My Coney Island Baby: A Novel

For the past twenty-five years, Michael and Caitlin have been cheating on their respective spouses. They met in a bar: Michael, watching his marriage deteriorate after the death of his very young child; Caitlin, a writer who has found overall happiness and financial security in a marriage that fails to excite her passions and nurture her dreams. The two have met once a month for decades now, always at Coney Island, where they get a few hours to enjoy one another and nurture a deep love. But now changes loom, as Michael’s wife battles cancer and Caitlin’s husband faces a promotion that would move them far away.

It’s tempting to write My Coney Island Baby off from the start, a story of two faithless spouses who aren’t particularly invested in saving their own marriages but instead devote their energy into maintaining a long-term affair. However, Caitlin and Michael’s story, like so much of life, isn’t black and white, and no matter how much some readers may disagree with their decisions, there’s no denying that there is also beauty in their love story. Author Billy O’Callaghan does a masterful job telling their story, switching back and forth between their viewpoints and delving into their respective histories, all to give readers a nuanced look at a complex story. His writing style isn’t for everyone, however, as he tends toward long descriptions that border on rambling and paragraphs that span multiple pages. This is no quick read, but one that requires a lot of thought and the reader’s full attention.