Generation Ex: Tales from the Second Wives Club

Rating:
Summary: Don't read this book if you're happily married
Review: For all this book was touted as a look at divorce and life with exes, it was really just "Karen Karbo's personal life." Whenever she had a chance to expand her scope, she ruthlessly restricted it. When she had a chance to discuss issues on a broader level, she brought them back to the personal. And what a peach of a personal life it is, too. I've never felt quite so soiled by a book. Perhaps it's a sign of her power as a writer, but by the end of the book I was questioning my own very happy marriage. So now I'm warning everybody I know about this book. If you're happily married, and you don't really want to look for reasons to contemplate what divorced life would be like, just stay away.

Rating:
Summary: Too much like my own life!!!
Review: Karbo has drawn a funny vision of her boyfriend's ex-wife Claudia, but what is more surprising is that her pity for Claudia comes through clearly. Here is a woman who is a disaster at everything from raising goats to letting go of her ex, a woman who thinks harassment is just another way to say she cares, but still Karbo feels sorry for Claudia. It is clear her frustration with the situation is not aimed at Claudia so much as it is aimed at her boyfriend who refuses to take a stand and tell Claudia that breaking and entering to cut up underwear does nothing to endear her to him.

I love this book. I am a second wife and a stepmom and have had many of the same experiences, although my husband's ex doesn't break into our house when she feels like she is being ignored. She just sends us a death threat via email. ;-)

Rating:
Summary: A breath of fresh air!!!
Review: This book was exactly what I needed! The author did an exceptional job at writing this book to be "laugh out loud funny", and is written in such a way that you can't help but put all of the frustrating things about your boyfriend/spouse's Ex into perspective. I'm sure that in the future, instead of allowing myself to become upset and stressed with my new man's reports of the latest phone call from his Ex, I will instead recall the chapter in Karen's book where she describes and labels the different types of phone calls that one can receive from the Ex. The description of the "Going Mental, F*** You Division" call is my absolute favorite.

This book is a must read for anyone involved in the circle of Ex's - and will definitely be a re-read for me! Offers a great perspective into all of those annoying, frustrating, and stressful situations that you will no doubt encounter at some point.

Warning: if you are one of those types who has no sense of humor and can only recognize all of the pain and suffering involved in divorce situations, this book is NOT for you. If, however, you're ready and willing to accept things as they are and "move on", this book will be exactly what you've been looking for!