'The Divorce Party' is the story of beginnings and endings and how we as human beings choose to navigate our lives. Gwyn Huntington is ending her marriage of thirty five years to her husband Thomas and is throwing a large party as a symbol of their compatible separation. They have grown apart over the years and have come to this decision. Their son Nate, a chef is engaged to a young food writer Maggie who they will be meeting for the first time at this party. As Maggie and Nate travel to the parents house Nate drops a bombshell surprise on Maggie that throws her very much off balance and raises doubts for her about their relationship. There is love between each couple but with so many secrets between them all it takes much introspection for them to move forward with love and life. The writing is lovely and clean. The characters are interesting and well drawn. I very much enjoyed their respective life journeys. Highly recommended. ( )

Engaging beach read with some substance. ( )

I enojoyed The Divorce Party. It was a quick read and the characters were funny and believable. I'd love to read something else by Laura Dave. ( )

This book gives “Meet the Parents” a new twist.

Gwyn Huntington has been married 35 years to the day and she’s having a divorce party… for herself. Her husband Thomas has claimed he is found religion and wants to move on, but she knows the real truth. What will Thomas do when she reveals her surprise?

Maggie MacKenzie is engaged to Nate Huntington and they are planning to scrape enough money together to open a restaurant. As if that isn’t enough she is meeting her future in-laws at their divorce party. She isn’t thrilled. Even more surprising is that Nate has just told her that he is wealthy. Unfortunately, Nate has another surprise in store. Can she forgive and forget? Can she trust him again?

Georgia is Nate’s very pregnant unwed sister and her wayward boyfriend, Denis, is a no-show at the party. Will he be there to support Georgia, or will he continue to be the ne’er do well in Georgia’s parents’ eyes?

It is written in Gwyn and Maggie's words which are full of anger, humor, regret and hope. It is a good read for everyone and I read that Universal Studios has bought the movie rights.

Thanks to Laura Dave and FSB Associates for sharing her book with me to review. ( )

I enjoyed this book. It was about two different women, each at different ends of their marriage. Gwyn and her husband of 30 some years are getting divorced and throwing a divorce party. And Maggie is with Nate, Gwyn's son. So Maggie and Gwyn know each other because of Gwyn's son. It was sad at some points in the book. Like when Gwyn is having doubts on if she is still in love with her husband, then she finds out what he is really doing, when he said that he was at Buddhism classes. And Nate is hiding an even bigger secret from Maggie, when she finds out she is upset and hurt that he could keep that big of a secret from her.
I really liked this book, I think I connected more with Maggie. Probably because she is more of my age so I can kind of see where she is coming from. But both women struggle through the book, you can't help but feel sorry for them and want them to both be happy. I was hoping for a better ending for Gwyn. But the way the book ended made it seem like she is happy in her own way. ( )