NOT "Just Friends"
By Shirley P., Glass, Ph.D  

     Shirley Glass is a relationship counsellor and psychological researcher with 25 years of professional experience to her credit. NOT "Just Friends" seems to be the culmination of a life's work.

     Glass combines personal observations with a well-documented trove of scientific sources to provide a "prevention manual and survival guide." It is on the basis of her own experience and the many other well documented sources that the book stands as credible.

     Although based on a strong academic foundation, the book is made easy to read by numerous stories and examples, several quizzes, and most of all by following a single couple through the entire betrayal and recovery process.

     Perhaps the strongest point about NOT "Just Friends" is that Glass is careful to address the issues and feelings of all concerned parties: those who have been unfaithful, those who have been betrayed, and also the betrayal partners. She debunks several myths about infidelity, explains how today's affairs differ from those of the past, and draws us inside the various players to understand their fears, their pain, and their motivation at each step along the path.

     Prevention and survival are not necessarily the same thing, of course. In fact, the weak point of this book may be an attempt to include too many ideas into one volume. I could easily recommend the prevention chapters at the beginning to anyone in a marriage, but I doubt they would be interested in reading the majority of the book, which focuses on coping with an affair. Similarly, someone looking for advice on how to cope with an affair is unlikely to want to read through the prevention aspects.

     This is a sensitive, well-founded, easy-to-read book, but make sure it is for you before buying it.