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First Impression: A refreshing and realistic romcom that provides a barrel of laughs and then some.

Divorced (not dead) book cover

Divorced (not Dead) by Harper Ford already came with a catchy title that had me intrigued. One read through of the blurb convinced me that this was a book not to be missed. With a high bar set, I am pleased to tell you, Ford’s creative writing did not disappoint.

i received this book as a courtesy of Netgalley. It is with great gratitude for their generosity that I am able to bring you this review.

Frankie Brumby finds her life tipped upside down and absolutely pooped on when she decides enough is enough and calls time on her marriage. Taking a leap of face, she buys a niche shop and moves into a pokey little flat, blowing all her savings. Egged on by her best friend and son, Frankie decides to learn how to date again, some twenty years after settling down with her husband. Times have changed and navigating the new world of dating apps and a string of men proves to be an illuminating experience for both Frankie and I.

It was a joy watching Frankie’s character grow from a naive woman full of regret, to a confident woman with newfound friends, a business, and an opportunity to discover what love really is and how it should feel when you meet someone deserving of your time, even if they are not the ‘one’. Her character was well written, as were all the characters in the book, both primary and supporting, which is a rare experience in fiction. Everyone had their own distinct voice that I’m certain would be identifiable even without setting who was speaking at the time.

Watching unsuccessful dates unfold was both comical and heartbreaking at the same time because it was hard not to root for such a lovable, transparent person. It was also interesting reading about different labels relating to gender and sexuality, which gave the book a modern tone. This was essential given it is said post covid.

Several subplots competed for attention including seeing other characters and their love lives and a mother dealing with postpartum depression. Each was entwined within the main story beautifully and helped the momentum of the book. It also served as a vehicle to lead characters into conversations that might not have been had.

All in all, the book was fresh, novel and had a large dose of fun, frolics and escapades that kept the page turning. It contains a lot of swearing, too much to keep track of, and for this reason, the book is suitable for adults only. Women, in general, would love this book. There are several strong, independent female characters that don’t submit because that’s what society expects of them, and so they are seen as positive role models. The only sore point was the errors, which I hope will be ironed out by the next print run. There were several instances, particularly toward the end of the book, where there was no space between a period and the start of the next sentence, and an instance where a sentence failed to make sense because it was missing a word. Mark my words, this is an author to watch out for in the future.

Quick Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/ R-Rated

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