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Ladies' Night
The New York Times bestselling author is back with another page turning beach read about a woman whose life is turned upside down when she discovers her husband cheating on her
Rising media star and lifestyle blogger Grace Stanton's own life gets torpedoed after she drives her cheating husband's pricey sports car straight into the family swimming pool in a fit of anger. Soon she's locked out of her own palatial home, checking account, and blog, forced to move in with her widowed mother who lives above, and owns, The Sandbar, a rundown beach bar. Attending court-mandated weekly "divorce recovery" therapy sessions with a group of three other women, marital misfits whose only common denominator is betrayal, Grace and the women soon ditch their therapist and move their Wednesday "Ladies' Night" sessions to The Sandbox. They begin to help each other, walking a fine line between revenge and justice, as each one finds closure in ways previously unimagined. Can Grace figure out a new way home and how strong she needs to be to get there? Told with Mary Kay Andrews’s unique blend of humor, heart, and unpredictable plot twists, Ladies' Night will have you raising a glass and cheering these characters on.
Rising media star and lifestyle blogger Grace Stanton's own life gets torpedoed after she drives her cheating husband's pricey sports car straight into the family swimming pool in a fit of anger. Soon she's locked out of her own palatial home, checking account, and blog, forced to move in with her widowed mother who lives above, and owns, The Sandbar, a rundown beach bar. Attending court-mandated weekly "divorce recovery" therapy sessions with a group of three other women, marital misfits whose only common denominator is betrayal, Grace and the women soon ditch their therapist and move their Wednesday "Ladies' Night" sessions to The Sandbox. They begin to help each other, walking a fine line between revenge and justice, as each one finds closure in ways previously unimagined. Can Grace figure out a new way home and how strong she needs to be to get there? Told with Mary Kay Andrews’s unique blend of humor, heart, and unpredictable plot twists, Ladies' Night will have you raising a glass and cheering these characters on.
465 pages, ebook
First published June 4, 2013
1340 people are currently reading
14316 people want to read
About the author
Mary Kay Andrews
53 books14.3k followershttps://marykayandrews.com/
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MARY KAY ANDREWS is the New York Times bestselling author of 30 novels (including The Homewreckers, The Santa Suit, The Newcomer; Hello, Summer; Sunset Beach; The High Tide Club; The Weekenders; Beach Town; Save the Date; Ladies’ Night; Christmas Bliss; Spring Fever; Summer Rental; The Fixer Upper; Deep Dish; Blue Christmas; Savannah Breeze; Hissy Fit; Little Bitty Lies; and Savannah Blues), and one cookbook, The Beach House Cookbook.
A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, she earned a B.A. in journalism from The University of Georgia. After a 14-year career working as a reporter at newspapers including The Savannah Morning News, The Marietta Journal, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she spent the final ten years of her career, she left journalism in 1991 to write fiction.
Her first novel, Every Crooked Nanny, was published in 1992 by HarperCollins. She went on to write ten critically acclaimed mysteries under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck. In 2002, she assumed the pen name Mary Kay Andrews with the publication of Savannah Blues. In 2006, Hissy Fit became her first New York Times bestseller, followed by twelve more New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestsellers. To date, her novels have been published in German, Italian, Polish, Slovenian, Hungarian, Dutch, Czech and Japanese.
She and her family divide their time between Atlanta and Tybee Island, GA, where they cook up new recipes in two restored beach homes, The Breeze Inn and Ebbtide—both named after fictional places in Mary Kay’s novels, and both available to rent through Tybee Vacation Rentals. In between cooking, spoiling her grandkids, and plotting her next novel, Mary Kay is an intrepid treasure hunter whose favorite pastime is junking and fixing up old houses.
https://www.facebook.com/marykayandre...
https://www.instagram.com/marykayandr...
MARY KAY ANDREWS is the New York Times bestselling author of 30 novels (including The Homewreckers, The Santa Suit, The Newcomer; Hello, Summer; Sunset Beach; The High Tide Club; The Weekenders; Beach Town; Save the Date; Ladies’ Night; Christmas Bliss; Spring Fever; Summer Rental; The Fixer Upper; Deep Dish; Blue Christmas; Savannah Breeze; Hissy Fit; Little Bitty Lies; and Savannah Blues), and one cookbook, The Beach House Cookbook.
A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, she earned a B.A. in journalism from The University of Georgia. After a 14-year career working as a reporter at newspapers including The Savannah Morning News, The Marietta Journal, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she spent the final ten years of her career, she left journalism in 1991 to write fiction.
Her first novel, Every Crooked Nanny, was published in 1992 by HarperCollins. She went on to write ten critically acclaimed mysteries under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck. In 2002, she assumed the pen name Mary Kay Andrews with the publication of Savannah Blues. In 2006, Hissy Fit became her first New York Times bestseller, followed by twelve more New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestsellers. To date, her novels have been published in German, Italian, Polish, Slovenian, Hungarian, Dutch, Czech and Japanese.
She and her family divide their time between Atlanta and Tybee Island, GA, where they cook up new recipes in two restored beach homes, The Breeze Inn and Ebbtide—both named after fictional places in Mary Kay’s novels, and both available to rent through Tybee Vacation Rentals. In between cooking, spoiling her grandkids, and plotting her next novel, Mary Kay is an intrepid treasure hunter whose favorite pastime is junking and fixing up old houses.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,177 reviews
February 8, 2022
This is a Southern Women's Fiction/Chick Lit. I really love Mary Kay Andrews's books, and this books is no different. I have to say I really did not like the beginning, but the middle and ending was so good. I loved the characters in this book. I listen to the audiobook, and I really liked the audiobook.
July 14, 2013
There are several things I know for sure when it comes to a Mary Kay Andrews’ book…..
* When you think a situation can’t get any worse, it does.
* When things are finally coming together, the other shoe drops and everything goes wrong.
* And when you finish, you’re smiling because all the pieces finally fit together more perfectly than you imaged.
That’s the way of Andrews’ latest release, LADIES’ NIGHT.
Narrator Kathleen McInerney does a wonderful job bringing the characters to life. She vocalizes the characters’ emotions with great emphasis. Her cadence has listeners believing there’s more than one narrator.
Grace Stanton has an ideal life - handsome husband, gorgeous mansion, and a fantastic career as a lifestyle blogger. Then she discovers her husband, Ben, is having an affair with J’Aimee, her assistance. She drives Ben’s expensive sports car into their swimming pool and leaves.
The next thing she knows she can’t return to her home and she has to move in with her mother, Rochelle, over her mom’s bar, The Sandbox. Then her blog, Gracenotes, is hijacked by Ben and J’Aimee and she’s forced to attend divorce therapy for six weeks with four other people facing the same divorce judge.
When the actions of the divorce coach turn a bit odd, the group - including one lone male, Wyatt Keeler - head to The Sandbox for drinks and conversation.
While out running, Grace discovers a charming cottage that needs redecorating and talks the owner into letting her do it. With a new mission and a new blog, Grace begins to reinvent herself. Along the way she and Wyatt begin to connect and find that divorce therapy may not have been so bad after all.
The ups and downs of the group’s members are hilarious with touches of heartbreak thrown in. Andrews makes the characters realistic and likable. Her vivid descriptions places the listener/reader in the middle of the action. Andrews has her characters, and you, going through an array of emotions as she plays out the highs and lows of divorce.
Take a group of enraged soon-to-be exs; add in a rescue dog, a couple of well-meaning parents, a touch of mystery and mayhem; top it off with lots of humor and you have a zany story you won’t be able to let go of until the surprising end.
Andrews has done it again with LADIES’ NIGHT. It’s a fantastic story filled with fun and eclectic characters you won’t want to leave.
FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
* When you think a situation can’t get any worse, it does.
* When things are finally coming together, the other shoe drops and everything goes wrong.
* And when you finish, you’re smiling because all the pieces finally fit together more perfectly than you imaged.
That’s the way of Andrews’ latest release, LADIES’ NIGHT.
Narrator Kathleen McInerney does a wonderful job bringing the characters to life. She vocalizes the characters’ emotions with great emphasis. Her cadence has listeners believing there’s more than one narrator.
Grace Stanton has an ideal life - handsome husband, gorgeous mansion, and a fantastic career as a lifestyle blogger. Then she discovers her husband, Ben, is having an affair with J’Aimee, her assistance. She drives Ben’s expensive sports car into their swimming pool and leaves.
The next thing she knows she can’t return to her home and she has to move in with her mother, Rochelle, over her mom’s bar, The Sandbox. Then her blog, Gracenotes, is hijacked by Ben and J’Aimee and she’s forced to attend divorce therapy for six weeks with four other people facing the same divorce judge.
When the actions of the divorce coach turn a bit odd, the group - including one lone male, Wyatt Keeler - head to The Sandbox for drinks and conversation.
While out running, Grace discovers a charming cottage that needs redecorating and talks the owner into letting her do it. With a new mission and a new blog, Grace begins to reinvent herself. Along the way she and Wyatt begin to connect and find that divorce therapy may not have been so bad after all.
The ups and downs of the group’s members are hilarious with touches of heartbreak thrown in. Andrews makes the characters realistic and likable. Her vivid descriptions places the listener/reader in the middle of the action. Andrews has her characters, and you, going through an array of emotions as she plays out the highs and lows of divorce.
Take a group of enraged soon-to-be exs; add in a rescue dog, a couple of well-meaning parents, a touch of mystery and mayhem; top it off with lots of humor and you have a zany story you won’t be able to let go of until the surprising end.
Andrews has done it again with LADIES’ NIGHT. It’s a fantastic story filled with fun and eclectic characters you won’t want to leave.
FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
June 4, 2013
I started this book on audio and had to switch to the book because it was making me crazy that it was going so slow. Not the story, just listening to it. Once I got the actual book, I really enjoyed the story. My only quibble; for a smart person, the heroine was a bit of a doormat after she caught her hubby Ben "being assisted" by her assistant J’Aime. My aggravation level dropped once she got divorced and had to start rebuilding her life.
Grace loses everything, her husband, blog, and lifestyle after catching her hubby in the act and then destroying his car in a hissy fit (LOL). While she is licking her wounds, he is neatly taking everything away from her and even sabotaging her efforts to recoup her life. She ends up in a touchy feely anger management group with a bunch of other divorced people who had the misfortune of having their cases heard by the same judge. The best part of the story takes place from this point onward as Grace discovers a way to get her self-esteem and even her career back on track. I like that she realizes that she doesn't need all of the expensive and fashionable things which defined her life and even her blog before the divorce. Grace gets back to her essential self and rediscovers the joy in rehabbing a small vintage house not a mcmansion.
She meets Wyatt in her divorce group and they make a real connection after some false starts. He has also been taken for a ride by his ex, but he has a child involved, which makes it worse. The members of the group start to figure out that there is something fishy going on with their so-called therapist and the judge that heard their cases. The ways that the group investigates the situation add some real humor to the book. There are also parts that show just how toxic divorce can really be if the parties don’t work hard to prevent that from happening even after the court hearing is over.
I have to say that Ms. Andrews is a nicer person than I am because I think that Ben and J’Aime don’t suffer enough in the end. But, that is really the lesson that we learn in a divorce. I remember reading in a book something about the anger you keep in your heart leaving less room for love to come in. Grace learns that lesson and is the better person for learning it.
PS… Now that I have read the book, I am going to re-listen to it because the narrator really did a good job. It wasn’t her fault that I was too impatient to wait and enjoy the book.
Grace loses everything, her husband, blog, and lifestyle after catching her hubby in the act and then destroying his car in a hissy fit (LOL). While she is licking her wounds, he is neatly taking everything away from her and even sabotaging her efforts to recoup her life. She ends up in a touchy feely anger management group with a bunch of other divorced people who had the misfortune of having their cases heard by the same judge. The best part of the story takes place from this point onward as Grace discovers a way to get her self-esteem and even her career back on track. I like that she realizes that she doesn't need all of the expensive and fashionable things which defined her life and even her blog before the divorce. Grace gets back to her essential self and rediscovers the joy in rehabbing a small vintage house not a mcmansion.
She meets Wyatt in her divorce group and they make a real connection after some false starts. He has also been taken for a ride by his ex, but he has a child involved, which makes it worse. The members of the group start to figure out that there is something fishy going on with their so-called therapist and the judge that heard their cases. The ways that the group investigates the situation add some real humor to the book. There are also parts that show just how toxic divorce can really be if the parties don’t work hard to prevent that from happening even after the court hearing is over.
I have to say that Ms. Andrews is a nicer person than I am because I think that Ben and J’Aime don’t suffer enough in the end. But, that is really the lesson that we learn in a divorce. I remember reading in a book something about the anger you keep in your heart leaving less room for love to come in. Grace learns that lesson and is the better person for learning it.
PS… Now that I have read the book, I am going to re-listen to it because the narrator really did a good job. It wasn’t her fault that I was too impatient to wait and enjoy the book.
June 17, 2013
As summer approached, I anxiously awaited Mary Kay Andrew's new book "Ladies Night". I spent the last 2 months recovering from knee surgery and, having read all the "Mary Kay Andrews" books, I delved into the Callahan Garrity Series (recently reissued in trade paperback) to get me through until her new book was released. As a university professor, I read a lot....a lot of dull but necessary research and articles. Which is probably why I look forward to immersing myself in Mary Kay's world. For me, this is one of the best to date. She has such a knack for writing about women who tackle real life problems in a supportive environment immersed with humor and subtle encouragement. Having grown up reading Judy Blume and Nancy Drew, it is delightful to find an author that writes a bit of these two genres for grown up women. Without giving away the plot, the characters in this book are women you want to call your friend and women you wouldn't want your worst friend to encounter. Grace goes through a period of self discovery about herself, her family, trusting again, and dealing with the women who let their emotions rule their actions. For those of us who have endured a situation such as Grace and the other members of the "ladies club" (including their therapist) the book hits home with empathy for the characters but that "kick you in the butt" motivation that makes you get on your feet again. Throw in a hunky man who is too good to be true, a mother who lets her grown daughter find her way, and you have a great cast of characters. Unfortunately I've never met Mary Kay Andrews, but I would bet she is a woman I would love to spend a weekend with laughing, talking, drinking, and checking out flea markets. Thanks Mary Kay for giving us another great story celebrating strong womanhood! Now that I've read it, I'll listen to it! Highly recommended!!
June 13, 2013
I felt initally that Grace was a doormat and spineless when it came to her husband and his new girlfriend (her ex assistant). True, she did run the car into the pool (not a spoiler - it is in the book blurb!), but in the beginning she came off as rather helpless. Everytime someone did something to her she just groaned and rolled over. In addition, what type of "career woman" gives total control of her life to her husband? She was clueless and he "owned" everything. Grace consistently takes the passive way out - even sneaking the dog in to her mother's house and (gasp) on to a beach for "no dogs" (scandalous! or it must be as it was mentioned every time they went to the beach with the dog). I had to remind myself that she was a "mature" adult and not 20 something. Even getting in the car at the end with the one character just seemed so foolish. Call the cops but stop doing whatever anyone tells you to do! Could she not think on her own? I also thought this novel was way longer than it needed to be. I was really wading through it and forced myself to devote time to finish it. I really liked Summer Rental, but if this was the first book by Mary Kay Andrews I would not be so eager to buy the next one in hard cover release. Given my negative review so far, I did like the book enough to give it 3 stars - maybe more like 2 1/2 if that was an option.. Amazingly I enjoyed reading her blog entries and her "interior design". I enjoy the rehabing of a house and found her blog ideas and photos intriguing. That part was fun. Plus I love books that are wrapped up nice and neat with an epilogue!!!
October 11, 2013
I was SO SO SO disappointed in this book - - -I had just finished listening to Bel Canto and State of Wonder on audio CD, and I was in the mood for something lighter. Unfortunately, the opening portion of this book made me sick to my stomach. Yes, I know there are people out there who are entirely ruthless and cruel to their former spouses when it comes to a divorce - - -but I simply cannot stomach minute upon minute recounting their tale.
In addition to that, the characters seemed like caricatures - - cardboard, foolish, hardly even real.
Finally, the reader of this book was quite off-putting for me. Her vocalization of Grace and Ben Stanton were real enough, but did she REALLY have to make 26-year old "Jaimie" sound like a 5 year old child? Ugh!
I gave up on this one after two audio CD's - - it just wasn't worth my time.
In addition to that, the characters seemed like caricatures - - cardboard, foolish, hardly even real.
Finally, the reader of this book was quite off-putting for me. Her vocalization of Grace and Ben Stanton were real enough, but did she REALLY have to make 26-year old "Jaimie" sound like a 5 year old child? Ugh!
I gave up on this one after two audio CD's - - it just wasn't worth my time.
July 20, 2013
How can I say what needs to be said about this book without it sounding horrible?
The premise and the plot were good but the how-to was awful, unbelievable and shocking to say the least. Mary Kay Andrews really needed to take the advise of her legal advice team prior to writing this book instead of stating in the acknowledgments that she chose not to do so.
It was really hard for me keep reading the book but my Mother-In-Law told me to continue so I did. If it had been any other author I would have chucked it.
Do not bother to read this book it will only get you angry at how improbable the situation is.
The premise and the plot were good but the how-to was awful, unbelievable and shocking to say the least. Mary Kay Andrews really needed to take the advise of her legal advice team prior to writing this book instead of stating in the acknowledgments that she chose not to do so.
It was really hard for me keep reading the book but my Mother-In-Law told me to continue so I did. If it had been any other author I would have chucked it.
Do not bother to read this book it will only get you angry at how improbable the situation is.
July 2, 2013
If you enjoy books about cheating husbands and getting revenge on them, this book may be for you. It is a light read that could have been lighter by about 100 pages. Grace was too naïve and some of the scenarios were unrealistic. There were parts that reminded me of The Women (but the remake which was bad), I just did not enjoy this book everyone was so whinny and stupid/naïve and there was so many implausible stories where these women get serious revenge and don’t end up being arrested. This books was just meh.
Kathleen McInerney’s narration made everyone in this book sound like a whiny teenager except Wyatt the lone male. It may have been more enjoyable in print.
I recommend you try one of Mary Kay Andrews other titles, like Savannah Breeze.
2 stars
Kathleen McInerney’s narration made everyone in this book sound like a whiny teenager except Wyatt the lone male. It may have been more enjoyable in print.
I recommend you try one of Mary Kay Andrews other titles, like Savannah Breeze.
2 stars
July 16, 2017
It was a great relaxing read with lots of laughs. I would put this book in my vacation read catagory. There were points where I didn't want to put it down because I wanted to see what would happen next, but at other times I could predict what would happen.
February 21, 2015
Woohoo! I'm honestly kind of sad I read this book so fast. It was sooooooo good! So Grace catches her hubby cheating and runs out of her house. Her husband has blocked her from getting anything including access to her their home and her job, writing her lifestyle blog GraceNotes. At first I was so annoyed with Grace. Typical rich wife who lets the husband handle everything and does nothing for herself. She counted on him to trademark her blog name, she never took a look at how much her blog was bringing in (Oh I just let Ben put money in our joint account hehe) and she had no bank account of her own. Lazy or clueless? I couldn't decide so I was irritated. She goes before a judge who orderes her to divorce therapy with 3 other women. They coined the night Ladies Night because they are all women (including 1 guy, Wyatt). As they she gets through her 6 weeks of divorce therapy she tries to rebuild life when she is shut down a few times by her soon to be ex and his new girlfriend. A ton of turns in this one including a mystery about the divorce therapy coach and a judge, which kept me reading and reading. I just couldn't put it down, I had to know how it all turned out.
June 11, 2013
LADIES NIGHT by Mary Kay Andrews is an interesting contemporary romance. While, a rather large book,about 464 pages,the author does a great job,of moving the story quickly and keeping the reader intrigued. A tale of divorce,betrayal,and Ladies Night told with humor,maybe a bit of revenge and sweet justice is just what the ladies need. A large portion of this story takes place in a rundown,beach bar called The Sandbox,which Grace's mother owns. A place for healing,humor,forgiveness,finding closure and maybe love again. So you have to lift your glass to the ladies of LADIES NIGHT as they move to another chapter of their battered lives with a few twists and turns along the way. A great summer read! Written with depth,characters who are engaging as well as heart warming,and a plot that walks a line between happiness and past regrets. Received for an honest review from the publicist and the publisher.
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: SWEET
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: SWEET
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
April 30, 2017
The story opened with Grace Stanton finding her husband, Ben, having sex with her assistant in their garage in his expensive vehicle, she goes berserk. Instead of handling it as a mature woman, she handed it as an immature irrational woman. No notice of what Grace had done would have come to light had she not been a blog and television personality talent. Though Ben had been clearly in the wrong, the judge ruled in Ben’s favor leaving Grace with nothing.
I was so appalled over the representation of women that I didn’t finish the book. Ladies’ night was published June 4th 2013 so there is no reason why women are still being represented as incapable of handling situations with aplomb.
Kathleen McInerney wasn’t a good choice for narrator as her voice wasn’t inviting to readers of all cultures.
I was so appalled over the representation of women that I didn’t finish the book. Ladies’ night was published June 4th 2013 so there is no reason why women are still being represented as incapable of handling situations with aplomb.
Kathleen McInerney wasn’t a good choice for narrator as her voice wasn’t inviting to readers of all cultures.
June 26, 2014
Entertaining light Chick Lit . Andrews knows how to tell a good story with a nice blend of humour and pathos. I'll be adding her to my Chick Lit must reads. Fans of Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Barbara Delinsky should give this author a look.
June 22, 2013
I love Andrews. I first read her after a trip to Savannah, because before and after I travel to a place, I read all I can about it, and that includes fiction books set in that area. I fell in love with her easy going and fun writing style, as well as the dream worthy locations they took place in. I have read just about all of her books; that being said, I think Ladies' Night is my favorite. I think it dealt with a more serious issue that most of her other books.
Grace is a famous lifestyle blogger, with a beautiful home with beautiful linens and tableware and husband, Ben. Or so she thinks, about her husband. When one night she finds him schtupping her assistant, she goes berserk. After driving his expensive car into their pool, she heads home to her mother, to her childhood homeplace, above a bar in a marina.
What happens next is horrible. Her estranged husband locks her out of her gated community, her home, her bank accounts, and her income. His paramour takes over Grace's blog, and Grace finds herself powerless to change her circumstances. The judge at their first divorce hearing orders Grace to an anger management therapy class, and does not award any of Grace's assets back to her. even though she was the maligned and hurt party.
Grace goes to the class, and finds that everyone there, except one, is female. All have gotten the shaft from the same judge. What the heck is the deal with this judge? Does he hate women? Grace and the others soon become confidantes, and learn some disturbing facts.
The only man in class is Wyatt, the owner and manager of a run down jungle theme park called Jungle Jerry's. He also has a father who seems to have a memory loss at sundown, an assortment of animals, and shared custody of his young son. His estranged wife is just as bad as Ben, if not worse.
Grace attempts to get her life together, starting a new blog and a new major project, but Ben, and his girlfriend J'Aimee, cause some pretty disturbing and deplorable problems for her.
I think this book more than Andrews' other books, dealt with more serious topics. The trouble the character's ran into was kicked up a notch, a little darker than her previous books. Grace is made of tough stuff however, and fights back.
This book also did have its cute parts too, it wasn't all serious. The relationship that develops between Wyatt and Grace, and the one that Grace develops with a dog that she rescues bring brightness and light to the story. And you know I love that Andrews' advocates for animals! All in all, I really loved this book.
Grace is a famous lifestyle blogger, with a beautiful home with beautiful linens and tableware and husband, Ben. Or so she thinks, about her husband. When one night she finds him schtupping her assistant, she goes berserk. After driving his expensive car into their pool, she heads home to her mother, to her childhood homeplace, above a bar in a marina.
What happens next is horrible. Her estranged husband locks her out of her gated community, her home, her bank accounts, and her income. His paramour takes over Grace's blog, and Grace finds herself powerless to change her circumstances. The judge at their first divorce hearing orders Grace to an anger management therapy class, and does not award any of Grace's assets back to her. even though she was the maligned and hurt party.
Grace goes to the class, and finds that everyone there, except one, is female. All have gotten the shaft from the same judge. What the heck is the deal with this judge? Does he hate women? Grace and the others soon become confidantes, and learn some disturbing facts.
The only man in class is Wyatt, the owner and manager of a run down jungle theme park called Jungle Jerry's. He also has a father who seems to have a memory loss at sundown, an assortment of animals, and shared custody of his young son. His estranged wife is just as bad as Ben, if not worse.
Grace attempts to get her life together, starting a new blog and a new major project, but Ben, and his girlfriend J'Aimee, cause some pretty disturbing and deplorable problems for her.
I think this book more than Andrews' other books, dealt with more serious topics. The trouble the character's ran into was kicked up a notch, a little darker than her previous books. Grace is made of tough stuff however, and fights back.
This book also did have its cute parts too, it wasn't all serious. The relationship that develops between Wyatt and Grace, and the one that Grace develops with a dog that she rescues bring brightness and light to the story. And you know I love that Andrews' advocates for animals! All in all, I really loved this book.
June 10, 2013
As usual Mary Kay is a riot – Have read all her books – and love the mixture of antiquing, blogging, photography, staging, interior design, restoration, love, humor, girlfriends, revenge, girl time, and romance! Another good one- overcoming tough times no matter what! (especially loved the Sarasota/Siesta Key, Florida tie in since I live in South Florida on east coast and love vacationing southwest Florida!
June 14, 2013
Too much drama, little reward. I usually love Andrews' books, but this one borders on the histrionic. I gave up after 100 pages, which I think is a fair shot for any book. Too irritating, too much injustice, and far too much outrage. No thanks.
June 25, 2021
A perfectly entertaining summer read. Were there some cliched characters and storylines? Of course. Did they take away from my enjoyment? Nope. A simple refresher in between some heavier books.
April 5, 2025
2.5🌟
Audiobook
Read for Book Club
I cannot recommend this book because of so much foul language, and I’m no fan of the sex scenes either. For the latter, I just hit the skip forward 30 seconds at a time. Sadly, I can’t do that for the former. Those issues knocked off at least 1 point from my rating. Otherwise, I enjoyed much of the story. I liked seeing Grace realize what was truly important. Wyatt was always a great guy. Despite that, I won’t go looking for more of her books. One was enough.
PS I did think Grace made more than one very foolish choices and at times seemed too naive to survive.
Robin’s Ratings
5🌟 = Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.
4🌟 = Loved it. Will recommend to others.
3🌟 = Liked it. Glad I read it.
2🌟 = The book was okay, but I’ve enjoyed others so much more.
1🌟 = I didn’t like it and can’t recommend it.
Audiobook
Read for Book Club
I cannot recommend this book because of so much foul language, and I’m no fan of the sex scenes either. For the latter, I just hit the skip forward 30 seconds at a time. Sadly, I can’t do that for the former. Those issues knocked off at least 1 point from my rating. Otherwise, I enjoyed much of the story. I liked seeing Grace realize what was truly important. Wyatt was always a great guy. Despite that, I won’t go looking for more of her books. One was enough.
PS I did think Grace made more than one very foolish choices and at times seemed too naive to survive.
Robin’s Ratings
5🌟 = Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.
4🌟 = Loved it. Will recommend to others.
3🌟 = Liked it. Glad I read it.
2🌟 = The book was okay, but I’ve enjoyed others so much more.
1🌟 = I didn’t like it and can’t recommend it.
November 24, 2017
Good read!
August 23, 2018
Grace is a former interior decorator who is now a lifestyle blogger. One night she discovers Ben, her husband, in the garage doing things he shouldn't be with her assistant, J'Aimee. She runs J'Aimee off and then drives Ben's prized car into the pool. The police are called and Grace leaves and moves in with Rochelle, her mother, who lives above the bar she owns.
Grace then discovers that Ben and J'Aimee have taken over her blog. Plus, she is locked out of her house and bank accounts so is left with nothing. When they go to divorce court, the woman-hating judge takes Ben's side and orders Grace to go to divorce counselling classes to learn how to control her rage. There she meets Camryn, Suzanne, Ashley and Wyatt. They meet and bond after each class at her mother's bar ... hence the name of the book. Wyatt's wife, Callee, recently left him for a neighbour. Wyatt and Callee have a young son together, who Callee doesn't hesitate to use to rile up Wyatt and his father. Grace and Wyatt end up dating.
I've read quite a few books by this author and thought this one was just okay. It is written in third person perspective in Grace and Wyatt's voice. The editing could have been tighter as there were typos and grammatical errors. Plus there was some weird math. Wyatt says he's 38 with a six-year-old son. He tells Grace that he had his son when he was 36. Wouldn't that make him 42 not 38?! As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.
I thought it was odd that Grace moved out of the house the night of the blow-up ... the police didn't force her to. They lived in a mansion with lots of bedrooms and Ben had locked himself up in the den. Why couldn't she lock herself up in another room? If it was me, I never would have left because it was MY house and because of what happened to her (Ben locked her out and the security guard wouldn't let her into the complex).
It was hard to believe she was 38 as she had the sense of someone much younger. As successful as she was, she left everything up to Ben and didn't even have her own bank account. He was able to shut down access to their bank account and credit cards no problem. I found this unbelievable. I'm assuming she could have showed up at the bank and made them give her access.
They landed in divorce court very quickly. Could a judge really be that judgmental and have that much power that he could make Grace go to counselling but leave Ben free (with everything) to do as he pleased. I might be inclined to check the laws before I'd be writing this into a story because it sounds ridiculous.
Wyatt and Grace met and fell in in love so fast after both had devastating experiences with the long term spouses.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2018/08...
Grace then discovers that Ben and J'Aimee have taken over her blog. Plus, she is locked out of her house and bank accounts so is left with nothing. When they go to divorce court, the woman-hating judge takes Ben's side and orders Grace to go to divorce counselling classes to learn how to control her rage. There she meets Camryn, Suzanne, Ashley and Wyatt. They meet and bond after each class at her mother's bar ... hence the name of the book. Wyatt's wife, Callee, recently left him for a neighbour. Wyatt and Callee have a young son together, who Callee doesn't hesitate to use to rile up Wyatt and his father. Grace and Wyatt end up dating.
I've read quite a few books by this author and thought this one was just okay. It is written in third person perspective in Grace and Wyatt's voice. The editing could have been tighter as there were typos and grammatical errors. Plus there was some weird math. Wyatt says he's 38 with a six-year-old son. He tells Grace that he had his son when he was 36. Wouldn't that make him 42 not 38?! As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.
I thought it was odd that Grace moved out of the house the night of the blow-up ... the police didn't force her to. They lived in a mansion with lots of bedrooms and Ben had locked himself up in the den. Why couldn't she lock herself up in another room? If it was me, I never would have left because it was MY house and because of what happened to her (Ben locked her out and the security guard wouldn't let her into the complex).
It was hard to believe she was 38 as she had the sense of someone much younger. As successful as she was, she left everything up to Ben and didn't even have her own bank account. He was able to shut down access to their bank account and credit cards no problem. I found this unbelievable. I'm assuming she could have showed up at the bank and made them give her access.
They landed in divorce court very quickly. Could a judge really be that judgmental and have that much power that he could make Grace go to counselling but leave Ben free (with everything) to do as he pleased. I might be inclined to check the laws before I'd be writing this into a story because it sounds ridiculous.
Wyatt and Grace met and fell in in love so fast after both had devastating experiences with the long term spouses.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2018/08...
September 21, 2024
So this was my 3rd Mary Kay Andews book in a month.
This one was very sweet and heartfelt.It also had a bit humor, sass, spice and a great reminder why women need to have girlfriends.
I LOVE It
Definitely recommend it.
Happy Reading 📚 🍹
This one was very sweet and heartfelt.It also had a bit humor, sass, spice and a great reminder why women need to have girlfriends.
I LOVE It
Definitely recommend it.
Happy Reading 📚 🍹
March 23, 2017
Too much divorcees in one book for me! Phew. All these semi-tragic & semi-hilarious break-up stories were a bit too much. I know it’s supposed to be a fun light read, but even those need balance. Not that Grace wasn't endearing. She was definitely a decent and good person, but there was nothing really that make her stand out – except that she preferred luxury, high-end living to the simple and cheap coziness she grew up in. I loved Rochelle, Grace’s Mother. I liked her Marina-bar in Florida. I could picture it before me. I thought such a fun, idyllic background merited better characterization.
This book didn't really do it for me. Still I read it to the very end to make sure my opinion was fully formed. Maybe I should skip this author next time?
This book didn't really do it for me. Still I read it to the very end to make sure my opinion was fully formed. Maybe I should skip this author next time?
December 26, 2014
I have always enjoyed the books by Mary Kay Andrews and this is no exception. it brought out so many strong emotions and I'm not sure why, must be her writing. I empathized with the ladies in this book (and Wyatt) and how they were being cheated by their soon to be ex-husbands and the judge that seemed to be on their side. Corruption is never good. It also shows that you never know who your friends are until you are in a situation born out of your control.
This is also a good story about never letting your dreams die AND to not let your spouse control everything and you know nothing about your finances etc.
This is also a good story about never letting your dreams die AND to not let your spouse control everything and you know nothing about your finances etc.
July 11, 2018
I've been listening to the author's books on CD and I really enjoy the first six to nine cd's. Then the story begins to drag for me. I am not sure if it's an editing issue but I really don't think everything contributes to the story.. Going to take a break and listen to another author for a while and return to her in a few months.
November 7, 2014
I'm not gonna lie.....The first chapter was a bit disappointing but then BAM.....WOW.....and I could NOT put this book down.
This is chick lit at it's finest and one of the best books I've read in a long time...
This is chick lit at it's finest and one of the best books I've read in a long time...
July 22, 2016
Mary Kay always makes me laugh!
January 31, 2021
Loved all the references to Siesta Key and Sarasota. Cute book. Witty.
November 2, 2020
3.5 stars! This book was really fun and entertaining, but it wont be very memorable. This is about Grace, a blogger with a huge following, She walks in on her husband cheating with her assistant and goes a little nuts and drives his car into their pool. He takes her business and everything because he was her manager. The divorce judge requires her to go to a group therapy session with other divorced people and thats where the bulk of the story takes place. The therapist is a little off and falls asleep during the first session and the people in the group become good friends. They often end up going to Grace's mom's bar and grill to have drinks instead of therapy. She meets the only guy, Wyatt, and they have a romance, but the book is about self discovery and moving on and those themes too. The slight mystery is what's going on with the therapist as well as who is sabotaging Grace's attempt at rebuilding her career, but its very minimal!
SPOILERS AHEAD:
The therapist wasn't actually a therapist because she lost her license from drug issues. She is having an affair with the judge, thus loading her pockets, but he is a scum bag and she rats him out in the end. We have Wyatt's baby mama drama and in the end they live happily ever after. It was her former assistant sabotaging her but in the end, the husband leaves her too and justice is served and Grace gets her following back.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
The therapist wasn't actually a therapist because she lost her license from drug issues. She is having an affair with the judge, thus loading her pockets, but he is a scum bag and she rats him out in the end. We have Wyatt's baby mama drama and in the end they live happily ever after. It was her former assistant sabotaging her but in the end, the husband leaves her too and justice is served and Grace gets her following back.
October 9, 2017
Solid 3.5 Stars. I didn’t expect to like this book that much, but I really did. It’s a story about a southern woman who catches her husband doing her dirty, has her life subsequently fall to pieces (much because her husband turns out to be a diabolical douchebag), winds up in divorce court with a judge that is a wonderful work of fictional evil (I at times had trouble accepting the antics the judge got away with). There are ups and downs in the story. Twists and turns. A super fun, easy read. The author has a real talent for DESCRIPTION. When I first started this book, I was tempted to quit it because the level of description of the yuppie crap that makes up the main character’s life at first made me want to gag.
This is the perfect book to read when you have a book hangover. The writing is good, but it’s 100% a “fluff read.”
This is the perfect book to read when you have a book hangover. The writing is good, but it’s 100% a “fluff read.”
August 6, 2020
I listened to this as an audiobook and found it a perfectly relaxing summer read.
It’s very surprisingly good read given the title suggests it’s just a chick lit read.
Good story, very good characters that draw you in immediately.
Overall, a good ol’ fashioned summer read best enjoyed with a glass of wine in the backyard or just relaxing on the beach.
It’s very surprisingly good read given the title suggests it’s just a chick lit read.
Good story, very good characters that draw you in immediately.
Overall, a good ol’ fashioned summer read best enjoyed with a glass of wine in the backyard or just relaxing on the beach.
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