When a marriage ends abruptly after just six months, the shock can be profound. This was the reality for journalist Eve Simmons, whose husband unexpectedly asked for a divorce, leaving her to piece together what went wrong in the wake of what seemed a perfect union.
The Sudden End of a 'Unbreakable' Bond
Eve Simmons and her husband had celebrated a deeply emotional wedding in front of their guests, detailing a nine-year relationship that had weathered mental health struggles, including an eating disorder that led to hospitalisation. They spoke of an unbreakable bond forged through shared challenges. Following a blissful honeymoon in Italy and the decision to start a family, the future seemed decided.
However, six months after the wedding, her new husband announced out of the blue that marriage was not for him. With little explanation, Simmons was left to retrace the steps of their relationship over subsequent years, using her journalistic skills to seek answers from psychologists, lawyers, and other women with similar experiences.
The Common Patterns of a 'Blindsiding' Breakup
Simmons discovered her experience was far from unique. London-based divorce lawyer Aina Khan OBE confirmed it is a known phenomenon, where couples appear happy for years, marry, and then one partner rapidly changes their mind.
Simmons has compiled her two-year investigation into a book, 'What She Did Next', published by Dialogue Books on 8 January 2026. It documents the stories of 16 women and two men who endured similar world-shattering splits, exploring what went wrong and how they rebuilt their lives.
Key Warning Signs That Were Missed
In hindsight, Simmons identified several glaring red flags in the months leading to the breakup. The first was a quiet withdrawal from her family. Her ex-husband, once endlessly helpful to her widowed mother, became impatient and rude, a sign Simmons now sees as him checking out of the relationship entirely.
A critical conversation two weeks before the end revealed he felt ignored and dismissed, claiming he sought affirmation from work colleagues. One of these colleagues, Simmons later learned, was the woman he developed feelings for, which propelled him to end the marriage.
Other signs included what she terms a 'glow up' – a series of life improvements in the lead-up to the split. Her ex acquired new skills, got a high-paying job, and lost weight. Similar patterns were echoed by other women, like Alice, a 34-year-old solicitor whose husband left after a fancy promotion surrounded by young female admirers.
Many blindsided partners reported their ex citing mental health struggles to explain detachment. Interior designer Zoë endured a year of her husband's supposed 'depression', which later turned out to be an eight-month affair with a colleague.
A change in communication was another tell-tale sign. For Simmons, it was the end of routine check-in messages. His returns home became later, with no explanation, while she battled anxiety. Finally, a lack of physical affection and cruel rejections of intimacy became a final, painful indicator.
Life After the Blindsiding
Three years on, Simmons states she no longer settles for anything less than feeling adored. Her research concludes that those who experience these shocking breakups often emerge far better off. The stories in her book serve as both a cautionary guide to the warning signs and a testament to the resilience required to begin again.
