What do you think?
Rate this book
Last Couple Standing
A couple determined not to end up like their divorced friends try a radical experiment—and get in way over their heads—in this hilarious, heartfelt novel from the author of We’re All Damaged.
The Core Four have been friends since college: four men, four women, four couples. They got married around the same time, had kids around the same time, and now, fifteen years later, they’ve started getting divorced around the same time, too. With three of the Core Four unions crumbling to dust around them, Jessica and Mitch Butler take a long, hard look at their own marriage. Can it be saved? Or is divorce, like some fortysomething zombie virus, simply inescapable?
To maximize their chance at immunity, Jessica and Mitch try something radical. Their friends’ divorces mostly had to do with sex—having it, not having it, wanting to have it with other people—so they decide to relax a few things. Terms are discussed, conditions are made, and together the Butlers embark on the great experiment of taking their otherwise happy, functional marriage and breaking some very serious rules.
Jessica and Mitch are convinced they’ve hit upon the next evolution of marriage. But as lines are crossed and hot bartenders pursued, they each start to wonder if they’ve made a huge mistake. What follows is sexy, fun, painful, messy, and completely surprising to them both. Because sometimes doing something bad is the only way to get to the heart of what’s really good.
The Core Four have been friends since college: four men, four women, four couples. They got married around the same time, had kids around the same time, and now, fifteen years later, they’ve started getting divorced around the same time, too. With three of the Core Four unions crumbling to dust around them, Jessica and Mitch Butler take a long, hard look at their own marriage. Can it be saved? Or is divorce, like some fortysomething zombie virus, simply inescapable?
To maximize their chance at immunity, Jessica and Mitch try something radical. Their friends’ divorces mostly had to do with sex—having it, not having it, wanting to have it with other people—so they decide to relax a few things. Terms are discussed, conditions are made, and together the Butlers embark on the great experiment of taking their otherwise happy, functional marriage and breaking some very serious rules.
Jessica and Mitch are convinced they’ve hit upon the next evolution of marriage. But as lines are crossed and hot bartenders pursued, they each start to wonder if they’ve made a huge mistake. What follows is sexy, fun, painful, messy, and completely surprising to them both. Because sometimes doing something bad is the only way to get to the heart of what’s really good.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 17, 2020
348 people are currently reading
14588 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Norman
25 books968 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Matthew Norman is an advertising copywriter. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Baltimore. His first novel, Domestic Violets, was nominated in the Best Humor Category at the 2011 Goodreads Choice Awards.
Matthew Norman is an advertising copywriter. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Baltimore. His first novel, Domestic Violets, was nominated in the Best Humor Category at the 2011 Goodreads Choice Awards.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 730 reviews
October 26, 2020
Many thanks to Ballantine Books for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
The romance genre has its problems which I discussed in my latest booktube video that you can click here to watch) but there are occasionally books like these that break down the problematic tropes.
Skip to 10:37 to here my thoughts on this specific book and what it does to push back against problems with the romance genre.
--------------
And now, an interview with the author!
What inspired you to start writing?
I’ve been writing since I was a kid—like third and fourth grade. I used to write little stories in pencil, complete with my own terrible illustrations, and read them aloud to my parents. Nothing in particular inspired me to do it other than the fact that it’s what I wanted to do. Writing has always been wired into my personality. Still is.
Who inspires you to continue writing?
At this point, writing is simply what I do, and it’s my job. So, I don’t need much inspiration. However...[READ MORE]
------------
”Relax,” she said. “You’re just a married man going online under a fake name to find sex. What could possibly go wrong?”
What do you think the answer is?
1. A lot
2. A ton
3. So much
4. All of the above
If you guess, 4, all of the above, you are right!!
So, what’s this book about?
Last Couple Standing follows Mitch and Jessica. They are apart of the Core Four, a group of four men and four women that met in college. They all graduated at the same time. Got married at the same time. Had kids at the same time. And now, got divorced at the same time. Mitch and Jessica are now the only remaining couple who hasn’t gotten a divorce. And they intend to keep it that way. They just don’t know how. After much discussion, they come up with an experiment. They will have sex with other people. There are a few rules.
1. No repeats - You can’t have sex with the same person twice.
2. No one you know, etc.
As the experiment continues, Mitch and Jessica begin to encounter obstacles and soon begin to learn what it means to truly love someone.
I haven’t read that many middle-age (as in age 35+ not the middle ages with diseases and stuff) romances but I can still confidently say that this one is the best.
It covers so many important topics such as How can humans deal with their innate desire for sex? Where is the limit for who you interact with and how? And many more important questions. The marketing paper that came with my ARC said that this is a great book club book and I totally agree. This book comes up with so many interesting questions that can be discussed and dissected for hours.
My only complaint is that it wasn’t as sexy as the synopsis made it out to be but other than that, I loved it.
Final note. This book takes place in Baltimore, MD area which was super cool. The characters literally went to places that actually exist and that I’ve been to. So, that was cool.
Bottom Line:
4.5 Stars
Age Rating: [ R ]
Content Screening (Mild Spoilers) - Educational Value (0/0) ~ Positive Messages (4/5) - [Love conquers all, Marriage/Love isn’t just about sex] ~ Violence (1/5) - [Character kicked in the privates] ~ Sex (3/5) - [Brief, fade-to-black sex scenes] ~ Langauge (3/5) - [F**k, sh*t, d*mn, *ssh*le] ~ Drinking/Drugs (3/5) - [Alcohol consumption]
Trigger and Content Warnings - Divorce, Losing loved ones
Cover (3/5) ~ Characters (4/5) ~ Plot (4.5/5)
Publication Date: March 17th, 2020
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Genre: Romance/Contemporary
---------------
The moral of the story is... LOVE IS F**KING MESSY
also, this book is good and my evidence is that i read it in the span on two hours
---------------
omg, this book sounds like everything i've ever wanted in a middle-aged romance. i can't wait
| Goodreads | Blog | Pinterest | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram
February 15, 2020
Anyone who has weathered the breakup of close friends knows the trauma it inflicts. So, I loved the premise of this book. Four couples, known as The Core Four, have been friends since college. In the space of one year, three of the four couples get divorced. And with all that carnage, the fourth couple find themselves questioning their own marriage.
I immediately appreciated Norman’s writing style. It’s basic but it just rings true. “They were solid. They were dependable. Stable. Safe. They were the Subaru Outback of married people.” There are numerous of these comparisons that I found myself highlighting, one after another.
This book has a sly, dry humor to it. Not the laugh out loud kind, but the nodding, yes, I get it kind. Well, except for the ending. The ending is laugh out loud, tears rolling down your face funny.
And you can tell Norman definitely comes from Baltimore, or Smalltimore, as he knows it’s called. Hell, I could even tell which private school he used as the basis for where Mitch teached.
I loved the characters, all of them. I loved their foibles. I really wanted Jessica and Mitch to find a way to keep their marriage together even as I knew their “evolution” plan made no sense. I even wanted Scarlet to get her act together. And poor Luke. What a sweetie. Mitch has a poster with Kurt Vonnegut’s eight rules of writing. Number two - “ give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.” Norman gives you an easy four if not 12.
So, five big stars for this lovely, fun, relatable book.
My thanks to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.
I immediately appreciated Norman’s writing style. It’s basic but it just rings true. “They were solid. They were dependable. Stable. Safe. They were the Subaru Outback of married people.” There are numerous of these comparisons that I found myself highlighting, one after another.
This book has a sly, dry humor to it. Not the laugh out loud kind, but the nodding, yes, I get it kind. Well, except for the ending. The ending is laugh out loud, tears rolling down your face funny.
And you can tell Norman definitely comes from Baltimore, or Smalltimore, as he knows it’s called. Hell, I could even tell which private school he used as the basis for where Mitch teached.
I loved the characters, all of them. I loved their foibles. I really wanted Jessica and Mitch to find a way to keep their marriage together even as I knew their “evolution” plan made no sense. I even wanted Scarlet to get her act together. And poor Luke. What a sweetie. Mitch has a poster with Kurt Vonnegut’s eight rules of writing. Number two - “ give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.” Norman gives you an easy four if not 12.
So, five big stars for this lovely, fun, relatable book.
My thanks to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.
April 9, 2020
Can you save your marriage by tearing it apart? Matthew Norman's new novel,
Last Couple Standing
, attempts to answer that question.
They were the Core Four—four couples that met and paired up in college and remained inseparable friends. But 15 years later, one by one, the couples are breaking up, leaving Mitch and Jessica the only couple still together.
While the two don’t feel unhappy with each other or their relationship, although raising two kids and working can be exhausting, they worry that they, too, will fall prey to whatever brought their friends’ marriages to a halt. There has to be a way to inoculate their marriage and save their relationship.
The more they think about it, they realize the biggest problem for their friends was the desire to have sex with other people. So what if they head this off at the pass and allow experimentation—won’t this quench the desire and then let everything get back to normal?
They go so far as to set ground rules and approach everything methodically. No one they know, no repeat performances, etc. But they don’t count on handsome bartenders, recently divorced neighbors, coincidences, misunderstandings, and how the flush of desire actually feels with someone other than your spouse. Will this experiment save their marriage or actually destroy it?
This is a fun, moving, and thought-provoking book about relationships. The characters were real, flawed people who feel familiar, and while you’ve seen this story before, Norman’s wry humor and his ability to create emotional upheaval without real melodrama sets it apart.
This has movie or television adaptation written all over it!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
They were the Core Four—four couples that met and paired up in college and remained inseparable friends. But 15 years later, one by one, the couples are breaking up, leaving Mitch and Jessica the only couple still together.
While the two don’t feel unhappy with each other or their relationship, although raising two kids and working can be exhausting, they worry that they, too, will fall prey to whatever brought their friends’ marriages to a halt. There has to be a way to inoculate their marriage and save their relationship.
The more they think about it, they realize the biggest problem for their friends was the desire to have sex with other people. So what if they head this off at the pass and allow experimentation—won’t this quench the desire and then let everything get back to normal?
They go so far as to set ground rules and approach everything methodically. No one they know, no repeat performances, etc. But they don’t count on handsome bartenders, recently divorced neighbors, coincidences, misunderstandings, and how the flush of desire actually feels with someone other than your spouse. Will this experiment save their marriage or actually destroy it?
This is a fun, moving, and thought-provoking book about relationships. The characters were real, flawed people who feel familiar, and while you’ve seen this story before, Norman’s wry humor and his ability to create emotional upheaval without real melodrama sets it apart.
This has movie or television adaptation written all over it!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
April 6, 2020
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
4.5 Stars
After watching the marriages of all of the other couples belonging to their friend group “The Core Four” disintegrate, Mtch and Jessica come to the conclusion that perhaps desperate times truly do call for desperate measures and decide the solution to a happy marriage might come in the form of a . . . .
What could possibly go wrong????
So I owe both NetGalley and Matthew Norman a giant apology since I’m the one who requested an early copy of this, held on to it for an age and then actively avoided it because when I finally got around to reading the blurb (you know your girl is all about a cover, and this was a good one), I assumed it would not be my cup of tea. I have no idea why I decided to take the plunge yesterday, but holy crap am I glad I did. I read this author once before (Domestic Violets) when the library didn’t have the book of his I actually wanted (We’re All Damaged) and was a bit underwhelmed. This time? Oh yes indeedy are the comparisons to Jonathan Tropper spot on and I effing LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED this. After wrongreadng a book on Saturday (due to a plethora of reasons, I’m sure, but bad dialogue was definitely one of them), this little diddy was a breath of fresh air come Sunday and I sat on the deck for the afternoon and sucked it right up. I loooooooooooove dialogue driven stories – especially witty dialogue that just flows without attempting to try too hard – and this one was near perfection. I also love realistic marriages and children and ensemble casts so this had soooooo many things going for it. And yes, the subject matter of cheating is absolutely one I generally avoid, but this book covered this hot-button issue with feeling and humor that made my end-of-book reaction simply . . . . .
As it reminded any happily-enough married person reading it that . . . .
On your side of the fence, the grass is green as fuck. On this side, there is no grass. There’s just booze and sadness and fucking designer jeans.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
4.5 Stars
After watching the marriages of all of the other couples belonging to their friend group “The Core Four” disintegrate, Mtch and Jessica come to the conclusion that perhaps desperate times truly do call for desperate measures and decide the solution to a happy marriage might come in the form of a . . . .
What could possibly go wrong????
So I owe both NetGalley and Matthew Norman a giant apology since I’m the one who requested an early copy of this, held on to it for an age and then actively avoided it because when I finally got around to reading the blurb (you know your girl is all about a cover, and this was a good one), I assumed it would not be my cup of tea. I have no idea why I decided to take the plunge yesterday, but holy crap am I glad I did. I read this author once before (Domestic Violets) when the library didn’t have the book of his I actually wanted (We’re All Damaged) and was a bit underwhelmed. This time? Oh yes indeedy are the comparisons to Jonathan Tropper spot on and I effing LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED this. After wrongreadng a book on Saturday (due to a plethora of reasons, I’m sure, but bad dialogue was definitely one of them), this little diddy was a breath of fresh air come Sunday and I sat on the deck for the afternoon and sucked it right up. I loooooooooooove dialogue driven stories – especially witty dialogue that just flows without attempting to try too hard – and this one was near perfection. I also love realistic marriages and children and ensemble casts so this had soooooo many things going for it. And yes, the subject matter of cheating is absolutely one I generally avoid, but this book covered this hot-button issue with feeling and humor that made my end-of-book reaction simply . . . . .
As it reminded any happily-enough married person reading it that . . . .
On your side of the fence, the grass is green as fuck. On this side, there is no grass. There’s just booze and sadness and fucking designer jeans.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
February 3, 2020
I probably shouldn't have read Matthew Norman's upcoming love/comedy novel
Last Couple Standing
a month before my wedding, but it was such a funny, interestingly different romance novel. I was not expecting to really enjoy this book as much as I did. The story centers around Jessica and Mitch Butler and their marriage. Out of all their friends, Jessica and Mitch are the only ones who haven't gotten a divorce—but their marriage is getting a bit stale. The couple is nervous that they'll be the next couple to call it quits, because their lives have become so mundane. The couple decides that they'll open up their marriage—a relaxed marriage, as they call it. What could go wrong?
Last Couple Standing is a hilarious, yet all too real depiction of monogamy, divorce, and interpersonal relationships. Is monogamy overrated? The jury is out on this topic, but I truly enjoyed seeing Jessica and Mitch open their relationship up, and witness their tribulations as they ventured on. Last Couple Standing is more of a comedy than a sexy romantic novel and it's very lighthearted. This book is non-stop belly laughs and overall a fun ride. Last Couple Standing is definitely a good book to read when you are getting bored or overrun by darker, twisted reads. This light read will keep you thoroughly entertained until the last page.
Last Couple Standing is a hilarious, yet all too real depiction of monogamy, divorce, and interpersonal relationships. Is monogamy overrated? The jury is out on this topic, but I truly enjoyed seeing Jessica and Mitch open their relationship up, and witness their tribulations as they ventured on. Last Couple Standing is more of a comedy than a sexy romantic novel and it's very lighthearted. This book is non-stop belly laughs and overall a fun ride. Last Couple Standing is definitely a good book to read when you are getting bored or overrun by darker, twisted reads. This light read will keep you thoroughly entertained until the last page.
February 18, 2020
Still not sure if this is a three-star or four-star book. The premise threw me off and was hard to get beyond. I'll be back with a full review.
Full review:
Three and a half stars, rounded down.
The writing in this book is fantastic, and for that reason alone it deserves three stars. It's the story that threw me for a loop because honestly, it's a subject that I really don't care for. I know there are a lot of people who have "relaxed" marriages or relaxed rules about marriage but that's just not my deal and I have a hard time sympathizing with couples who have problems following that decision.
The characters were well developed and likable even, though I absolutely found myself liking Mitch more than his wife, Jessica. And there wasn't a lot to like in the other characters, honestly, because they played such a small role, other than to refer to them as the "Core Four" more than once, which grated on my nerves.
And that bartender? OMG are you kidding? His whole story was absolutely unbelievable. You'll need some suspension of disbelief on this guy for sure. (The end of this book was absolutely absurd...every single bit of it, and it lost a star for that.)
All in all a decent read. If you like chick lit and/or you don't mind reading about open marriages, you'll probably love this. It just wasn't for me so much.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Full review:
Three and a half stars, rounded down.
The writing in this book is fantastic, and for that reason alone it deserves three stars. It's the story that threw me for a loop because honestly, it's a subject that I really don't care for. I know there are a lot of people who have "relaxed" marriages or relaxed rules about marriage but that's just not my deal and I have a hard time sympathizing with couples who have problems following that decision.
The characters were well developed and likable even, though I absolutely found myself liking Mitch more than his wife, Jessica. And there wasn't a lot to like in the other characters, honestly, because they played such a small role, other than to refer to them as the "Core Four" more than once, which grated on my nerves.
And that bartender? OMG are you kidding? His whole story was absolutely unbelievable. You'll need some suspension of disbelief on this guy for sure. (The end of this book was absolutely absurd...every single bit of it, and it lost a star for that.)
All in all a decent read. If you like chick lit and/or you don't mind reading about open marriages, you'll probably love this. It just wasn't for me so much.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2020
Last Couple Standing by Matthew Norman
Source: NetGalley and Ballantine
Rating: 2½/5 stars
Jessica and Mitch are the last couple standing among their original group of four. Known as the Core Four, the group has known one another and been a group since college. With the pairings and marriages coming so naturally, no one, especially the Core Four ever thought there would come a time when they would be something other than together.
Life and adulting suck . . . .
Yes, life and adulting have a tendency to suck and a harsh result of the suckiness is Jessica and Mitch being the last couple standing. They have seen their friends fall apart, their marriages end, and their lives radically changed and it, quite frankly, scares the hell out of Jessica. Though Jessica and Mitch have no serious issues in their marriage, Jessica proposes a radical experiment, a sort of preemptive strike to keep their solid marriage from going the way of their friends. To Jessica’s way of thinking, if they get out ahead of the problem then there won’t ever be a problem and she and Mitch can go about their lives and live to tell the tale of their happily ever after.
According to Jessica, each of their friends’ lives and marriages fell apart because of sex. With Mitch in agreement, Jessica proposes she and Mitch stray from their marriage and vows and have sex with other people in an effort to ultimately strengthen their own bond. In order to be fair, they set a series of guideline that will dictate the terms of the experiment and should not be violated by any party. According to Jessica, once the experiment is completed, she and Mitch will be stronger than ever and proof positive that some marriages are meant to go the distance.
Though Mitch agrees to Jessica’s madness and even contributes his own thoughts to the rules/guidelines, he isn’t as certain as his wife is that this experiment even needs to take place. Mitch is happy in his life, he loves his wife, and their family is damn-near perfect. While having a free pass to sleep with other women sounds awesome on its face, the reality is far different than the fantasy. Mitch not only struggles with the idea of sleeping with someone other than Jessica, he actively works to avoid participating in the madness. Jessica, on the other hand takes her free pass and runs with it, right into the arms and bed of a sexy young bartender who desperately wants more than Jessica is prepared to give. The ultimate result of the experiment is a very public display of lunacy which results in a small car wreck, one swift kick to the balls, and everyone, including their young children, knowing their business.
The Bottom Line: Oh, how I struggled with this book and it all comes down to one character, Jessica! I found Jessica to be a tremendously selfish, arrogant, and rather stupid woman. Rather than simply admitting her fears to her husband – a very understanding and accommodating Mitch! – Jessica concocts a ridiculous plan that will allow her to screw some young guy with zero guilt and/or consequences. This whole mess boils down to Jessica wanting to have sex with someone other than her husband and her selfishness threatens to destroy a solid and remarkably good marriage. Jessica wraps her plan in logical and psychobabble as a means of justifying her actions and, in an effort to support his wife and continue to make her happy, Mitch agrees to the madness. As the whole plan unfolds, Jessica’s selfishness becomes magnified and she becomes harder and harder and harder to like. On the flip side, Mitch is a rockstar and I wanted nothing but the best for he and his kids, even if it meant keeping Jessica and not kicking her sorry ass to the curb. At the end of the day, I can’t say I liked or even enjoyed this book. One bad character really can ruin a book and Jessica is a fine example of this. Finally, I don’t at all understand how this book is billed as “hilarious” and/or “heartfelt.” I found it to be frustrating, ridiculous, and the furthest thing from either hilarious or heartfelt. This is a novel of pettiness and selfish behavior that ultimately ends up nearly destroying something that is, in actuality, quite good.
Source: NetGalley and Ballantine
Rating: 2½/5 stars
Jessica and Mitch are the last couple standing among their original group of four. Known as the Core Four, the group has known one another and been a group since college. With the pairings and marriages coming so naturally, no one, especially the Core Four ever thought there would come a time when they would be something other than together.
Life and adulting suck . . . .
Yes, life and adulting have a tendency to suck and a harsh result of the suckiness is Jessica and Mitch being the last couple standing. They have seen their friends fall apart, their marriages end, and their lives radically changed and it, quite frankly, scares the hell out of Jessica. Though Jessica and Mitch have no serious issues in their marriage, Jessica proposes a radical experiment, a sort of preemptive strike to keep their solid marriage from going the way of their friends. To Jessica’s way of thinking, if they get out ahead of the problem then there won’t ever be a problem and she and Mitch can go about their lives and live to tell the tale of their happily ever after.
According to Jessica, each of their friends’ lives and marriages fell apart because of sex. With Mitch in agreement, Jessica proposes she and Mitch stray from their marriage and vows and have sex with other people in an effort to ultimately strengthen their own bond. In order to be fair, they set a series of guideline that will dictate the terms of the experiment and should not be violated by any party. According to Jessica, once the experiment is completed, she and Mitch will be stronger than ever and proof positive that some marriages are meant to go the distance.
Though Mitch agrees to Jessica’s madness and even contributes his own thoughts to the rules/guidelines, he isn’t as certain as his wife is that this experiment even needs to take place. Mitch is happy in his life, he loves his wife, and their family is damn-near perfect. While having a free pass to sleep with other women sounds awesome on its face, the reality is far different than the fantasy. Mitch not only struggles with the idea of sleeping with someone other than Jessica, he actively works to avoid participating in the madness. Jessica, on the other hand takes her free pass and runs with it, right into the arms and bed of a sexy young bartender who desperately wants more than Jessica is prepared to give. The ultimate result of the experiment is a very public display of lunacy which results in a small car wreck, one swift kick to the balls, and everyone, including their young children, knowing their business.
The Bottom Line: Oh, how I struggled with this book and it all comes down to one character, Jessica! I found Jessica to be a tremendously selfish, arrogant, and rather stupid woman. Rather than simply admitting her fears to her husband – a very understanding and accommodating Mitch! – Jessica concocts a ridiculous plan that will allow her to screw some young guy with zero guilt and/or consequences. This whole mess boils down to Jessica wanting to have sex with someone other than her husband and her selfishness threatens to destroy a solid and remarkably good marriage. Jessica wraps her plan in logical and psychobabble as a means of justifying her actions and, in an effort to support his wife and continue to make her happy, Mitch agrees to the madness. As the whole plan unfolds, Jessica’s selfishness becomes magnified and she becomes harder and harder and harder to like. On the flip side, Mitch is a rockstar and I wanted nothing but the best for he and his kids, even if it meant keeping Jessica and not kicking her sorry ass to the curb. At the end of the day, I can’t say I liked or even enjoyed this book. One bad character really can ruin a book and Jessica is a fine example of this. Finally, I don’t at all understand how this book is billed as “hilarious” and/or “heartfelt.” I found it to be frustrating, ridiculous, and the furthest thing from either hilarious or heartfelt. This is a novel of pettiness and selfish behavior that ultimately ends up nearly destroying something that is, in actuality, quite good.
August 18, 2020
Let me start by saying that I think this cover image looks like a diaper and I have to remind myself every single time that it's a bed. Ha ha
Anyway, this is a pretty fast-paced book. I didn't like the overall premise, I am not one for cheating--and no matter how you package it by saying "understanding" or "open marriage" or whatever, it's still cheating in my book. I couldn't stand the Jessica character and the author's preoccupation with her breasts got super annoying after a while. I did like the Mitch character quite a bit and the rest of the supporting characters, especially the kids, were great. The witty, quick dialogue, particularly with the kids and the whole E.T. fiasco, drove this book and elevated it past boring to entertaining.
The overall message in the end is good, but I didn't like how they got there.
I listened to this as an audiobook and really connected with the narrator more than I probably would have if I were just reading it on a page.
Anyway, this is a pretty fast-paced book. I didn't like the overall premise, I am not one for cheating--and no matter how you package it by saying "understanding" or "open marriage" or whatever, it's still cheating in my book. I couldn't stand the Jessica character and the author's preoccupation with her breasts got super annoying after a while. I did like the Mitch character quite a bit and the rest of the supporting characters, especially the kids, were great. The witty, quick dialogue, particularly with the kids and the whole E.T. fiasco, drove this book and elevated it past boring to entertaining.
The overall message in the end is good, but I didn't like how they got there.
I listened to this as an audiobook and really connected with the narrator more than I probably would have if I were just reading it on a page.
February 23, 2020
So, from the first sentence you know to expect this story to be a train wreck. Yet, from the first sentence, it’s so engaging, you steal yourself for the heartaches you expect to come and you read anyway. The characters who make up the story are so engaging, and so well formed, you are immediately engaged in the story and begin hoping the train wreck won’t really be so bad.
As you read, the train wreck in the making is softened from time to time with some off-beat humor as well as some passages that smack of total reality about couples who fall in love, marry, and well into the marriage struggle to stay married for no apparent reason. It’s all highly plausible for anyone who has been married and gotten beyond the first years of a romantic love.
In this book, there are eight people who meet in college and eventually marry, forming a four couple unit. They are close knit in every way, socializing together, living close to one another, and being actively involved in one another’s lives. The story begins with flashbacks to how they all became a group, and essentially starts with where there are now, almost two decades into marriage and cracks starting to show. Without highlighting those cracks or recriminations on the part of splitting spouses, three of the couples break apart. This brings the story to the main focus of the story, the forth couple, Jessica and Mitch. Suddenly they find themselves as the last couple standing, and begin to question the energy in their marriage.
Most readers will find themselves rooting for Jessica and Mitch. They seem to be a perfectly suited, lovely couple and the desire is to see them succeed in maintaining their relationship. Perhaps the truth is, most readers also see Jessica and Mitch as the embodiment of what people want a “good marriage” to be. They want to see it succeed as it gives hope to those who want to have a successful marriage of their own.
There are plenty of “oh, no’s” in this book, as well as, “well, that’s just funny” moments. There are times when the reader may find themselves wanting to scream at the book “Don’t do that! Don’t you know that’s a huge mistake?” The characters and situations are real enough you want to reach into the pages of the book and grab them by the arm to pull them back from the precipice. Of course, it’s a book. You can’t. All you can do is read on and hope things turn out like you want.
I won’t give away the ending of the book. That’s something every reader should discover for themselves. I will say there are some truths uttered here, amongst the fiction, the angst, and the humor, that might be beneficial for couples to read before walking down the aisle. Or, barring that, when years after saying their "I do's"; that famous “seven year itch” hits, whether it happens at seven months, seven years, or even seventeen years. What I will say is, this is a book not to be missed. It is filled with human emotions and situations without taking the reader to an emotional brink. I might almost make it required reading for anyone contemplating marriage or divorce.
My thanks to Ballentine Books with Random House Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advance digital reader copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
As you read, the train wreck in the making is softened from time to time with some off-beat humor as well as some passages that smack of total reality about couples who fall in love, marry, and well into the marriage struggle to stay married for no apparent reason. It’s all highly plausible for anyone who has been married and gotten beyond the first years of a romantic love.
In this book, there are eight people who meet in college and eventually marry, forming a four couple unit. They are close knit in every way, socializing together, living close to one another, and being actively involved in one another’s lives. The story begins with flashbacks to how they all became a group, and essentially starts with where there are now, almost two decades into marriage and cracks starting to show. Without highlighting those cracks or recriminations on the part of splitting spouses, three of the couples break apart. This brings the story to the main focus of the story, the forth couple, Jessica and Mitch. Suddenly they find themselves as the last couple standing, and begin to question the energy in their marriage.
Most readers will find themselves rooting for Jessica and Mitch. They seem to be a perfectly suited, lovely couple and the desire is to see them succeed in maintaining their relationship. Perhaps the truth is, most readers also see Jessica and Mitch as the embodiment of what people want a “good marriage” to be. They want to see it succeed as it gives hope to those who want to have a successful marriage of their own.
There are plenty of “oh, no’s” in this book, as well as, “well, that’s just funny” moments. There are times when the reader may find themselves wanting to scream at the book “Don’t do that! Don’t you know that’s a huge mistake?” The characters and situations are real enough you want to reach into the pages of the book and grab them by the arm to pull them back from the precipice. Of course, it’s a book. You can’t. All you can do is read on and hope things turn out like you want.
I won’t give away the ending of the book. That’s something every reader should discover for themselves. I will say there are some truths uttered here, amongst the fiction, the angst, and the humor, that might be beneficial for couples to read before walking down the aisle. Or, barring that, when years after saying their "I do's"; that famous “seven year itch” hits, whether it happens at seven months, seven years, or even seventeen years. What I will say is, this is a book not to be missed. It is filled with human emotions and situations without taking the reader to an emotional brink. I might almost make it required reading for anyone contemplating marriage or divorce.
My thanks to Ballentine Books with Random House Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advance digital reader copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
August 14, 2022
A great book, but the premise was weird and uncomfortable when I put myself in the character’s shoes. It by no means took away from the beautiful writing, dynamic characters, and seamless flow from page to page.
Luke and Jess have been friends with three other couples since college. They were a well-knit group, went to each other's wedding, the wives met frequently for ladies' night out, and the husbands do the same. Then, the divorces started, until Luke and Jess were the last-couple-standing. Which set them on the proactive journey to prevent the same fate and spiralled into an “it’s ok to have sex with other people even though we are married” set of rules. LET’s just say this was where my discomfort grew...it didn’t stop me from finishing the book though.
It was a great read. 3.5 stars.
Luke and Jess have been friends with three other couples since college. They were a well-knit group, went to each other's wedding, the wives met frequently for ladies' night out, and the husbands do the same. Then, the divorces started, until Luke and Jess were the last-couple-standing. Which set them on the proactive journey to prevent the same fate and spiralled into an “it’s ok to have sex with other people even though we are married” set of rules. LET’s just say this was where my discomfort grew...it didn’t stop me from finishing the book though.
It was a great read. 3.5 stars.
February 12, 2020
4.5 stars!
Full of humor, heart and last ditch efforts to save a marriage - Last Couple Standing is unlike any book I've read before. Norman has a writing style that makes you want to compulsively turn the pages and laugh and cry alongside the characters.
When 3 of 4 couples in a group of friends divorces, the 4th decides that maybe an open marriage is the way to ensure they are not the next to fall. There's a set of rules, but of course, nothing is really ever that simple - or is it?
Thank you to Ballantine Random House for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Full of humor, heart and last ditch efforts to save a marriage - Last Couple Standing is unlike any book I've read before. Norman has a writing style that makes you want to compulsively turn the pages and laugh and cry alongside the characters.
When 3 of 4 couples in a group of friends divorces, the 4th decides that maybe an open marriage is the way to ensure they are not the next to fall. There's a set of rules, but of course, nothing is really ever that simple - or is it?
Thank you to Ballantine Random House for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
July 30, 2020
Well Last Couple Standing by Matthew Norman is sure a lot of fun! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator Kristen Sieh is a freaking master. I loved her different voices and tones that she used to sound different for different characters, and when she voiced Jessica and Mitch's kids I would almost die laughing. I loved the book in general, but if you are looking for a great audiobook this one is it. I enjoyed so much about this book, the format, the characters, the hilarity, it was a little like a fun train wreck filled with lots of drama and a tiny bit of steam.
I have never read a book by Norman before, but after reading Last Couple Standing you best believe I will be looking up everything he has. This is like THE perfect beach/summer read and perfect for when you want something lighter. There are still a few serious topics, but the overall feel was light and easygoing. I saw the humor of this book described as a bit dry and not laugh out loud funny, but for me I laughed out loud quite a bit and I do agree that while the humor is on the drier side, it was the kind I like (clearly), and the end is enough to leave you in tears laughing.
Frankly, I NEED to see Last Couple Standing as a movie so I hope someone is paying attention out there! I also loved so many of the characters, and I loved what each one of them brought to the book. Read this if you need a light, hilarious, and fun train wreck in your life. Because, how is that not what you're going to get when a couple decides to relax their marriage?
I have never read a book by Norman before, but after reading Last Couple Standing you best believe I will be looking up everything he has. This is like THE perfect beach/summer read and perfect for when you want something lighter. There are still a few serious topics, but the overall feel was light and easygoing. I saw the humor of this book described as a bit dry and not laugh out loud funny, but for me I laughed out loud quite a bit and I do agree that while the humor is on the drier side, it was the kind I like (clearly), and the end is enough to leave you in tears laughing.
Frankly, I NEED to see Last Couple Standing as a movie so I hope someone is paying attention out there! I also loved so many of the characters, and I loved what each one of them brought to the book. Read this if you need a light, hilarious, and fun train wreck in your life. Because, how is that not what you're going to get when a couple decides to relax their marriage?
Want to read
September 30, 2019I had high hopes for the Last Couple Standing but it ended up just being an okay read for me. It is definitely a rom-com but the premise just fell flat for me. There was some laugh out loud moments but I felt that it just was a little too "out there" for me when main characters felt so flat.
I did enjoy the commentary on marriage and kids but some it is was just too cringe-worthy and a little juvenile. The characters were very one dimensional which made it hard to really connect with the storyline. Some readers may really love this, it just wasn't for me.
I did enjoy the commentary on marriage and kids but some it is was just too cringe-worthy and a little juvenile. The characters were very one dimensional which made it hard to really connect with the storyline. Some readers may really love this, it just wasn't for me.
September 23, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of
Last Couple Standing.
Mitch and Jessica have been together since college, the last couple out of their Core Four of friends to remain married.
As a way to prevent their marriage from going stagnant, they embark on a not so original, radical experiment to 'sow' their oats without consequences.
Yeah, like that ever works in books and real life.
I did enjoy the writing, there was some jokes and humor, and I found myself drawn into Mitch and Jessica's life.
But, the character development was poor, especially in regards to Jessica.
Did she suggest a hall pass in the first place stem from a desire for new sexual partners? Understandable, but her motivation was never clear.
At times, she came across as selfish, shallow and one-dimensional, especially when Mitch asked her what it was like to be intimate with someone else, her response was "I felt alive."
Why? Why did she feel alive? I wanted more details on that. Why does sleeping with other people make someone feel like that?
Mitch wasn't a bad guy, but as I kept reading, it felt like the author was not so subtly making Jessica the bad guy here.
There are a few subplots, including one that involves a client of Jessica's, silly rom-com tropes, constant reminders about how stacked Jessica is (as if I needed more reminders that the author is male), and some family humor.
This wasn't a bad read, but it could have been better if the characters had been fleshed out.
Mitch and Jessica have been together since college, the last couple out of their Core Four of friends to remain married.
As a way to prevent their marriage from going stagnant, they embark on a not so original, radical experiment to 'sow' their oats without consequences.
Yeah, like that ever works in books and real life.
I did enjoy the writing, there was some jokes and humor, and I found myself drawn into Mitch and Jessica's life.
But, the character development was poor, especially in regards to Jessica.
Did she suggest a hall pass in the first place stem from a desire for new sexual partners? Understandable, but her motivation was never clear.
At times, she came across as selfish, shallow and one-dimensional, especially when Mitch asked her what it was like to be intimate with someone else, her response was "I felt alive."
Why? Why did she feel alive? I wanted more details on that. Why does sleeping with other people make someone feel like that?
Mitch wasn't a bad guy, but as I kept reading, it felt like the author was not so subtly making Jessica the bad guy here.
There are a few subplots, including one that involves a client of Jessica's, silly rom-com tropes, constant reminders about how stacked Jessica is (as if I needed more reminders that the author is male), and some family humor.
This wasn't a bad read, but it could have been better if the characters had been fleshed out.
October 5, 2019
While the concept is a bit intriguing, I guess I don't buy into the core concept of the book ('all our friends are getting a divorce, so now we're going to try an open marriage to save ours?'). Additionally, this read a little too much 'white hetero-normative problems' to be much more than a surface level book. I would've loved just a bit of diversity. As other reviewers have mentioned, the characters are all somewhat one-dimensional and I don't particularly understand their motivations for behaving the way they do. I will say I did want to eat Golden Oreos after finishing this book.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2020
I don't understand all the glowing reviews for this book. The characters come across as one-dimensional and shallow (especially Jessica). As for the hilarious blurb, it wasn't hilarious at all. It did have a few humorous moments, but hilarious? No.
Just not for me.
Just not for me.
December 23, 2023
Last Couple Standing by new to me author Matthew Norman had me wondering is divorce contagious? As part of a group of four couples, three of which have systematically split up, Mitch and Jessica Butler are wondering if they are next. This is probably a common thought amongst couples whose friends are splitting up. As depressing as the subject may be, this book addresses this issue with open honesty and a lot of humor.
Mitch and Jessica decide to try an experiment by introducing a relaxed marriage. This wasn’t a free for all, have sex with anyone you want, but more of an opportunity to try some things differently, with rules and communication to see if their marriage is worth fighting for. What ensues was very entertaining as well as surprising.
I really liked both Mitch and Jessica and thought they were taking a huge risk by going in this direction and I was worried for them, to be honest. I absolutely did not want to see them end up the way of their friends. Personally, I didn’t think their marriage was on the rocks to begin with, but hey, sometimes we have to mix things up a bit and make some radical choices.
The supporting characters were all interesting and added to the entertainment of the story too. I found the writing to be clear, concise, and flowed very smoothly. The dialogue was relevant and drove the scenes and the story so the reader doesn’t feel bogged down in a lot of monotonous discussion.
My Final Verdict: It seems like we live in a throw away society these days where it is much easier to toss relationships aside when things get tough or boring. I highly recommend Last Couple Standing to remind us the important things in life, like love, are worth fighting for.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Last Couple Standing from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Mitch and Jessica decide to try an experiment by introducing a relaxed marriage. This wasn’t a free for all, have sex with anyone you want, but more of an opportunity to try some things differently, with rules and communication to see if their marriage is worth fighting for. What ensues was very entertaining as well as surprising.
I really liked both Mitch and Jessica and thought they were taking a huge risk by going in this direction and I was worried for them, to be honest. I absolutely did not want to see them end up the way of their friends. Personally, I didn’t think their marriage was on the rocks to begin with, but hey, sometimes we have to mix things up a bit and make some radical choices.
The supporting characters were all interesting and added to the entertainment of the story too. I found the writing to be clear, concise, and flowed very smoothly. The dialogue was relevant and drove the scenes and the story so the reader doesn’t feel bogged down in a lot of monotonous discussion.
My Final Verdict: It seems like we live in a throw away society these days where it is much easier to toss relationships aside when things get tough or boring. I highly recommend Last Couple Standing to remind us the important things in life, like love, are worth fighting for.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Last Couple Standing from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 22, 2022
Jessica and Mitch Butler have been married for fifteen years. But when the other three couples of their "Core Four"--a group of best friends from college, all of whom happen to be paired off and married--get divorced, they feel forced to reexamine their marriage. Deciding that the Core Four marriages broke apart due to sex (not having it, having it with other people while married, etc.), Jessica and Mitch embark on a marriage experiment. They set up rules, discuss conditions, and even help each other out with dating site profiles. But as lines get blurred and feelings burn hot, they start to wonder if they've made a terrible mistake.
"Everything that went so thoroughly wrong that spring can be traced back to The Divorces."
Sometimes a book comes along at the exact right time, and I think STANDING was that for me. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this book nearly as much a decade ago, but I really liked it at this point in my life. It captures marriage with young kids spot on and does so in a mostly humorous way, though it certainly has its poignant (and cringe-worthy) spots.
Norman examines marriage through a funny but truthful prism, as Jessica and Mitch struggle with marriage: if their friends are all splitting, surely they must be next. Mitch watches his once married best friends, several of whom are also dads, out and about in the dating world again. Jess sees the same with her female pals, as they despair over the fact that the men can easily nab younger women but they are relegated to older men. The book may rely on cliches a bit too often (and I hated the constant references to "the Wives" and "the Husbands") but I have to admit... a lot of those cliches are true.
There are also some excellent teen storylines thrown in, between a patient of Jessica's (she's a therapist, of course) and one of Mitch's high school English students who also happens to be his next door neighbor. This kid, Luke, was truly one of my favorite characters. I was also a fan of the Baltimore/Maryland settings, as I recognized a lot of places.
Overall, I can see how this book might come across as a little banal to some, but if you're married and slogging through life with kids, you'll find a lot to laugh at and love here. This is a funny yet touching tale. 3.75 stars.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Smashbomb ~ Instagram
"Everything that went so thoroughly wrong that spring can be traced back to The Divorces."
Sometimes a book comes along at the exact right time, and I think STANDING was that for me. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this book nearly as much a decade ago, but I really liked it at this point in my life. It captures marriage with young kids spot on and does so in a mostly humorous way, though it certainly has its poignant (and cringe-worthy) spots.
Norman examines marriage through a funny but truthful prism, as Jessica and Mitch struggle with marriage: if their friends are all splitting, surely they must be next. Mitch watches his once married best friends, several of whom are also dads, out and about in the dating world again. Jess sees the same with her female pals, as they despair over the fact that the men can easily nab younger women but they are relegated to older men. The book may rely on cliches a bit too often (and I hated the constant references to "the Wives" and "the Husbands") but I have to admit... a lot of those cliches are true.
There are also some excellent teen storylines thrown in, between a patient of Jessica's (she's a therapist, of course) and one of Mitch's high school English students who also happens to be his next door neighbor. This kid, Luke, was truly one of my favorite characters. I was also a fan of the Baltimore/Maryland settings, as I recognized a lot of places.
Overall, I can see how this book might come across as a little banal to some, but if you're married and slogging through life with kids, you'll find a lot to laugh at and love here. This is a funny yet touching tale. 3.75 stars.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Smashbomb ~ Instagram
April 8, 2020
Thank you to Random House for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
After their core group of friends each file for divorce, Mitch and Jessica worry they might be doomed to follow the same path. So, Jessica suggests she and Mitch explore what she calls "an evolved marriage." With a set of rules put in place, they each set out to see if their experiment will be successful or fail.
Last Couple Standing reminded me a lot of one of my favorite movies, Crazy Stupid Love, except instead of cheating, the main couple explores the idea of an open marriage (even though they refuse to call it that.) On one hand, you hope the couple can work it out and stay together in the end, but on the other hand, you can't forget about the betrayal, about the broken vows and the selfishness. And much like Julianne Moore in CSL, I had such a hard time finding any redeeming qualities in Jessica. It almost felt as if she used their evolved marriage as a way to justify wanting to cheat on Mitch, and it all felt very icky to me.
I loved Norman's writing style, his accurate observations about marriage, and the humor he laced throughout the story. I also respect how he explored the ugly side of happily-ever-after. As uncomfortable as the idea of open marriage may be, it does work for some couples, and who am I to judge that? Marriage is a fickle thing. It changes over time and takes a lot of work. There is a reason why so many unions end in divorce. To pretend that it's easy is a waste of time and frankly, downright embarrassing. Marriage separates the committed from the defeatists, and Last Couple Standing takes an honest look at that notion.
Unfortunately, this rating is a case of one unlikeable character just really having a negative affect on my overall reading experience. Jessica, wife/mother/therapist/annoying human being, I just couldn't get behind you, girlfriend. Mitch deserved better. So did Emily and Jude, and for that, I have to go with 3🌟.
After their core group of friends each file for divorce, Mitch and Jessica worry they might be doomed to follow the same path. So, Jessica suggests she and Mitch explore what she calls "an evolved marriage." With a set of rules put in place, they each set out to see if their experiment will be successful or fail.
Last Couple Standing reminded me a lot of one of my favorite movies, Crazy Stupid Love, except instead of cheating, the main couple explores the idea of an open marriage (even though they refuse to call it that.) On one hand, you hope the couple can work it out and stay together in the end, but on the other hand, you can't forget about the betrayal, about the broken vows and the selfishness. And much like Julianne Moore in CSL, I had such a hard time finding any redeeming qualities in Jessica. It almost felt as if she used their evolved marriage as a way to justify wanting to cheat on Mitch, and it all felt very icky to me.
I loved Norman's writing style, his accurate observations about marriage, and the humor he laced throughout the story. I also respect how he explored the ugly side of happily-ever-after. As uncomfortable as the idea of open marriage may be, it does work for some couples, and who am I to judge that? Marriage is a fickle thing. It changes over time and takes a lot of work. There is a reason why so many unions end in divorce. To pretend that it's easy is a waste of time and frankly, downright embarrassing. Marriage separates the committed from the defeatists, and Last Couple Standing takes an honest look at that notion.
Unfortunately, this rating is a case of one unlikeable character just really having a negative affect on my overall reading experience. Jessica, wife/mother/therapist/annoying human being, I just couldn't get behind you, girlfriend. Mitch deserved better. So did Emily and Jude, and for that, I have to go with 3🌟.
September 6, 2020
It's the fetishization of a high school student for me.
It's the way that there is no flavor for me.
It's the fake wokeness for me.
It's the judging women in your writing as a white cis man for me.
It's the bullshit misinterpretation of the MeToo movement that was not cut in the freaking edition stage for me.
DNF @ 34%
I know this story could change a lot throughout the book but I'm not interested in finding out. I am not shaming anyone that enjoyed this book, good for them but it's clearly not a book for me. I can live without knowing if this book actually has a plot or not because until the 34% mark, it's clear for me that this is going to end badly and then everything will be pushed aside and preach forgiveness or some bullshit like that.
The open relationship was not a problem for me, the problem was that it was so out of the blue and the only way to justify Jessica's wish to sleep with other men in an ethical way.
It's the way that there is no flavor for me.
It's the fake wokeness for me.
It's the judging women in your writing as a white cis man for me.
It's the bullshit misinterpretation of the MeToo movement that was not cut in the freaking edition stage for me.
DNF @ 34%
I know this story could change a lot throughout the book but I'm not interested in finding out. I am not shaming anyone that enjoyed this book, good for them but it's clearly not a book for me. I can live without knowing if this book actually has a plot or not because until the 34% mark, it's clear for me that this is going to end badly and then everything will be pushed aside and preach forgiveness or some bullshit like that.
The open relationship was not a problem for me, the problem was that it was so out of the blue and the only way to justify Jessica's wish to sleep with other men in an ethical way.
April 12, 2020
LAST COUPLE STANDING is like watching your favorite weekly sitcom, say American Housewife or Modern Family. You laugh because it rings true and then wince while laughing because some of the subject matter isn’t so funny. It’s enjoyable in the slapstick moments and when the lesson comes around at the end you either cry or roll your eyes.
Confused? Yeah me too. I’ll probably tune in again, though (sometimes I never learn). 🤷🏼♀️😆
P.S. I bought myself some Golden Oreos and they still aren’t the real deal.
Confused? Yeah me too. I’ll probably tune in again, though (sometimes I never learn). 🤷🏼♀️😆
P.S. I bought myself some Golden Oreos and they still aren’t the real deal.
February 21, 2020
I kept picking this up during some serious slumps which resulted in me taking MONTHS to finally finish it. But when I got a good groove, I devoured it.
This was pretty damn good. Some jokes didn’t stick with me, as in some metaphors aimed to make me laugh but seemed more random than anything. And my god, the love for the Orioles is strong with this one 😂. But there were a hell of a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. Especially the ending, omg Emily FTW. It definitely was sexy, definitely funny, and I’m so so happy I got to read it before it came out. Highly recommend for a fun, quick read.
Thank you Goodreads, Ballantine, and Matthew Norman for this ARC (my first one!!).
This was pretty damn good. Some jokes didn’t stick with me, as in some metaphors aimed to make me laugh but seemed more random than anything. And my god, the love for the Orioles is strong with this one 😂. But there were a hell of a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. Especially the ending, omg Emily FTW. It definitely was sexy, definitely funny, and I’m so so happy I got to read it before it came out. Highly recommend for a fun, quick read.
Thank you Goodreads, Ballantine, and Matthew Norman for this ARC (my first one!!).
March 16, 2020
I feel a new Netflix movie or series in the making…
Last Couple Standing is a hilarious, touching, and slightly edgy novel about learning to love what you have well.
Four married couples have known each other since college. They’ve lived practically all of the major life milestones together. Suddenly, three of the couples have headed for divorce. Mitch and Jessica are the last couple standing as a semi-happy married couple with children. When they start investigating their own marriage, each of them question whether they are truly happy and embark on an adventure that will teach them what true happiness looks like.
Although the characters in this novel are in their 40s, I recognized many of them as people in my own life. I can also see relatability as far as how marriage can evolve over time. This novel was an unexpected binge read for me. While I do not read novels with this basic premise, I was instantly engaged with the almost slap-stick adventures of the couples mentioned. Mitch was an absolute joy to read with his witty and unique humor. All of the characters were worth pulling for including the wayward Scarlett. The plot was fresh and interesting enough to keep me wanting to know how the last couple standing ended up.
There were times in the middle and towards the end of the novel that the plot slow down for me and I felt myself skimming. I attribute this to the fact that I did not always relate to the age group in this novel. Otherwise, the plot probably would have been more of interest to me at that point in the story.
This novel earns a solid four stars from me for enjoyable characters, truly great writing, and a story that is surprisingly touching and raw.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Last Couple Standing will be released on March 17, 2020.
Last Couple Standing is a hilarious, touching, and slightly edgy novel about learning to love what you have well.
Four married couples have known each other since college. They’ve lived practically all of the major life milestones together. Suddenly, three of the couples have headed for divorce. Mitch and Jessica are the last couple standing as a semi-happy married couple with children. When they start investigating their own marriage, each of them question whether they are truly happy and embark on an adventure that will teach them what true happiness looks like.
Although the characters in this novel are in their 40s, I recognized many of them as people in my own life. I can also see relatability as far as how marriage can evolve over time. This novel was an unexpected binge read for me. While I do not read novels with this basic premise, I was instantly engaged with the almost slap-stick adventures of the couples mentioned. Mitch was an absolute joy to read with his witty and unique humor. All of the characters were worth pulling for including the wayward Scarlett. The plot was fresh and interesting enough to keep me wanting to know how the last couple standing ended up.
There were times in the middle and towards the end of the novel that the plot slow down for me and I felt myself skimming. I attribute this to the fact that I did not always relate to the age group in this novel. Otherwise, the plot probably would have been more of interest to me at that point in the story.
This novel earns a solid four stars from me for enjoyable characters, truly great writing, and a story that is surprisingly touching and raw.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Last Couple Standing will be released on March 17, 2020.
September 16, 2022
4.5 I am sure many readers will criticize certain aspects of the book, but I just thoroughly enjoyed it,
November 11, 2022
A great exploration of the challenges of modern marriage as one couple get inspired to try to save their marriage as they watch all of their friends get divorced. Their solution? Try an open marriage where each of them is allowed to sleep with someone new. Relatable, heartfelt and very poignant. I enjoyed this one a lot and liked the audiobook narration too. Much thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review!
February 26, 2020
Oh yes I DID binge this in 1 day! Let me tell you about this juicy read...😳
This was my first binge read of 2020. I may have neglected some household tasks the day I read it, and I may have ignored my kids just a smidge, and hey, I might have even closed my office door at lunch so I could sneak in a couple pages without someone coming in and asking me stuff about “Patient Care” and “Medical Education” but NO REGRETS (I am joking. I do not ignore my patients or trainees to read. Very often). This story is about four couples who have been friends since college. They are now hitting 40, and three of the four couples have divorced. The last couple standing, Mitch and Jessica, decide to try something unique to keep their marriage fresh: they’ll relax some rules about fidelity—but they set boundaries! They discuss expectations honestly! They agree there will be NO emotional entanglements. What could go wrong?
I’ve read other books with a similar premise, but where this one shines is the storytelling and voice. I was hooked in the first chapter; I knew I was in for an irreverent, funny, and (I hoped) thoughtful and heartfelt ride. It delivered! It’s also pretty sexy, so that was nice. 😳 😂 What I liked best is that these characters felt like people I know; they are exactly my age, married professionals with kids, and I saw so much of my life reflected in the book. I highly recommend it to anyone else in this stage of life, or those who love books about marriage and sex and the ways we humans like to mess it all up. I think it would make a fantastic book club selection.
Thanks @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This releases 3/17 so mark your calendars!
This was my first binge read of 2020. I may have neglected some household tasks the day I read it, and I may have ignored my kids just a smidge, and hey, I might have even closed my office door at lunch so I could sneak in a couple pages without someone coming in and asking me stuff about “Patient Care” and “Medical Education” but NO REGRETS (I am joking. I do not ignore my patients or trainees to read. Very often). This story is about four couples who have been friends since college. They are now hitting 40, and three of the four couples have divorced. The last couple standing, Mitch and Jessica, decide to try something unique to keep their marriage fresh: they’ll relax some rules about fidelity—but they set boundaries! They discuss expectations honestly! They agree there will be NO emotional entanglements. What could go wrong?
I’ve read other books with a similar premise, but where this one shines is the storytelling and voice. I was hooked in the first chapter; I knew I was in for an irreverent, funny, and (I hoped) thoughtful and heartfelt ride. It delivered! It’s also pretty sexy, so that was nice. 😳 😂 What I liked best is that these characters felt like people I know; they are exactly my age, married professionals with kids, and I saw so much of my life reflected in the book. I highly recommend it to anyone else in this stage of life, or those who love books about marriage and sex and the ways we humans like to mess it all up. I think it would make a fantastic book club selection.
Thanks @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This releases 3/17 so mark your calendars!
October 30, 2019
What a great book to wrap up with during this chilly fall/winter weather! Be warned: it’s like watching a slow inevitable train wreck. You want the train to stop, but you know it won’t, at least not in time, and you simply can’t look away.
The author, Matthew Norman, writes with a wry sense of humor, which I absolutely love. Even though at times he must write of pain and humiliation, he manages to do it respectfully, and then give his battered character an opportunity to smile at the little things.
Mitch and Jessica are the last of the Core Four, college buddies that married off, raised children, bought homes near one another, and then one by one began divorcing. Their concept of what must be done to save their marriage is one-sided; it seems Jessica has an ulterior motive and Mitch is just too darned good (and also, it turns out, very savvy) to stand up to her reasoning. You’ll probably feel some strong anger from time to time with some of the characters (cram Jessica here right now!), but you’ll also have a place in your heart for some of the endearing ones (insert Luke, Scarlett, Jude, and Emily here).
I must now go back and read Matthew’s first book, “Domestic Violets”. I enjoy his serious humor.
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks so much to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for making it available.)
The author, Matthew Norman, writes with a wry sense of humor, which I absolutely love. Even though at times he must write of pain and humiliation, he manages to do it respectfully, and then give his battered character an opportunity to smile at the little things.
Mitch and Jessica are the last of the Core Four, college buddies that married off, raised children, bought homes near one another, and then one by one began divorcing. Their concept of what must be done to save their marriage is one-sided; it seems Jessica has an ulterior motive and Mitch is just too darned good (and also, it turns out, very savvy) to stand up to her reasoning. You’ll probably feel some strong anger from time to time with some of the characters (cram Jessica here right now!), but you’ll also have a place in your heart for some of the endearing ones (insert Luke, Scarlett, Jude, and Emily here).
I must now go back and read Matthew’s first book, “Domestic Violets”. I enjoy his serious humor.
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks so much to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for making it available.)
January 3, 2022
In this contemporary fiction novel, a couple reassesses their marriage after three of their friends divorce. Determining that the end of all the marriages revolved around sex, they decide to proactively save their own marriage by adopting a “relaxed” marriage where they see other people casually with specific rules in place. Although the author tries for a light, funny read, this one just totally missed that mark for me. Instead, I found it rather sad and pathetic. I finished this since it was a gift (and recommended) but in my opinion, not worth the read. 1/5 stars.
abandoned
December 10, 2019This was just....very much not for me. I loved Matthew Norman's first two books, but I couldn't get more than a third of the way through this one because it left a sour taste in my mouth.
March 24, 2020
(free review copy) so so so relatable - well, the marriage part, not the sleeping with other people part ;-) Reminded me of The Arrangement by Sarah Dunn
Displaying 1 - 30 of 730 reviews