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2.98 AVERAGE
2.98 AVERAGE
This was a painful book to listen to. It tried to be funny, too much so - it seemed very forced. I didn't want to stop listening for the hope that it would get better. Not really. Things just kind of happened to her and she seemed bewildered by it. It didn't flow very well.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Abigail's family disintegrates when her husband, Thad, decides that the marriage no longer works. She ends up taking her baby and staying with her parents until she sorts out what she's going to do. Having acknowledged that she's a bit overweight, she resolves to lose some weight using a new diet book that seems to come with an imaginary diet guru. As well as her weight loss she must contemplate getting back into the workforce and dealing with the fact that her husband has moved on with his new girlfriend.
I was really looking forward to a guilty pleasure, fluffy, chick lit read, unfortunately that's not what I got. My biggest problem with the book was the main character, Abigail. For about 95% of the read I found her irritating. She complains about her husband's lifestyle, that he likes the finer things in life, but was happy to go along with it when they were married.
The support she receives from other people after she separates from her husband, is never really appreciated. Del, the babysitter, is used as a sound board for Abigail to complain to and when she finds out that Del's partner is another woman, she brings up that it doesn't matter as long as she's good with the baby, as though being a lesbian is come sort of character flaw. She also thinks of telling her father about Del's sexuality, but only so that she can make him uncomfortable. Really!! Del seems to provide lots of non judgemental advice to Abigail, listening to endless discussion about Thad but hardly ever being asked how she her life is going.
Abigail's parents also seem to be willing to help as much as possible whilst asking for nothing in return but Abigail seems to be ungrateful for the type of support they provide and strops around her parent's house like a teenager.
It takes until around 75% in the book before Abigail starts to get herself together and by then it was difficult to really care how things were going to end for her.
I thought the book was going to be largely around her diet and this invisible guru, but it wasn't really used consistently and the invisible guru just seemed sort of tacked on and not a regular feature of the novel.
The humour in this didn't gel for me either, although I managed to get through the 60% fairly quickly I was glad when it was finished as it was dragging on and getting repetitive.
A quick but disappointing read.
Abigail's family disintegrates when her husband, Thad, decides that the marriage no longer works. She ends up taking her baby and staying with her parents until she sorts out what she's going to do. Having acknowledged that she's a bit overweight, she resolves to lose some weight using a new diet book that seems to come with an imaginary diet guru. As well as her weight loss she must contemplate getting back into the workforce and dealing with the fact that her husband has moved on with his new girlfriend.
I was really looking forward to a guilty pleasure, fluffy, chick lit read, unfortunately that's not what I got. My biggest problem with the book was the main character, Abigail. For about 95% of the read I found her irritating. She complains about her husband's lifestyle, that he likes the finer things in life, but was happy to go along with it when they were married.
The support she receives from other people after she separates from her husband, is never really appreciated. Del, the babysitter, is used as a sound board for Abigail to complain to and when she finds out that Del's partner is another woman, she brings up that it doesn't matter as long as she's good with the baby, as though being a lesbian is come sort of character flaw. She also thinks of telling her father about Del's sexuality, but only so that she can make him uncomfortable. Really!! Del seems to provide lots of non judgemental advice to Abigail, listening to endless discussion about Thad but hardly ever being asked how she her life is going.
Abigail's parents also seem to be willing to help as much as possible whilst asking for nothing in return but Abigail seems to be ungrateful for the type of support they provide and strops around her parent's house like a teenager.
It takes until around 75% in the book before Abigail starts to get herself together and by then it was difficult to really care how things were going to end for her.
I thought the book was going to be largely around her diet and this invisible guru, but it wasn't really used consistently and the invisible guru just seemed sort of tacked on and not a regular feature of the novel.
The humour in this didn't gel for me either, although I managed to get through the 60% fairly quickly I was glad when it was finished as it was dragging on and getting repetitive.
A quick but disappointing read.
Reviewed for RT Book Reviews January 2015 issue: http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/divorce-diet
It is a good thing that the infant, in this story, is fictional as her mother would have compromised her health with all of the alcohol she consumed while nursing the baby. Also, I may have had my fill of women who are unwilling or unable to pull themselves together after the defection of a SO.
She compares herself to a 15 year o,d and proceeds to behave like an irresponsible 15 year old. I did not find o
Her to be engaging just vacuous and immature. I breastfed my children, so I may have been bothered by how little nutrition she was breastfeeding this poor baby, we read about all of the stupid empty calorie foods she eats while drinking wine. Fine if you want to do that but then the author should not have included breastfeeding as an important component of the plot.
She compares herself to a 15 year o,d and proceeds to behave like an irresponsible 15 year old. I did not find o
Her to be engaging just vacuous and immature. I breastfed my children, so I may have been bothered by how little nutrition she was breastfeeding this poor baby, we read about all of the stupid empty calorie foods she eats while drinking wine. Fine if you want to do that but then the author should not have included breastfeeding as an important component of the plot.
Ellen Hawley provides a story with both heartbreak and humor. Loved it.
The cover drew me in
And Abigail kept me there. I had to stick with her to figure out what choices she would make and I was happy to see that she figured out she had choices all along.
And Abigail kept me there. I had to stick with her to figure out what choices she would make and I was happy to see that she figured out she had choices all along.
This is a sassy, stream of consciousness story with cooking and recipes added in -- honestly, what's not to like?
A very special thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Divorce Diet by Ellen Hawley is a fiercely honest, hip, and edgy account of one woman’s journey of marriage, and motherhood to—life after divorce, dieting, single motherhood, survival, and search for an inspiring career; A reinvention--embracing life’s messiness, with hilarious wit and humor!
Abigail loves cooking, being a mother, and her husband, Thad—until one day when Thad decides this life is not for him (wife and daughter, not included). She previously left her job (cooking) years prior, to be a stay-at-home mom. Now she finds herself back at home, living with her mom and dad in a crappy room, (she said she would never come back), as she desperately wanted a different life. A better life.
Now she does not even have her own her possessions, she is jobless, no real job skills, no money or a future she can see, and worst of all, she finds herself overweight. And her husband’s new girlfriend is sleeping on her beloved down pillow!
This is not the life she wanted, or signed up for. Where did it all go wrong, and how did she arrive at this point in her life? She has no motivation, nor encouragement to be skinny and handle all of the above stresses at the same time. What if her husband would want her back?
As readers go on this heartbreaking journey with Abigail and baby Rosie (with the help of her imaginary friend and diet guru), she stumbles through her day, sharing with readers, her daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and exercise plan tidbits (which does not include a lot of exercise, plenty of animal crackers, pop tarts, and lots and lots of coffee).
As she begins to create her new life, she feels she is fighting a losing battle and sees no way out of this hole; with loser jobs, crappy people, no supportive group, and an uncooperative selfish cheating husband who does not want to pay child support, and to boot has to deal with his new girlfriend thrown in her face.
Until she reaches bottom, and digs down a little further to decide she can create her own life, climb out of this hole without the help of a man, and without dead end boring and uninspiring jobs. She begins to make a list of what she wants to do on her own. She knows how to be sarcastic, funny, write, and cook. So how can she put all these together, make money, and do what she loves best to reinvent herself and enjoy her new freedom with her daughter? After all, was her life really all that grand before? So what has she really lost, and what has she gained?
This was my first book by Ellen Hawley and cannot wait to read more! Think Ellen Lee DeGeneres comedian, wit, humor, sweet revenge, new attitude, The Food Channel, a food column, gourmet cooking, recipes, insights, plus some wise life lessons for a dazzling do-over—Your Life Journey.
If you have ever been on a diet, divorced, and jobless (haven’t we all)….this poignant diary like story, mixed with humor The Divorce Diet is for you—leaving you smiling, inspired, and satisfied.
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
The Divorce Diet by Ellen Hawley is a fiercely honest, hip, and edgy account of one woman’s journey of marriage, and motherhood to—life after divorce, dieting, single motherhood, survival, and search for an inspiring career; A reinvention--embracing life’s messiness, with hilarious wit and humor!
Abigail loves cooking, being a mother, and her husband, Thad—until one day when Thad decides this life is not for him (wife and daughter, not included). She previously left her job (cooking) years prior, to be a stay-at-home mom. Now she finds herself back at home, living with her mom and dad in a crappy room, (she said she would never come back), as she desperately wanted a different life. A better life.
Now she does not even have her own her possessions, she is jobless, no real job skills, no money or a future she can see, and worst of all, she finds herself overweight. And her husband’s new girlfriend is sleeping on her beloved down pillow!
This is not the life she wanted, or signed up for. Where did it all go wrong, and how did she arrive at this point in her life? She has no motivation, nor encouragement to be skinny and handle all of the above stresses at the same time. What if her husband would want her back?
As readers go on this heartbreaking journey with Abigail and baby Rosie (with the help of her imaginary friend and diet guru), she stumbles through her day, sharing with readers, her daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and exercise plan tidbits (which does not include a lot of exercise, plenty of animal crackers, pop tarts, and lots and lots of coffee).
As she begins to create her new life, she feels she is fighting a losing battle and sees no way out of this hole; with loser jobs, crappy people, no supportive group, and an uncooperative selfish cheating husband who does not want to pay child support, and to boot has to deal with his new girlfriend thrown in her face.
Until she reaches bottom, and digs down a little further to decide she can create her own life, climb out of this hole without the help of a man, and without dead end boring and uninspiring jobs. She begins to make a list of what she wants to do on her own. She knows how to be sarcastic, funny, write, and cook. So how can she put all these together, make money, and do what she loves best to reinvent herself and enjoy her new freedom with her daughter? After all, was her life really all that grand before? So what has she really lost, and what has she gained?
This was my first book by Ellen Hawley and cannot wait to read more! Think Ellen Lee DeGeneres comedian, wit, humor, sweet revenge, new attitude, The Food Channel, a food column, gourmet cooking, recipes, insights, plus some wise life lessons for a dazzling do-over—Your Life Journey.
Loved the quote: “I don’t even know what I did wrong, I say. “He’s having an affair,” she says. He’s not that kind of man.” “Does he have a penis?” He does. I admit he does. “Then he’s that kind of man.”
If you have ever been on a diet, divorced, and jobless (haven’t we all)….this poignant diary like story, mixed with humor The Divorce Diet is for you—leaving you smiling, inspired, and satisfied.
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
Cute. Not as funny as I thought it was going to be based on the blurb and reviews. Still a good chicklit book for the younger but more experienced and world-weary woman.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
I'm sorry I didn't get this book. I expected humour, not a lot just some and I got barely any and not enough to deal with the emotions behind what was going on.
I have never been divorced - I need to get married to do that I suppose. I don't plan to get divorced (but who does) and so I think maybe this book doesn't fit me as the ideal reader. If I had been divorced (happily) I may see the funny side of what happens. Instead I feel sad and so so so scared.
I have never been divorced - I need to get married to do that I suppose. I don't plan to get divorced (but who does) and so I think maybe this book doesn't fit me as the ideal reader. If I had been divorced (happily) I may see the funny side of what happens. Instead I feel sad and so so so scared.