52 Fights: A Newlywed's Confession (Paperback)

by Jennifer Jeanne Patterson (Author) "used to be the sort of woman for whom marriage seemed more like an ending-no more first dates, spontaneous driving trips alone, or taking pride..." (more)
Key Phrases: other newlyweds, starter marriage, change cup, New York, Uncle Math, North Dakota (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A candid and clever portrait of a young woman's first year of married life

Week 1: "You want this house? With the pink-and-purple striped wallpaper?"

Week 9: "But you said you'd do it today..."

Week 17: "You couldn't have called?"

Newlyweds Jennifer and Matt really love each other. They never lived together before they were married-and so both were shocked to learn all the little things that go with living with one's spouse. Who knew that in his family, Saturdays were for tackling chores, while in her family Saturdays were for sleeping late? Now, two nice people from nice families are finding out that they do everything differently-and suddenly, they're in the ring with gloves on!

Week by week, the fights take both of them by surprise-they never meant to be the kind of couple that acts this way. Simultaneously, though, Jennifer and Matt are building something strong, knocking down old walls of habit and finding the strong foundation of a love that will see them through...in a delightful memoir of a knock-down, drag-out first year of marriage.

About the Author
Jennifer Jeanne Patterson received her MFA in creative writing from Columbia University. She has worked as a computer programmer, a magazine advertising assistant, and an editorial intern. She is the author of a syndicated column called "Newlyweds" (the genesis of Fifty-Two Fights), which has appeared in Minnesota Bride, The Ithaca Journal, and Lovetripper.com.

She is married to Matthias Samuels, a corporate lawyer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (June 7, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425202542
• ISBN-13: 978-0425202548
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #351,331 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars loved this book!, June 29, 2005

By	L. Zespy (Big Cormorant, MN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This was a really fun read! I laughed hard enough to snort in several places - but also kept thinking to myself, "I'm SO making my husband read this!" Sometimes I related to the author and sometimes to her husband, but either way, I could get an idea of what "the other side" could POSSIBLY be thinking in those lonely moments in the first year of marriage when you start encountering your differences and disagreements and worrying if they are precursors to doom or just normal life. It was comforting to hear others are going through the same thing. I bought a couple copies for friends getting married this summer - way more fun, and more useful, than the edible undies or other dumb shower gifts that probably get shoved in a drawer and never used!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FABULOUS! Could be a great movie..., February 1, 2006

By	Mona Gracen (New York State, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I love the way Jennifer writes. She is incredibly candid and has a wit that makes even the most mundane of fights seem incredibly humorous. I could totally see her tales of newlywed stress becoming the basis of a movie. Her "characters" are so incredibly vivid - obviously because they are not fictional. Jennifer lends a voice to all of us who have wondered why we ever decided to take that plunge with this one-time stranger and sometimes irritant whom we love more than anyone else. This is the first of many wonderful things we will see from this author - remember her name.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ho Hum .... Humorless, December 13, 2008

By	G. Smith "here" (& now) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I specifically got this book because I thought it was a book of humor and it received good reviews from other readers. I personally have been married for six (6) years so I really thought this book would be completely hiliarious. Sadly, I was wrong. Honestly the wife comes off as nothing more than a boring doormat. This is suppose to be a book about all the fights that all married couple has during the first yearof marriage but reads more like how to keep your true feelings bottled up and not cause unneeded conflict while trying to keep your arguments constructive. In a word - A poorly written Self Help Book. It would have been a saving grace had it been funny and/or helpful.