The First Husband
by Laura Dave is the most recent book for the BlogHer Book Club. I signed up for it because it sounded sweet and romantic (something BHBC books don't tend to be) and like something I would enjoy. Annie Adams has it all, a great job, a long term boyfriend, a great dog. Until the day her boyfriend comes home and announces he needs a break. Annie moves on, meets another great guy, and marries him in a whirlwind courtship. Then, just as she's questioning her place in his world, her ex comes back and asks for a second chance. (That's all from the book cover, no spoilers.)Ok, so you guys have been reading me for years, and most of you skip my romance reviews (don't deny, I can tell) but if you've paid attention at all, I typically avoid anything with two love interests. This time I took a deep breath and told myself I'd power through, that most books end satisfactorily, and this would too. But then a funny thing happened- it turned out that the book wasn't so much about them as it was about her. The longer I waited for the inevitable showdown, the closer to the end of the book I got, and ultimately, it was perfect and painless. Dave does a great job, a terrific job, of getting into Annie's head and making the struggle real, without really painting anyone as the bad guy. It's never about the guys (tho I admit to having a favorite, and I suspect it's intended that way,) but always about Annie herself. I enjoyed this one a great deal and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys chick lit with a strong romance.
The First Husband
by Laura Dave (@lauradave on twitter)
Penguin Books
2011
For more information and links to reviews, visit the BlogHer The First Husband page here.
Disclaimer: I am compensated for my review and participation in the BlogHer Book Club, but all opinions are my own.
