An anthem for those navigating intimacy and mid-life change.
In the 1800s, Abraham Lincoln famously reminded audiences, “And this, too, shall pass away.” It seems Lincoln’s speech wasn’t a memorable part of the Catholic school curriculum for Nika Stewart. Instead, she drags suffocating expectations into adulthood, including an ominous conjugal debt and the relentless chaos of her own biology. Yet chastity and guilt never prevented Nika from seeking a fulfilling life, career, and family. Her husband of ten years, Ethan, has been an outstanding stepfather for her two kids and a pillar of support through every storm. Nika thrives in her demanding school librarian role and loves working alongside her closest friend. Despite all she has, Nika can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong inside her. Life is stressful enough, juggling an aging parent, teenage children, and workplace tension, but perimenopause may be the one force Nika can’t control. These days, the only thing that makes her tingle is warm banana bread, so how can she explain to her passionate husband that sexual intimacy feels uncomfortable at best, unbearable at worst? Without help, she deflects, ignores, and buries the issue deep inside, but denial may cost her a stable marriage. Between run-ins with the law, a dysfunctional family member, and toxic workplace conflicts, her yearning to truly yearn seems impossible.
When sex isn’t sexy and heat in the bedroom is just a hot flash, menopause might be closing in. But nobody should suffer without support. In The Marriage Debt, Christina Consolino confronts the emotional and relational imbalances that often accompany this stage of life. Nika is snarky, intelligent, decisive, and fiercely loyal, a woman who has had to fight for everything she has. But beneath her sharp wit lies deep stubbornness and a tendency to bottle things up until they erupt in frustration. Trauma vignettes inserted between chapters help to establish Nika’s past and offer glimpses into her current state of mind. These formative memories influence her present struggles, but also hinder her progress. Audiences will feel the sting as she distances herself from her devoted husband, shutting him out of problems, while lashing out at everyone around her. Though the novel focuses on the emotional burden of sexual obligation, Nika’s dramatic family and career challenges will resonate broadly. Awkward moments and painfully relatable scenes capture shared experiences and forge a connection between readers and Nika as she slowly opens up. The novel doesn’t just tell her story; it validates the unspoken tensions of marriage, modern life, and personal transformation, inviting readers to address issues often dismissed. Highlighting an overlooked reality frequently shaped by shame, stigma, minimization, and ignorance, The Marriage Debt reads like an anthem for those navigating intimacy and mid-life change.
