"The Divorce" is an interesting literary exploration of an end of a long marriage between two people informed by traumatic experiences. These experiences leave them with a sense of voicelessness, especially in the context of their relationship. Things left unsaid and unaddressed grew to such an extent that seemingly minor disagreement leads the husband, Niklas, to leave Bea.

Narrative choice to begin with Bea's point of view was an interesting one. Moa Herngren lures the readers to the wife's version of reality, in which her efforts are unnoticed, taken for granted and her husband grows more and more distant. In her point of view, Bea is treated unfairly, left in the dark, frustrated with her inability to restore the broken bond. It becomes too easy to resent the husband alongside wounded female protagonist. When Niklas' perspective is introduced and his motives become more known, it completely shifts the optics. The weight of unaddressed issues becomes even more apparent, as well as both-sided responsibility for the marriage becoming broken beyond repair.

It was a good read, also from the cultural standpoint, showcasing Scandi tendency of sweeping unpleasant feeling under the rug without an intention to actually working through them until it is too late.

This is the story about Bea and Niklas, together for over thirty years when he disappears. When he re-emerges it transpires that he has been having an affair and now wants a divorce. I found the story a bit of a sad read given the topic matter but liked the fact it was woven and told from both of their points of view.

In a beautifully written book, Herngren was able to masterfully present both characters' views and then intertwine them into a lovely culmination. A shed a tear or two and for me, that is the mark of a great book.

Seeing the relationship dynamic from both sides was very intriguing and it definitely made the story more interesting to me as you get to see both of their emotions and reasonings behind their decisions.

Together for more than thirty years, Bea and Niklas live a comfortable life in Stockholm. But one evening, following a trivial argument, Niklas disappears. Weeks pass before it emerges that he has met someone else. To Bea's horror, he insists they must divorce. But is this divorce really coming out of the blue? Is the person who does the leaving always the one at fault? What emerges once you begin scratching the surface?
It's a one time read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me an advance copy.

Acclaimed Swedish writer Moa Herngren’s novel explores the end of a marriage which has survived three decades from both points of view.
Bea and Niklas began their relationship in the shadow of Bea’s brother’s suicide. Theirs is a marriage which grew out of comfort and protection, Niklas accepting Bea’s decision to take a rewarding but low paid job after their twin daughters went to school. He’s a paediatrician, recently accepting a stressful managerial role, overcoming his reluctance in the face of mounting debt. When Bea discovers that Niklas has forgotten to book their ferry tickets to her beloved Gotland, she lets out a tirade of complaint prompting him to walk out of the apartment, not for the first time. By the following summer both Bea and Niklas’ lives have changed in ways neither could have expected.

Herngren tells the couple’s story in three parts beginning with Bea before switching to Niklas then bringing them together in the final section. It’s a structure that works well. Bea’s utter conviction that her marriage is unassailable together with the demands she puts upon Nicklas and her seeming inability to put her children first make her an unsympathetic character for much of the novel until the penny finally drops. She’s a woman who has made herself almost entirely dependent on her husband and his family, seemingly more in love with them than she is with him. Niklas suffers from a guilt whose root we find out some way into the novel, and a huge sense of responsibility coupled with an inability to assert himself, a crushing pressure from which he manages to finally crawl out from beneath. I found myself taking sides fairly quickly which I hadn’t expected, hoping for a more balanced view of the split. That said, I enjoyed Herngren’s novel and would be happy to read another.

The health of a marriage is almost impossible to judge with 100% accuracy from an external viewpoint. Only the two people really involved see the sides to each other that we are often at pains to keep from the world.

But what happens when, even within the marriage, people start to evaluate the same events differently That is usually the first step to the relationship breaking down.

After a minor argument, Niklas walks out on Bea, and soon thereafter announces that he wants a divorce. Bea is shocked, never having seen it coming. But is it really the case that their three decade old marriage was, in fact, fine? That depends on who you ask...

The story is first told from Bea's point of view, and then Niklas's, and this device works well. We get an opportunity to understand the complexity of the issues at play, and the depth of feeling running below the surface for the two protagonists. The truth is, as ever, subjective.

This is a painful and nuanced examination of how things go wrong in our relationships - and how the chances of recovery depend on our capacity for understanding and adaptation. Anyone who has been through a divorce will likely recognise certain things. And anyone who wants to avoid that experience should take note. Worth a read, it gets 3.5 stars.

Absolutely loved it!
After 32 years of marriage Bea and Niklas’ marriage is in crisis. We hear the story from Bea’s point of view first, then get to hear how Niklas feels in part 2. The final third of the story alternates between them as they navigate a new normal Never has the saying ‘there are two sides to every story’ rung more true and I alternated between frustration, anger and sadness as their story unfurled. This is a story that will stick with me for a while. I loved the authors realistic storytelling and character development throughout. Thoroughly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for this honest review.