Cheating Paradox

One in three Americans admits to cheating. More than half say they've been cheated on. The math doesn't add up—and that's the whole point.Most cheating isn't done by villains. It's done by ordinary people telling themselves, "e;It's no big deal."e; "e;We were just texting."e; "e;That doesn't count."e; Their partners see it very differently. That gap between two definitions of cheating is where most heartbreak begins—and it's what this book is about.The Cheating Paradox is not a feel-good book for the betrayed or a lecture for the unfaithful. It's a provocative, no-nonsense look at why people cheat, why they don't think they're cheating, and what couples can actually do about it. You'll meet a wife who spends one night with a stranger online, a husband who has an affair to save his marriage, a couple whose revenge affairs turn into a chain of four secrets, and a man who discovers that watching his wife flirt with someone else turns him on.Inside, you'll find:The "e;What Counts as Cheating?"e; quiz—21 situations, from porn and sexting to kissing and AI companions—to take with your partner and compare answersWhy jealousy is really fear, and why checking your partner's phone never worksThe real reasons men and women cheat—and why they're not the sameWhether an affair can save a marriage (the answer may make you angry)Why sometimes it's better not to ask if you're not ready for the answerSwinging, open marriage, and consensual non-monogamy: why they may be more honest than a secret affairHow to survive being cheated on, and when to stay or goA five-step plan for an honest relationship, plus a fidelity agreement template and a quick boundary profile quizSome of what you read here will feel cynical. Some will feel outrageous. Some will feel a little too honest. You'll want to argue with it—and that's exactly the point. Every chapter ends with questions to talk through with your partner, because the best protection against cheating isn't control. It's agreeing on where the line is before someone crosses it.If you've ever cheated, been cheated on, or wondered whether something "e;counts,"e; this book will change the way you think about fidelity forever.For adult readers.