The Divorce Party | Book Review

Gwyn Huntington knows how to throw a party. And Hunt Hall, her postcard-perfect Victorian home in Montauk, is no stranger to celebrations. But on the morning of her thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, she’s putting finishing touches on the last party she’ll host there: a party to celebrate her divorce.

Just over one hundred miles away, Gwyn’s future daughter-in-law, Maggie Mackenzie, sits on the floor of her Brooklyn apartment attempting to organize her new life. She’s in love with a wonderful man, and today she is meeting his family for the first time.

The Divorce Party takes us into the lives of these two women at opposite ends of marriage. For all the differences between them – distance, privilege, age – Gwyn and Maggie have one thing in common. Each has found herself at a crossroads, facing the same question: How hard should you work to stay with the person you love?

Insightful, funny, and deeply moving, The Divorce Party will touch anyone whose heart has weathered an unexpected storm.

Laura Dave was born in New York City in 1977 and grew up in Westchester County. She attended The University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated with a BA in English, and The University of Virginia, where she earned her MFA. While in school, Laura received several awards for her writing including The AWP Intro Award in Short Fiction.

Laura is the author of the acclaimed novels “The Divorce Party” and “London is the Best City in America.” In addition to writing books, Laura has also worked steadily as a journalist. Her writing has appeared in such publications as The New York Times, Glamour, Self, Modern Bride, Redbook, ESPN the Magazine, and The New York Observer.

In 2008, Cosmopolitan Magazine named Laura a “Fun and Fearless Phenom of the Year”, calling her “an inspiration” to young women.

Laura lives in southern California, where she is at work on a new book.

Laura Dave has written a very touching story, one that is filled with laughter, and sadness but one that is full of the characters journey on how to make themselves happy. I enjoyed it greatly, I just couldn’t seem to put it down. The lessons each of them takes away from the events that unfold are amazingly learned over the course of only a few days, but they are lessons that they will carry them with them for the rest of their lives. This book was written in a form I love, focus is on two people, and that is how the chapters play out, one for Gwyn then one for Maggie and repeat. That has always kept me focused and I didn’t get lost among the cast of a large amount of characters. I really enjoyed this book!