I will admit that my interest in this book was triggered by the gossipy stories written about the author's husband and Tori Spelling, as well as the short story that Mary Jo Eustace wrote in "The Other Woman." Yes, you'll get some scoop about what happened - from the wronged party this time - but the book is much more than that. This is really a self-help book that is intertwined with a thoughtful, candid and sometimes gut-wrenching memoir about the author's journey through her own experience of divorce and recovery. She handles the topic with grace and humor, at times baring her soul about some of the worst moments she endured and how she found the strength to pick herself up and move on to a better life. Topics such as what to think about when choosing an attorney, how to handle the disclosures to your own children, navigate the waters with your ex-spouse (and, if it applies, your "replacement") and move on with a man who may or may not have an ex and children of his own are all covered. Much of the advice is common sense, but as anyone who has gone through this process knows, common sense goes out the window when your emotions are in tatters, and hearing from someone who has been there, survived and thrived is really invaluable.
While the author was fairly classy and pretty restrained when discussing her ex, Dean McDermott, and Tori Spelling, you can't help but feel some level of disgust for both of them after reading this book, and it makes Tori Spelling's version of the story (if you've read it) seem pretty nauseating in contrast. I mean, what can you think about a man who introduces his child to his new girlfriend two weeks after abruptly leaving his wife, and then lies to his child about the nature of the relationship? But I digress...whether you have been through a divorce and are looking for inspiration or whether you are more interested in the individuals involved in this story, you will not be disappointed in this book and you will be very impressed with the amazing woman who wrote it.
