Welcome to Litsy!

I‘m not sure if this is funny or tragic. He‘s returned to Kiribati without his wife and children (apparently they have 2 sons now), having seemingly run away from home after going to rehab for alcoholism (at least he‘s not drinking), and he‘s waxing poetic about how things are just how they were when they left. It‘s funny in its way, but it‘s also heartbreaking. I seriously feel like this is a harbinger of divorce ahead.

(Photo is Hating Game but review is for tagged book, ISRGOWH)
The main PRO of this book: it‘s set in Bath! I went there last summer, so reliving it was dreamy ❤️
Other than that, I was disappointed after loving The Good Part. Premise made it sound like the MC would consider multiple men, but it was VERY obvious from day 1 who the main love interest was. What ensued was a lot of “he‘s perfect, let me invent bogus obstacles,” and I‘m not about that.

This was a well written but hard to read book. I love that the author has her nameless MC say she always wanted to write a book length poem and the book is written in these stanzas that effectively reflect a moment, an idea, but also move the book forward. The MC recounts her 14yr plus relationship with John. And you are right there, living the abuse, almost none of it physical, with the wife. I felt awful. It made me think of friends I‘ve 👇🏼

I‘m halfway through this book and I don‘t know if I can finish it. Has anybody listed to the John Delony Show? I listen because I think as a reader I‘m drawn to the drama but just like this book he has women who call in and ask-I found out my husband was sexting 9 other women and he doesn‘t think it‘s cheating, but we‘ve compromised so that he‘s only sexting 3 now-what should I do? Another woman-My 10yo daughter came home from a play date 👇🏼

I'm really enjoying this year's #ToB! I got myself a mug to commemorate finishing the whole shortlist (as I did in 2023). Today's decision and commentary---between Liars and The Book of George---are particularly interesting, and I enjoyed reading them while enjoying decaf from my official mug.

Anna is divorced and has absolutely no desire to date until she suddenly needs to write a dating column in order to keep her job. When a basic foray back into dating is not fresh enough for the new big boss she agrees to let her kids pick her next few dates and to have her column go head to head with her work nemesis‘s dating column. I had a lot of fun with this story as Anna starts to trust herself and the world again and loved the Bath setting.

Once I started I could not stop reading. I found the story compulsive and kind of suffocating. The husband was so appalling - so self righteous, so unreliable, so unappreciative - I kept thinking “how dare he?”. I was beyond anger and into claustrophobia. While her relationship was outside my experience (and I recognise more than ever how lucky I am in mine) the description of caring for a small child was very relatable. #ToB2025 👇

I read this in a constant state of fury. The story of a woman in a marriage who gives up her career and her sense of self to man who belittles her and refuses to acknowledge her contributions to their lives and his own neglect. My blood was boiling but I couldn‘t look away . I saw so many things in Jane‘s marriage that I have observed in relationships around me. Another book I wouldn‘t have picked up without the #tob25.

This was my #jolabokaflod gift from @LeslieO and I finally got to finish it. I started it on Christmas Eve but didn‘t get far, but when I restarted it in February I finished quickly. I ended up loving Anna and Will plus the premise of the book made it fun getting where the author was leading. I‘ve enjoyed all the Sophie Cousens books I‘ve read so far. She‘s become a real favorite.