A powerfully written debut novel offering an intimate look at one couple’s unconventional marriage that survives against all odds.

Lucy Houston and Mickey Chandler probably shouldn’t have fallen in love, let alone gotten married. They’re both plagued with faulty genes—he has bipolar disorder, and she has a ravaging family history of breast cancer. But when their paths cross on the night of Lucy’s twenty-first birthday, sparks fly, and there’s no denying their chemistry.

Cautious every step of the way, they are determined to make their relationship work—and they put it all in writing.  Mickey promises to take his medication. Lucy promises not to blame him for what is beyond his control. He promises honesty. She promises patience. Like any marriage, they have good days and bad days—and some very bad days. In dealing with their unique challenges, they make the heartbreaking decision not to have children. But when Lucy shows up for a routine physical just shy of their eleventh anniversary, she gets an impossible surprise that changes everything. Everything. Suddenly, all their rules are thrown out the window, and the two of them must redefine what love really is.

An unvarnished portrait of a marriage that is both ordinary and extraordinary, Dancing on Broken Glass takes readers on an unforgettable journey of the heart.

This book has been hanging out on my e-reader for at least three years. When I bought it, I intended to read it immediately, but as is typical with me, I didn’t start it, and then another book came along that I wanted to read more, and – yeah – here we are. I will say that it was well worth the wait!

The story focuses on a couple – Lucy and Mickey – who met at a bar/club years ago on Lucy’s birthday. Lucy was immediately smitten with Mickey, but he kept her at a distance because he had been diagnosed as bipolar, and he remembered what his mother’s diagnosis did to his family. He didn’t want to put anyone through that pain and uncertainty. But Lucy is tenacious and pursues him anyway because she has her own health problems – the women in her family are predisposed to an aggressive form of breast cancer.

Before they know it, the two of them are married and have a list of agreements to keep themselves open, honest, and present in their relationship. One of those agreements is that they will not have children. The couple manages to weather several small storms over the years by sticking to their rules, but then, one day, Lucy finds out she is pregnant, and the couple must decide if this is a rule they are willing to break.

I probably don’t need to tell you that this is a very emotional read. It alternates between the first-person viewpoint of Lucy and letters written over the years by Mickey – many of which are written for therapy or as a way for him to process things after he has come down from a manic state. This helps ground us and gives us a look at the relationship as a whole, which I really appreciated.

Hancock’s writing is beautiful and poignant, capturing the complexities of love and marriage with grace and sensitivity. The characters and what they go through feel real and relatable. Mickey’s mental health struggles and Lucy’s constant health scares would be enough to make any person lose it, but I admired the way they battled through and did their best to rise above. I also really loved the supporting characters – from Lucy’s sisters to Mickey’s therapist and Lucy’s doctors – each played a very significant role, and I loved all of them.

One of the most striking aspects of the novel is how Hancock portrays bipolar disorder. I have a couple of friends and a family member who live with bipolar disorders, and I was amazed at how well Hancock was able to provide a raw and honest look at the struggles that come with the condition, but did it in a very respectful and almost gentle way. Mickey’s journey to manage his disorder is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, and the way Lucy stood by him through his struggles – despite dealing with several of her own – was admirable.

That said, the novel is not so much about the struggles that Lucy and Mickey face but about how they manage these roadblocks together. Their promises to each other show their unwavering dedication to one another, and how they show up for each other – even in the darkest of times – is so sweet.

Overall, this is a story of love, resilience, hope and healing. If you like an emotional read, I would highly recommend this one. It does deal with bipolar disorder and cancer, so if those are triggers for you, then stay away. On the other hand, if you are looking for a book that will both warm your heart and break it, then this is the book for you.

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