Harriet in Waiting : A Small Town Women's Fiction Novel

by Rachel Del Grosso

What does starting over really mean when the life you knew calls it quits?

Harriet Langley never realized how much of her life revolved around her husband, Alex, until they separated. Now that she’s free to eat what she wants, watch what she likes, and ditch all the emotional heavy-lifting, she’s feeling...oddly liberated. But just as she’s settling into her new routine, Alex drops a he wants the kids every second weekend—and that’s it. Harriet, now officially the primary parent, can’t decide if she should celebrate or scream into a pillow.

Between co-parenting disasters, Alex’s smug post-separation glow, and his younger sister, Charlie, moving in, Harriet’s so-called fresh start quickly starts to feel like a chaotic juggling act.

As Harriet rediscovers old passions and confronts uncomfortable truths about herself, she begins to rebuild her life—this time on her terms. Charlie, with her endless crop tops and unnerving honesty, somehow becomes both a total pain…and an unexpected lifeline.

With sharp wit and a lot of heart, Harriet in Waiting explores how communication can make or break a relationship, and what happens when one woman decides she’s done playing by the rules. Perfect for fans of Abbi Waxman and Fleishman Is in Trouble. Grab your copy today!

“A gifted and natural storyteller.”—Camille Pagán, bestselling author of Good for You.

295 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2026

About the author

Rachel Celeste (also writing under Rachel Del Grosso) was born in Ontario, Canada. She began writing at a young age, but has since learned to write in complete sentences. She writes fiction about imperfect marriages, messy friendships, and complicated families. She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and son.

Reviews

[Chelsea Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for letting me read this Arc.
This was a nice palate cleanser from my usual reads. It centers on a newly single mom learning how to rediscover herself after a marriage and raising twins, which is all she’s ever known.
I love the Irish love interest in this story—there’s nothing quite like a gorgeous man with a beautiful accent. The relationship between her and her sister-in-law is wonderful; they truly feel like sisters throughout the entire book.
If you’re looking for a book about self-discovery during difficult times, I highly recommend this one.

[Karen Axnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first blush, this novel seems to follow the “mid-life-crisis precipitated by cheating husband” trope. However, by the book’s conclusion, it reveals a much more nuanced story of the dissolution of a marriage and the aftereffects on the whole family.

Harriet is a relatable and highly likeable protagonist. The glow is off her relationship when the twins are born and the traditional parenting role falls heavily on her shoulders. By the time her husband departs the family home due to his confessed infidelity, Harriet begins to realize the price she has paid to maintain the household on top of her full-time career…namely, she has lost touch with her own wants and needs. Insult is then added to injury when she is served with divorce papers by her spouse who now has his own apartment, a new car, and only wants the children every other weekend. Add to the chaotic mix are withdrawn teenagers, a free-spirited, truth-talking sister-in-law, and a mother-in-law who wants to paint her son innocent. Observing Harriet’s growth and change is inspiring and thought-provoking as she charts her new reality with warmth and a touch of humor.

This is a highly enjoyable read that kept me engaged and rooting for Harriet’s reclamation of her joy and her agency. The unanticipated twist at the conclusion is a bonus to an already satisfying novel.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

[Kate Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is yet another novel by Rachel Del Grosso that gives the reader an incisive look into a marriage and the stories each partner tells themselves. Harriet is a wronged ex-wife, dealing with the fallout of her husband's infidelity and quick decision to yield nearly all his parenting rights to her. While there are certainly benefits to this, Harriet is unprepared for how to walk with her twin teenagers through their grief and anger over the divorce and their father's apparent indifference.

This book follows Harriet as she navigates the first months after her husband leaves. I rooted for her to seek new friendships, to rediscover old passions, and to figure out who she really is, while being present for her kids. Her sister-in-law has abruptly moved in as well, adding further chaos to what Harriet has always preferred to be a neat and orderly household.

These characters are realistic and relatable and although there are few easy answers to the circumstances they're facing, I found Harriet's journey such a satisfying read.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I’ve read by Rachel del Grosso, but it won’t be the last. She knows how to write with heart and humor. When Harriet’s husband admits he was unfaithful, the mom of two teens, finds herself grappling with how to handle her twins, who seem to blame her for the split, her ex, Alex, who is shirking his parenting responsibilities, and her sister-in-law, Charlie, who moves into Harriet’s house unannounced, bringing with her a healthy dose of chaos.
The story follows Harriet as she works to understand what went wrong in her marriage, building new friendships, and learning how to navigate her new life as a single mom. Del
Grosso does a great job of introducing a colorful cast of characters and illustrating how Harriet discovers that while her long-term marriage ended, it also represents the beginning of a new chapter in her life.

[Wendy Haller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harriet in Waiting is one of those books that sneaks up on you—and then completely takes over your day.

As her marriage comes to an end, poor Harriet is just trying to keep it all together. She’s trying to keep life normal for her kids while adjusting to life as a single woman and dealing with her ex’s existential crisis.

With a cast of characters, Del Grosso does a beautiful job of writing with equal parts heart and wit. This story pulls you into Harriet’s world so effortlessly that you forget everything else around you.

This book is comforting, funny, heartfelt, and deeply relatable, especially for readers navigating growing pains, expectations, and the messy in-between moments of life.

[Tracy Snell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harriet is like the calm in the eye of the storm. She is organized and determined to control the chaos to keep herself and her family on course. That is until her husband upends everything by announcing that he has been cheating on her. Rachel Del Grosso has written a character study of a woman who seems to have it all together but has slowly lost herself in the process of keeping everything together. Harriet in Waiting give us a front row seat to Harriet's deconstruction and rebuilding of her life and the lives of her children. It is not always smooth, and included some seriously cringeworthy moments, but it was a good read.

[Barbara Tsipouras · Rating 2 out of 5]

A marriage ends, and you need to find a new way of life with your teenage children. So far it's a quite common story. The problem with this novel is that it is very hard to relate to the characters. Harriet is devastated, but her reactions are strange, and her family-in-law is completely incomprehensible. How can the preferred child have the idea of being constantly overlooked? How can a mother who, to one child seems never present be hovering over the other, who feels less loved? It doesn't add up. Let alone the reason for the failing marriage.

[Paula Pugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping and emotional story of a wife blindsided by her husband and left to grapple with the emotions of herself and of her fifteen year old twin daughter and son. Her emotions are raw and true as she struggles to make sense of it all.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.