Book ~ "Tempting Fate" (2014) Jane Green

From Goodreads ~ When Gabby first met Elliott, she knew he was the man for her. In twenty years of marriage she has never doubted her love for him - even when he refused to give her the one thing she still wants most of all. But now their two daughters are growing up Gabby feels that time and her youth are slipping away. For the first time in her life she is restless. And then she meets Matt ...

Intoxicated by the way this young, handsome and successful man makes her feel, Gabby is momentarily blind to what she stands to lose on this dangerous path. And in one reckless moment she destroys all that she holds dear. 

Consumed by regret, Gabby does everything she can to repair the home she has broken. But are some betrayals too great to forgive?

Gabby is 42 and has been happily married to Elliott for about 20 years.  They have two daughters (ages 12 and 17).  One night she is out with her friends and she meets a younger man at a bar.  Matt is rich and successful and 10 years younger.  There is an instant intense attraction ... Matt makes Gabby feel young and beautiful again and she becomes obsessed with him.  They email each other constantly and meet up when he's in town.

Something happens during one of these visits that will change Gabby's life forever and she loses almost everything.

This is the second book I've read by this author.  While I didn't like or approve of some Gabby's actions, I liked the writing style and thought it moved along at a good pace.  It's written in third person perspective with a focus mainly on Gabby and Elliott's point of view.  The first part of the book builds up to what Gabby did and the second part deals with the ramifications for everyone.  I suspected the book was going to end the way it did and had hoped for a different ending (it was too neat and tidy and happy).  As a head's up, there is some swearing and mature activity so I would recommend this for a mature reader who has an open mind.

I didn't find Gabby especially likable.  It didn't sound like she had a bad life with Elliott and their daughters and I found it odd that she would be THAT attracted to Matt THAT instantly that she sneak around, thus risking everything she had.  And when she does lose almost everything because of her actions, I found it amazing that she assumed she could basically apologize to her family, they would get over it and they would carry on like nothing happened.  I didn't feel a lot of sympathy for her and felt she got what she deserved.  Elliott sounded like a nice guy.  I'm surprised he didn't suspect something more was going on when Gabby suddenly because extra amorous with him all of a sudden (because she was fantasizing about Matt).  Matt too sounded like a nice guy but I was surprised that he would maintain the "friendship" with Gabby considering she was married with children ... he was rich, gorgeous and famous and could have anyone he wanted.

All in all, I'd recommend this book.