Degrees of Love

A woman craves happiness and balance in Slabach’s piercing debut. Susan Sinclair, 36, lives a predictable, mundane life in a San Francisco suburb and is in a passionless marriage with her husband, Matt. Susan accepts a promotion to v-p in her financial services firm, despite Matt’s reservations—he’s uncomfortable with the job’s demands, which require more time away from him and their two boys. When Susan meets her new boss, charismatic, New York City–based Reese Kirkpatrick, there is both steamy chemistry and mutual respect, and they begin an affair. That summer, Susan leads a double life with equal parts satisfaction, joy, and guilt. She wants to excel at her career and indulge in the stimulating and comforting life Reese offers, but she adores her sons. Slabach’s depictions of longing, yearning, and love are palpable at times (“Before long, my tears kept pace with the rain. The pain in my chest was so crushing I could barely breathe. I couldn’t let go of the pain, so I embraced it.”), though there are a few false moments in which Susan implausibly manages to balance everything perfectly. Susan’s personal decisions and consequences feel familiar and real in this smart and sensual novel. (Self-published)