How to Stay Married

By: Harrison Scott Key

Narrated by: Harrison Scott Key, Lauren Key

Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

From Harrison Scott Key, winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor, How to Stay Married tells the hilarious, shocking, and spiritually profound story of one man’s journey through hell and back when infidelity threatens his marriage.

One gorgeous autumn day, Harrison discovers that his wife—the sweet, funny, loving mother of their three daughters, a woman “who’s spent just about every Sunday of her life in a church”—is having an affair with a family friend. This revelation propels the hysterical, heartbreaking action of How to Stay Married, casting our narrator onto “the factory floor of hell,” where his wife was now in love with a man who “wears cargo shorts, on purpose.” What will he do? Kick her out? Set fire to all her panties in the yard? Beat this man to death with a gardening implement? Ask God for help in winning her back?

Armed with little but a sense of humor and a hunger for the truth, Harrison embarks on a hellish journey into his past, seeking answers to the riddles of faith and forgiveness. Through an absurd series of escalating confessions and betrayals, Harrison reckons with his failure to love his wife in the ways she needed most, resolves to fight for his family, and in a climax almost too ridiculous to be believed, finally learns that love is no joke. How to Stay Married is a comic romp unlike any in contemporary literature, a wild Pilgrim’s Progress through the hellscape of marriage and the mysteries of mercy.

©2023 Harrison Scott Key (P)2023 Simon & Schuster Audio

Riveting

HOW TO STAY MARRIED was certainly a deep dive into not just marriage but the psychology of humankind. I believe it has much to teach men and women about themselves as well as each other.

It is also a revealing commentary on many churches. The church is a gathering of sinners all. Churches should encourage people to be "real" without the fear of rejection. After all, "let him who is without sin cast the first stone..." as Jesus would say.

There is much food for thought in these chapters. I saw myself in this book, my spouse in this book, my friends in this book, my church in this book, and my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ in this book.

Thanks to Harrison and Lauren for sharing their story.

Pam Mc, YC

A book that holds the details of your marriage

I was not willing to spend money on this book, not because there were bad reviews, but simply because it was hard for me to believe I would rather own this book over a Big Mac and very large Diet Coke.

To be fair to Harrison Scott Key, McDonald’s has been perfecting their fountain drinks much longer than he has his writing style.

My review: I am looking for other Harrison Scott Key books with credit card limits unhinged. It a was good. Real good.

Hilarious, humble, and honest

Harrison is laugh-while-alone hilarious plus his “radical transparency” is really winsome. I’m a pastor and counselor who will probably be prescribing this book to others.

So much thinking!!

What a wild story, I cant wait for the movie. Thanks for sharing your innermost marriage, parenting, life journey with the world, Im all the better for it. (nope not even a bible thumper, just human) Hello from Pennsylvania.

Hilarious, real and scary simultaneously

Listened to this over three days. I'm now shaken and planning a date night with my wife.

Raw, real, and challenging

Thanks HSK for your honesty. I found myself being challenged to be less of an ass face just by listening to your adventures of doing the same.

5/5

I have sent this story to at least 5 people, great writing and even better message.

Hilarious, tragic, sad and hopeful

Made me feel all the things. Harrison knows how to precisely and poignantly describe life events.

Sad, Funny, Thoughtful

Enjoyed this book immensely. The author’s humor is spectacular especially considering the deep subject of marriage and infidelity. Highly recommend.

Riveting

I listened to this over 2 days. Kept fitting it in between everything else I had to do because I couldn’t stop listening. One of the best books I’ve read or listened to in years. Will be recommending it to my friends.