The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers is a unique story about a woman who meets a man and begins to imagine a life where they have an affair.
If you are looking for a frivolous book about an affair that glorifies adultery, then this book isn’t for you. The Ten Year Affair is gritty and somehow takes the everyday moments of a regular life and casts them under a different light. This book is the epitome of “Is the grass truly greener on the other side?” Full of humor and thought-provoking scenes, this book will have you questioning whether taking risks is worth it.
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The Ten Year Affair Overview
Title: The Ten Year Affair
Author: Erin Somers
Pages: 304 Pages
Publish Date: October 21st, 2025
Genre: Literary Fiction
My Star Rating: 4/5 stars! (It was a really good book and I would recommend it to most people.)
Grab Your Copy Here: https://amzn.to/48YVM5J
Synopsis From Amazon
When Cora meets Sam at a baby group in their small town, the chemistry between them is undeniable. Both are happily married young parents with two kids, and neither sees themselves as the type to engage in an affair. Yet their connection grows stronger, and as their lives continue to intertwine, the romantic tension between them becomes all-consuming—until their worlds unravel into two parallel timelines. In one, they pursue their feelings. In the other, they resist.
As reality splits, the everyday details of Cora’s life—her depressing marketing job, her daughter’s new fascination with the afterlife, her husband’s obsession with podcasts about the history of rope—gain fresh perspective. The intersecting and diverging timelines blur the boundaries of reality and fantasy, questioning what might have been and what truly matters.
The Ten Year Affair is a witty, emotionally-charged exploration of marriage, family life, and the roads not taken, that ultimately asks: do we really want our fantasies to come true?
My Review of The Ten Year Affair
First, thank you to NetGalley, Erin Somers, and Simon & Schuster for an Advanced Reading Copy of The Ten Year Affair. This book was so good that I consumed it rather than just reading it. It’s such a unique way of telling a story.
I was expecting it to be a one-chapter reality with the affair, and the next chapter the reality without the affair. But this layout made so much more sense. I really enjoyed the way Erin Somers wrote this book. Somers captures the mundane moments of parenthood and marriage, making them both interesting and refreshing. This book is mostly told from Cora’s perspective, which I think helps us root for her and the situation.
The Ten Year Affair somehow makes you want the affair to happen, but also for the affair to never happen. It’s this weird feeling to want Cora and Sam together, but also to want Cora’s marriage to last. You will feel very torn.
I thought the ending was perfect for this book. I feel like every person in this book ended up in a better place than where they started.
The one issue I had was that it would switch between the two realities, and I wouldn’t realize it. You need to really pay attention when reading this book.
Overall, this book is perfect for anyone who enjoys well-thought-out premises, humor in humorless moments, with complex characters, and a book that captures the spirit of “Is the grass really greener on the other side?” Read this book if you want to spend the next 24 hours enjoying this book and wondering what you would do in Cora and Sam’s shoes. Definitely a true literary fiction book!
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Final Thoughts
This book isn’t for everyone, but I feel like most people will enjoy this book. It’s perfect for anyone who really enjoys literary fictions that leave you with questions about your life. If you have any questions about The Ten Year Affair, then let me know in the comments below. I try not to spoil books in my review, but the comments there might be spoilers.
Lastly, if you liked this review, please share it on your social media. I appreciate all the love and support.
Thanks for reading,
Kel
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