In my opinion there is no greater betrayal than the inflicted wounds of an affair. “Getting Past The Affair” by Snyder, Baucom and Gordon is an excellent resource for healing and recovery. This book reads like a top-notch recovery manual. It’s divided into three parts; “How do we stop hurting”, “How did this happen”, and “Can this marriage be saved”. Each part helps the reader develop a fuller understanding and a road map forward. “Getting Past the Affair” challenges each member to take active responsibility for their part within the affair in order to grow and move toward recovery. Readers can read alone or with their partner in an effort to rebuild their relationship and trust.
At the end of each chapter, the authors provide couples with practical exercises that probe, challenge and assess their relationship. They were wise to provide a path for the readers to explore the consequences rearing children, finances, housing and self recovery. The authors also acknowledge that not every relationship will recover from the devastation of such a betrayal.
“Getting Past the Affair” is worth the time to read. It normalizes and lends voice to the betrayed and the betrayer. It’s a book that every practitioner should keep within their library and a book that every friend should be willing to lend. Although this is not a religious book, I commend the authors for acknowledging spirituality as an important source and component for recovery. I pray that you the reader should never need such this book. Even with that being stated, I give “Getting Past the Affair” five out of five stars.