The Ex-Wife's Survival Guide

by Debby Holt

Two months before Sarah's twin sons leave home for their gap year travel, her husband Andrew, a keen amateur thespian, announces that he's leaving her for his leading lady. Happily married for the past twenty years, Sarah has no idea how to fill her empty house, her empty days, nor play the role of discarded wife. As Sarah is to discover, the way forward is strewn with hazards and humiliations. If she is not to be bludgeoned to pieces, she must acquire skills for survival ... fast.
Happily for Sarah, help (and hindrance!) is at hand in the form of well-meaning neighbours, a misbehaved mongrel, an eventful trip to Majorca, an unassuming plumber, and an unwelcome role as Mrs De Winter in the forthcoming Ambercross Players' production of Rebecca.
In this wickedly funny and hugely entertaining comedy of manners, life in a small Wiltshire village is exposed with a highly infectious sense of humour and a devastatingly accurate eye for detail.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Debby Holt lives with her husband in Bath. She started writing short stories when her five children were small. She wrote her first novel, The Ex-Wife’s Survival Guide in 2006. Since then, she has written three more: Annie May’s Black Book, The Trouble with Marriage and Love Affairs for Grown-Ups. Having been a spectacularly useless teacher in the past, she is fully aware of how lucky she is to be doing something she loves.

Reviews

[Razvan Banciu]

Better than I've thought, as Sarah is more than pleasant and some other characters, including Miriam, Martin, Antonio, even Andrew are at least decent. There is an epic thread and some lessons to be taken, the humour is less British-style, therefore more enjoyable. Not a bad book at all...

[Jess Van Dyne-Evans]

This was really familiar - woman gets dumped, woman seeks to get man back, finds interesting adventures along the way.

BUT - the characters were interesting, the situations nicely orchestrated, and the snarling dog? A nice touch.

[Megan]

It was alright. Well written with a few funny moments and a couple of heartfelt ones, but I wasn't captivated by the story at all. I only finished it because I felt I had to -- I'd already started reading it and I hate to give up on a book.

[Beril]

Sıradan bir yakışıklı koca tarafından terk edilen kadının zayıflayarak gerçek aşkı bulmadı hikayesi.

[Terry]

A perfect read if you’re looking for something fun and lighthearted.

[Coyney]

I really really enjoyed this one. Nice to read a book regarding a slightly older lady

[Laura Lucas]

Couldn't put it down hooked me from the start.

[Tammy Brooke]

Sarah has been happily married for over 20 years, to Andrew, they have twin sons, who are about to leave for backpacking in India, before they leave Andrew tells sarah hes leaving her , he been having an affair, then the boys leave and suddenly shes all alone.
She ends up been roped into a leading part in a play and her sons have arranged for her to have a dog, she hates this dog and he seems to hate her. but shes happy with her leading partner Martin.
Andrew's a bit of her prick and keeps ringing sarah and being condescending,
Lots of things happen in this book that keep you turning the pages, theres some real lol moments.
I enjoyed this but i do think Debby could have taken the Sarah and Martin storyline futher, still enjoyable.

[Louise Jones]

their is so many of these type of books abt u always feel read one read the lot !!! but did like the humour of the author but it was all to predictable !!!! and half way through just went a bit silly like and to far fetched but suppose good to relax and the titles of the chapters rose a smile !!!

[Tamsyn]

I feel like this is genuinely 3.5 stars. It is way better than i thought it would be, but it's still exactly what you think. No surprises but it's relatively intelligent and the characters are engaging.

[Rebecca Skinner]

This is a really good, light-hearted read. Predictable and average but still comforting when you’re in a bit of a slump or stressed!

[Lisa]

Cute story, happy ending!

[Victoria]

My first read from Debby, grabbed by the title, fun book with good story.

[Sosa Coleone]

Find a good man then it's a marriage

[Kisha]

This was a cute story but it loses 2 starts for the amount of time the main lady wished death upon a dog...it worked out in the end and the dog is ok and happy but still.

[Vrsh]

Funny and relatable to every woman, married or otherwise.

[Andrea Hawkins]

Enjoyable and funny

[UKEXPAT74]

Quick and easy read. Boring but expected ending. Women‘s magazine material.

[Mirnz]

Amazing book, it is also triggerring if you have had a history of being cheated on by your spouse. I wish we were all as lucky as Sarah.. in finding someone who reciprocated romantically towards her. Wish we all had the same happy ending 😭
Definitely read this book if you are planning to walk away from a cheating spouse.

[John johnstone]

amazingly good reading

What a talented writer never a dull moment. I intetend reading more of her books my wife asks me why I am reading women's books , have got tired of blood and gore,

[Nishita]

"The Ex-Wife's Survival Guide" by Debby Holt is a delightful and heartwarming read I stumbled upon during a recent train journey.

Sarah Stagg's journey as a discarded wife is both relatable and inspiring. Despite facing hazards and humiliations, she finds solace in the theater and discovers unexpected romance. The author, Debby Holt, skillfully balances Sarah's heartbreak with a lighthearted tone, making the book an adorable and comforting read.

The supporting characters add depth and warmth to the story, immersing readers in a familiar and inviting world. While the plot may follow some predictable tropes, it doesn't detract from the overall enjoyment. Knowing the general direction of the story adds a sense of anticipation and satisfaction.

More here.

[Amanda]

What a book of two halves... The first half was such a wonderful story - funny, warm, and an exploration of what it means to have to start over at a later stage in life. The second half was farcical and the pacing was all wrong, way too quick, no gentle unfolding of the story as there had been in the first half. So would have been a four star read, but settled as a three star. Definitely willing to read more books by this author.

[Sue Lauzon]

A lighthearted read (total fiction) about a woman's experience after her husband leaves her for a younger woman. Written in a style that is somewhat like a self help book or guide if you will. I loved the names of some of the chapters especially the one that was called "If You're Lying on the Ground, You Can't Fall Over..." followed by the next chapter called "But It Might Take You Awhile To Get Up Again". Perfect for those who like a lighthearted romantic comedy!!

[Krishna]

Wanted to read something fun when picked this book, and i would say i was not disappointed. It's a romantic-comedy, fun to read (wanted to give it a 4 star rating) though it does get predictable towards the end with an ending where you always have to find the mr right. (hence, 3 star rating)
Quick, fun to read. won't mind reading another book from the author

[Anne Brooke]

I absolutely loved this book! It's a top-notch and sassy romantic comedy for the older woman and I couldn't put it down. The main character, Sarah Stagg, is just fabulous and I loved reading her story. It's sharply and wittily written, as well as being a lovely slow-burn romance, and I will definitely be reading more from this author. Oh, and the ending definitely had me cheering! You go, girl.

[Elizabeth]

This was a fun book. English swear words crack me up by the way... My favorite part of the whole book was the chapter titles. They made me laugh and reminisce about certain phases leading up to and immediately following my divorce.

[Princess]

Very fun, very easy chicklit read. I enjoyed the chapter titles and the various situations that Sarah Stagg finds herself in. I like that she realizes she's in charge of her life and that she can learn to be on her own.

[Nettle]

The theme of "woman finding herself after divorce" is not new, but the deft, three-dimensional characterizations give the story dimension. I believed in the relationships as they developed and completely enjoyed the story.

[Carissa]

Another good chick lit.

[L A]

great. the best thing that could have happened to elinor was her trip to majorca. that you dont have to stay in a relationship because that is what you know.