Author: Matthew Norman
Publisher: Random House - Ballantine
Publication Date: May 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible
Description: 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.
My Thoughts: 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.
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