The Psycho Ex Game

by Merrill Markoe, Andy Prieboy

Lisa Roberty is a successful screenwriter with an impoverished social life who’s enduring a demoralizing job at the mind-numbing sitcom You Go, Girl . Grant Repka is an obscure indie rock musician who, in his forties, finds his career surprisingly resurrected with the success of his comic operetta about the doomed romance of Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson. When Grant and Lisa meet after one of his shows, sparks don’t immediately fly—but e-mail addresses are exchanged. A my-book-for-your-CD trade and a couple of e-mails later, Lisa tells Grant that she enjoys his song “My Psycho Ex,” but warns him that where psycho-exes are concerned, she’s pretty sure she “could drink him under the table.”

Little does she know that this will become the opening salvo in an epic e-mail battle dubbed the Psycho Ex Game, a storytelling competition in which horrific tales of dysfunctional love and living with lunatics are volleyed with glee. The rules are simple; the point system, the experiences that would normally leave someone running for the therapist’s office (humiliation, degradation, and complicity in psychotic behavior) just might win match point in the Psycho Ex Game. Now it’s Grant vs. Lisa as the wretched tales of his ex, the Junkie Queen of Darkness, vie with the woe inflicted by her ex, a tantrum-throwing actor/director widely known as Mr. Summer Box Office Record-Holder.

As the correspondence evolves, it surprises Lisa by offering her the kind of intimacy she has never shared with a man in the same room. Before long, what started as a friendly competition becomes a road map to an unlikely couple’s growing involvement, leaving both Grant and Lisa secretly wondering, “If we were to get involved, which one of us is potentially the next Psycho Ex?”

Written in alternating he said/she said chapters, The Psycho Ex Game is shot through with the acerbic humor of Merrill Markoe and the mordant observations that have made Andy Prieboy a literate voice in rock. The Psycho Ex Game is a hilarious dissection of injuries sustained on the front lines of romance—and the careful nursing that gets us battleready once again.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Romance, Comedy, Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance

417 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

An author, a television writer and a sometime standup comedienne.

Reviews

[Claire M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this book. Being something of a journaling whore, I found the gradual and eventually heart-wrenching confessional tone to these email exchanges just amazing and so true. There is something about the email/journaling medium (I look back on what I've said to strangers without a thought and it's pretty scary) that has you saying things you never would face to face. This confessional aspect to it, as the story progresses and the stakes get higher (as evidenced by the points!), was exceptionally well done. I have read the other reviews on this book and I'm scratching my head. You couldn't connect with these people. What? You've never been in a relationship where you knew you were selling your soul and yet you kept making the down payments? I also thought it clever that the story didn't jive perfectly. Grant's recollections don't dove-tail completely with Lisa's recollections, much as would happen in real life. Also, what I loved about this was that I originally didn't like Grant much (because, hello, something of a skank), but then by the end of the book, I adored him. Truly adored him. I'm not in the L.A. music scene, but in the book scene, and how something that seems like a goldmine all of a sudden becoming a clusterf**k is all too real. As much as I loved this book, I only gave it four stars because the ending sort of petered out. I think that Ms. Markoe tried to be too clever by the end. We'd had pages and pages of her marvelous clever (she's brilliant), we didn't need more clever. I don't know what we needed, but we didn't need that. So if the ending had been stronger, I would have given it five stars, full stop. Also, something that the other reviewers don't mention but I think it key to its success, is how L.A. the book is. This story could only happen in Los Angeles.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just fun. I'd especially recommend it to anyone who has been in a relationship, and later thought, "What was I thinking?"

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't heard of this book or its authors before buying it, but the cover and title caught my eye, and the description even moreso. It's set up as an email correspondence between two characters who meet and end up playing a points game They regale each other with details about their respective psycho exes, trying to outdo each other as far as whose was the craziest and most psychologically damaging. Chapters alternate between each character, a combination of emails and a standard present day narrative.
They're each lost and troubled somehow in their own lives, and through their increasingly candid and detailed emails, a friendship blossoms.
Unfortunately I found one of the main characters, Lisa, to be insufferable for much of the book, and the pacing was pretty slow-going. It became morbidly fascinating, though.
Having recently been in a relationship with a narcissist, while also on the periphery of a good friend's relationship with another narcissist (yeah, some kind of weird karmic shit), the sections of the book that detailed this aspect drew me in more than the rest. The authors get it right. It's sad and (quietly) shocking and all that fun stuff. Makes for a good character study. Gave me a physical reaction in the gut at those points of recognition, so that's always good. On the other hand it's somehow kind of fluffy and overlong.
2.5 stars, mostly middle of the road reading. Not sure who the right reader would be for this, but I'm sure someone out there would enjoy it a lot.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I bought it after reading an article Markoe wrote and finding it super clever and funny. I saw she had a slew of books, so I looked forward to discovering a new author to dive into. I hope I just picked a bad book of hers to read. I have only not finished 4 books in my life, I am desperately trying to finish this one out of spite. Update: Finished, nothing changed except I added WInnie to the list of people I didn't like either.

The characters are shallow and unlikeable. Both protagonists were in awful abusive relationships. Reading each progressively worse story is like watching a train wreck with even less joy. I would like to know who this book is intended for? People who came from abusive relationships and want to be triggered? People in happy relationships who want to cringe at horrible decisions? Don't abusers tend to have one or two good qualities to keep their partner around? This isn't a good "before bed" book, or light reading. This book feels as though it'll eventually end with the two protagonists hooking up, but this is not a romance novel or fluff for a beach.

Lisa's character is written to come off as whimsical but just reads as annoying. She is in a job she hates, hate f*cking her boss out of boredom. She draws faces on old recipe cards. Grant comes off as normal until you discover he's a horrible enabler and a cheater. The only sane person in the books is Winnie, Grant's girlfriend. Her major flaw is being a bit of a slob, but beyond that, she's not jealous or psychotic (at least to the point I have read so far).

I genuinely do not know the audience that this is meant for. It obviously was not me.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been having mixed feelings while reading this one, so I think I'm gonna put it aside for now. I made it to page 110 out of 432; maybe I'll pick it up again some day.

The book is written from two points of view, his and hers, and switches back and forth by chapter. The two main characters start an on-going email dialogue in which they compare stories about their "psycho exes" to see who's had the worst of it. Each chapter relates their thoughts and daily goings-on along with their email exchanges.

I'm loving the female character, and she makes me laugh (because I can totally relate!!). But the guy character really bugs me for at least two reasons: 1) He's a rocker dude (totally not my type or my scene). 2) He has a GIRLFRIEND (while pouring out his emotional side to this other girl via email). The girlfriend thus far doesn't seem to mind, which also bugs me b/c it's a bit unrealistic for her to be okay with this. I mean really.

Yet another thing that annoys me is that both characters try way too hard to be witty in their emails. But perhaps I'm just easily annoyed. Regardless, I do think I'll switch to something else at the moment, given that my TBR pile is enormous and I hate the thought of not reading every single book on it. Too many books, not enough time, you know how it goes.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pg 40- she detested chicks with acoustic guitars and their so-called women's issues. She ate red meat, smoked, and didn't give a fig about healing or nurturing. You want a better world? Stop whining. Learn the language. Stop having no so many kids. Learn to dress right.
52- she and I didn't spend an awful lot of time together at parties. "Apart-ies" was more like it.
93- we didn't eat bread. We didn't care about our hearts or colons. We cared about our waistlines.
275- my parents didn't walk out on each other in situations like this. No, sir. We all stayed and clawed and bit and made puncture wounds, because we all understood that hostile behavior was the currency of love.
388- what surprised me was how vividly she recalled pinpricks, slights, and screw-ups from years gone by, things I thought I had made good on. Apparently no apology, no redemptive gesture , gift, or sacrifice had ever made a difference. To Winn, any offense was permanent. It could not be erased. It had always just happened yesterday. One by one they had piled on top of one another to create a burden she could no longer bear.

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly touching and honest book. I really strongly suggest it!

[Vanessa Escobedo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good read. Not great but it was interesting enough to keep me wanting more and when I finished, my exact words were "what the hell?!"

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty funny book. Though I feel like I better be careful what I put out to the universe.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most of the author's books, without actual canine dialogue and personality to add some warmth and humor, the characters seem rather drab and depressing. I don't think I've ever read quite so many books where mid-life adult characters spend most of their time blaming everything that goes wrong in their personal lives on their parents. None of the parents in any of Markoe's books are warm, loving or supportive. Instead they all harbor varying degrees of selfishness, depression, abusive tendencies, addictions, and other depressing character flaws that quite too much time and attention is given to detailing.

The concept of this novel (once you get around to it, if you can hang in that far) is, however, entertaining enough to eventually compel a reader to continue to pick it up in order to see what happens next. The idea of a "war" between strangers who take turns regaling each other with tales of Psycho Exes, each trying to outdo the other in order to win the "game" is, at least, entertaining, and anyone who has had the opportunity to swap emails with another person in what develops into an online only "relationship" will enjoy the read and grasp the point of the book.

I only wish the author could manage to avoid writing about topics that are so dark, dreary and depressing, for once. These (barring Walking in Circles Before Lying Down and Nose Down, Eyes Up) are books that, as a younger, less mature reader, I would have given up trying to read, let alone finish.

I realize people "write what you know", and that as a resident of NY and LA the author has dozens of despondent, real life experiences to draw from, but allowing a little l ight into such a gloomy world once in a while wouldn't hurt.

[Nicole Sanglay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was just supposed to read this so that my eyes can see words. (Yes, I do that, abnormally so.) I did not expect that I would genuinely like it!

This book was utterly hilarious. This is the only book that has made me laugh this hard. It's usually difficult for me to crack up when the humor is written, but I had no difficulty laughing at the hilarity of the situations of the characters here.

However, beyond that, I liked how this was very psychological: It paid a lot of attention to how the two main characters developed to be the personalities that they are now. I liked that their mode of communication was stories; never mind that they were doing it through e-mail. I loved their stories, and I really felt like I was interacting with Lisa and Grant. For me, their personalities are very likable. I felt like I could really be friends with them. It was such a bonus that they are the type of people that I would highly likely be friends with.

This book was such a lucky steal. I actually just happened upon it in a shop for secondhand books. I saw the cover, read the synopsis, thought that it was mildly interesting, and just bought it impulsively. I'm really happy that I bought it, even if it was on impulse. In the end, I liked how this novel felt human to me. I felt like the characters could be real, that they could just walk out of the pages any day. I liked how the novel was character-driven. I liked how it paid so much attention to the characters: their personalities, their strengths, their flaws, their choices, their lives. I really wish I could read more novels like this, lighthearted but still has enough heart.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe it's because I was there in the 1990's and saw the scene firsthand, or because I was a fan of the co-author Andy Prieboy (though not as odd or desperate as those groupies detailed in the book) but whatever, the reason, I loved this email-epistolary. Andy Prieboy is a gifted writer with a strong voice and a dark sense of humor who can sustain the story and develop characters who have depth and complexity. Merrill Markoe's throughline is solidly anchored in her strong comedic sense. I do apologize to Merrill Markoe for not going on and on about her, but in fairness, I came to the party and stayed for the afterparty because of Prieboy. This piece was far more substantial, poignant and resonant than I had anticipated. "Bonus points" for eliciting memories of Andy's solo performances and having "Montezuma was a Man of Faith" on heavy rotation on my "brain radio."

[Blue Hummingbird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merrill Markoe does an amazing job of bringing two characters together in a way like no other. Grant and Lisa share their weakest and sometimes their strongest moments in playing a game of "Who's got the worst Ex." Through these reflections, the reader learns about the two characters more and more and it seems almost inevitable that they will somehow come to depend on one another based upon their previous mistakes and personal desires.

Both characters are likable and even relatable based on their vulnerability alone. The chaos that is "The Ex," can do many things to a person. It is amazingly true how much one persons presence and absence can change your life and Markoe captures that with a degree of wit that makes this book a page turner to be reread.

[Allen Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book, vivid characters and a good read for anyone who's ever had a psycho-ex. But where the book falls short is it's topicality. This is a novel situated in a particular place and time that will ultimately alienate readers in years to come. I have a soft spot for the book, I freely admit it, but I don't think that it will be remembered in the way that...say Less than Zero is. The conclusion felt rushed, like the author was trying to wrap things up. It was like there was no exit strategy for this book so we have to force a scene. Still, it was an enjoyable read for the most part. Beach reading really, but not something that will drive you from your bed at night to review some passage or other that wouldn't let you sleep.

[Marcie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A man and woman compete through emailed anecdotes to see who has the craziest ex. Of course, this is very revealing about the storytellers themselves, Grant (an aging rocker) and Lisa (a demoralized screenwriter). What's worse -- a heroin addict or a cruel, narcissistic film producer?

I love books that incorporate emails as the method of conveying the narrative. It feels modern -- and relevant. How many damaged people are looking for a human connection in cyberspace right now?

So, the bottom line is: Can two masochists find true love with each other? The ending is weird and unexpectedly anticlimactic. And yet totally realistic and strangely hopeful.

[James Lundy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite funny, interesting two author format. I think the shine comes off the apple at the point where you realize carping about how crazy your ex was is really a reflection of your shortcomings as half of that coupling. It's interesting to think that since Merrill Markoe dated David Letterman this is a thinly disguised autobiography of that time. I think I would have found it more interesting to read a non-fictionalized version of that story.

[Kena · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy fun read about disfunctional relationships. Two people meet and try to best each other as to who has the worst ex. Kinda makes you feel a bit better about yourself in the end and you get some great laughs along the way too.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an entertaining book, filled with swapped stories of crazy exes. I just started to lose a bit of interest after a while. However, if you're looking for a slew of psychotic tendencies by former lovers, this is the right place to go.

[Bree · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was so horribly boring that it took me over a month to read. I can honestly say The Psycho Ex Game is a piece of trash. No wonder it ended up at Goodwill where I bought it for 70 cents! It was a waste of money and time.

[Rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story flattens toward the end, but the real meat is the obsessive ruminations on failed love affairs. At the very least, it makes me happy I'm not alone in overthinking these things or picking horrible, horrible partners.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, funny author.I have loved everything I read by her. This is the story of a weird relationship between an aging rocker and a kooky TV sitcom writer -who communicate soley by e-mail telling stories of their psycho ex's.

[Linda Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clever twist on the story of a breakup, told by both of the injured parties via an avalanche of email. Markoe's a skilled writer, and funny to boot. It's harder to be funny. That's why the Bronte sisters didn't do comedy.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked how the two parts were written by two different people- the man and the woman. The separate voices added to the character interaction in the story. I also liked how they presented both sides of situations, being completely different from eachother based in the characters perspective

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Attracted to this book for obvious reasons, I was not disappointed. Merrill Markoe is an excellent comedic writer, and it was fun to speculate as to how much of her half of the book was inspired by antics of her own famous ex. The book does not, however, make the leap to great epistolary novel.

[Mandee Mercado · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like the ending.....I thought the book had a lot of build up, which I enjoyed, only to be let down at the end. I think a sequel would be good. I want to know what happened with Grant & Lisa.

[Kat O · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I guess when you have 2 authors a book turns out to be twice as long as it needs to be?

Hated the ending.

Other criticism: this book will forever be a time warp.

Entertaining enough for a beach or summer read, however.

[Kae Sharpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great if you are a fan of either Andy Prieboy or Merrill Markoe. The humor and writing are first rate. I was expecting more romance (marital relations) but the original comedy writing makes up for it.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book rulz. gives both the male and female perspectives on relationships, breakups and the games we all know we play.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and funny. Great summer read for going to the beach.

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's an easy, quick read. A good beach book, which is where I think I read it. Nothing special though.