A review by alexandriaslibrary
Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott

emotional funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A new all-time favorite!! I am so grateful for McNallys for republishing this classic, and for Ursula Parrott to document the experiences of a modern woman nearly 100 years ago. 

Patricia, 24, finds herself alone after her husband decides their progressive marriage is /too/ much for him. She now must learn what it means to be an Ex-Wife (her and her crew of divorcees muse “An ex-wife is a young woman for whom the eternity promised in the marriage ceremony is reduced to three years or five or eight.”)

So charming, charismatic, and heartbreaking, Patricia is a beacon in the canon of “Sad Girl Lit”. 

The ending stirred similar emotions as “My Antonia” did (another all-time fav) and I ended up crying at the end. Brilliant til the end, what a gem