In Erin Somers' "The Ten Year Affair", Cora, a millennial mother, finds herself stuck in a lifeless marriage, craving excitement from her unyielding partner Eliot. As they navigate the challenges of parenthood and upwardly mobile Brooklynite ennui, Cora's desires for passion and connection are left to simmer. Somers crafts a witty and incisive exploration of this midlife adultery story, one that skewers the pretensions of self-absorbed hand-wringers who have lost touch with sex.
At the heart of the novel is Cora's all-consuming fantasy about her potential lover Sam – a playgroup dad turned mortgage start-up executive. Their affair never materializes, leaving Cora to pine and overthink their relationship for years. Her fantasies often veer into a James Salter-esque realm of sordid sex and complicated power dynamics.
As the story unfolds, Somers deftly exposes the underlying issues driving Cora's behavior. Beneath her sharp wit lies a deep-seated desire for joy and connection, which has been stifled by her high-maintenance marriage and suffocating suburban life. When Cora finally gives in to temptation, the encounter is lackluster and unfulfilling, serving as a poignant commentary on the decline of romance.
Throughout the novel, Somers probes deeper themes of existential crisis and middle-age anxiety. What happens when our lives become too comfortable, too predictable? How do we rediscover meaning and purpose after the events that once defined us? These questions are skillfully woven into Cora's inner monologues and conversations with Sam.
The author's razor-sharp prose is a highlight of the novel, delivering a finely observed portrait of an anxious, self-conscious generation in middle age. With its wry humor and incisive insight, "The Ten Year Affair" feels like a timely and necessary intervention – a wake-up call to our own midlife crises and a reminder that sometimes, it's okay to not have all the answers.
At the heart of the novel is Cora's all-consuming fantasy about her potential lover Sam – a playgroup dad turned mortgage start-up executive. Their affair never materializes, leaving Cora to pine and overthink their relationship for years. Her fantasies often veer into a James Salter-esque realm of sordid sex and complicated power dynamics.
As the story unfolds, Somers deftly exposes the underlying issues driving Cora's behavior. Beneath her sharp wit lies a deep-seated desire for joy and connection, which has been stifled by her high-maintenance marriage and suffocating suburban life. When Cora finally gives in to temptation, the encounter is lackluster and unfulfilling, serving as a poignant commentary on the decline of romance.
Throughout the novel, Somers probes deeper themes of existential crisis and middle-age anxiety. What happens when our lives become too comfortable, too predictable? How do we rediscover meaning and purpose after the events that once defined us? These questions are skillfully woven into Cora's inner monologues and conversations with Sam.
The author's razor-sharp prose is a highlight of the novel, delivering a finely observed portrait of an anxious, self-conscious generation in middle age. With its wry humor and incisive insight, "The Ten Year Affair" feels like a timely and necessary intervention – a wake-up call to our own midlife crises and a reminder that sometimes, it's okay to not have all the answers.
and their avocado toast is to die for! I was thinking about how they make it so simple yet divine, like Cora in the book - she wants that excitement and passion but life gets in the way 
. anyway back to the novel... what's up with this whole midlife crisis thing? my friend just turned 40 and suddenly she's all about trying new things and re-evaluating her priorities 
. I'm like "girl, you're not getting older, you're leveling up!" 
). The way Cora's desires and fantasies are woven throughout the story is like, totally spot on. I love how Somers skewers those self-absorbed types who think they're above getting their hands dirty when it comes to intimacy. It's all about finding that spark again, you know? And that ending... ugh, it's just so sad 
. But at the same time, it's like, a wake-up call for us all, right? We need to stop expecting our lives to be perfect and just, you know, enjoy the ride 
. Anyway, if you haven't read this one yet, def give it a shot! 
️ somers really gets at what happens when you've been living a comfortable lie for too long... our society puts so much pressure on women to be perfect moms & partners, and it's like cora's just fed up with that expectation 
i love how she doesn't shy away from exploring the messiness of human desire 
. I mean, Cora's struggles with her marriage and desire for excitement are definitely relatable, but is this just another "midlife crisis" novel? 
I'm not convinced that Somers' witty prose is enough to make me care about Sam or their lackluster affair. And don't even get me started on the James Salter-esque sordid sex – a bit too much for my taste 
. Still, if the author can convince me that this is more than just a rehashing of familiar themes... I'm willing to give it another chance 
I mean, who hasn't felt stuck in a marriage or had a fantasy about someone they'll never get? 
her fantasy about sam is like the ultimate escape route for me, but also super unhealthy 
and i love how erin somers gets into all the complexities of cora's desires without making it too sexy or salacious 
it feels like she's really probing at what makes us humans tick 
. I love how she exposes the underlying issues driving Cora's behavior, like her deep-seated desire for joy and connection being stifled by her high-maintenance marriage 
. And omg, those fantasies about Sam? 
I didn’t see that coming! But what really resonated with me is how Somers pokes fun at the pretensions of self-absorbed people who have lost touch with sex 
. Anyways, I think Somers did an amazing job capturing the essence of our generation in midlife - the anxiety, the self-doubt, and the search for meaning 
. So, if you haven’t read this book yet, I highly recommend it! 
And how relatable is her fantasy about Sam - like, I've had my fair share of "what ifs" too 
. But what I love about this novel is how it doesn't shy away from the messy stuff and gets into the nitty-gritty of why we settle for less than we want in life 
and I'm still thinking about how Ross and Rachel's relationship was so complicated 
. But anyway, back to Erin Somers' book... I feel like this is what happened to my friends when they had kids - all the excitement and passion just sorta... fizzled out? 
I mean, Cora's life sounds so familiar - stuck in a rut, craving something more, but not knowing how to get it. It's like she's searching for that same rush of adrenaline we used to get from college nights 
. And yeah, the author's writing is super sharp, just like when I was reading all those Cosmo magazines back in the day 
!
anyway I love how the author exposes all these underlying issues with Cora's behavior, it's like we see ourselves in her 
. The way Cora's just stuck in her lifeless marriage, feeling like a hot mess of emotions, is super relatable 
. And honestly, who hasn't been there at some point? 
️ But seriously, this novel is like a mirror held up to society, reflecting all our flaws and insecurities. And honestly, it's kind of refreshing 
"
. I mean, where's the nuance? Where's the complexity? Is this just another cautionary tale about the dangers of infidelity or is there more to it than meets the eye? 
.