The One You're With

Written by Lauren K. Denton

Narrated by Caroline Hewitt

Written in Lauren K. Denton’s signature Southern style, The One You’re With tells the story of a seemingly perfect marriage rocked by secrets from the past.

High-school sweethearts Mac and Edie Swan lead a seemingly picture-perfect life in the sleepy-sweet community of Oak Hill, near Mobile, Alabama. Edie is a respected interior designer, Mac is a beloved pediatrician, and they have two great kids and a historic home on tree-lined Linden Avenue. From the outside, the Swan family is the definition of “the good life.” And life is good—mostly. Until a young woman walks into Mac’s office one day. A young woman whose very existence threatens all Mac and Edie have built and all they think they know about each other.

Nineteen years after a summer apart, with a family and established lives and careers, the past that Mac and Edie thought they left behind has come back to greet them. For the first time, constants in their lives are called into question: their roles as parents, their reputation as upstanding members of the community, and the very foundations of their marriage. As they wade through the upheaval in both their family and professional lives, they must each examine choices they made long ago and chart a new course for their future.

• Full-length Southern women’s fiction
• Stand-alone novel
• Book length: 116,000 words
• Also by Lauren K. Denton: The Hideaway, Hurricane Season, Glory Road, The Summer House

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Jul 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9780785232636

Lauren K. Denton

LAUREN K. DENTON is the author of USA TODAY bestselling novels The Hideaway and Hurricane Season. She was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, and now lives with her husband and two daughters in Homewood, just outside Birmingham. Though her husband tries valiantly to turn her into a mountain girl, she’d still rather be at the beach. Website: LaurenKDenton.com; Instagram: LaurenKDentonBooks; Facebook: LaurenKDentonAuthor; Twitter: @LaurenKDenton.

Reviews for The One You're With

[kathleen shaw · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Choices, life, surprises, consequences, family, personal responsibility, really good, well written and narrated story❤

[Lorraine Weaver · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked the fact that this book ended happily. All the way through I kept thinking I don’t like this person Edie but she grew on me.

[Sarah Rich · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gripping, heart-reaching story. Refreshing topic. I only wish the mimicking of Southern accents by the reader was not so badly attempted. As an Alabamian, it was a bit offensive! The story was beautiful, though!

[mchwest · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love all books written by Lauren K Denton and this didn't miss the mark. A different plot and scenario, handled as well as a normal couple would we hope. Books like this always make me sit back and try to imagine would I would do. It made for a good read and I hope she has another in store for us soon.

[geauxgetlit · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was a southern story about family and love. Told from two different timelines. Evie and Mac appear to be the perfect marriage with two kids. However, in 2000 they broke up for the summer. Mac was greeted by a grown pregnant woman that stated she was his daughter. Riley was conceived during that summer of their break. Evie also had a somewhat of a fling with Graham.

The choices you make can change the trajectory of your entire life. What could have happened if Evie and Mac never married?

[khoyt-43756 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed "The One You're With", because of the "What if?" factor. What day goes by that we don't have many decisions to make? We all have those moments of decision. After one path has been decided, and we find out where that path leads, we often wonder where the other path would have gone if it had been chosen instead.
I like the way Lauren Denton gets into the minds of the characters and eventually brings the crisis to a
satisfying conclusion. (Of course, it depends on for whom you are rooting.) It is a good story with interesting dynamics.

[melissa_o-399736 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The One You're With is another great work of southern fiction by Lauren Denton. I had the privilege of listening to this story while driving through Alabama which helped it come even more alive for me. The author tackles some tough issues in this book, but all are handled well. The story centers around Mac and Edie who were high school sweethearts, but go their own way one summer in college. They get back together after that summer and have a fabulous life together complete with family and careers. Nineteen years have passed since that summer and one day Mac gets a very unexpected visitor. This person has the potential to turn their whole lives upside down. Readers get a firsthand look at how Mac and Edie work through this and continue to choose each other. "Marriage consisted of choosing the one you married over and over and over again." This is one of my favorite quotes from the book because it is so true!! If you love southern women's fiction and you have not tried a Lauren Denton book, then you are missing out.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this story. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[eccl-3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The One You’re With is fiction that spans the time between 2000 and present day. It is a story of high-school sweethearts and best friends, Mac, Edie and Graham, and the choices they made earlier and how they have affected their lives. This is a well written story that focuses on the outcome of choices the three made while in college, especially Mac’s summer romance. This story is so realistic in the sense that Mac and Edie’s marriage has change through the years as their children have grown and their careers have become successful.

I enjoyed reading this book, there is sadness, struggles and acceptance. I enjoyed reading how Mac’s family worked through accepting his daughter and the relationships they all developed. I appreciated the decision Edie made with changes to her career and doing something for herself. This story grabbed me right from the start and stayed with me after finishing. There is so much substance in this story, that at times it felt real. While this is published by a Christian publisher, there is only the mention of attending church.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing. This is my honest review.

[cherylk_44 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story could have been depressing but it was not. I say this because of the way that Edie reacted when she learned shocking news from Mac. Which I am not blaming her for her reaction as I would have had the same reaction and feelings. It just is the fact that Edie could have been the bitter wife through out the story but she did not become that person.

Thus in turn I was not turned off by anyone and embraced them all. This book may be fiction but it felt real. This shows that I really embraced the characters and the story. It was such an easy read for me because of these factors. Readers will like this book. I know I did and want to read more books by this author.

[arlenadean · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Title: The One You're With
Author: Lauren K. Denton
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"The One You're With" by Lauren K. Denton
My Opinion:

Good Read bought out 'choices, consequences, and what-ifs' as it was for Edie, Mac, and Graham when it was all said and done. All of this comes into play after an unknown love child comes into Mac and Edie's life. The story was rather long, but after 20 years later, will this destroy their marriage? First, however, Edie will have to come to terms with what happened during that summer between her and Graham during this time. So be ready for many emotions that will come into play that will give the reader a lot to think about during the read that dealt with the past and present for Mac and Evie during 2000 and 2021.

Will this be a story of forgiveness as the question of whether love, family commitment, doing the right thing will win out over the loss of trust, anger, and missed chances?' This author did an excellent job as the story deals with the emotions of Mac, Edie, and Riley, along with some secondary characters that bring us a well-told story that I would recommend.

Thank you to the author, Thomas Nelson - Fiction and NetGalley, for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

[tamidale · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a nice summer beach read set in coastal Alabama. Mac and Edie have been married about 20 years and were childhood sweethearts prior to marrying. It’s safe to say they know each other very well.

But one summer, during their college years, they broke up. Things happened that they each kept to themselves. Fast forward several years and the past unexpectedly lands on their doorstep, causing Mac and Edie to reevaluate their marriage and what they mean to each other.

This was a bit predictable and moved a bit slow at times, but I found it a wholesome and satisfying read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson-FICTION for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Try putting yourself in each of these character's shoes, not easy. A married couple who seem to have it all, one a pediatrician and the other an interior designer, two teenage children, and then their world gets rocked!

We are treated to all that leads up to the young woman arriving at Mac's office, and then what happens to them as they come to terms with this new individual in their lives.

This is quite a journey, and Mac maybe the guilty party, but what a kind loving person he is. I just hope that this family is able to weather this storm and keep their lives together!

Yes, this became a page-turner for me, and loved how the author wrapped up this read!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Published Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.