Author: Lian Dolan
Year published: 2024
Category: Adult fiction
Pages: 288
Rating: 4 out of 5
Location: (my 2026 Google Reading map): USA (OR, NM), Argentina
Summary: After twenty-three years of building careers and raising kids together, Jason and Nicole Elswick are facing an empty nest and are ready for a break from their daily lives. Jason has spent years planning his dream sabbatical―ditching work for a nine-month-long motorcycle trip through South America. Problem is, that’s Jason’s dream, not Nicole’s. After years working retail and parenting in Portland, Nicole craves the sun of the Southwest and the artistic community in Santa Fe, where she wants to learn jewelry design.
A chance encounter at a dinner party presents a surprising―and intriguing―way out of their dilemma. Over a little too much wine, Jason and Nicole’s married neighbors sing the praises of the 500 Mile Rule: their policy of enjoying themselves however they wish―and with whomever they wish―when they’re temporarily far apart. It seems like the perfect solution: a nine-month marriage sabbatical pursuing their own adventures―with a bit of don’t-ask-don’t-tell―and then a return to their shared lives.
As Jason bikes his way across a continent and Nicole reclaims the art she’s long neglected, they discover the pleasures and pitfalls of the 500 Mile Rule on their separate journeys of self-discovery, confronting temptations of all kinds, uncomfortable truths about themselves, and gaining new perspective on their partnership.
But all sabbaticals come to an end…then what?
Review: A marriage sabbatical. What an interesting idea. I think for some marriages, it could be a saving solution, while for others it would spell complete disaster. The idea of taking a break to pursue one's own needs and wishes, such as learning a language, traveling, taking on a new skill, or having an adventure, is a fantastic idea. Shake things up a bit. The other part of the sabbatical, the "500 mile rule," seems more dodgy.
Nicole and Jason promise no pregnancies, diseases, or details. That seems smart. The other smart aspect of this novel is that it doesn't center on the 500 Mile Rule. It centers on their experiences finding themselves, trying new adventures, making friends on their own, and emailing each other once a week to report in. Both characters learn about themselves and how they feel about their marriage and their spouse. I wasn't sure if they would end up together in the end, but their journeys of growth were realistic and nice.
I haven't been in a decades-long marriage, but I assume it can get to be routine. Why not shake it up a bit with some time apart? Setting rules seems paramount, as does keeping in touch and trusting your spouse. I'm not necessarily advocating for the 500 Mile Rule, but the other parts seem really healthy, and I enjoyed being on the adventure with Nicole and Jason. I definitely identified with Nicole's chapters more (I mean, come on, Santa Fe, new friends, a cute doggie...).
Challenges for which this counts:
- 20 Books of Summer
- Literary Escapes--Argentina
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