I could not get past the 2o% marker in this manic book about nothing. A DNF for me.
Enjoyed the After Wife, but ever since then, no book by this author has appealed to me.

This book felt frenetic in pace and too full of quips. There wasn’t enough substance or character development for me to be invested in what happened.

I tried so hard to like this book-but I got tired of the snarky, name-dropping narrative pretty quickly.

I selected this book because I thought it would be funny but unfortunately that is about the only good thing about this story. There are some somewhat funny parts but the writing is so choppy I found myself going back and checking to see if I'd missed a page. I also did not like the characters. If you want a story that makes the rich and famous look like awful people then this may appeal to you.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

I have started off the new year, really trying to slow down my reading, turn of outside noise and just concentrate completely on the words on the page. When I picked up this book, I started seeing the reviews, I thought oh my, this might be a stinker. However, because of my new reading habits, I think that this book was saved. It is a complete fluff book and if you know that going in, you will enjoy this all the more.

This story is about Agnes Nash married to famed producer Trevor. They appear to have a picture perfect marriage, until one day she comes home and all the locks and codes to her house have been changed. What proceeds is a divorce for the ages, and Trevor is a complete baby, because he does not get 100% devotion from his wife for everything he does.

I really liked how the author gave Agnes a ton of wit, that made this terrible story of divorce so funny. In addition to a quick-witted Agnes and a depressed baby of a husband, you have an ex-felon sister, a playboy movie director, lawyers that will make you cringe and a group of friends and family that are just so lovable.

This book is it what it is, you probably won’t be thinking of this book in a month, but if you are looking for a fun read maybe as a palette cleansing, then this should totally work.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

By the description, I was really looking forward to this book, then I started reading it. From what I did read, this book was more full of sarcastic comments more than humor, and it gives me yet another reason to dislike Hollywood. The reasons for Trevor to not want to be married to Agnes any longer was absurd, Don't even get me started on the daughter, totally mishandled by both parents. I rarely don't finish a book, but I just couldn't take it anymore and stopped at 14%. Disappointing for sure.....

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

Been There, Married That is the first book I’ve read by author Gigi Levangie Grazer. The blurb was funny and her other books seem to have been well-received, so I had high hopes. I like to alternate serious with lighter books, and thought this would be a good, funny read to sneak in during the holidays. Well, I was disappointed.

I’m not part of the Hollywood scene and have not “Been There, Married That” so couldn’t relate to what that life is like. But I also couldn’t escape into the story, which was what I was hoping for. Instead, this is a story full of really unlikeable characters you can’t work up any sympathy for or care about and really, really uneven writing. Instead of following a plot line it reads more like a tryout for a comedy show, an endless stream of witty remarks, almost unacceptable thoughts and actions, and Agnes’ constant asides. I really did not want to be that much in her head.

I was provided an advance copy by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

A long term Hollywood couple, he a producer, her a writer hit a large speed bump in their marriage and he has decided that their relationship isn't working for him anymore. A book that takes all the pretentious Hollywood ideals and blows them way out of portion and for me it just didn't work.

I couldn't get excited about either character. Agnes Murphy Nash was just a frustrating lady to follow, I wanted so much for her at a few spots in the book and she just wasn't meeting the expectations I had for her - I wanted her to rise above her husbands drama. Trevor Nash was just an asshole and I really wish to goodness that there isn't a man out there who acts like him. I could maybe guess that the character was based on one or two people, but I sure hope not because he was just ridiculous.

I continued to roll my eyes throughout the book. I know it is fiction, but this just seemed like a reality tv show and a soap opera married and had this book as a baby.

If you love the craziness of the Kardashians in book form - then this one would be perfect for you to pick up. I need something a little more for my character for me to follow them on a journey.

3.5 Stars. I'm still not really sure what to make of this book. The book centers around a Hollywood wife going through a divorce and all the shenanigans that entails. The story was kind of all over the place or at least the writing/formatting made it feel that way, but parts of it were so hilarious. I can't even imagine what it would be to have a life like that, but damn was it entertaining to read. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

I wanted to like this book. I just couldn't. I did like some of the internal dialogue -- but overall I just couldn't connect/like this book.

Recv'd a copy via St. Martin's Press / Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
2.5 stars

I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it. I had a hard time with this read. I wanted to love it as I really enjoyed the beginning of the book, but I just struggled so much. The alternating narrators left me confused at times. I felt it was super, super heavy on humor, but it lacked substance for me to really love it.

“Been There, Married That” by Gigi Levangie definitely is not thought-provoking or mind blowing literature. It is, however, a fun and entertaining read. Though none of the characters, with the exception of the felonious sister, are not particularly likable, I did enjoy reading about their ridiculous antics and over-the-top Hollywood lives. Some parts of this book are laugh-out-loud funny. Who knew divorce and custody disputes could be so amusing?

I give this book a solid three stars. It would have been four, but the writing in parts was disjointed and difficult to follow. There were points where the scenes switched so fast that I had to go back and reread paragraphs to try to understand what was going on. I also could have done without some of the crude language. Overall, this book is worth the read, especially if the reader is looking for something light-hearted and easy to read.

Well this is a first for me. I don’t think I’ve ever rated a book below a 3 before but I just couldn’t connect with this one. I tried 3 times to find a happy medium where I could enjoy the story but never did. It’s all over the place and wasn’t funny for me. We all have different taste so don’t base your decision on me. You may love it. It just wasn’t for me.

I received an early copy from Netgalley to read and review and give my honest opinion. I didn’t care for it.

Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing. In the case of BEEN THERE, MARRIED THAT I felt this was too much of a bad thing, a very bad thing. Sure, it is supposed to be loaded with humor and it is, but too much of it just wasn’t funny, it was heartless and TO ME, it bordered on hitting below the belt, over and over. Where is the humor in being selfish, self-centered, fake and often cruel?

Not sure when divorce became so funny, especially the actions of this couple, who, frankly had little to no redeeming qualities to me. Gigi Levangie Grazer’s attempt at anything remotely entertaining derailed in a hurry and has planted her firmly in my what-were-you-thinking category.

So, if I disliked this so much, why two stars? There is consistency in the writing and I actually laughed once as I struggled to the finish.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from St. Martin's Press. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
At first this book starts out as a sort of “ Mean Girls, the Hollywood years. The main character Agnes , mid 40s a mildly successful author is attending a launch of her new book and we hear her thoughts as she trash talks everyone, including her frenemies. She is every bit as shallow petty and self centered as they are. She makes fun of her life and of privilege as she lives it. Her man- child husband of 10 years suddenly decides he wants a divorce, and hires the nastiest divorce lawyer in Hollywood to win his case - at all costs. Installing spy cameras, taping off half of the house, making a scheudle so they dont have to see each other- silly. Before Agnes realizes what’s going on he sends her to a swanky AZ rehab center- for eating too many almonds- the whole thing is so farsicle that I considered abandoning it.

However with divorce on the horizon the tone of the story changes a bit. Agnes still speaks with snark and sarcasm but now there is something very real at risk- the custody of their tween daughter, who her husband wants at all costs, not for the child but for the ‘win’ Broke and with no place to live things look pretty bleak. In comes her wild sister Fin, and the 3 El Salvadoran nannies who join forces and help Agnes find her way though the divorce and into a life that is somewhat more “normal”, though still extremely privileged.

When St Martin's approached me about reading Been There, Married That, I was thrilled. The summary made it sound like a combo of the movie It's Complicated and the show The Real Housewives of Orange County - a gorgeous mix of luxury, drama and divorce. Unfortunately, Been There, Married That fell flat for me because of a mix of pacing, characterization, and writing style issues.

The pacing was really disjointed in this book - most of the scenes felt short and a lot of them didn't contribute to the plot at all. The transition between scenes was often pretty jarring - the book would jump from a conversation between Agnes (the main character) and her house staff to a scene of her being tased while trying to come home. The other major pacing issue was how the divorce proceedings went - they would be in a lull and then go 0 to 60 in the blink of an eye. They also wrapped up in an equally strange way - the ending was sort of a non-ending that didn't offer a ton of resolution.

One thing I wasn't expecting was the amount of humor in the book - the narrator was constantly skewering the people around her, cracking jokes about the situation she was in and sharing her internal witticisms. Unfortunately, none of her jokes really landed for me. Often, it felt like Agnes' attempts at humor was just her being cruel and judgmental of the people around her - which really damaged her character and likability. The constant barrage of attempts at humor and witty remarks also really took away any gravitas and seriousness that the plot had. Throughout this book I kept waiting for an emotional, grounding moment to happen. Emotionally important moments felt cheap because the jokes never let up. With all the over the top drama and antics, this book desperately needed to ground itself - it's a book about divorce and two people trying to destroy each others lives after all. 

Pretty much all the characters in this book suffered from a lack of definition. Further - most of them were just plain unlikeable. Agnes was cruel to the people around her and intensely judgmental - she drove me up the wall. There was nothing likable about her - she was cruel to the people in her life who supported her, she never took anything seriously, and worst of all - she just accepted all the torture Trevor put her through. I understand there was a huge power and wealth imbalance, but it was crazy to me that she never did anything to fight back. Trevor was an enormous jerk - but that was the point of his character. Was her one dimensional? Yes. But did it work in the context of this book? Yes. Trevor and Agnes' relationship made no sense to me - they went from hot to cold very quickly - they went from cohabitating and married to Trevor assassinating Agnes' character and getting her tased a few days later.

Pep (Agnes' daughter) was pretty much a non issue and was more or less just a pawn in Agnes and Trevor's divorce. The one character I did like was Fin, Agnes' sister - she was spontaneous and unexpected, and brought a reality to the book that I really appreciated. She often helped Agnes in situations and felt the most realistic of all the characters.

The concept was interesting, but the lack of heart and soul in this book is really what prevented me from getting invested in and enjoying this book. The characters were just too exaggerated all the time, and it got tiring and repetitive. Paired with the disappointing ending, this book just really didn't work for me. If you're very into the Hollywood scene and love reading tabloids, this book might be a good book for you. 1/5

Took a bit to get into but stick with it the story is actually great. Read more like a movie once you get over a bit of the beginning clunkiness. This book was graciously provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Been There, MarriedThat is a comedic commentary on LA’s social climbers and the shallowness and frenzy of that lifestyle. It’s mainly composed of unlikeable, shallow characters living in a wild, competitive culture, largely lacking in morals.

The narrative, for the first half at least, is set at a frenzied pace and is so snarky and catty, written in a choppy conversational style, that it’s somewhat difficult to follow. The humor feels a bit forced and lacking in authenticity, in fact the story as a whole feels rather disingenuous, though perhaps that’s the point.

I understand that this story is meant to be funny and quippy and ultimately is making a point about the pointless and vicious lifestyle of the career social climber, but I think the message got lost in all the over-the-top banter. I do appreciate the effort made through all the tongue-in-cheek commentary that it’s best to be truly who you are regardless of what anyone else thinks, it was just a bit chaotic in its presentation. Some will love this story and laugh throughout, I’m sure, but I need a little less comedy and sass and a lot more message and plot.

The premise of this book sounded great. I thought it might be along the lines of That's What Frenemies Are For or When Life Gives You Lululemons; but this book fell really, really, short for me. I had to call it at 25%. I don't enjoy not finishing books, and held out as long as I could hoping the plot would pick up but it didn't. The writing style felt disjointed and all over the place. In the course of a chapter there would be random thoughts and side bar conversations that seemed to come from now where and from different characters. This didn't move the story line along and the added commentary made things hard to follow for me. For those that stick it out longer than I did, I truly hope the book picks up and is enjoyable!

Unfortunately, this became my first DNF of 2020. I only made it about 30% through and realized that I just did not want to finish reading it.

I had high hopes for this book. It sounded funny and I loved the premise of a Hollywood wife trying to rise above her divorce and stick it to her husband, but the story was not executed well.

There was no character or scene development to help the reader understand everything that is going on. Unfortunately, it sounded like a bunch of rambling and I just couldn't make sense of the plot. The few clear scenes were bright and funny, but there just wasn't enough of it to make the book worthwhile.

I think there are specific readers who would like this book, but it just did not fit my taste.

I am truly appreciative to Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.