“Accidents of Marriage is tense and raw and real. It’s a beautifully rendered, insightful look at a family in crisis….My first Randy Susan Meyers read and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Now to hunt down her other novels.” —The Eclectic Reader

“Accidents of Marriage is not your typical happily-ever-after, and I like that.  Instead, what Meyers offers in black and white is brutal honesty reinforced with extensive dialogue throughout so that the reader is truly able to “listen” to each of the characters from his/her perspective.” —Author Groupie

“So compelling and heartbreaking. Accidents of Marriage captures marriage in a honest way, the scarier side, one that is not spoken of nearly enough.” —Mrs. Mommy Booknerd’s Book Reviews

“Accidents of Marriage was an intense and provocative read. Good teaching tool, excellent storytelling, excellent read for nearly every reader.” —Patricia’s Wisdom

“Accidents of Marriage is well worth the read for everyone, it has stayed with me and I think will continue to do so for quite some time. The book addresses the far reaching effects of anger issues and the long term effects it can have on children. A tale of love, loss, tragedy, triumph, growing up, waking up, family, friendship, forgiveness and everything in between.” —Beauty and Lace

“Randy Susan Meyers has written an insight into the world of hurt that is abuse and she does it extremely well.” —Red Carpet Crash

“Accidents of Marriage is the first of Randy Susan Meyers’ novels I’ve read, but surely not my last. This was a powerful story by a skilled storyteller, a tale I won’t soon forget.” —Story Matters

“In point and counterpoint, Meyers explores the fragile balance of a family in crisis….If weakness and coercion have created this tragedy, the way forward cannot be compromised, dominated or rationalized, Maddy no longer willing to be a victim of bad choices. This hard-won territory is intricately mapped by an author averse to easy solutions, embracing reality instead, the long, painful road toward a hopeful, healthier future.” —Curled Up With A Good Book

“Wonderful read recommended for those who enjoy family drama and dysfunctional relationships.”—Serendipity

“Randy Susan Meyers is not the typical writer in that she surprises you. She writes with such a candor that is so hard to capture. This book made me feel. It made me FEEL. I was in the dark up until the end because I just didn’t know what was going to happen.”—Columbia, SC Moms Blog

“For all its dark themes, Accidents of Marriage is not after shock value, if anything it is a subtle portrait of marriage than many readers will recognise, however faintly echoed. Meyers writes with deep knowledge and compassion for her characters.”—The Hoopla (Australia)

“Many books are an absolute pleasure to read, but slip straight from your mind. Accidents of Marriage is one of those rare novels that is both unputdownable and unforgettable. I just loved it—and I’ll now read everything Randy Susan Meyers writes.”—Liane Moriarty, New York Times bestselling author of The Husband’s Secret and Big Little Lies

“Maddy and Ben have a complicated marriage.  He’s got anger issues; she is messy and forgetful. One fateful morning these character traits clash – with devastating consequences.  In this beautifully written novel, Randy Susan Meyers traces how the repercussions of a car accident expose fissures and long-held resentments from the past that force these characters to question everything.  This is a wise and penetrating book.” —Christina Baker Kline, New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train

“Randy Susan Meyers is a genius of the human heart, and Accidents of Marriage is a profound education on the complexities of love, imperfection, damage, and responsibility. You’ll feel as though a magically insightful friend is sharing the behind-the-scenes secrets of a family you may well know. She tells it like it is. No sugar-coating here, only truth in all its compelling beauty and might.” —Robin Black, author of Life Drawing

“With the heart of a novelist and the tenacity of an investigative journalist, Meyers flawlessly depicts the evolution and consequences of emotional abuse. A master of perspective with an uncanny understanding of human nature, she has managed to make us empathize with every member of this damaged family. This is an important story, one I’ll be thinking about for a long time.”
—Brunonia Barry, New York Times and international bestselling author of The Lace Reader and The Map of True Places

“I read Accidents of Marriage in one day. Like Meyers’ first two novels, this one—about a family paying a high price for rage and trying to reknit itself in the aftermath of the unthinkable—is compulsive reading. It’s amazing how warm Meyers’ writing is even as her stories grip you by the hand and don’t let go.”
—Jenna Blum, New York Times bestselling author of Those Who Save Us

“Every marriage has its secret deals and compromises. In Accidents of Marriage, Randy Susan Meyers explores the vast complexity of this bond and lays out how passion, allegiance and love can go terribly wrong. She gives us characters we root for, even when they’re at odds, and she asks the questions: What is forgivable? When does a marriage become too broken to fix? With wisdom, humor and great compassion, Meyers answers in a story you won’t soon forget.” —Ann Bauer, author of The Forever Marriage

“An incredibly accomplished and satisfying read with an important message.”—Jane Green, New York Times and international bestselling author, Tempting Fate

“In her third novel (The Murderer’s Daughters and The Comfort of Lies) Meyers peels back the layers of a family in crisis. …A veteran of domestic violence programs and interventions, Meyers refuses to settle for convenient excuses or easy answers. This book broke my heart and then began to mend it.” —Ellen Meeropol

“A bold and poignant look into the complicated, slippery world of what constitutes emotional abuse, Accidents of Marriage explores what happens when tragic circumstance forces one family to reexamine the dysfunctional dynamics that have long-defined them. Meyers deftly pulled me in to this story from the first page, tying me to its tender and fearless heartbeat, and didn’t let me go until the extremely satisfying end.” —Amy Hatvany, author of Safe With Me

“The intertwined traumas of emotional abuse and brain injury careen through every family member in this disturbing and deeply insightful story. Meyers captures the necessity and complexity of excavating the truth as the foundation of life moving forward.”
—Janet Cromer, author of Professor Cromer Learns to Read: A Couple’s New Life after Brain Injury