The After Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer

The After Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer
Published July 2012 by Random House Publishing Group
Source: my copy courtesy of the publisher


Hannah had almost given up on the idea of marriage and family when John Bernal walked into her life. Theirs was the classic case of love at first sight and five years and one wonderful daughter later they were living a fairy tale life. But when John is killed, Hannah's not sure that she can go on without him. Enter the Grief Team: Hannah's producing partner and three-year-old Ellie's wardrobe master, Jay; bitter, aging actress, Aimee; and mommy blogger and dog saver, Chloe.

Being a widow in L.A. is tough, Hannah's not sure she can ever face the idea of romance and sex again, and, thanks to a lapsed life insurance policy, Hannah and Ellie may just lose the only home Ellie has ever known. Then things get even harder when Hannah starts seeing, and talking to, dead people. It costs her a job and even her friends think she may have lost her mind. But the spirit world may be just the thing Hannah needs to pull her through.

The After Wife is surprisingly humorous, given the premise (it reminded me very much of Lian Dolan's Helen of Pasadena but with an even lighter tone), often bordering on just plan silly. Occasionally it felt like Grazer was pushing too hard and the characters were a bit stereotyped, but overall I enjoyed The After Wife. Which, I must admit, surprised me; I think I've mentioned before that I have a problem with suspending disbelief. But I got a kick out of Hannah's dealings with the spirits. For a vacation read, it was just right. A little love, a precocious child, a cast of funny supporting characters and a heroine I couldn't help but cheer for had me racing through the book.



Gigi Levangie Grazer is the wife of Hollywood producer Brian Grazer so she knows her way around her setting and it shows. She is also the author of The Starter Wife, which was made into a mini-series starring Debra Messing and of the screenplay for Stepmom, starring Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon.

Been There, Married That by Gigi Levangie

Been There, Married That by Gigi Levangie
Read by Amy McFadden
Published February 2020 by St. Martin's Publishing Group
Source: audiobook checked out from my local library

Publisher's Summary:
Agnes Murphy Nash is in big trouble. When she returns home one evening only to find the locks changed on the gates of their mansion, the security guard breaks the news: her famous producer husband has filed for divorce. And he’s not going to play fair. Trevor Nash wants custody of their tween daughter, Pep, but only for the sake of appearances. And Agnes can’t let him win.

With the help of her ex-con sister, a Hollywood psychic, a ballsy female lawyer, and a host of friends and “frenemies,” Agnes realizes that when he changes the locks, she needs to change the rules. But a crisis can lead to opportunity, and for Agnes, this gigantic betrayal brings her to a crossroads that will have her asking herself what she really wants out of life, who she really wants to be, and which man she really lovesl


My Thoughts:
Guys, I've been on the struggle bus with my reading. Even books I've loved have been work to get through; I just can't stay focused. I knew I needed something light and fun. I read and enjoyed Levangie's The Starter Wife (my review) and when I saw this available, I jumped all over it, knowing it would be just the right thing.

Levangie knows how to have fun with her characters - sure, there are caricatures aplenty but it's all done tongue-in-cheek. The woman who is convinced to go to rehab because she thinks it'll be a great break from her regular life, the woman who starts a Go Fund Me because she's so broke she has to drive a brown BMW, the producer who can't fall asleep without a sleeping companion, the older father who jumps from one girlfriend he meets online to the next, and the sister with the shady morals who might just turn out to be the person Agnes most needs - there's not a lot of depth but that's exactly what makes the book fun.

Nothing is going Agnes' way and it's not all her fault (although, a far amount of it is and you can't quite believe she doesn't see somethings coming). But you know everything will work out in the end, but Levangie keeps you wondering how until the very end. The way Levangie wraps things up keeps up the fun factor.

My favorite part of the book - Amy McFadden's reading. She does a terrific job of voicing multiple characters, including men, and brings just the right breezy feel to the book. You might enjoy this one in print but I'd really recommend you listen to it instead.

Life: It Goes On - February 16

Happy Sunday! Well, I let that week get away from me - I had books to review and just didn't get around to it. May end up doing mini-reviews before I forget what I've read. Because, people, I've been reading! And by reading, I mean actually picking up a books and turning the pages, not just listening to books as I drive. 

It's truly been winter here this week and we have at least another week of it to "look forward to." We got snow on Wednesday, sleet on Friday, more snow on Saturday AND today it's stupid cold. As you know, I'm not a fan; but maybe just wanting to hide inside and curl up actually be put me in the mood to read. It's so cold that, because the windows I'm usually looking out of when I type this are on the north side of the house, I haven't even opened the blinds today. 

Last Week I: 

Listened To: I finished Erasure by Percival Everett and started The Hunter by Tana French. 

Watched: The Voice, the Super Bowl (spectacularly un-super), a couple of episodes of Only Murders In The Building, and Emilia Perez on Netflix. It's a movie that refuses to be put in any one genre, has some terrific acting, and tackles some big themes. 

Read: I finished Alison Espach's The Wedding People and started L. Frank Baum's beloved The Wizard of Oz, which is my book club's classic book for this year.

Made: Hamburger soup, steaks and baked potatoes for Valentine's Day, and right now I'm cooking some rice pudding and I'm about to start a loaf of Outback bread. I planned to make some sourdough bread but cannot get my starter to reactivate. Too cold in my house, I think. 

Enjoyed: My nephew and his wife were in Nebraska this weekend, visiting all of their grandparents, and we got to join them for lunch and drinks yesterday, along with Mini-me and Miss C. 

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This Week I’m:  

Planning: There's not a lot on the calendar this week, although Miss H will be staying with us this weekend while she's in town for a convention. I'm behind on my Go Simplified calendar for February so I'll probably try to catch up with that. The Big Guy will be so cranky as he watches me get rid of more and more! 

Thinking About: I've been trying to avoid the news while also staying informed, which means that I'm still constantly thinking about politics and what's happening in our country. 

Feeling: Unmotivated. After I quieted our bathroom almost two weeks ago, I decided I wanted to paint before I put everything back. But I have yet to get to that, which means there's a big painting I brought up for that room that's living in the bathtub, a basket of towels in our closet, and a towel rack leaning against the wall. Must. Paint. Today. 

Looking forward to: Book club on Tuesday, even if it does mean going out in the cold again. 

Question of the week: What are your favorite soups to make? I'm all about having a pot of soup simmering on the stove all day on these cold days!