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Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties
From bestselling author Camille Pagán comes a hilarious and hopeful story about a woman on the verge of a nervous breakthrough.
At fifty-three, Maggie Harris has a good marriage and two mostly happy children. Perpetually anxious, she’s also accumulated a list of semi-reasonable fears: falling air conditioners, the IRS, identity theft, skydiving, and airbag recalls. But never once did Maggie worry that her husband of nearly thirty years would leave her.
On the day Adam walks out the door, everything that makes Maggie secure goes with him. Only then does she realize that while she’s been busy caring for everyone else, she’s become invisible to the world—and to herself.
Maggie cautiously begins to rebuild her life with a trip to Rome, a new career, and even a rebound romance. But when a fresh crisis strikes and an uncertain future looms, she must decide: How much will she risk to remain the woman she’s just become?
At fifty-three, Maggie Harris has a good marriage and two mostly happy children. Perpetually anxious, she’s also accumulated a list of semi-reasonable fears: falling air conditioners, the IRS, identity theft, skydiving, and airbag recalls. But never once did Maggie worry that her husband of nearly thirty years would leave her.
On the day Adam walks out the door, everything that makes Maggie secure goes with him. Only then does she realize that while she’s been busy caring for everyone else, she’s become invisible to the world—and to herself.
Maggie cautiously begins to rebuild her life with a trip to Rome, a new career, and even a rebound romance. But when a fresh crisis strikes and an uncertain future looms, she must decide: How much will she risk to remain the woman she’s just become?
253 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2018
4668 people are currently reading
12955 people want to read
About the author
Camille Pagán
15 books1,788 followersI’m the #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of ten books, including Good for You, I'm Fine and Neither Are You, and Life and Other Near-Death Experiences, which was recently optioned for film. My novels have been translated into twenty languages.
I've written for Forbes, The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parade, Real Simple, Time, and many others. I'm also a master certified coach and the founder of Even Better Co.
When I'm not at my computer, you'll find me with my nose in a book, running after my two kids, or talking shop with other writers. Be the first to know about my new releases and other updates by signing up for my newslettter at camillepagan.com/subscribe.
I've written for Forbes, The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parade, Real Simple, Time, and many others. I'm also a master certified coach and the founder of Even Better Co.
When I'm not at my computer, you'll find me with my nose in a book, running after my two kids, or talking shop with other writers. Be the first to know about my new releases and other updates by signing up for my newslettter at camillepagan.com/subscribe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,123 reviews
May 12, 2018
At the start, I worried my fellow book lovers had led me astray. Perhaps they'd been seduced by the catchy title and book cover? The setup boded cliched characters and story line... but hurrah! The author more than made up for the so-so start with an ultimately wise, satisfying book. Plus, the audiobook reader was outstanding!
February 12, 2018
I'll come out and say it - I requested this novel solely because the title grabbed my attention.
Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties was relatable. Despite that, I couldn't get into it at all.
The heroine, Maggie Harris finds herself in her early fifties divorced, as her dependable husband of nearly thirty years leaves her for a much younger woman. How cliche, right?
The kids are grown up.. Who's Maggie without her partner? Unsurprisingly, she's confused, depressed, and very lonely.
After moping and grieving her relationship, Maggie has to re-discover who she can be, what she wants and so on. She's in a pretty good financial position, so she doesn't have the struggles of other women in a similar position.
There's travelling to Italy, a new romance, ups and downs.
The writing is simple and utilitarian. While it's not fluffy, it's not particularly engaging either. It was actually pretty flat, so I had to force myself to get back to it.
When the story is so familiar, I need something special to keep my interest. I'm afraid this novel didn't quite deliver.
I've received this novel from Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties was relatable. Despite that, I couldn't get into it at all.
The heroine, Maggie Harris finds herself in her early fifties divorced, as her dependable husband of nearly thirty years leaves her for a much younger woman. How cliche, right?
The kids are grown up.. Who's Maggie without her partner? Unsurprisingly, she's confused, depressed, and very lonely.
After moping and grieving her relationship, Maggie has to re-discover who she can be, what she wants and so on. She's in a pretty good financial position, so she doesn't have the struggles of other women in a similar position.
There's travelling to Italy, a new romance, ups and downs.
The writing is simple and utilitarian. While it's not fluffy, it's not particularly engaging either. It was actually pretty flat, so I had to force myself to get back to it.
When the story is so familiar, I need something special to keep my interest. I'm afraid this novel didn't quite deliver.
I've received this novel from Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2018
3.5 stars - Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties starts with Maggie, a 53 year old, being blindsided by her husband, Adam, announcing he wants to separate and isn’t happy anymore. Maggie didn’t see it coming, and struggled to find how this happened and how she’s lost herself over the last several years supporting him and raising their two (now adult) children.
“When you think you are bypassing heartache, all you’re really doing is borrowing happiness from another day.”
While I can’t imagine having to deal with this and feeling blindsided by such a bombshell, I initially wasn’t that into the story - I felt Maggie was being naive and acting a bit too old-school with her behavior and train of thought. However, we don’t know how we’ll act in certain situations sometimes until we’re facing them ourselves.
”Sometimes you’ve got to take a hammer to life’s hard edges.”
I’m not a mom and closer to Maggie’s kids’ ages than her, but there were enough elements throughout the story that I still found relatable. The heart of the story is focused on finding yourself, at any age, but again later in life if you’ve lost some parts of who you once were. Being courageous enough to know change is hard sometimes, but can also be good, and to embrace it. I enjoyed the story, especially as Maggie’s journey to find herself again progressed.
“When you think you are bypassing heartache, all you’re really doing is borrowing happiness from another day.”
While I can’t imagine having to deal with this and feeling blindsided by such a bombshell, I initially wasn’t that into the story - I felt Maggie was being naive and acting a bit too old-school with her behavior and train of thought. However, we don’t know how we’ll act in certain situations sometimes until we’re facing them ourselves.
”Sometimes you’ve got to take a hammer to life’s hard edges.”
I’m not a mom and closer to Maggie’s kids’ ages than her, but there were enough elements throughout the story that I still found relatable. The heart of the story is focused on finding yourself, at any age, but again later in life if you’ve lost some parts of who you once were. Being courageous enough to know change is hard sometimes, but can also be good, and to embrace it. I enjoyed the story, especially as Maggie’s journey to find herself again progressed.
November 21, 2018
About 70% Audiobook....synced with about 30% ebook.....
From Kindle Unlimited .....narrated by Amy McFadden [ AMY is FANTASTIC]
Tidbit information for those who are curious about *Kindle unlimited*- how it works - and why it’s a much better deal today than in the beginning years with Amazon. Cost is $9.99 a month. Anyone can try their 30 day free trial.
Years ago - I tried the 30 trial - never felt the books they carried were worth the money spent. They use to only allow 1 book out at a time. There were no Audiobook sync’s in the early days either.
Today....the selection of books are much better - and a huge selection.
We can have 10 books out at a time with the choice to either read the ebook on our kindle or listen to the Audiobook on the iPhone. ( a few older books aren’t available in audible), but none of the books have ANY DUE DATE!
I always keep 10 books checked out. Once I’m finished reading a book ( like this one), I can return it allowing me to add another want-to-read....( or listen), book giving me a total of 10 books. I play games. I only want to check out books with high ratings -AND are available as an Audiobook option.
You can have these books out longer than the library or Netgalley. I always get more than my moneys worth.
Many of these books are $9.99 each to buy. So this monthly deal is a great savings for readers who enjoy both ebooks and audiobooks.
Feel free to ask me more questions if interested. I know - many readers gave up on Kindle Unlimited in their early years - as did I. I like it now! 📘🎧
On with this review....
THIS AUDIOBOOK WAS FUN - really FUN - always engaging.
The times I read from my kindle ( early in bed) ...I MISSED *AMY McFadden’s* voice a LOT!!!! This book is well written - witty - believable - totally entertaining- and we feel we know Maggie Harris!!! ——— BUT....those who read this book and missed the Audiobook are definitely missing out on a much GREATER EXPERIENCE!!!!! Honestly....no slam on the author - *Camille Pagan* - but her book is only have as good ‘without’ what the reader provides for it.
*Camille’s” BOOK IS GOOD....
But NOT nearly as ALIVE in print compared to what our gifted *Amy* does for it. I can’t express it enough!!!!
At the beginning of this novel - we are told right up front that author Camille Pagan has given us a tale as old as time: A woman marries a man.
The man leaves her.....(presumably’ for a younger woman......maybe?).....
Yet - this old tale is fresh, thought provoking, empowering, and doesn’t feel like a has-been, at all!!!
Maggie is 53 years old. She and Adam have been married for almost 30 years. They raised their two - now adult children - in Oak Valley, Illinois...in Chicago.
Maggie was shocked when Adam announced he was leaving with not much more notice or conversation than if he said he was going out for a cup of coffee.
Maggie was SHOCKED.....really shocked -BLINDSIDED & devastated. Never - ever did she think Adam would leave her.
Putting myself in Maggie’s shoes - I understood her ‘assumption’ about her solid marriage.....at the same time....I couldn’t help but wonder ....”what made her so sure”?
Maggie goes through all the pain & grief that you might imagine.....drinks more wine than she normally does, etc.
Maggie & Adam had a trip scheduled to Rome for their anniversary. Instead of canceling it, Maggie went alone. It was the beginning of her moving forward with her own life.
This is great “road-to-recovery’ story......with an ending you’re never sure of.....could have ended so many different ways.
Next month is my 40th wedding anniversary- I’m happily married - yet it’s so easy to relate with Maggie. Actually, all the characters are easy to relate to. They all add insights. Every perspective is worth thinking about.
There is a lot of emotional depth with a nice balance of humor in “Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties”.
Also...........Don’t be so sure you know what the title of this book means.
I loved every minute of this novel and I look forward to reading more books by Camille Pagan!
“Sometimes you’ve got to take a hammer to life‘s hard edges”!
From Kindle Unlimited .....narrated by Amy McFadden [ AMY is FANTASTIC]
Tidbit information for those who are curious about *Kindle unlimited*- how it works - and why it’s a much better deal today than in the beginning years with Amazon. Cost is $9.99 a month. Anyone can try their 30 day free trial.
Years ago - I tried the 30 trial - never felt the books they carried were worth the money spent. They use to only allow 1 book out at a time. There were no Audiobook sync’s in the early days either.
Today....the selection of books are much better - and a huge selection.
We can have 10 books out at a time with the choice to either read the ebook on our kindle or listen to the Audiobook on the iPhone. ( a few older books aren’t available in audible), but none of the books have ANY DUE DATE!
I always keep 10 books checked out. Once I’m finished reading a book ( like this one), I can return it allowing me to add another want-to-read....( or listen), book giving me a total of 10 books. I play games. I only want to check out books with high ratings -AND are available as an Audiobook option.
You can have these books out longer than the library or Netgalley. I always get more than my moneys worth.
Many of these books are $9.99 each to buy. So this monthly deal is a great savings for readers who enjoy both ebooks and audiobooks.
Feel free to ask me more questions if interested. I know - many readers gave up on Kindle Unlimited in their early years - as did I. I like it now! 📘🎧
On with this review....
THIS AUDIOBOOK WAS FUN - really FUN - always engaging.
The times I read from my kindle ( early in bed) ...I MISSED *AMY McFadden’s* voice a LOT!!!! This book is well written - witty - believable - totally entertaining- and we feel we know Maggie Harris!!! ——— BUT....those who read this book and missed the Audiobook are definitely missing out on a much GREATER EXPERIENCE!!!!! Honestly....no slam on the author - *Camille Pagan* - but her book is only have as good ‘without’ what the reader provides for it.
*Camille’s” BOOK IS GOOD....
But NOT nearly as ALIVE in print compared to what our gifted *Amy* does for it. I can’t express it enough!!!!
At the beginning of this novel - we are told right up front that author Camille Pagan has given us a tale as old as time: A woman marries a man.
The man leaves her.....(presumably’ for a younger woman......maybe?).....
Yet - this old tale is fresh, thought provoking, empowering, and doesn’t feel like a has-been, at all!!!
Maggie is 53 years old. She and Adam have been married for almost 30 years. They raised their two - now adult children - in Oak Valley, Illinois...in Chicago.
Maggie was shocked when Adam announced he was leaving with not much more notice or conversation than if he said he was going out for a cup of coffee.
Maggie was SHOCKED.....really shocked -BLINDSIDED & devastated. Never - ever did she think Adam would leave her.
Putting myself in Maggie’s shoes - I understood her ‘assumption’ about her solid marriage.....at the same time....I couldn’t help but wonder ....”what made her so sure”?
Maggie goes through all the pain & grief that you might imagine.....drinks more wine than she normally does, etc.
Maggie & Adam had a trip scheduled to Rome for their anniversary. Instead of canceling it, Maggie went alone. It was the beginning of her moving forward with her own life.
This is great “road-to-recovery’ story......with an ending you’re never sure of.....could have ended so many different ways.
Next month is my 40th wedding anniversary- I’m happily married - yet it’s so easy to relate with Maggie. Actually, all the characters are easy to relate to. They all add insights. Every perspective is worth thinking about.
There is a lot of emotional depth with a nice balance of humor in “Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties”.
Also...........Don’t be so sure you know what the title of this book means.
I loved every minute of this novel and I look forward to reading more books by Camille Pagan!
“Sometimes you’ve got to take a hammer to life‘s hard edges”!
August 10, 2018
Maggie Halfmoon and her husband, Adam, is nearing their retirement and their 28th year of being married. However, Maggie’s worst nightmare came when Adam just suddenly dropped the bomb that he’s leaving their home because he no longer loves her. Aside from this, he told her that there’s another woman in his life; he sent a divorce paper few weeks after he was gone, and Maggie was left thinking what went wrong in their marriage. She kept on wishing that Adam will have a change of heart; that he will come back and they will fix their relationship.
Maggie went through the stages of grief: denial of what happened; anger to the man he loves since college; she even bargain with Adam when she drunk called him while he was in Rome; she had a mild depression, it was shown when she was slowly becoming an alcoholic particularly in the beginning, and she finally comes to acceptance after she met Adam again in the hospital.
While reading Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties, it reminds me of the bestselling novel of Elizabeth Gilbert. Although I haven’t read the aforementioned, I was able to watch the movie based on the book; hence I was able to compare this novel of Camille Pagán to it. The similarities between the two are that both protagonists went to Italy; they went through grief and confusion, and they both want to know what they want in their life now that they are single.
The story of Maggie in this novel and those other divorced women will teach us that it’s not the end of the road if your marriage failed. Hence, we should relish every phase of grief; seek peace; try to forgive those who hurt us, and keep moving forward because behind those failures might be a better life ahead.
Maggie went through the stages of grief: denial of what happened; anger to the man he loves since college; she even bargain with Adam when she drunk called him while he was in Rome; she had a mild depression, it was shown when she was slowly becoming an alcoholic particularly in the beginning, and she finally comes to acceptance after she met Adam again in the hospital.
While reading Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties, it reminds me of the bestselling novel of Elizabeth Gilbert. Although I haven’t read the aforementioned, I was able to watch the movie based on the book; hence I was able to compare this novel of Camille Pagán to it. The similarities between the two are that both protagonists went to Italy; they went through grief and confusion, and they both want to know what they want in their life now that they are single.
The story of Maggie in this novel and those other divorced women will teach us that it’s not the end of the road if your marriage failed. Hence, we should relish every phase of grief; seek peace; try to forgive those who hurt us, and keep moving forward because behind those failures might be a better life ahead.
February 26, 2018
Maggie is shell shocked as her world is turned upside down when, out of nowhere, her husband declares after almost 30 years of marriage that he doesn't love her any more. As Maggie goes through the grieving process of a broken marriage, she slowly comes to the realisation that she has lost herself in the process of caring for everyone else in her family. She gingerly begins building a new life, embarking on a journey of self discovery, coming out the other side a much stronger, resilient woman, no longer afraid of the unknown and up to the challenge of life's little surprises along the way.
I enjoyed embarking on this journey with Maggie. However this story provided nothing new to the concept of starting over after divorce and was therefore rather predictable. I needed something more from the story to make it stand out above the rest. This could have been achieved if the book made good on its blurb that it was a "hilarious" read, but I found the humour sadly lacking. I was expecting more laughs and giggles in order to balance out the seriousness of the book.
All in all, a good read of reinventing oneself after divorce, growing older and opening up oneself to unexpected , unforeseen possibilities.
Many thanks to the author, Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.
I enjoyed embarking on this journey with Maggie. However this story provided nothing new to the concept of starting over after divorce and was therefore rather predictable. I needed something more from the story to make it stand out above the rest. This could have been achieved if the book made good on its blurb that it was a "hilarious" read, but I found the humour sadly lacking. I was expecting more laughs and giggles in order to balance out the seriousness of the book.
All in all, a good read of reinventing oneself after divorce, growing older and opening up oneself to unexpected , unforeseen possibilities.
Many thanks to the author, Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.
March 2, 2019
I really loved Forever is the Worst Long Time by the author so I was excited when I saw this book on sale. Unfortunately, this one didn't pack the same emotional punch and probably belongs in the decent, but nothing special category.
Maggie Harris is in her 50s, married and has two grown children. She is not at all prepared when her husband announces he is leaving her. If there is anything good to come of this new situation it is Maggie might soon realize it's okay to take care of herself instead of always putting others' needs in front of her own.
There was nothing significantly wrong with the plot or the main character other than there was nothing here in my opinion that made it anything more than just an average read. If I had to describe how I felt about Maggie, it would be she felt more like an acquaintance than a friend or family member. She was just interesting enough that I wanted to see what was in store for her, but that was about it. With some books, you might think about them for days or weeks after you are finished reading. That isn't the case here. It was an okay way to pass the time, but I do think there are better books out there featuring middle-aged characters going through a divorce.
Maggie Harris is in her 50s, married and has two grown children. She is not at all prepared when her husband announces he is leaving her. If there is anything good to come of this new situation it is Maggie might soon realize it's okay to take care of herself instead of always putting others' needs in front of her own.
There was nothing significantly wrong with the plot or the main character other than there was nothing here in my opinion that made it anything more than just an average read. If I had to describe how I felt about Maggie, it would be she felt more like an acquaintance than a friend or family member. She was just interesting enough that I wanted to see what was in store for her, but that was about it. With some books, you might think about them for days or weeks after you are finished reading. That isn't the case here. It was an okay way to pass the time, but I do think there are better books out there featuring middle-aged characters going through a divorce.
October 4, 2019
2.75 stars
I requested this ARC, because I found the title intriguing and that alone made me think and reflect on Things-In-Life.
Despite the cover blurb revealing the gist of the story, I was somehow hoping for more... more depth, layers, insight, inner journey. So maybe it was a mistake on my part to start reading with these expectations in mind, but I couldn't help them, they were there and unfortunately they were not met. Pretty much everything was kept close to the surface.
This does not mean that the book was bad, not at all. It was a nice read altogether with an OK, but very generic story. There is not really anything to make it stand out among the others of its kind. It is about how a woman in her fifties has to start life all over again, re-discovering herself in the process.
When it came to her travel to Rome, I started to get nervous, getting some very unwelcome Eat, Pray, Love-vibes (am not a fan of that book, in case you are curious). I think the author must have been conscious of this herself as there was a direct, tongue-in-cheek denial about it.
The writing was good, but bland and did not really help me connecting to Maggie.
Closing conclusion: if you are in need of some hen-lit, go for it, just don't expect anything earth-shattering.
ARC received by the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I requested this ARC, because I found the title intriguing and that alone made me think and reflect on Things-In-Life.
Despite the cover blurb revealing the gist of the story, I was somehow hoping for more... more depth, layers, insight, inner journey. So maybe it was a mistake on my part to start reading with these expectations in mind, but I couldn't help them, they were there and unfortunately they were not met. Pretty much everything was kept close to the surface.
This does not mean that the book was bad, not at all. It was a nice read altogether with an OK, but very generic story. There is not really anything to make it stand out among the others of its kind. It is about how a woman in her fifties has to start life all over again, re-discovering herself in the process.
When it came to her travel to Rome, I started to get nervous, getting some very unwelcome Eat, Pray, Love-vibes (am not a fan of that book, in case you are curious). I think the author must have been conscious of this herself as there was a direct, tongue-in-cheek denial about it.
The writing was good, but bland and did not really help me connecting to Maggie.
Closing conclusion: if you are in need of some hen-lit, go for it, just don't expect anything earth-shattering.
ARC received by the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2018
This is my first novel by this author and I am so glad to have experienced this story.
Maggie is blindsided by her husbands announcement that he is leaving her and wants a divorce. Maggie is devastated and cannot remember her life without her husband. She tries to cope with her new normal and soon discovers a version of herself that she misses.
She decides to take a trip alone to Rome and meets a woman who becomes a friend and suggests that she occupies her home in MI while she stays in Italy for 6 months. Maggie's journey with her new life brings new friendships including a new love interest. She is feeling good about herself and her broken heart is healing. Her life becomes disrupted when an event causes her to rethink her future.
What I loved about this story is the evolution of Maggie's journey to find herself again. She does, and her choices only solidify her strength as a mother and a woman forging a path to her best self and you are cheering for her every step of the way.
Maggie is blindsided by her husbands announcement that he is leaving her and wants a divorce. Maggie is devastated and cannot remember her life without her husband. She tries to cope with her new normal and soon discovers a version of herself that she misses.
She decides to take a trip alone to Rome and meets a woman who becomes a friend and suggests that she occupies her home in MI while she stays in Italy for 6 months. Maggie's journey with her new life brings new friendships including a new love interest. She is feeling good about herself and her broken heart is healing. Her life becomes disrupted when an event causes her to rethink her future.
What I loved about this story is the evolution of Maggie's journey to find herself again. She does, and her choices only solidify her strength as a mother and a woman forging a path to her best self and you are cheering for her every step of the way.
February 16, 2018
“It’s an age-old story: woman meets man, man woos woman, woman spends her best years believing their love is the everlasting kind. The pair watches with teary eyes as their progeny take flight from their suburban nest, knowing they’ll return in times of crisis or when their laundry needs to be washed and folded. Woman embraces aging with hair dye and ample amounts of wine . Man faces his impending mortality by convincing himself that a younger woman is the answer to his waning energy and flagging libido. Certain their sparkling future is worth the collateral damage, the May–December duo ride into the sunset as our heroine stands in the shadows, stunned by this unexpected rewrite. Yes, mine is a tale as old as time. Beauty replaces the beast.”
When Maggie’s husband leaves her later later in life, she has to figure out once again who she is without him. How do you find yourself after decades of marriage when you’ve always been an “us” and never an “I”? How do you make people see you again as the person you were? How do you make people see you AT ALL??
“When had I ceased to be a human and metamorphosed into a windowpane? Maybe people had been looking right through me for years, and I was only now realizing it. Ladies and gentlemen, the Amazing Invisible Woman has been spotted!”
Now in her 50’s with grown children and a husband who no longer thinks he loves her she has to wonder, “Where was the bright-eyed girl who had dreamed of a happy nuclear family and actually lived to see her dream come true?”
So, Maggie decides to go on her Anniversary trip to Rome that was already booked to try to find herself as her own person again. Learning to put down the bottle and be her best self… or, at least the self that is recognizable once more.
“After seven months of numbing my worst feelings, I was ready to feel them, even the ones that made it seem like life was nothing but a big fat cosmic joke.”
This book is equal parts “Eat Pray Love” and “Bridget Jones’ Diary” all at once touching and funny. I loved the character of Maggie as she was written very real. She wasn’t perfect, but she was strong and she was weak all at the same time. It wasn’t a pretty transition from wife and mother to single woman again, and it wasn’t one of those books where she just fell into the arms of some hunky man who sweeps her off her feet and they live happily ever after. It’s messy and it’s up and down as we follow Maggie on this beautiful journey where she learns that you can always change your mind because “Life is nothing if not full of twists and turns.”
When Maggie’s husband leaves her later later in life, she has to figure out once again who she is without him. How do you find yourself after decades of marriage when you’ve always been an “us” and never an “I”? How do you make people see you again as the person you were? How do you make people see you AT ALL??
“When had I ceased to be a human and metamorphosed into a windowpane? Maybe people had been looking right through me for years, and I was only now realizing it. Ladies and gentlemen, the Amazing Invisible Woman has been spotted!”
Now in her 50’s with grown children and a husband who no longer thinks he loves her she has to wonder, “Where was the bright-eyed girl who had dreamed of a happy nuclear family and actually lived to see her dream come true?”
So, Maggie decides to go on her Anniversary trip to Rome that was already booked to try to find herself as her own person again. Learning to put down the bottle and be her best self… or, at least the self that is recognizable once more.
“After seven months of numbing my worst feelings, I was ready to feel them, even the ones that made it seem like life was nothing but a big fat cosmic joke.”
This book is equal parts “Eat Pray Love” and “Bridget Jones’ Diary” all at once touching and funny. I loved the character of Maggie as she was written very real. She wasn’t perfect, but she was strong and she was weak all at the same time. It wasn’t a pretty transition from wife and mother to single woman again, and it wasn’t one of those books where she just fell into the arms of some hunky man who sweeps her off her feet and they live happily ever after. It’s messy and it’s up and down as we follow Maggie on this beautiful journey where she learns that you can always change your mind because “Life is nothing if not full of twists and turns.”
February 26, 2018
I don’t know if there’s a mother on the planet that hasn’t felt like they lost a piece of themselves at some point since having their children. It’s SO incredibly easy to throw your heart and soul into being a mom, it’s a gigantic responsibility and one most don’t take lightly. Along the way it’s far too easy to put yourself last in order to keep your family functioning happily and you don’t even notice until you’ve been doing it for years, decades even. That is the crux of Maggie’s problem, she has lost herself and it takes her husband leaving her for her to even realize it.
I could completely relate to Maggie even though she’s a bit older than me, she’s a normal, everyday wife and mom who doesn’t even really know what makes her happy. She knows what drives her kids and her husband, but herself? The last time she followed her dreams was when she married her husband decades ago. Pagan created such a realistic character in Maggie, she was warm and kind and also insecure and unsure of her place in the world and lacking confidence in a major way. Who can’t relate to that?! She also had a dark sense of humor at times that I loved! The way the whole book unfolded was so true to real life, you know those books where a woman gets divorced then moves someplace new, falls in love and gets a second chance at happiness super quickly? This isn’t that book and I so appreciated that, it’s an extremely well written and accurate portrayal of what a woman would do after her life is shattered.
Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties in three words: Honest, Relatable and Hopeful.
I could completely relate to Maggie even though she’s a bit older than me, she’s a normal, everyday wife and mom who doesn’t even really know what makes her happy. She knows what drives her kids and her husband, but herself? The last time she followed her dreams was when she married her husband decades ago. Pagan created such a realistic character in Maggie, she was warm and kind and also insecure and unsure of her place in the world and lacking confidence in a major way. Who can’t relate to that?! She also had a dark sense of humor at times that I loved! The way the whole book unfolded was so true to real life, you know those books where a woman gets divorced then moves someplace new, falls in love and gets a second chance at happiness super quickly? This isn’t that book and I so appreciated that, it’s an extremely well written and accurate portrayal of what a woman would do after her life is shattered.
Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties in three words: Honest, Relatable and Hopeful.
May 29, 2018
I really enjoy Camille Pagan’s writing - her stories are funny, poignant, relatable and uplifting.
This is a story about Maggie, a 53-year-old woman whose life has revolved around 30years of marriage and staying at home to raise their two now-adult kids. When her husband, Adam, goes through a mid-life crisis and ends their marriage, Maggie must begin the process of rediscovering who she is again.
Maggie goes through all the emotions you’d expect (shock, sadness, anger, hurt), but this story is an uplifting and hopeful one, thanks to Pagan’s trademark use of wit, and Maggie’s character growing into a place of greater understanding, forgiveness, and excitement for the future.
You will empathize with Maggie, and feel for her situation, but you’ll also cheer for her as she takes her life back one adventurous, and hopeful step at a time.
Audio Notes: Amy McFadden perfectly delivers Pagan's wit, and reinforces Maggie as such a believable character, capturing all the nuances of her thoughts and emotions. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award.
And of course... ♥ Book cover love ♥
This is a story about Maggie, a 53-year-old woman whose life has revolved around 30years of marriage and staying at home to raise their two now-adult kids. When her husband, Adam, goes through a mid-life crisis and ends their marriage, Maggie must begin the process of rediscovering who she is again.
Maggie goes through all the emotions you’d expect (shock, sadness, anger, hurt), but this story is an uplifting and hopeful one, thanks to Pagan’s trademark use of wit, and Maggie’s character growing into a place of greater understanding, forgiveness, and excitement for the future.
You will empathize with Maggie, and feel for her situation, but you’ll also cheer for her as she takes her life back one adventurous, and hopeful step at a time.
Audio Notes: Amy McFadden perfectly delivers Pagan's wit, and reinforces Maggie as such a believable character, capturing all the nuances of her thoughts and emotions. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award.
And of course... ♥ Book cover love ♥
March 31, 2020
I borrowed this book through Amazon Prime and I'd give it a solid three stars. It's about a woman whose husband ends the relationship and she is left to figure out who she is past her marriage and children. It's not super thrilling but relatable, good for a plane read.
April 24, 2018
Sometimes you don’t need this.....
that....
or this....
or that.....
to enjoy a good story....
This plotline has been done before by other authors but Camille does it so well (except for the part about Texas....LOL).
that....
or this....
or that.....
to enjoy a good story....
This plotline has been done before by other authors but Camille does it so well (except for the part about Texas....LOL).
November 6, 2021
[2.5]. Bland.
March 20, 2018
Really enjoyed this book! Maggie is such a great character. The story line is interesting and kept me glued to the page. I really liked that the characters were multi-dimensional and had depth. There is something so satisfying and inspiring when someone triumphs over a tough situation and this book delivers in that regard. Let’s hear it for second chances!
March 24, 2018
Well this book was a pleasant surprise. It’s my first book written by Camille Pagan and I love her style of writing. I’m in my 50’s too and it made me think what would happen if my hubby of 27 years also said “I’m done with our marriage”. It’s scary to start over after 2 kids ... etc. But one has to move on. This book was very enjoyable and I can’t wait to read her other books.
February 2, 2020
Pagan is great at exploring relationships and life in all its complexities. This book is no exception. A fast-paced interesting read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
February 17, 2018
When I first saw the title of this book, I thought it would be about a woman in her 30s. Was I ever wrong - it's about a woman in her 50s and I was thrilled. I feel that this is an age group that is being ignored in modern books and it was great to have such a multi-dimensional and well written character take the lead. Kudos to Camille for writing such a fantastic main character and a great book.
After 30 years of marriage and being part of a couple who were well matched and happy, Maggie's husband decides that he no longer loves his wife and wants a divorce. He has found another woman who is as young as their two children and wants to start his life over. Maggie is shocked and at first thinks that he will be back soon. She even plans a family Thanksgiving dinner several months later so he can see what he's missed and beg to come home. It doesn't work that way and Maggie has to re-invent herself and her life and at 53 that's a tough thing to do. She ends up taking a solo trip to Italy and then moves to another state to try to find herself and figure out what she wants out of life and what her life will look like as she moves forward. I loved Maggie and I laughed with her and cried with her and was rooting for her to find a way to move forward with her life. This book doesn't disappoint and you don't want to miss it.
Thank you to the author and the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
After 30 years of marriage and being part of a couple who were well matched and happy, Maggie's husband decides that he no longer loves his wife and wants a divorce. He has found another woman who is as young as their two children and wants to start his life over. Maggie is shocked and at first thinks that he will be back soon. She even plans a family Thanksgiving dinner several months later so he can see what he's missed and beg to come home. It doesn't work that way and Maggie has to re-invent herself and her life and at 53 that's a tough thing to do. She ends up taking a solo trip to Italy and then moves to another state to try to find herself and figure out what she wants out of life and what her life will look like as she moves forward. I loved Maggie and I laughed with her and cried with her and was rooting for her to find a way to move forward with her life. This book doesn't disappoint and you don't want to miss it.
Thank you to the author and the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
March 13, 2018
Wow! I did not see this one coming! I had not read any novels by this author, but the cover captured my eye first. When I read the blurb about it, I couldn't resist.
How many women over 40 feel like all the world revolves around 20-somethings or, dare I say it, milennials? I don't think I did at 40, but in my 60's I really feel it. TV commercials, TV shows...it runs through our entire society! So this particular book caught my eye right away. And, it succeeded in holding my attention throughout. Maggie spoke to me and I wanted to be in my 50's again and fly off to Rome and live some of my dreams. I did, vicariously, through this book. I loved it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a "dream come true" book that was a great read and an easy to review book! I look forward to reading more by this author.
How many women over 40 feel like all the world revolves around 20-somethings or, dare I say it, milennials? I don't think I did at 40, but in my 60's I really feel it. TV commercials, TV shows...it runs through our entire society! So this particular book caught my eye right away. And, it succeeded in holding my attention throughout. Maggie spoke to me and I wanted to be in my 50's again and fly off to Rome and live some of my dreams. I did, vicariously, through this book. I loved it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a "dream come true" book that was a great read and an easy to review book! I look forward to reading more by this author.
February 22, 2019
WOMAN LAST SEEN IN HER THIRTIES is totally relatable and true to life. It's a story about a woman who thought she had the perfect marriage of nearly thirty years, but now her husband just shattered her world. Follow Maggie's journey as she begins to rebuild her life and find herself again.i
A book of family drama, heartbreak, hope, and self-discovery... Loved every minute of reading this one!
A book of family drama, heartbreak, hope, and self-discovery... Loved every minute of reading this one!
January 30, 2018
My Review of “Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties” by Camille Pagan Lake Union Publishing February 27,2018
Kudos to Camille Pagan , Author of “Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties” for such a wonderful, emotional and encouraging read. Can you imagine thinking you have it all, married for thirty years, two grown children, a house , and friends, and finding that everything in your life is about to change? How would you feel if said husband informs you that he no longer wants to be married? You’re 53 years old and you realize that your husband is not coming back. What should you do? What do you do?
Camille Pagan describes her characters as flawed, complex and complicated. Maggie Harris has a load of insecurities and anxieties, but there was no way that she can believe that this has happened to her. Of course, she is hoping Adam will change his mind. Maggie is starting to feel invisible. She had left her career as a social worker years ago, to take care of her children and husband. She works part-time for a dentist for the convenience. Many times she feels lonely, and goes through the gamut of emotions.
Maggie goes to Rome by herself. She makes a special friend and meets people and takes the time to reflect. The friend that she meets in Rome suggest that Maggie stay in her home, when she goes back to the United States. Maggie has to learn to take care of herself. The blurb from NetGalley says that Camille Pagan writes about “a woman on the verge of a nervous breakthrough.”
I appreciate that the author discusses the importance of believing in yourself, having self-esteem, and learning what you want. The author also stresses the importance of family, , emotional support, love and hope. I like that age is just a number , and you can do what you want to. I would recommend this enjoyable story to readers that like Woman’s Fiction. I received An Advanced Reading Copy from NetGalley for my honest review.
Kudos to Camille Pagan , Author of “Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties” for such a wonderful, emotional and encouraging read. Can you imagine thinking you have it all, married for thirty years, two grown children, a house , and friends, and finding that everything in your life is about to change? How would you feel if said husband informs you that he no longer wants to be married? You’re 53 years old and you realize that your husband is not coming back. What should you do? What do you do?
Camille Pagan describes her characters as flawed, complex and complicated. Maggie Harris has a load of insecurities and anxieties, but there was no way that she can believe that this has happened to her. Of course, she is hoping Adam will change his mind. Maggie is starting to feel invisible. She had left her career as a social worker years ago, to take care of her children and husband. She works part-time for a dentist for the convenience. Many times she feels lonely, and goes through the gamut of emotions.
Maggie goes to Rome by herself. She makes a special friend and meets people and takes the time to reflect. The friend that she meets in Rome suggest that Maggie stay in her home, when she goes back to the United States. Maggie has to learn to take care of herself. The blurb from NetGalley says that Camille Pagan writes about “a woman on the verge of a nervous breakthrough.”
I appreciate that the author discusses the importance of believing in yourself, having self-esteem, and learning what you want. The author also stresses the importance of family, , emotional support, love and hope. I like that age is just a number , and you can do what you want to. I would recommend this enjoyable story to readers that like Woman’s Fiction. I received An Advanced Reading Copy from NetGalley for my honest review.
January 11, 2022
“It’s an age-old story: woman meets man, man woos woman, woman spends her best years believing their love is the everlasting kind.”
Until it’s not.
After 30 years of marriage and two grown children Maggie Harris’ husband walks out on her. Maggie knows how to be a wife and mom but she’s lost her identity along the way and now she must go out there and find herself again.
This was a witty, thoughtful and heartwarming read. The situations, and often conflicting emotions, Maggie went through on her journey felt very real. I found her so root worthy and enjoyed her path to self discovery. This was simply a wonderful book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Until it’s not.
After 30 years of marriage and two grown children Maggie Harris’ husband walks out on her. Maggie knows how to be a wife and mom but she’s lost her identity along the way and now she must go out there and find herself again.
This was a witty, thoughtful and heartwarming read. The situations, and often conflicting emotions, Maggie went through on her journey felt very real. I found her so root worthy and enjoyed her path to self discovery. This was simply a wonderful book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 24, 2018
Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties is the story of Maggie and how she copes when her husband of almost thirty years suddenly wants a divorce.
The main premise is all so familiar. And unfortunately others have done it better.
I did read to the end but once there, I had the feeling that I’d read a book where nothing really happened. Or the things that did happen were a series of boring and cliched tropes.
For starters, there was the ‘seachange’ type of move to another town, the new job, the adventurous holiday, the hot sex with a new man, the being assertive to boss/husband/younger patronising characters, and the coming to terms with addiction plotlines. I felt like Pagan had a list of scenes she thinks one must tick off to write a ‘women of a certain age rediscovering themselves after divorce’ novel.
The fact Maggie is 53 is completely wasted. Other than this enabling her to have grown up children, Maggie could have been any age.
I took a bit of offence to the title actually. It suggests that the last time Maggie really lived was when she was in her thirties. Obviously quiet hobbies, part time jobs, and successfully raising two children are completely discounted when it comes to living. To live, one must travel overseas, drink champagne, and dance on table tops! Sure.
Her age never came up when she was mingling with any of her potential new boyfriends either. Not that I really could say I remember the age of any of Maggie’s men. Nor any other details of their personalities. They weren’t fleshed out enough for me to form an opinion on who I should be cheering on fanatically either. Maggie could have gone for any of them and I’d have still just shrugged.
The only time her age was really raised is to explain why she is working in a dead end job. This is very common issue when women leave their employment to spend a few years at home with their children and sacrifice their career in the process. However, this book offers no new insights into the issue, nor any sort of suggestion on how anyone can change it.
I must add it wasn’t only the men in Maggie’s life I found underdone. I don’t think any of the supporting characters were particularly impressive. Maggie’s ex, her kids, and her friends… I can’t say any of them stood out. I'd have preferred the quirky annoying character even to this lot.
The blurb says this book is hilarious and hopeful. I would suggest ho-hum and hackneyed.
Sorry. 3 out of 5 is probably generous
The main premise is all so familiar. And unfortunately others have done it better.
I did read to the end but once there, I had the feeling that I’d read a book where nothing really happened. Or the things that did happen were a series of boring and cliched tropes.
For starters, there was the ‘seachange’ type of move to another town, the new job, the adventurous holiday, the hot sex with a new man, the being assertive to boss/husband/younger patronising characters, and the coming to terms with addiction plotlines. I felt like Pagan had a list of scenes she thinks one must tick off to write a ‘women of a certain age rediscovering themselves after divorce’ novel.
The fact Maggie is 53 is completely wasted. Other than this enabling her to have grown up children, Maggie could have been any age.
I took a bit of offence to the title actually. It suggests that the last time Maggie really lived was when she was in her thirties. Obviously quiet hobbies, part time jobs, and successfully raising two children are completely discounted when it comes to living. To live, one must travel overseas, drink champagne, and dance on table tops! Sure.
Her age never came up when she was mingling with any of her potential new boyfriends either. Not that I really could say I remember the age of any of Maggie’s men. Nor any other details of their personalities. They weren’t fleshed out enough for me to form an opinion on who I should be cheering on fanatically either. Maggie could have gone for any of them and I’d have still just shrugged.
The only time her age was really raised is to explain why she is working in a dead end job. This is very common issue when women leave their employment to spend a few years at home with their children and sacrifice their career in the process. However, this book offers no new insights into the issue, nor any sort of suggestion on how anyone can change it.
I must add it wasn’t only the men in Maggie’s life I found underdone. I don’t think any of the supporting characters were particularly impressive. Maggie’s ex, her kids, and her friends… I can’t say any of them stood out. I'd have preferred the quirky annoying character even to this lot.
The blurb says this book is hilarious and hopeful. I would suggest ho-hum and hackneyed.
Sorry. 3 out of 5 is probably generous
February 27, 2018
"Familiar is good, but maybe sometimes unfamiliar is even better.” - Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties
At the age of fifty-three, Maggie Harris is thrown for a loop when her husband decides to up and leave her without any warning. Sure, their lives have fallen into a boring routine, and they haven’t had a passionate marriage in years, but the divorce still comes as a shock.
Now, she is forced to figure out who she is and what she wants to do next. Her kids are fully grown, and while her son still depends on her financially, they don’t really need her anymore. She hasn’t worked in years, dedicating her life to raising her children and maintaining her household. For the first time in a long time, Maggie gets to make choices for herself, without any consideration for what others think.
Maggie’s journey takes her to Rome and Ann Arbor, meeting knew people along the way while also still dealing with relationships from her past. But when a medical emergency occurs, taking her back to her life in Chicago, Maggie is forced to decide if she wants to go back to her old life, or stick it out and see where her new journey takes her.
Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties is an inspiring novel, forcing the reader to evaluate their own situation and ask themselves, “Am I truly living, or am I fading into the background of my own life instead of being present in it?” It’s also a lighthearted read, with Camille Pagan bringing lots of subtle humor to the pages with her wonderful writing.
As a woman turning thirty later this year, and as a stay at home mom, this book really hit home. It’s easy to put everyone else before yourself (isn’t that what moms do?) but it’s also easy to lose yourself by doing it. Reading has always been my favorite hobby, but this novel inspired me to focus more on my other passions too. Once our kids are grown and leave the nest, we have to live with the life that we’ve created for ourselves. Do we want that life to be full of wonderful memories, or full of regret that we didn’t do more?
I highly recommend this novel to fans of women’s fiction. It’s a quick, enjoyable read that is also very relatable. I would recommend Camille Pagan’s other novels, as well. Forever is the Worst Long Time was one of my favorite reads in 2017.
I would give this book 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 stars.
**Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for being so wonderful and sending me this finished copy in advance. All opinions are my own.**
At the age of fifty-three, Maggie Harris is thrown for a loop when her husband decides to up and leave her without any warning. Sure, their lives have fallen into a boring routine, and they haven’t had a passionate marriage in years, but the divorce still comes as a shock.
Now, she is forced to figure out who she is and what she wants to do next. Her kids are fully grown, and while her son still depends on her financially, they don’t really need her anymore. She hasn’t worked in years, dedicating her life to raising her children and maintaining her household. For the first time in a long time, Maggie gets to make choices for herself, without any consideration for what others think.
Maggie’s journey takes her to Rome and Ann Arbor, meeting knew people along the way while also still dealing with relationships from her past. But when a medical emergency occurs, taking her back to her life in Chicago, Maggie is forced to decide if she wants to go back to her old life, or stick it out and see where her new journey takes her.
Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties is an inspiring novel, forcing the reader to evaluate their own situation and ask themselves, “Am I truly living, or am I fading into the background of my own life instead of being present in it?” It’s also a lighthearted read, with Camille Pagan bringing lots of subtle humor to the pages with her wonderful writing.
As a woman turning thirty later this year, and as a stay at home mom, this book really hit home. It’s easy to put everyone else before yourself (isn’t that what moms do?) but it’s also easy to lose yourself by doing it. Reading has always been my favorite hobby, but this novel inspired me to focus more on my other passions too. Once our kids are grown and leave the nest, we have to live with the life that we’ve created for ourselves. Do we want that life to be full of wonderful memories, or full of regret that we didn’t do more?
I highly recommend this novel to fans of women’s fiction. It’s a quick, enjoyable read that is also very relatable. I would recommend Camille Pagan’s other novels, as well. Forever is the Worst Long Time was one of my favorite reads in 2017.
I would give this book 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 stars.
**Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for being so wonderful and sending me this finished copy in advance. All opinions are my own.**
February 24, 2018
We've all been through heartache right? The person you think you're going to spend the rest of your life with ups and decides it's over... seemingly out of nowhere? And the first thing you do? You blame yourself. What could you have done to make it better? Where did you go wrong? HOW COULD THEY DO THIS TO YOU?! And then there's the truth to time healing all wounds and you WILL move on and find something better - whether with someone else or with YOURSELF.
So yes, this is a story we've seen time and time again. However, Camille Pagan does this story with humor, truth and relatability. We see Maggie go through all the stages of her marriage ending. Her two children are polar opposites and while one would love to see them get back together, the other hopes that they don't. You know why? Because children see way more than you give them credit for. Watching Maggie grieve the loss of her relationship and go through the various stages was cathartic and reminiscent of what we all go through. Dealings with the heart are the hardest - what you feel far outweighs what your brain will tell you most of the time, which is why it hurts so damn much when it happens.
I love that the saying "everything happens for a reason" is not a theme in this book! It's more a "take what life gave you and then make it your bitch"... or something along those lines. 🤣 What's fantastic about this book is Maggie. I thoroughly enjoyed her character, the humor, the wit, the realism is how she dealt with everything, being in her 50s and single again. It's never easy - but it IS doable.
I highly recommend this fantastic contemporary read. Especially if you've ever gone through a horrid breakup thinking there was no light on the other side. Because let me tell you, you might not see it right away, but it's there... it's what you do with it that makes all the difference.
Thank you so much to Amazon Publishing and Lake Union for this delightful read!
So yes, this is a story we've seen time and time again. However, Camille Pagan does this story with humor, truth and relatability. We see Maggie go through all the stages of her marriage ending. Her two children are polar opposites and while one would love to see them get back together, the other hopes that they don't. You know why? Because children see way more than you give them credit for. Watching Maggie grieve the loss of her relationship and go through the various stages was cathartic and reminiscent of what we all go through. Dealings with the heart are the hardest - what you feel far outweighs what your brain will tell you most of the time, which is why it hurts so damn much when it happens.
I love that the saying "everything happens for a reason" is not a theme in this book! It's more a "take what life gave you and then make it your bitch"... or something along those lines. 🤣 What's fantastic about this book is Maggie. I thoroughly enjoyed her character, the humor, the wit, the realism is how she dealt with everything, being in her 50s and single again. It's never easy - but it IS doable.
I highly recommend this fantastic contemporary read. Especially if you've ever gone through a horrid breakup thinking there was no light on the other side. Because let me tell you, you might not see it right away, but it's there... it's what you do with it that makes all the difference.
Thank you so much to Amazon Publishing and Lake Union for this delightful read!
April 6, 2021
Spoilers ahead!
Soooooo.....I liked it, BUT. I find myself getting really irritated with these h's who just languish waiting for their H's to wise up and come back to them. I can't decide if it's because of my personality or the season of life I find myself in but the waffling indecision exhibited by some of the h's in the stories I've been reading is making me NUTS. I want to shake them vigorously until they make a firm decision, hopefully, to kick their sad-sack H's to the curb. Maggie, our put-upon h whose H leaves her for (reportedly) a stereotypically younger lady friend, drinks herself into a stupor and just waits. And waits. And invites him to Thanksgiving (I just threw up in my mouth typing that), thinking that the warm holiday spirit will be the thing that draws him back into the bosom of their loving family. It is not.
While that bit of inertia goes on much too long for my taste, eventually Maggie makes small steps toward her independence and ultimate growth, where she meets a new version of herself that she likes knowing. The writing is strong because I doubt my reaction would have been as strong otherwise. I loved the narrator of the audiobook who sounds like a midwestern gal of about my age. She totally nailed inertia. I really liked the end because we get to see Maggie feeling confident in her decisiveness. I wasn't sure we were going to get there and boy oh boy was I relieved to see that.
Soooooo.....I liked it, BUT. I find myself getting really irritated with these h's who just languish waiting for their H's to wise up and come back to them. I can't decide if it's because of my personality or the season of life I find myself in but the waffling indecision exhibited by some of the h's in the stories I've been reading is making me NUTS. I want to shake them vigorously until they make a firm decision, hopefully, to kick their sad-sack H's to the curb. Maggie, our put-upon h whose H leaves her for (reportedly) a stereotypically younger lady friend, drinks herself into a stupor and just waits. And waits. And invites him to Thanksgiving (I just threw up in my mouth typing that), thinking that the warm holiday spirit will be the thing that draws him back into the bosom of their loving family. It is not.
While that bit of inertia goes on much too long for my taste, eventually Maggie makes small steps toward her independence and ultimate growth, where she meets a new version of herself that she likes knowing. The writing is strong because I doubt my reaction would have been as strong otherwise. I loved the narrator of the audiobook who sounds like a midwestern gal of about my age. She totally nailed inertia. I really liked the end because we get to see Maggie feeling confident in her decisiveness. I wasn't sure we were going to get there and boy oh boy was I relieved to see that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2018
Whenever I pick up a book by Camille Pagan, I know I will get a novel filled with multi-dimensional characters and a story filled with the ups and downs, and twists and turns of life. In Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties, the author has given us Maggie; a 53-year-old woman, content in life with her husband and two adult children, although she is a bit of a worry wart! The one thing she never worried about, never questioned, was her marriage...until the day her husband tells her that he is leaving her for another woman. Suddenly she begins to question everything in her life, all of the decisions she's made, all of the things she took for granted, and she must somehow figure out if her life is over, or if it's just beginning. I loved Maggie so much....she was so relatable, so honest, and her emotions so raw. As I followed along with her on her journey, I laughed, I smiled, I cried, I cringed...but above all I felt hopeful. Maggie's resilience, her strong sense of self-worth, empower her through the darkest of days. This story is compelling and poignant, filled with relationships and emotions that are sure to fill readers' hearts. I finished this book with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face.
March 13, 2018
I fancied the cover and the title so much I couldn’t resist reading the book. However, I didn’t like it.
The synopsis seemed sweet, so I expected a light and funny story about a 53-year woman and her trip to Rome, where she will recover from divorce. I even expected something like a movie ‘My Big Fat Greek Summer’ or a TV show ‘Grace and Frankie’. How wrong I was. Somehow, the trip to Rome occupied only a few chapters in the middle. The first absolutely uneventful 70 pages of the book were about Maggie’s (main character) desperation after unexpected divorce with her husband. And the book is only 254 pages long! I’m sorry, but it was really boring.
The plot sounded simple so I decided not to concentrate on it. I was hopelessly trying to find some interesting thoughts, dialogs, or some beautiful writing, but there was just nothing I’d love. I didn’t like the characters, they did not feel real enough to me. I was hoping at the very least to see a strong inspiring female character, but again, there was no one (with the exception of maybe Jean, but there was no time to connect with her, because she appeared in only a few chapters). Nevertheless, I liked the ending. I would have been completely disappointed if Maggie had decided any other choice in the end (not to spoil anything away here).
After all, maybe it’s all about me expecting something else, not a book being bad. It seems that many people have enjoyed ‘Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties’, so there’s a big chance you will too.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis seemed sweet, so I expected a light and funny story about a 53-year woman and her trip to Rome, where she will recover from divorce. I even expected something like a movie ‘My Big Fat Greek Summer’ or a TV show ‘Grace and Frankie’. How wrong I was. Somehow, the trip to Rome occupied only a few chapters in the middle. The first absolutely uneventful 70 pages of the book were about Maggie’s (main character) desperation after unexpected divorce with her husband. And the book is only 254 pages long! I’m sorry, but it was really boring.
The plot sounded simple so I decided not to concentrate on it. I was hopelessly trying to find some interesting thoughts, dialogs, or some beautiful writing, but there was just nothing I’d love. I didn’t like the characters, they did not feel real enough to me. I was hoping at the very least to see a strong inspiring female character, but again, there was no one (with the exception of maybe Jean, but there was no time to connect with her, because she appeared in only a few chapters). Nevertheless, I liked the ending. I would have been completely disappointed if Maggie had decided any other choice in the end (not to spoil anything away here).
After all, maybe it’s all about me expecting something else, not a book being bad. It seems that many people have enjoyed ‘Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties’, so there’s a big chance you will too.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 4, 2019
"Husband unexpectedly leave wife of many years; shell-shocked, devastated wife ultimately recovers and forges a new and interesting life for herself."
I have read approximately 1.2 million novels that have this same basic theme; and I seem to be incapable of growing tired of it. I am pretty sure my husband will not leave me, but maybe this type of novel is sort of a disaster-preparedness exercise?
"Woman Last Seen..." is not in any way a unique or remarkable example of the genre, but I enjoyed it. I really liked the main character, Maggie; and the story zipped along nicely with several changes of scene including a solo trip to Rome that was meant to be an anniversary trip for her and her husband. The ending was satisfying. But I always wonder:
I have read approximately 1.2 million novels that have this same basic theme; and I seem to be incapable of growing tired of it. I am pretty sure my husband will not leave me, but maybe this type of novel is sort of a disaster-preparedness exercise?
"Woman Last Seen..." is not in any way a unique or remarkable example of the genre, but I enjoyed it. I really liked the main character, Maggie; and the story zipped along nicely with several changes of scene including a solo trip to Rome that was meant to be an anniversary trip for her and her husband. The ending was satisfying. But I always wonder:
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