What do you think?
Rate this book
An Ex to Grind
The battle of the sexes rages on in this smart, witty, and extremely timely comedy from the phenomenally popular Jane Heller.
At first, Manhattan financial planner Melanie Banks adores Dan Swain, her pro football player husband who's got a sexy Oklahoma drawl to go with his athletic good looks. But then his career comes to a screeching halt and he spends the next few years out of a job, seemingly unconcerned about it. Suddenly, she's the one bringing home the bacon and falling out of love with the paycheck-devouring, couch-sitting mooch. Divorce is the answer, she decides -- only to learn she has to fork over alimony while he lives like a prince on her income and she has to share custody of their precious dog, Buster. Consumed with the unfairness of it all, she plays dirty, hiring a high-profile matchmaker to find some unsuspecting female she can dump on Dan for ninety days and cause him to violate their cohabitation clause.
But then Melanie's scheme backfires. Her ex's new love revitalizes him, miraculously transforming him into the focused, responsible go-getter she always hoped he'd be. And now, with the ninety-day clock about to chime, she realizes she wants him back.
At first, Manhattan financial planner Melanie Banks adores Dan Swain, her pro football player husband who's got a sexy Oklahoma drawl to go with his athletic good looks. But then his career comes to a screeching halt and he spends the next few years out of a job, seemingly unconcerned about it. Suddenly, she's the one bringing home the bacon and falling out of love with the paycheck-devouring, couch-sitting mooch. Divorce is the answer, she decides -- only to learn she has to fork over alimony while he lives like a prince on her income and she has to share custody of their precious dog, Buster. Consumed with the unfairness of it all, she plays dirty, hiring a high-profile matchmaker to find some unsuspecting female she can dump on Dan for ninety days and cause him to violate their cohabitation clause.
But then Melanie's scheme backfires. Her ex's new love revitalizes him, miraculously transforming him into the focused, responsible go-getter she always hoped he'd be. And now, with the ninety-day clock about to chime, she realizes she wants him back.
400 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2005
37 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Jane Heller
36 books121 followersJane Heller, a New York native who recently moved from Santa Barbara, CA to New Preston, CT, is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 13 novels of romantic comedy, including "Name Dropping," "Lucky Stars," and "Best Enemies." Nine of Heller's novels have been optioned for film or television, and all of them have been translated in countries around the world. Her first book of nonfiction, "Confessions of a She-Fan: The Course of True Love with the New York Yankees," is a humorous look at her passion for baseball. Her book about caregiving, "You'd Better Not Die or I'll Kill You: A Caregiver's Survival Guide to Keeping You in Good Health and Good Spirits," combines Heller's personal essays about being the wife of a man with Crohn's disease and the daughter of a mother with dementia, plus interviews with other caregivers who deal with everything from autism to Alzheimer's and advice/tips from experts. "You'd Better Not Die" is upbeat and inspirational - a cheerful companion to the over 60 million caregivers in America. Heller's new novel, "Three Blonde Mice," a spinoff of her bestselling novel "Princess Charming," was published on August 2, 2016.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
March 10, 2019
Melanie Banks divorces her husband Dan after 13 years of marriage. The first few years were great, but after Dan was injured playing pro football, his career was over and he wasn't interested in getting another job. Dan spent most of his time sitting on the couch and spending her money. But Mel is shocked to find that she now has to pay Dan alimony. It bothers her so much, she comes up with a plan to end the alimony payments. There is a cohabitation clause in the divorce decree that states if Dan lives with a woman for 90 consecutive days, he would forfeit the alimony. Mel sets out to find Dan a new love as quickly as possible.
I listened to the audio version of this book. Even though Caroline Shaffer does an outstanding job with the narration, I did not find Melanie likeable at all. She was very manipulative. It kind of made me want to root for Dan. Jane Heller's books are usually very funny. This did have its moments, but they were scattered throughout the book. My rating: 3 Stars.
I listened to the audio version of this book. Even though Caroline Shaffer does an outstanding job with the narration, I did not find Melanie likeable at all. She was very manipulative. It kind of made me want to root for Dan. Jane Heller's books are usually very funny. This did have its moments, but they were scattered throughout the book. My rating: 3 Stars.
March 29, 2021
I vaguely remembered enjoying this chick lit novel when it first came out in 2005, but it simply didn't appeal to me when I tried to reread it this week. Clearly I've become much more jaded in the years since I first read it, because this time around the resentful heroine really got on my nerves.
March 24, 2009
Insane chick-lit book. I'm not enjoying this book but I'm halfway through and feel obligated to finish it for some reason. The premise is ridiculous and predictable.......there's a twist in there that made my eyes roll back in my head. If I wanted fantasy, I'd read Harry Potter.
July 27, 2017
Lifetime movie as a book. Solid beach read...
November 3, 2009
I don't know what happened to the witty novelist who wrote INFERNAL AFFAIRS and THE SECRET INGREDIENT. AN EX TO GRIND was a clear departure for Ms. Heller, and a truly disappointing one at that.
Melanie Banks, a most unsympathetic character, is a financial analyst who is griping that, since she was the breadwinner in their marriage, she has to pay her husband maintenance in their divorce. She hits upon a clause in their divorce agreement that gives her a light at the end of the tunnel and she single-mindedly pursues a mean-spirited course of action to get a bit closer to that light. She doesn't care who gets hurt in the process.
There's nothing funny in this novel. There's nothing even mildly witty in the dialogue. Melanie uses her friends, shirks her real responsiblities and wastes everyone's time, not least the reader's. I kept reading because I wanted Melanie to receive her inevitable comeuppance, and while the sequence when that arrives is indeed sweet, I thought she deserved worse than she actually got. Given that she's the "heroine" of the story, I suppose that was too much to ask.
I hope that this author returns to form in future novels. I miss the crackling dialogue, intelligent styling and interesting heroines that made me a Heller fan many moons ago.
Melanie Banks, a most unsympathetic character, is a financial analyst who is griping that, since she was the breadwinner in their marriage, she has to pay her husband maintenance in their divorce. She hits upon a clause in their divorce agreement that gives her a light at the end of the tunnel and she single-mindedly pursues a mean-spirited course of action to get a bit closer to that light. She doesn't care who gets hurt in the process.
There's nothing funny in this novel. There's nothing even mildly witty in the dialogue. Melanie uses her friends, shirks her real responsiblities and wastes everyone's time, not least the reader's. I kept reading because I wanted Melanie to receive her inevitable comeuppance, and while the sequence when that arrives is indeed sweet, I thought she deserved worse than she actually got. Given that she's the "heroine" of the story, I suppose that was too much to ask.
I hope that this author returns to form in future novels. I miss the crackling dialogue, intelligent styling and interesting heroines that made me a Heller fan many moons ago.
February 17, 2016
I really, really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, through most of it I found the main character annoying and...well, kind of a bitch. It's possible that's what I was supposed to think, but since it was written in first person, it prevented me from really connecting with her. If you're a big chick lit fan, though, I could see that it might be enjoyable. Alas, it was not for me.
October 25, 2024
Apparently I read this book in 2011 but it does not stand the test of time. In this reread I was frustrated with the dopey heroine, just really too stupid for words. Not very good and annoyed way too much.
September 22, 2022
This is a cute story about a successful woman who has to pay her husband alimony... and she is determined to find a way NOT to pay him! Then goes to an extreme by hiring a matchmaker... the rest is history. Kind of.
One things I didn't like... the very end.
One things I didn't like... the very end.
July 18, 2017
The book was very funny, laugh out loud sort of book. But the ending left me curious
January 16, 2018
Good grief! I really liked the first 4 chapters but from there it just seemed to drag on forever.
June 12, 2019
Incomplete ending, however a worthwhile read if you seek a light hearted romance with dramatic plot twists.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2020
Loved this book. Perfect to kick off the summer season. Light, airy and a story of what it means to be in love
May 25, 2022
Great story! My first Jane Heller book, I will be reading more!
June 7, 2022
It was predictable and mundane. I found myself wanting to finish it just to be done with it.
February 5, 2023
Hilarious story with lovable characters
August 22, 2025
Melanie got progressively more annoying every chapter until near the end. Apart from that such a cute little book and had me smiling in some parts!
February 11, 2017
This book lacked the zing and humor her books usually hold
January 9, 2009
This book was also fun and easy to read. It pushes the boundaries of actually believable but I still enjoyed it. It's basically about a successful woman who divorces her lazy ex-NFL-injured-who-refuses-to-get-a-job husband and then finds out part of the divorce settlement is her paying alimony to him. What makes matters worse is the ex-husband parades around spending said alimony on frivolous things like Crystal and trips on private jets. She's determined to get out of this alimony using the loophole in the divorce agreement but as she does this, she falls back in love with him.
It's hard for me to believe that someone would find themselves in this predicament although perhaps giving someone money each month and watching them waste it, all while you are suffering in a crappy apartment would drive you to do crazy things...I hope to never find out. Regardless, it was still entertaining.
It's hard for me to believe that someone would find themselves in this predicament although perhaps giving someone money each month and watching them waste it, all while you are suffering in a crappy apartment would drive you to do crazy things...I hope to never find out. Regardless, it was still entertaining.
June 10, 2016
I wanted a funny, light hearted romp of a book. What I got was a dim witted plot that absolutely had potential and fell flat. Horrible characters each one worse than the next. And you f that was not bad enough... She ends the book on a cliff hanger. No resolve, no epilogue, just the so called heroine standing all wondering what will happen in the future. I swear, after Hours reading this crap.... At least get off your butt and conclude something!
Ugh... No more of her books for me.
Ugh... No more of her books for me.
July 7, 2016
I'll be honest I picked this up because there was a picture of a pug on it. And I wasn't disappointed by the pug's role. I was expecting chick lit but it wasn't. It certainly wasn't laugh out loud funny, although the descriptions of all the incredibly beautiful people was certainly eye-roll inducing. The main character's, Mel, obsession with money is hard to stomach and makes her seem thoroughly unpleasant. All in all, a pleasant enough distraction.
June 21, 2010
I am somewhere between 3 and 4 stars on this one. I saw this on a reading list because a film is going to be made of it. It was ok...funny at parts, heart warming during others. But, I feel like the change in the main characters was so quick it was totally unrealistic. I'd still say give it a shot for a beach read!
February 29, 2012
Pros: The book was an OK weekend read.
Cons: She (main character) was annoying me throughout with her actions, although i did see where
she was coming from with the ex frustration. A money-wasting-lazy-dumb-jock ex whom she
has to pay money just because he refuses to get on with his life!?
Cons: She (main character) was annoying me throughout with her actions, although i did see where
she was coming from with the ex frustration. A money-wasting-lazy-dumb-jock ex whom she
has to pay money just because he refuses to get on with his life!?
April 3, 2012
I almost stopped reading this one about a third of the way in; I didn't like the main character and found her behavior unbelievable. The middle third was okay. The last third was decent. I haven't enjoyed Heller's last few books nearly as much as her early books that were more like funny mysteries than the dreaded chick lit.
July 12, 2012
The plot was interesting. The main character was very selfish but I believe everyone is selfish, and most people would be angry if their ex was taking their money. It was a pretty good book with some good laughs, except the ending was disappointing. I really wanted her to end up with her ex husband.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2012
you never know what you've got til it's gone is a predominant theme in this book. the main character tries to get revenge in her ex-husband and loses everything in the process. the first 75% of this book was a bit painful to get through but the last 25% had a good message that saved the book for me.
April 25, 2008
I need a light hearted book! This was it. I have read better chick lit, but his book had realistic characters and did provide and entertaining diversion from the emotionally draining and brain tiring books I had been reading. I prefer better literature, but this book was a nice vacation.
June 15, 2009
Started this book with high hopes...kind of a cute premise. I have liked Jane Heller's books in the past. But, I gave it 50 pages and hated it. Didn't care about the characters, found the heroine annoying and whiny, the hero just a pretty face. Better luck next time, Jane.
April 18, 2010
About a quarter of the way through the book I simply skipped to the last chapter because I couldn't stand the main character's whining anymore. Trite and annoying. And of course, it ended exactly like I expected it to.
October 3, 2010
I started this book around 10pm last night and finished by 6am. I got hooked! What an emotional read.....then the ending ARE YOU KIDDING ME....poison ivy. I agree with other reviews that the ending was very disappointing
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews