Literary Executive Review: Juliet Barriffe, “Within My Eyes: The Embrace”
by ReadersMagnet | October 27, 2025 | Literary Executive Review | 0 Comments
I am always fascinated by books that do not neatly fit into a certain category. That is what was going through my mind as I read Juliet Barriffe’s book, Within My Eyes: The Embrace.
The back description and the cover seem to imply it’s a dramatic and really complex love story with implicit themes about infidelity. However, the prologue also reveals that this is a story of faith.
That is quite a lot to digest in just the first few pages! There are still a lot of people with the mindset that writing a story about faith should be clean. I have to applaud this author for really taking the brave step towards writing a story that has all the allure of a mature romance, but still has a message of faith in the end.
An Author Who Has Really Poured Out Her Feelings (and Faith)
Speaking of which, here are some things to know about Juliet Barriffe. She is already the author of a few other books, including a book of poetry. I’ve taken a quick look through some of them as well, and I can see that she really puts her faith front and center while also being a very creative soul.
That is another thing that I noticed as I read through Within My Eyes. Juliet really strives to imbue the readers with emotion as they keep reading along.
And by emotion, I mean a really broad spectrum, whether it is passion and joy, as well as anger and sadness. All the while, you also get that distinct sort of feeling that only an experience of faith can give. That is how broad the emotions were when we went through this rollercoaster of a romance.
A Vivid Picture of Real Marriage Struggles
The details of the story are really where this book shines, so it is best that I do not spoil it. That said, the overall plot of Within My Eyes follows a married couple on the verge of estrangement. There is a peculiar transition from a first person to a third person as the story progresses.
In the first chapter, we see the story through the eyes of Joanna Montgomery. There is a reflective flow of thought here as she talks about the sad decline of her marriage to her husband, Robert. It follows the often-trod plot of a marriage changing because Joanna had unplanned kids.
Naturally, this led to Robert needing to work harder and having to travel farther. Joanna reminisces over their time when they were a young couple. The chapter goes into a little more detail about how fun and free things were before the pregnancy.
But even though she longs for her younger days, it is interesting that she does not lay the blame on the children. That is always a positive sign.
In fact, it is very interesting that, instead, it sets up Joanna to fall for a younger man named Jerry. Jerry seems to represent the sort of youth that Robert has lost, yet it is not drained by Joanna being a mother.
Of course, the story doubles down even further as the story makes the peculiar switch from Joanna’s first-person to a third-person covering all the other characters.
Robert, in particular, adds more to the picture. While he was definitely forced to spend more time away from his wife and home, we see that he is remarkably upstart.
He plays a very dutiful role as the father of his two daughters whenever he gets the chance to go home. He is the head of a fairly successful company, and he certainly has had quick brushes with a lot of vices (such as partying, drinking, and bad company). But despite that, discipline won out.
The catch, though, is that a lot of it has to do with his own growing closeness to his secretary, Peggy.
This is another little surprise with this novel. It covers the journeys of not just the estranging couple, but also the other people involved with them. Many parts of the book are also dedicated to sharing Peggy’s own struggles (particularly her eventual pregnancy). There is really a lot of dramatic twists and turns to follow, giving much to fans of very complex romances. A lot of the characters are highly dynamic, each with their own struggles, expectations, and confrontations about how relationships should be.
And in terms of the scenes and the emotions in each one, there is a very detailed portrait of how Joanna and Robert’s marriage falls apart. It is certainly not a very desirable situation for a lot of people, but many of these things do happen in a lot of failed relationships.
The good news, though, is literally the good news of faith.
A Slow, Painted Journey Towards Faith and Reconciliation
The book really has a lot going on in terms of events, so I really cannot even share everything that happens if I tried.
Still, the very elements that color the story of the book’s broken marriage are also coloring the journey of how things are still resolved, even when Joanna and Robert separate.
What is impressive is the way that the book gradually introduces faith to both Joanna and Robert. Much like the decline of a marriage, this slow walk towards reconciliation, redemption, and faith is also very in line with reality.
Many people definitely think it is cliché to have stories of overnight conversions or the so-called “Road to Damascus Moment.” This book does more justice by showing the characters having small encounters with others that point them towards God. Readers get an inside look into the workings of their hearts and minds, just as they did when Joanna and Robert were torn about their love life.
There is a lot of stumbling and hesitation at first. But as the two process their separation, face the prospect of new relationships, and then even the prospect of being on good terms with each other, their embrace of faith gently guides them along.
In a way, this seems to be very definitive of the author’s style. I am getting the sense of someone who has really developed herself spiritually and is letting her creative talents show.
An Interesting Pick for Those Trying to Rediscover God
At this point, I think this book really falls into a very good niche. Divorce and separation are subject matters that are very heavy and difficult for a lot of Christian readers. On the other hand, the author does a very dedicated job showing how love and grace ultimately heal all the wounds.
I can see this appealing greatly to readers who don’t hesitate to tackle such topics (or may have even experienced them more directly) while also finding a message of hope. The story of Joanna and Robert is truly a multi-layered one, with each page delving deeper into the conflicting thoughts that mirror those of many people struggling in marriage.
Yet towards the end, it beautifully transforms both their inner and outer dialogue as they make peace with separation while rebuilding their lives on very positive terms.
The book’s cover even emphasizes that further, with very prompt words floating around a person’s eye. It is like readers are glimpsing into the long journey of the characters, with all the thoughts and feelings they experience along the way.
This is a story that will greatly appeal to people openly tackling the difficulties of love while still having a strong, spiritual sense to make room for faith’s saving grace.Want to really dive into the gripping drama of Within My Eyes: The Embrace? The book is already available at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble! You can also check out Juliet Barriffe’s other books on her website at https://www.jsbarriffebooks.com/.
