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Strangers

A Memoir of Marriage

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Strangers

By: Belle Burden
Narrated by: Belle Burden
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

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.

'A beautifully written eulogy for the loss of a relationship' Joyce Carol Oates

© Belle Burden 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

 Divorce & Separation Marriage & Long-Term Partnerships Personal Development Relationships Self-Esteem Women

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Critic reviews

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 naïveté 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?’
Named one of the 40 most exciting books to look forward to in 2026
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.
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.
A beautifully written instant classic. Strangers is gripping and heartbreaking and a must-read for every wife—and husband.
Beautiful…devastating…though it’s a memoir, Strangers reads with all the momentum and colour of water-tight literary fiction
Examines how we view intimacy, how the people closest to us can change without us knowing, and how to move forward in the wake of devastation.
Isn't simply about the dissolution of a marriage...it’s about a private person finding her voice, about learning to live with ambiguity, about what happens when safety nets fail. Burden’s sharp, personal writing brings readers deep into her unthinkable circumstances and offers a promise to anyone suffering: you can make it to the other side.
In 2023, Burden went viral with a Modern Love essay entitled “Was I Married to a Stranger?” Here, she explores the full heart-shock of that episode — the sudden disintegration of a long and largely joyful marriage, undone weeks into the pandemic by the revelation that her husband had not only been unfaithful but also seemed to wish to vanish almost entirely from their shared life, which included three young children.
‘Burden is an elegant writer … As Strangers and myriad tv shows attest, even the most intimate and long marriages can yield nasty surprises. In the end, how well do you really know the person who lies next to you in bed every night?’
All stars
Most relevant
This beautifully written memoir is powerful and compelling from start to finish. When I wasn’t actually listening to it, Belle occupied my thoughts. Her description of falling in love, building a life, then being abandoned struck a chord in me, as it will for many. I hope her future is filled with peace and joy. She deserves it. Y

Poignant and tender

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Really honest, real and thought provoking book that kept me wanting to listen. Sent this to so many friends as so many women find themselves in this situation and I really do feel this audiobook / book will help massively.

Binged it in 2 days

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I was enthralled by the story and the honesty of the author. I am already planning to listen again. Not many people are brave enough to say “ this happened to me” without trying to preserve a particular image. Although I have not been in the same situation as Belle, I could completely relate to parts of her account , to the extent that it actually made me feel better about myself. Thank you so much for this marvellous book . Really recommend.

Captivating Candour

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Wow can you imagine? This book should be given to all newlyweds, you really don’t know who you are sleeping next to. Part of me feels that this man may actually have a brain injury or has no emotional maturity because the lack of feeling for doing a 180 on your life of 20 years is beyond strange. I really enjoyed the writing of the story and I her work as immigration attorney is very noble in the US political environment.

The cautionary tale

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An absolutely gobsmacking book, but much needed out in the world as a salutary lesson for all women.
On the one hand so sad that this clever and accomplished woman was treated in that way, but also uplifting knowing that she overcame and has gone on to thrive.
Her ex Husband is proof that the dregs of humanity live in all walks of life- that also goes for the men and women who supported him.
The cruelty he inflicted on the author and her children is un fathomable, and the damage incalculable.
There is a special place in hell for the ex husband, and all men who conduct themselves in the way the author describes.
To Belle, I congratulate you on the book and speaking out. Don’t concern yourself with the haters, they are inconsequential low lifes who want women to stay silent. I hope this book encourages other women to shout LOUD.

Strength and Resilience

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