Looking at the title and cover, I expected one of these two things:
- Option One: a hilarious ride for the female character, escaping the "marriage prison" and discovering friends and life, flirting, changing jobs, etc.
- Option Two: a meaningful journey towards self-discovery, about the yearning for the idea of the freedom of single life and, once having tasted it, wanting to return to the comfort of marriage.
I started reading it, excited about the main idea and the laughs that would come, as the story mixes a bit of both; but the result was a little bit on the disappointing side.
The husband, Rob, is described as a loving but dull alcoholic, skilled in his job but lacking a high level of education (I don't know why *that* was so important). The wife, Emma, is described as a college-educated woman stuck in life: a job in the wrong company, boring marriage, lack of sex and a kid leaving for college.
The result of it is Emma asking Rob for a year without any contact in order to rediscover herself, her needs and what she wants in life.
Their year is quite different for each of them:
Rob is handed a beautiful construction project surrounded by capable women, as an analogy to his frustrated marriage, and has to navigate the ways to work alongside these young colleagues and their new views on work and life. During this time, he grows in depth and develops a self-consciousness that is quite enjoyable. There is quite a lot of solitude, so we spend long periods in his head, understanding his actions, backstory, motivations and problems.
Emma, on the other hand, finds a place to live in the centre and goes out with her younger colleagues. She flirts with a guy, and yes, she sticks with this first younger man she encounters after "leaving a marriage where she felt stuck". I found it kind of depressing. And disappointing. In addition, she reconnects with her college friend, Kendry, who stays single and free, but has her own problems. Emma soon discovers that this freedom is not "for free".
What I appreciated:
First, I enjoyed the portrait of Melbourne, I went back to sweet memories of the city and found myself promenading and gazing again at the sight of crystal skyscrapers on both sides of the Yarra River.
There are a couple of scenes that I found funny, one with Emma and Erik at his house, and some with Rob and Sareena, who is the most likable character in the whole thing. She pushes Rob and explains things in a way he understands; in the end, she is the one who helps him evolve into a less old-fashioned, providing macho role.
I also enjoyed the generational clash Emma has to struggle with. Her 48-year-old woman's lifestyle and ideals against the late-Millennial/GenZ's.
I liked that Emma was not right about everything: she pushes her son into college and he soon discovers that it's not for him, she doesn't understand nor supports this, but Rob does. However, I found it satisfying that she doesn't give up and goes back to the marriage at the end, although things don't go well for her outside of it.
I didn't enjoy that she had everything handed to her, though. She listens to a podcast, then she starts running but doesn't follow, she asks for interviews and does not prepare for them, she wants to enjoy life, but she seems to rely heavily on others for direction—what does she do the rest of her time?
Also, even though there are chapter separations as the seasons pass, I found it hard to know how much time passed between one scene and the other: days? Weeks? Months? There was no indication and I felt lost many times.
However, I must say that all the good vibes were quite short and not deepened enough, so they were not enough altogether to be a completely enjoyable experience.
Thank you #Netgally for the opportunity of reading this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Puntuación: 2.5/5
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