Review by Booklist Review
As editor of the Her Turn column of a DC newspaper, Liz is responsible for sifting through painful piles of personal essays about mothers and pets, deciding which should see the light of day. One day, Liz receives a submission from Nicole in Seattle, who has penned a piece about the stresses of planning and executing Christmas with a festivities-reluctant partner. Nicole in Seattle is Liz's ex-husband's new wife. Liz is sent into a tizzy. Suddenly, she's able to play redemption and revenge through her anonymous editing power. Her literary judgement becomes increasingly graceless. Her friends and college-age son are alarmed by her erratic behavior on the page, and in her personal life, but they don't know the half of it, like how Liz has been publicly courting poets, but secretly bedding her married boss. Her choices are hypocritical, petty, and so cathartic to read. This portrait of a contemporary woman (set firmly in 2015) is a striking analysis of journalism, adultery, divorce, parenting teenagers, and caring for elderly parents; perfect for fans of Emma Straub.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Ashenburg's gratifying latest (after Sofie & Cecilia) follows a journalist who starts a dubious friendship with her ex-husband's wife. On the surface, Liz appears to be doing well: she has a close relationship with her adult son, Peter, and edits the popular "My Turn" column at a prestigious Washington, D.C., newspaper. However, her life is rattled when Nicole, the woman her ex-husband Sidney left her for 10 years earlier, submits an essay about her married life to "My Turn" without knowing Liz is the column's editor. Liz, posing as another editor, begins an ethically questionable email correspondence with Nicole to find out more about her life with Sidney. As the communications continue, Liz wonders why she tends to push away eligible suitors in favor of pursuing emotionless affairs with her married boss or the narcissistic poet she's entangled with. With her life unraveling, Liz realizes her inability to move past Sidney's betrayal threatens both her romantic relationships and her connection with Peter, who distances himself from Liz once he realizes the extent of her resentment of his father. Liz lands as a strong character with complex motivations and a believable personal evolution who transcends the often caricatured figure of the jilted ex-wife. With its fruitful examination of betrayal and forgiveness, Ashenburg's engrossing latest should appeal to fans of Nora Ephron. (Aug.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A journalist and single mom unexpectedly connects with her ex-husband's new wife and begins a duplicitous friendship. Liz, a journalist in her late 40s, has built a pretty amazing life out of the ashes her husband created years ago when he left her for another woman. She's moved on with her life, becoming the editor of a national newspaper column called "My Turn," in which regular people share their touching and hilarious personal stories. She has a healthy social life, goes on lots of dates, and maintains a close relationship with her college student son. On the outside, everything looks great…but secretly, Liz's life is a bit messy. She's sleeping with her married boss, Seamus, despite the fact that she still can't quite get over how her own husband betrayed her in a similar fashion. And then one day, she gets a "My Turn" submission from a familiar name--it's Nicole Szabo, otherwise known as her ex's current wife and the reason Liz's family was torn apart. Without revealing her identity, Liz corresponds with Nicole, making editorial changes while also slyly finding out details about Nicole's marriage (and even offering some advice). Liz knows that what she's doing with Nicole and Seamus is wrong, and she tries to fix things by buying tons of self-help books with titles like Forgiveness Is a Gift You Give Yourself. But books alone can't solve her problems, and Liz's inability to open up to the people in her life makes her push everyone away--including friends, potential romantic prospects, and her son. When Liz reaches a breaking point, can she truly put the past behind her so she can focus on the life in front of her? Ashenburg writes candidly about a complex character who's allowed to screw up in big ways. Liz is never shamed for wanting love, sex, or companionship, although she often goes about it the wrong way. None of the characters are written off as easy "bad guys," not even Liz's ex-husband or his new wife. Many of Liz's misadventures on her journey are comically cringeworthy, such as a visit to a "cuddle party" or the dates with a poet who won't stop talking about his bowels. A look at betrayal and forgiveness that nicely balances humor and depth. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
