Dating again in middle age? It's not for the faint of heart. And it can get very interesting. Check out an excerpt and my thoughts on Middle Ageish by Shirley Goldberg. Be sure to leave questions and comments for the author as you follow the rest of the tour. And best of luck entering the giveaway at the end!
Sunny Chanel's marriage is circling the drain when her husband marks his colonoscopy on the calendar and ignores their anniversary. With divorce papers instead of roses on the horizon, she says "au revoir" Paris and croissants, and "hello" cheap New Haven apartment and ramen noodles.
With the encouragement of her friends, Sunny jumps into online dating, twenty-three years and twenty pounds after her last date. To her surprise she discovers dating might require a helmet, and occasionally armor to protect her heart, but after years of being ignored, her adventurous side craves fun and conversation. She’s middle-aged not dead. Then suddenly, on the way to reinventing herself, life takes a left turn when the one man she can't forget calls with an unexpected request.
Read an excerpt:
Of course, my goodbye party was at Chez Lulu in the Latin Quarter, Paris’ most Bohemian arrondissment. Lulu’s has that Fifties diner look—clean, spare and edgy like an Edward Hopper painting minus the feeling of isolation. It’s always packed, and the music is Buddy Holly, early Elvis, Patsy Cline, the Everly Brothers—a mix of rock and roll and country.
“Dinner’s here,” announced Dulcie, waving her beer glass before taking a long pull. “Everyone let them through!”
“Hey, ain’t this a swell party?” said Bertrand, arriving at our noisy table with an armload of gourmet burgers. “Who’s got the Marilyn Monroe with Mickey Mantles?”
Have I mentioned all the waiters are imitation James Deans, white T-shirts and jeans with rolled cuffs? Bertrand and Albert—they both speak perfect, slangy English—are our favorites. Bertrand is flirty in a sweet way and working his way through the Institute d’Etudes Politiques de Paris.
“And the Robert Mitchum with Buddy Holly fries?” Lulu’s boasts seven varieties of American fries, named for baseball players, or French and American pop stars.
“Two Jane Russells with Joe DiMaggio fries?” Albert, at Lulu’s between acting jobs, shouted, and everyone quieted for a moment, shuffling plates and passing them across the table. Movie star burgers with caramelized onions on miniature baguette buns. My mouth was so ready.
My going-away party...and I am not going to cry.
Next to me, Natalie held out The Middle-Aged Idiot’s Guide to Online Dating. “For when you start dating,” she yelled over the roar that is Lulu’s.
“Like dating is on my list of things to do?” I said around my burger. “Below sticking a rusty fork in my eye.”
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**My thoughts**
Oh dear God, the dating pool can be absolutely miserable, especially once you've reached a certain age. I'm not quite to Sunny's age yet, but I'm getting close enough that I can feel her pain. It's hard enough to find dates as it is, let alone trying the online thing. Plus she has just moved across the world, back to the USA, before her divorce is anywhere near finalized. She is literally starting her life all over again. And I admire her for doing so, because that could not have been easy.
I felt her annoyance at her friends as they shoved her into the online dating world. I hate it when people mess with my love life, even if they are well-meaning. Although, the 25 date challenge is intriguing. And then some of the dates that she ends up going on? Oy. Some of them seem absolutely ridiculous, but I can promise you that a lot of these simply have to be based in reality, because it really can be like that out there. And even if they are embellished, that's part of what makes this such a fun read.
Younger women may not necessarily relate as well to this one, and that's okay. Those of us who are getting older need a book that we can better appreciate! Then again, those dating stories...If you're dating, I think you will feel her pain. And if you're lucky enough to still be married, you'll be counting your blessings!
So hop on for a wild ride and be prepared to snort out loud at some points. Thank you to the author and to Goddess Fish Promotions for providing me with a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Middle Ageish is her first book in the series Starting Over. Her character believes you should never leave home without your sense of humor and Shirley agrees.
https://sixtyandme.com/author/shirley-goldberg/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3916624.Shirley_Goldberg
https://www.midagedating.com/
http://www.twitter.com/mylifeasadate
https://www.facebook.com/midagedating
https://www.instagram.com/shirleygoldbergauthor/
Shirley Goldberg will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun title.
ReplyDeleteGood morning and thank you for the book description and giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds like my life. I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteA big shout out and a friendly snort to Andi for hosting me on Andi's Book Reviews. Love this site and now I have a new spot to find books.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Andi. I'm a fan.
Thanks for your review.
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt and cover.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed following the tour for Middel Age Ish and I'm looking forward to checking it out. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a fantastic read.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts, Andi Sounds like a fantastic read and I enjoyed following the tour and learning about the book, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very good book.
ReplyDeleteI love the cover art.
ReplyDelete