Strangers
A Memoir of Marriage
Published on 15. January 2026
256 pages
978-1-5299-3614-8 (ISBN)
Description
'A beautifully written eulogy for the loss of a relationship' Joyce Carol Oates
How do we go on when a loved one betrays us?
On a chilly day in March of 2020, in the early days of the pandemic, Belle Burden's husband of twenty years announced, with no prior warning, that he was leaving her. His decision shocked Belle to her core: she believed he was a happy man, a committed partner, and a devoted father to their three children. She thought he was a man who had settled into the life he had always wanted: a successful career, summers spent at their beloved home on Martha's Vineyard, lots of tennis. Overnight, he transformed from her steady companion into a stranger.
As she pieces her life together in the wake of a loss she had never imagined coming, she finds she is much stronger than she ever expected. Exploring the transformation of a shy, quiet girl, nicknamed 'Belle the Good' to a powerful, brave, determined woman who has learned to use her voice to expose the patriarchal structures that have forced women to be discreet and compliant for far too long, Strangers is a must-read memoir of self-discovery.
How do we go on when a loved one betrays us?
On a chilly day in March of 2020, in the early days of the pandemic, Belle Burden's husband of twenty years announced, with no prior warning, that he was leaving her. His decision shocked Belle to her core: she believed he was a happy man, a committed partner, and a devoted father to their three children. She thought he was a man who had settled into the life he had always wanted: a successful career, summers spent at their beloved home on Martha's Vineyard, lots of tennis. Overnight, he transformed from her steady companion into a stranger.
As she pieces her life together in the wake of a loss she had never imagined coming, she finds she is much stronger than she ever expected. Exploring the transformation of a shy, quiet girl, nicknamed 'Belle the Good' to a powerful, brave, determined woman who has learned to use her voice to expose the patriarchal structures that have forced women to be discreet and compliant for far too long, Strangers is a must-read memoir of self-discovery.
Reviews / Votes
Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage is a beautifully written eulogy for the loss of a relationship that had been loving, trusting, 'traditional' (in the best, unironic sense of the word)-riveting reading for its heartrending candor. Through an examination of her marriage-and the social expectations that defined it-Belle Burden examines the very nature of intimacy, vulnerability, and, in practical terms, the naivete of many a young woman who falls in love with a 'perfect' mate. Her questions are not just, What went wrong? But, more fundamentally, What is the nature of human personality? Are we all playing 'roles?' * Joyce Carol Oates * A lyrical and gripping tale of the abrupt end of a seemingly solid and loving marriage. I read Strangers in one weekend. Beyond Burden's beautiful writing and shocking story, it is a call to feminism. She reminds us: Don't fall asleep at the wheel, be self-sustaining, stake a claim in what's yours. Strangers is a woman's graceful awakening-and one to learn from. * Isabel Gillies, New York Times bestselling author of Happens Every Day * A searing exploration of rebuilding after profound loss. With candor, Belle Burden navigates heartbreak in a way that reshapes rather than restores, crafting a future both unrecognizable and wholly her own. More than a memoir of divorce, it is a powerful testament to reclaiming voice, power, and joy. Burden's journey speaks to anyone broken by the unimaginable and courageous enough to forge a new beginning. * Adrienne Brodeur, New York Times bestselling author of Wild Game * A beautifully written instant classic. Strangers is gripping and heartbreaking and a must-read for every wife-and husband. * Graydon Carter * As you read Strangers, you'll find yourself asking big questions: Why would a devoted father walk out on his family? What were the signs? How do I prevent this from happening to me? Burden shows that we cannot always understand why people do what they do and that we can learn to live tethered to our own truth instead. This is a beautiful memoir: Hard-won, incandescently honest, and ultimately affirming. * Elise Loehnen, New York Times bestselling author of On Our Best Behavior * A beautifully written instant classic. Strangers is gripping and heartbreaking and a must-read for every wife-and husband. * Graydon Carter *More details
Edition
New edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Ebury Publishing
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
New edition
File size
1,60 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-5299-3614-8 (9781529936148)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Belle Burden was born in New York City. She holds a BA from Harvard College and a law degree from NYU. Currently, she is a pro bono immigration lawyer specializing in juvenile cases.
