This book came to me via an ARC program, and I selected it after reading its intriguing preview.

The Premise

After her husband Tyler unexpectedly leaves her for another woman, Emily suddenly has to cope with a new world of insecurity and instability for her and her young son Dante. Now under the weight of her family’s and friends’ scrutiny — particularly her judgemental mother, she struggles to cope financially, physically and emotionally. Her waitressing job is demanding and pulls her away from Dante, and her parents’ lives also take a dark turn when her father falls ill. Even her longstanding friendships are in jeopardy, as Tyler and his new wife move in some of the same social circles. Amidst all of this, she desperately tries to mend her broken heart, seeking a new relationship even while still mourning her old one and regretting her past choices. Is love still on the cards for Emily?

The Pros

This was a heartfelt and humorous journey of recovery from a broken heart. Emily’s family drama and tense relationship with her mother felt all too real — as women, depending on our mothers to help care for our own children can be fraught with guilt and worry. I was amused by Emily’s passive-aggressive actions to mess with Tyler’s head — another aspect that hit close to home! I loved the relationships with her friends, and how we saw throughout it all that she put Dante first and kept on showing up for him even when she could barely show up for herself.

The dating journey after having endured a heartbreak — and dating while having a young child — was also another great aspect to see included in this novel. I really appreciated how the author showed Emily modelling her actions after self-help guidance from books, and she was able to prioritise her son’s needs and keep him emotionally stable despite the changing world around him. It sends a great message to other women who may be in a similar position — for the child’s welfare, it is important to take the high road even after a crushing betrayal.

The Cons

While the story was about Emily and her journey, and I do love a good women’s fiction that *doesn’t* centre on romance, I found myself wishing at times that there was more of the guy whom she would end up with (as it was obvious to everyone but her, apparently!)… I know, I know… it’s not a romance, so I shouldn’t expect too much of a relationship, but it seemed to be barely even a blip of a friendship before it turned into something huge — I felt like: that escalated quickly! I guess that’s how it happens in real life sometimes too, but it did feel a bit sudden, which was jarring in terms of pacing with the remainder of the novel. I also was hoping for a bit more drama coming down to the end before its climax (maybe a decision she had to make that tugged her in two directions — another man coming back into the picture, or something), but I guess there was more than enough drama in the earlier parts of the book, so perhaps no need to throw that into the mix!

Conclusion

Overall, this was a great novel to read and enjoy a women’s honest and heart-baring journey as she overcame what seemed insurmountable — and what may seem insurmountable to many women, especially in the times we live today. The characters are marvellous and I would love to read even more about Emily and her friends. With witty dialogue, gritty realities, and a woman at the helm of turning her life around, I thoroughly enjoyed this and would highly recommend to other readers, especially young women. I can see this being turned into an amazing film, and there’s more than enough to keep on fleshing out into a series or a sequel.

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