About the Book
In this humorously touching novel by the critically acclaimed author of Degrees of Love, a woman’s limits of love and forgiveness are tested when her high school sweetheart blindsides her with a divorce after eighteen years of marriage.
At sixteen, Kimberly Kirby thought the only thing she needed to be perfectly happy was to spend the rest of her life with Jay Braxton. Twenty years later, she still believes it. As they proudly watch their daughter, Haley, graduate from high school, she imagines her life is as perfect as anyone could reasonably expect. Jay is a formidable attorney, she a freelance writer, and their love as strong as ever. With Haley heading to UC Berkeley in the fall, Kimberly fantasizes about making love on the kitchen table. She has no clue that Jay’s bags are already packed.
Now divorced and determined to squelch her love for Jay, she accepts a gig writing a sex and dating blog for divorcees. As the Virgin Dater, she is on the hunt for love. No-strings-attached nights with a sexy fireman and moving to San Francisco are just what she needs to boost her battered ego and mend her shattered heart.
But just as she falls for a talented young chef, Jay fights to win her back. Torn between their shared history and her bold new life, she questions if there is too much to forgive. The ten thousand I love yous that had passed Jay’s lips can’t be dismissed, but nor can her newfound freedom and the knowledge that her happiness doesn’t depend on Jay.
My Review
From reading the synopsis I felt I would be able to relate a lot to Kimberly and her going through a divorce after so many years, so I accepted the review request and did indeed feel that instant connection. I am now single after fifteen years with my ex; Kimberly was married to her high school sweetheart for eighteen and they just watched their daughter graduate high school. Believing they are now moving into the empty-nester stage and getting to do more one on one together, Kimberly is blindsided when Jay announces he wants more from life, doesn’t love her anymore and leaves their family home. When Kimberly starts to get into the dating scene – and have a few wild nights, again, pretty relatable to a fresh divorcee – I started to feel hope that she would be able to find someone who really respects her and wouldn’t discard her like Jay would.
I don’t want to give away any spoilers, as there were quite a few twists and turns in here. While I didn’t love every single decision Kimberly made, I could understand where a lot of it was coming from and easily empathized with her and the struggle she was going through to find herself again with a partner no longer by her side. The ending I didn’t so much love and was a little let down by, though I know every relationship is different and sometimes we do crazy things for those we love. I still enjoyed the book, though if Kimberly was real, I could easily imagine her being let down again after the book was closed.
4 stars
