She Effin’ Hates Me: A Love Story (Book) Review
We liked?
Not so much?
Scarlett Savage brings a tale of twilight romance, finding yourself after divorce, and holding true to who you really are, all wrapped up in three generations of strong Applebaum women.
Scarlett Savage brings a tale of twilight romance, finding yourself after divorce, and holding true to who you really are, all wrapped up in three generations of strong Applebaum women.
The main story in She Effin’ Hates Me follows three strong willed women, reunited for the weekend to hear some “big news”. There’s eighteen year old Molly, who has come to visit before beginning her college career at Vassar. She’s the one sharing the big news, and she’s brought along Brandon, a heavily tattooed yet quite personable young man she’s met at college. Suzanne is Molly’s mother, who is quite nervous that Molly’s “news” might be that she is following in her mother’s footsteps and becoming a teenaged parent. Suzanne has recently left Molly’s father, a wannabe musician who stole the best years of her life, and is currently living with her mother Ava. Ava is the matriarch of the family, who is dealing with her own issues fairly well. As both a widow and a recovering alcoholic, she knows better than most how difficult life can be, but she’s determined to push Suzanne and Molly to be true to themselves, in her own way.
But Ava’s life is soon turned upside down by the arrival of her new neighbor – and old friend named Buddy. Buddy was her husband’s best friend and business partner, but a falling out long ago has caused animosity that makes for interesting predicament when the two share a courtyard. What results is some poignant and hilarious moments between this rather unlikely cast of characters. When you throw a 36 year old divorcee, two sixty-somethings with something to prove, an 18 year old with a secret, and a tattooed wannabe-counselor together for a weekend of family soul-searching, what results is anything but predictable.
She Effin’ Hates Me is a book that is often funny, always interesting, and oh-so relatable. From Suzanne’s insecurities with striking out on her own after all these years, to Buddy’s guilt over all that happened with her parents, to Ava’s saucy comebacks for every occasion, these characters are just incredibly believable. It’s unpredictable in a way that is engaging, as you are always not quite certain what they’ll do next, but it never seems like twists are jammed in just to throw you off. You’ll be pulling for this family right from the start.