Divorce Towers by Ellen Meister? Yeah... this one totally missed the mark for me. 😬 I grabbed it for free on NetGalley, and whew, I’m honestly glad I didn’t drop a dime on it! 🥴

✧ Love Triangle Drama 💔
✧ Messy AF Love Life 😩
✧ City Girl Lost in LA 🌴
✧ Bad Decisions on Repeat 😬
✧ Concierge Gig Gone Wrong 🛎️

Okay, so where do I even start? This book tried so hard to be everything—romance, thriller, mystery—but guess what? It ended up being a whole lot of nothing. 🙃 The plot was all over the place! Like, are we trying to be steamy? Suspenseful? Funny? I have NO IDEA, and I don’t think the book did either! 😂 Addison, our FMC, blows up her life in NYC and then... she makes the same terrible decisions in LA. Sis, where’s the growth? Girl, you’re an adult now—can we stop with the self-sabotage? 😑

And can we talk about the third POV from Carly? What was the point?! It added absolutely nothing to the story, just filler on filler. Same with her uncle’s chapters, like... why? 😵‍💫 These random storylines just distracted from what was already a confusing plot. I kept waiting for some big revelation, but instead, I got... nada. 😐

Also, Addison's "vow of celibacy" was a joke. She moves into Divorce Towers, a building full of newly single bachelors, and—surprise, surprise—gets tangled up in that mess too. One bad decision after another. I mean, come on, Addison, do better! 🙄

And the pacing? SLOWWW. 🐢 I was waiting for something—anything—to happen, but the book just stayed stuck in neutral. Even the “romantic” parts were half-hearted. It teased some steam but never actually delivered. Like, it couldn’t decide if it wanted to cross the line or stay behind it. Pick a lane, please! 🙃 And don’t even get me started on all the random side characters. Too many, no resolution, and everything just mashed together into a super anti-climactic mess at the end. 🥱

In the end, this was a super frustrating read. If you're hoping for a good romance, suspense, or mystery? This isn’t it. And if you’re looking for some depth or substance... yeah, you might want to look elsewhere. Honestly, I almost DNF’d this one, and if I’m real, I wouldn’t recommend anyone else waste their time finishing it either. 😬

This is the first book I've read by the author. I really enjoyed the pacing of this book. I will definitely purchase more from her. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC

I enjoyed this book. Light fun reading. It was the perfect book to read while commuting on the train. The story moved at a great pace and even though a bit predictable, very enjoyable.

This hit more as a rich people mystery/thriller/drama than as the romance I expected. I didn’t necessarily love the characters, but I did find it to be an interesting story and I liked the way the three POV characters’ stories came together in the end. This felt like it would fit nicely as a beach read for someone who just loves the drama of the rich and famous.

3 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Divorce Towers by Ellen Meister

The concept of living in an apartment complex with people who are in the same of phase of life as you are is always an exciting and comforting prospect. The starting point has been applied in my one of favourite movies - Under the Tuscan Sun.

Divorce Towers follows the same rule. Addison Torres is the new concierge at Beekman Towers aka Divorce Towers because every resident living there is divorced (some multiple times) and separated.

The residents are a mixed bunch — there is Arnie Torres, a retired doctor, Dante D’Amico, a Hollywood agent, Zach, a brilliant tech entrepreneur, Maya a relationship expert, and Carla, a writer, and the staff employed to make sure all their needs are met.

Of course, shenanigans ensue, because the residents, and ONE or TWO staff members firmly believe, — time will pass, might as well enjoy it by doing something you love. Which, here would mean, indulging in romantic affairs, reaching out to an ex, making terrible decisions, or just giving into the gamut of human nature to dabble in experiences.

I do have a problem with the pacing of the narrative — it is slow at times, and often far too clever for itself where it leaves the reader frustrated. I found myself skipping certain paragraphs and pages towards the end. Giving each character their own POV is an expected ploy where there are multiple characters preset, but I fear that it does not work in this book. It brings a halt to the reading pace, and sometimes the flow of the plot. Consider this, you are engrossed along with Addison to find out who it is who stole the replica faberge egg from her uncle Arnie’s room, and are in the security room watching the camera footage from the day of the robbery, only for the suspense to be broken by the story of Carla, a woman who has recently separated from her abusive husband and finds her herself falling for Maya, hiding out in the towers from her own breakup. I groaned! Side note: They are the two most boring characters in this ensemble, I would not be surprised they were thrown in at the last minute.

I wish it was edited more strictly — the book is far too long and the resident’s lack the personality to match the pages.

This book didn’t meet any genre in my opinion. I only finished to be able to leave a review. It was a book about nothing.

I enjoyed this book. It was different genre for me, and it wasn’t an intense mystery thriller, which was nice. Good character focus and growth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for this book. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

Rating: 2.5
I felt like this book could be a great option for a palate cleanser. It would be a good book to read if you are looking to veg out and not have to think too hard while reading. It's very much just a follow along and enjoy the ride type of novel.

Addison experiences a love triangle, as she's trying to reflect on her life being a mess. I thought her personal growth could have been a more prominent plot point throughout. Thankfully, she chooses the better of the two men. I wish we got to see more of their relationship afterward.

With the multiple POV chapters it took away from Addison, and that's what I was enjoying the most. I understand the goal may have been to show different types of romances/relationships and to add to the mystery element of the book, but it wasn't something I enjoyed. I would skim the majority of those chapters wanting to get back to Addison.

I went into this book thinking it was going to be an interesting romance. I assumed there would be some earth shattering great love for Addison and maybe she would get her HEA, with everything else going on I didn't feel that way at the end.

What a rollicking fun read! I SO want to live at Divorce Towers (not sure what that says about me!) .Sunset drinks by the pool, all those old Hollywood types, the glitz and glamour! I got swept away by the lives of everyone in the building and just loved every minute. There's plenty of intrigue to keep the pages turning but for me it was just peeking in on lives so wildly different to mine that had me hooked. I was very happy to then look up Ellen Meister and see she's got a healthy back list I can sink into. Five big shiny stars!

Was on prime first reads and netgalley for a read now. I was not impressed with this one and it made me really sad! Couldn’t really figure out what the book was…mystery, thriller, romance, I would have liked it to pick a line and stick more with it for my preference. It was also pretty slow going. Overall not on the top of my list for a read or to suggest to friends. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for a chance to read and review with my honest opinion.

This book was merely average. It focused more on character development than on the storyline, making it feel disorganized and unenjoyable. While some moments were entertaining, others were overly dramatic to the point of absurdity.

This book was, okay... I felt the writing was a little all over the place, and lacked a true plot. I felt the book was very similar to a knockoff tv show.
Enjoyed the character development, just wished for more plot!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! :)

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley.

This was a well-written book, though not exactly the type of book I usually read. It felt like a TV series, with lots of characters getting involved in sticky situations, almost always involving sex. So it might be great for fans of Sex In the City, Peyton Place or some of the reality TV series that focus on that subject matter.

Addison is the main character. She loses her job as a matchmaker and moves to Beverly Hills, where her aging uncle lives. She is the concierge in a condo building known as Divorce Towers, because most of the residents there are on the rebound from a divorce, or two or three.

Reasonably entertaining, more so if you are into this type of thing.

Thank you NetGalley! What a different setting for a book. I’ve never read anything like it and I thought it was great! Almost makes you think about what if there were a place like that in real life. Really let’s into the lives of those who were scorned in their marriages

Divorce Towers by Ellen Meister struck me as a more subdued soap opera, but with a heavy focus on sexual escapades rather than compelling drama. Throughout the story, I kept expecting the plot to introduce an "evil twin," a classic soap opera trope that thankfully didn’t materialize. However, the novel's primary emphasis on the romantic entanglements among its characters, all of whom are in their fifties and beyond, left me disappointed.

My anticipation for this book was fueled by my enjoyment of Meister’s Dorothy Parker stories, which I found to be both engaging and well-crafted. Unfortunately, Divorce Towers diverges significantly from that style and did not resonate with me. The book's fixation on the sexual dynamics within an apartment building overshadowed any deeper thematic exploration or character development.

The synopsis appealed but without a cohesive plot I found the end result painfully boring.

DNF’d at 78%.



Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the DRC

Watching Addison navigate her new life while battling her own resolutions is both hilarious and touching. Her journey from being the world’s most guarded concierge to finding love where she least expects it is both uplifting and compelling. If you’re looking for a book that’s brimming with humor, heart, and a splash of glamour, this one will not disappoint. It’s a delightful rollercoaster of emotions and romance that keeps you eagerly turning pages. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Ehhhh this book was barely just 'okay' because it was all character building and little plot. I felt everything was just all over the place and it was not enjoyable. Some things were funny and other things were just so beyond dramatic it was ridiculous.

Addison starts off this book admitting she cheated on her fiancé while being employed for a matchmaking service. Quite obviously, this is not dear Addie's perfect career path. Cue a flight to LA to meet her Uncle Arnie, a retired plastic surgeon, who is willing to use his clout to help his niece achieve a different journey with her employment. Our MC is honored to become the newest concierge at Beckman Towers- or Divorce Towers- or "camp counselor to the rich, glamorous, and horny."
Zach Bolton- precious angel cupcake who is smart, geeky, a cat lover, and deserving of all things sweet in life. What is he doing in Divorce Towers? The only not horny robot, really.
Now, for the things I liked:
I love reading about wealthy socialites- it's so unlike anything I'm used to to experience the sheer hijinks they can get up to with their abundance of money, jewelry, and scandals. This book contained plenty of characters who had secrets- why they were living there, what they wanted for their futures, and who they had their eyes on. The chapters were short and easy to digest, popular tourist spots were mentioned in LA, which just means I found the atmosphere was built well.
I didn't like:
The confusion of genres. I thought there would be some thrill, but the mystery felt so mild in comparison to the rest. Some of the POV's didn't feel necessary, and some of the other characters felt rushed. I felt confusion often on where it was going, but it never truly arrived anywhere.

Thank you so much to the author and the publisher for the EArc.

This book was fantastic! Kept me guessing what would happen all the way up to the plot twist at the end!