I was drawn to this because it was about two best friends, about to turn 40, who are still trying to figure out their lives. So relatable to me- the age, the sentiment, the uncertainty.

However, I hate both Carmen and Ally. They are whiny, miserable people who refuse to do anything to change their circumstances. I almost DNFed and wish I had. I hated them both and was annoyed the whole time.

Cindy Kay narrates. Not her fault, but there should have been two narrators used. One for Carmen and one for Ally.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book has a relatable premise and characters with promise but ultimately I found the friendship not very nice or understanding, the trajectories of the two characters too neatly divergent and the book about 30% too long.

Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. The narrator got the whine down very well for the two MC. True to women fiction, two 40 year old best friends- one single and one married with 4 th child on the way and working full time. The story depicted both lives the challenges and frustrations, thinking it’s greener on the other side and complaining. While I’ve been there done that, agreed and laughed at many of the depictions, I think it missed the overall joy of each life and what it brought to them. I wished the MC would have stood up and fought for the 5 th grade yearbook a little more.

While an interesting story it just didn’t draw me in.

She hadn't turned 40 yet, and already she was over it ...

Dumped. Pregnant. Fired. For best friends Carmen and Ally, the approach of their 40th birthdays is anything but a celebration. Yet, it might be exactly what they need to set their lives on the right path.

In the bustling heart of New York, Carmen has it all—a high-profile career, a loving family, and a home straight out of a magazine. But as her 40th looms, her life begins to unravel. A surprise pregnancy, a shocking job loss, and the unwelcome sight of crow's feet force her to rethink her perfect life and what it means to truly have it all.

Meanwhile, in the quiet of Maine, Carmen's best friend Ally, a spirited marine biologist, confronts her own crisis as she faces the fallout from a doomed affair with her boss. With her romantic life in shambles and her professional life no better, Ally relocates to Portland, Oregon, hoping for a fresh start and one last chance at love.

As their individual journeys to happiness lead them in different directions, the strength of their friendship is tested. Tragedy strikes, bringing hidden resentments to the surface and forcing them to confront their past—and each other. In the process, they must answer a pivotal question: Are their best years really behind them, or is turning 40 just the beginning of their greatest adventures

I think the moral of this story is that whether you’re single or have 18 kids and your entire identity is “Mommy,” you’ll still be miserable. Lol jk. Maybe. Hehe.

I actually finished this audiobook in a day because it kept my interest—and let’s be honest, no one enjoys two unlikable women spiraling quite like I do. Margulis does a great job of making both perspectives equally aggravating. Like yes, I hate you for hating your mom life and your single life. Duality!

Am I supposed to feel bad because motherhood is hard, yet you keep making cringe-worthy choices and forgetting basic responsibilities? And sure, you want to be taken seriously in the corporate [marine biologist] world... but you also slept with your boss? Okay then.

I wanted to hate them—and also go to brunch with them, order mocktails and french fries(knowing someone will probably be pregnant again), and complain about the useless lumps of men in their lives like we were lifelong friends.

I hope Margullis comes out with another novel soon!

Whenever I get the opportunity to listen to any author’s book, I take that responsibility seriously because this individual has poured so much into their work. I respect that work and give high praise for that alone. With that said, not every book fits every reader. While I really loved the message within this book about two best friends who lead completely different lives. One is married with children struggling with a career and family life and the other is a single career woman who is struggling with relationships. This book dwells a lot on the individual choices of each woman and they both seem to flounder a lot within their respective lives. Because they live far apart, their interactions were mostly by phone. Would have loved for more openess and honesty with each other. I also cringed at Ally’s relationship decisions. So these flawed woman often made it hard to root for their decisions. This one is a strong woman’s fiction with heavy emphasis on the life of the 40somethings.