I loved the author's debut novel, Lift and Separate, and was happy to love this book just as much! I was thrilled the book followed Marcy's adventures again and picked up where her first book left off. This book can be read on it's own but I think it will make more sense and be more enjoyable if you read Lift and Separate first.

What I loved most about this book was the witty and fun writing style! Just as in her first book, the author makes an otherwise depressing or stressful situation for the character something to laugh through and find the positives. The "one liners" and jokes the Marcy makes literally make you laugh out loud. Marcy even calls out the fact that joking is her defense mechanism when another character makes a joke in the middle of a serious conversation. The book drew me in from the first page and I couldn't stop reading because I just HAD to know how all the wedding drama worked out.


Once again, I'm impressed with the author's ability to blend serious, important issues concerning families and relationships with laugh out loud humor! You would think the humor would make light of or take away the seriousness of the situation, but it doesn't. It makes the story that much more real and easy to relate to. I definitely recommend this as your next weekend read!

Husbands and Other Sharp Objects –Rothstein
Husband's and Other Sharp Objects is my first encounter with Marilyn Simon Rothstein's work, and this, her sophmore work, had me in stitches. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. Marcy was such an unlikely heroine. Up until earlier this year, Marcy was married, she thought happily, when her husband came out with his affair, she started to realize that her life wasn't all it could be. She has moved on and created her own life, responsible for no one but herself and has realized how much she likes it. When her not-quite-ex decides that he wants her back, Marcy has to decide whether she wants her future, or to step back into the past. This is a fun look at family, friends, and finding a new path.
I really enjoyed Marcy and her friends, was ready to strangle Amanda...seriously? and where can we find someone like Jon? Going through Marcy's life through her eyes, with her thoughts and comments was thouroughly entertaining.
I really enjoyed Marcy, and her supporting cast was icing on the proverbial cake.

This book was funny at times, but for some reason I struggled to get into this story.

There are few stories that state they are heartwarming and hilarious in the blurb, and then turn out to be just that. This is the exception: from snarky moments that are laugh out loud funny and wholly inappropriate to the moment, to a general sense of a heroine who has always used her humor to release tension and move a difficult moment forward in Marcy, this story kept me laughing and cheering her on.

After some 30 years of marriage to Harvey, the Bosom king, she’s discovered his infidelity with a woman younger enough to be his daughter. He strayed – so he’s got to be the one who files for divorce – and this has caused her no end of issues. Sure, she’s now got a job that she loves and friends who have been there through much of her life: but her kids, Amanda, Elizabeth and Ben all seem to be siding with Dad, and she feels that guilt keenly. Yes, there is hope for her in the form of Jon, a professor and artist who is, possibly, the nicest man around.

But drama (above and beyond normal life stuff) rears its ugly head. Marcy’s mother, now dead, still talks to her regularly, Marcy isn’t sure just how to move forward in her new role where she actually can make her own decisions unlike subjugating her wants to Harvey’s, and her daughter, Amanda, has been in Connecticut frequently to see her fiance and her father, all without sharing this with her mother. Soon she turns into the Bridezilla of the century, with a soon to be mother in law with a criminal record and a severe case of kleptomania. Add to this, her friend’s uterine cancer and the worries for her health – oh and other things…..

“I am grateful. But vaginal dryness is problematic. It can be devastating.” It was certainly at the top of my concerns. Right after “I can’t get this jar of applesauce open.”

From moment to moment, Marcy is discovering her likes and dislikes, and becoming more sure of herself and what she will and won’t accept. Slowly she starts to declare herself and divest herself of things that don’t fit: from moving house, refusing to allow Harvey another chance, and finding a way to be seen as a person in her children’s eyes – not just a Mum. The writing allows readers to follow Marcy on her journey: the good moments, the bad ones and even those quiet moments of reflection that feel so plausible and natural that she’s someone you want to hang out with. From the first page to the last, Marcy’s growth is palpable and you’ll enjoy (and perhaps relate to) her confusion, her coping mechanisms and even her never ending ability to put a brighter face on things.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-9FJ/”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Rothstein writes with such wit that it is impossible not to love her work. She tackles pretty intense issues, such as divorce, cancer, and heart attacks, and makes it acceptable to have the full range of emotions for all of it. The main character Marcy is complex. In one moment she is advocating for herself but, in the next, she reflects someone who is dependent on having a man in their life. Marcy reflects all of the sacrifices women throughout the world have made in order to raise their families. There is someone for any reader to relate to in this cast of characters. I applaud Rothstein and hope that there will be another novel with this complex group.

What can be a better day to review this book other than women’s day? Blurb says it all. This story was about a woman who grows in a real sense almost at the end of her middle age by getting control of your own life, being independent after almost 30 years of marriage, and coming out of ex-husband’s shadow. It’s about her life, family, love, and friendship.

I’m going in little detail with the characters as it is hard to talk about book without characters and I loved them all. So let’s meet Marcy Hammer and character who were very important in her life.

Characters-
Marcy– is such a good hearted protagonist. I so loved her throughout the story. She had come to terms with fact that her husband cheated on her but still she was struggling with her after effects of her separation. She loved her kids so much that foe them she kept contact with her ex-husband who was taking it in other way and wanted to be back together. I loved the way she handled her family even after everything that happened to her. She perfectly compartmentalized her love life, family and job, was doing great until her daughter announces the big day and all the side characters wanted to cross the boundaries of their assigned compartments. Keep everyone happy was her nature but in doing so she was putting her own happiness on the edge of the cliff and nobody cared about it specifically Amanda. She wanted Amanda happy on her day and for that she was ready to do anything which was so admirable.

Harvey was okay. I didn’t like him. He was selfish person who care more about his business than anything. His demand of getting back with Marcy was ridiculous. I still wonder why he didn’t file divorce! When they separated, he made it very clear that he didn’t wanted to be married. But I liked that he kept helping Marcy with the bills and supported Marcy with their kids.

Most noticeable trio of the book was Amanda’s three children. Elizabeth– doctor less social but great daughter and sister. I loved her more because she understood Marcy more than Amanda. Amanda was epitome of bridezilla. She made everyone’s life hell since her announcement of engagement till the day of marriage. Everyone was going along with her incessant insane childish behavior as it was about her big day especially Marcy. I didn’t like her a bit. She was so selfish and kept blaming Marcy for everything that gone wrong. But I never expected what she did in climax. It was surprisingly good. Her love for her father was tremendous. Ben– Studying law. He was gay, cute, and Marcy’s most supporting son. I even liked his partner Jordan.

Jon- Marcy’s boyfriend, was a nice guy. He and Marcy made a great couple in the book. She was really happy with him. But I also didn’t like the way he kept pushing her on becoming part of her family and then making life decision without even asking her. That was shocking.

Dana and Candy– her girlfriends were her lifeboat. They supported her lot when she was emotionally sinking. They gave this book extra charm. Together with Marcy they made another trio that was so amazingly strong, funny, and sarcastic.

Pheww!! I had to mention them all as they played such important role in Marcy’s life. They were so close to her and I can say I came to know them as equally as I knew Marcy in the book. No one was perfect, they had their imperfections and that is what made them realistic and this book perfect. All were just great and hilarious.

What I liked-
Warning– there is so much food in this book. Almost all chapter started with description of restaurants or had a scene where character is eating food and talking food. All laughter and food talk going to make you lot hungry. Do not read it on an empty stomach.

As the tag line of the book says, this book was so so heartwarming and hilarious and those who have family or ever had can enjoy it even more. Book was narrated by main character, Marcy. Author made her voice very strong that it was hard not to feel Marcy. Her life events were written in smooth flow telling everything that reader need to know about this incredible character like, how she separated from Harvey and how it impacted her life; her life before, during and after marriage; her relationship with her kids, mother, friends and Jon; what she wanted in her life, sacrifices she made and how she felt about that. It was so wonderful to know this character.

She might look weak at some point as I can see she was hesitant with taking control of her life and also in making life decisions, she wasn’t even defending herself when other characters pushed her or blamed her for something in fear of hurting them. Ha! She didn’t even file divorce. But she was not weak, she was strong in her own way and I loved the changes in her by the end of the book. Her monologues and dialogues were remarkably witty, I loved her mental talk with her mother. I can’t tell you how much I laughed in the book. The funniest moments were when Marcy met Amanda’s in-laws, Dana’s daughter-in-law, and her own mother-in-law. Basically in-laws were real pain, but funny side of characters made those moments mind-blowing. Even the serious moments were narrated in humorous way.

There were not big surprises or twist in the story until climax. I could see all the turns coming in the book but the climax was surprising. I didn’t see it coming. Book had a feel good end.

This story was so good that I wanted to keep reading it. It’s a kind of book that I will read again when I’m of character’s age or more and die laughing. I will keep this book in my retirement shelf, it will be so good to read it at that time. I hope my husband buy paperback by that time or I have to use Sharp Objects to make it early. 😉

Overall, it was refreshing, hilarious, entertaining, dramatic, fast paced, clean romance, and relatable relationships with quirky and witty characters. Pinch of everything that made the book most enjoyable. I recommend this book to readers of all age.

I didn't know what to expect when I chose this novel, but I expected so much more than what I got. There's no nice way to say this- This book was boring. I finished it by sheer will power and because I felt obligated to complete it after getting the ARC.

A middle-aged woman with three adult children has recently separated from her husband. I think they've been living apart for about six months, and he still graciously pays her bills. Marcy, our main character, has a boyfriend named Jon who tolerates her we're-not-together-but-we're-still-married relationship with her still-legal husband for most of the book. I was glad when he finally developed a backbone and told Marcy she needed to get a divorce. Marcy refuses to file for divorce because she wants her husband to file first. God forbid she look like a villain in front of her grown children, two of whom got engaged in this story.

So the plot is basically Marcy's diary- We see her interact with her friends, her boyfriend, and her clearly spoiled adult kids. We hear a lot of her thoughts. There was really nothing here that caught my interest and made me want to care about any of these characters.

I really enjoyed this book. I hope the author will continue with Marcy's story and family. Lots of laughs and a great ending.

Woman (Marcy) helps plan her daughter (Amanda's) wedding... while also divorcing her husband (Harvey). How will Marcy handle the end of her marriage just as her daughter's is beginning?

After decades of raising three kids (Elisabeth, Amanda, and Ben) together, Marcy and Harvey have recently separated after Harvey had an affair with a young model. Oh, and she's having his baby, too. Luckily, Marcy has moved on as well and has the sweetest, most caring and thoughtful boyfriend (full grown man friend??) ever, Jon, who is an artist. Can you say #BookBoyfriend??

With a little help from her friends, Dana and Candy, Marcy will help plan her daughter's wedding (but without voicing her opinion too often and annoying Amanda, who has turned into a Bridezilla), continue to date Jon, and decide whether or not to forgive Harvey (who has had a change of heart and wants her back).

Deliciously witty and sarcastic, this would make a great beach read!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team for a free ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.

As a woman in her fifties, I totally identified with this character. Hopefully, my life won’t be shook up in the same way Maggie’s was, but life is full of little earthquakes, it’s all in how we deal with them. And I hope that I’m as brave as Maggie when—and if--my earth is shook.

Not only is Maggie a character worth rooting for, she had a great supporting cast. Who wouldn’t want a fairy godmother like Jean? I loved the relationship Maggie had with her kids and her mother-in-law, Rose. And then there was Charlie…

Great writing, great story, great escape. This was my first Camille Pagan book but it definitely won’t be my last.

I received an advance review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were all (mostly) enjoyable. I thought the protagonist was hilarious. She reminds me of someone that I'd love to spend the day with. This is a fast paced read that keeps you turning the pages.

I received an Advanced Review Copy. All thoughts are my own.

This book made me laugh so much! This is a great sequel to Marilyn Simon Rothstein's first book, Lift and Separate. It was wonderful to find out what happens to the characters and how they moved on in their lives. The sarcastic humor had me LOL so much. I would love to hang out with Marcy in real life! I enjoyed traveling through the book with the characters and I felt a part of their lives. Even in the events of the story that were difficult times, there was humor to lighten the situation up. The wedding planning was hilarious! I haven't laughed so much reading a book in a long time as I did this one. TY Netgalley for the opportunity to read it in exchange for my honest review. I love this book!

This novel was so enjoyable! I really enjoyed the humor throughout and the way the characters were portrayed. Marcy and her husband, Harvey, are separated and heading towards divorce. Suddenly their daughter, Amanda, announces that she is engaged. So, while Marcy is negotiating her divorce and her new life, she is simultaneously swept up in their daughter’s wedding plans. Even without her husband and with their three children grown up and living on their own, Marcy’s life is busy and full. She has a successful career and two close friends. And she is now dating Jon, who is pushing her for more of a commitment. Things start to get really crazy as Amanda plans her wedding and almost every idea she has offends somebody else in the family. There are some serious events that happen throughout the story. But Marilyn brings fun and a sense of humor to everything and has created a whole set of characters who are absolutely delightful!

Yay Marcy is back! You'll be fine if you did not read the first book because this is a complete novel- but golly I was glad to be back with Marcy, Jon, Candy, Dana, Jon, the kids and, reluctantly, Harvey. Marcy's daughter Amanda is getting married ("it's my day") and she's being a real pain. Marcy's got a really good relationship with Jon (what a neat guy) but she's not divorced from Harvey yet because she wants him to file- and as you might imagine, this is causing trouble. Harvey has decided he wants Marcy back. He's also the one who can best control Amanda. Rothstein has captured, in a terrific way, so many of the issues that a 50 something woman might encounter (love Dana's dealing with her daughter-in-law). She's funny, she's blunt, she's realistic. This made for a wonderful read on a day when we had no power and no internet- but it would be great any time. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I didn't expect another chapter in Marcy's life and I wonder if there will be a third. If there is, well, sign me up.

Marilyn Simon Rothstein has a great sense of humor and an excellent sense of pacing. Husbands and Other Sharp Objects had me hooked from page one and I enjoyed her witty and clever writing. The words flowed, the pages turned, the story moved forward, what’s not to love?

I liked that the main character was not in her twenties and grappling with men and a job, but she was a women with grown children, stuck in a midlife crisis, but she wasn’t a “poor me” type. And I am always going to enjoy a main character with a wicked sense of humor.

Here’s the synopsis:

After a lifetime of marriage, Marcy Hammer is ready to get herself unhitched—just as everyone else in her life is looking for a commitment. Her new boyfriend, Jon, wants to get serious, and her soon-to-be ex-husband, Harvey, is desperate to get back together. When her headstrong daughter announces a secret engagement to Harvey’s attorney, Marcy finds herself planning her daughter’s wedding as she plans her own divorce.

Now with two huge events on the horizon, the indomitable Marcy soon realizes that there’s nothing like a wedding to bring out the worst in everybody. From petty skirmishes over an ever-growing guest list to awkward confrontations with her sticky-fingered new in-laws, pulling off the wedding is going to be a challenge; seeing her divorce through is going to be a trial. And trying to make everyone happy might prove to be impossible—because in the end, Marcy alone must make a choice between something old and something new.



Every chapter had something funny happening, a little crisis to put Marcy in peril. Now I’m going to have to read Lift and Separate, the first book about this character! Id say this is a great beach read because its light and funny but really, a heartwarming story can be enjoyed any time of year!

This book will not win any major awards or change the course of humankind, but it was extremely entertaining and enjoyable to read and I had to give it 5 stars. Marcy, a middle-aged Jewish woman who is separated from her cheating husband, is not the caricature or stereotype that you would expect. Instead she was a completely refreshing look at what happens when a woman starts to realize her independence. Sure she is still completely there for her children, and too many times she is there for her soon-to-be ex-husband, but he small revelations about the choices she has and her control over her own situation are lovely. Her friends and her boyfriend help round out a nice cast of characters that all feel genuine. Well, maybe with the exception of her boyfriend who in many ways feels too good to be true. This feel good book is perfect for a cold winter couch reading or a warm sunny beach read.

‘Husbands and Other Sharp Objects’ is a real treat. Marcy is preparing for her divorce at the same time she is helping to plan her daughter’s wedding. I loved the character of Marcy. She is always full of humor and sees the bright side in every situation. There were times when I literally laughed out loud while reading this story. I also really enjoyed the relationships in this book, the relationships between Marcy and her children, Marcy and Harvey, Marcy and Jon, and Marcy and her friends. I enjoyed how the author created a new life for Marcy and had her move forward. Reading ‘Husbands and Other Sharp Objects’ is like having a conversation with a very funny friend. Marcy’s deadpan humor is spot on. This is a funny, quick read.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I am still laughing out loud! Thank you NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Marilyn Simon Rothstein for the advance reading copy of "Husbands and Other Sharp Objects", for my honest review. It was a fabulous novel! Even when addressing tough subjects, this book was endlessly entertaining. A story about divorce, marriage, love, family and friends that are so easy to relate to. I highly recommend!

Marcy and her family are back for another great book! I liked this book better than the first one, which is saying a lot. Marcy really finds herself and her place in her universe, and does so in a delightfully humorous way. I hope there is another book to follow!

I am still laughing at what is such a cleverly written novel about Marcy who is seeking a divorce from her husband Harvey. Full of fun, absolute crazy making situations involve Amanda the daughter who is marrying Jake and wants the wedding of her dreams on her own terms much to her parents shock that she is not following her heritage and traditions. Not to mention that Marcy is dating Jon when all Harvey seems to want is to mend their marriage and start over....never mine his disgrace. After all family sticks together. There is lots of drama at the root of this family dysfunction that makes you squirm, yet cheer for the smarts and fortitude of Marcy. There are biting squabbles between Amanda and her sister Elisabeth, their brother Ben and his situation, then the future mother-in-law and her shocking behavior add to the outright hilarious scenes - this entertaining heartwarming book would make an amazing movie. I haven't read this author's first novel but really want to! I loved this book.