It's the second book in Shirley Goldberg's Starting Over series, tackling life while trying to date again in "middle age," or in other words, those post-40-year-old years. It's not for the faint of heart. Read an excerpt as well as my thoughts on this book. Be sure to follow the tour for even more. And best of luck entering the giveaway!
When a tyrant in stilettos replaces her beloved boss, and her ex snags her coveted job, teacher Dana Narvana discovers there are worse things than getting dumped on Facebook. Time for the BFF advice squad. Alex—hunky colleague, quipster, and cooking pal extraordinaire is Dana’s staunchest ally. So what’s with the smooching after hours? And why won’t this grown man make up his mind?
Actor turned teacher Alex Bethany craves a family of his own. Newly hotified, he’s now got the confidence to try online dating. Meanwhile he’s sending Dana mixed messages in the kissing department. After a surprising event rocks his world, Alex panics, certain he’s blown his chances with his special person. Funny and bittersweet, Dana and Alex’s story will have you rooting for them all the way to dessert.
Read an excerpt:
“He’s here. Don’t look!” Noelle’s voice dropped to a whisper. “With a date. Your nine o’clock. He’s facing this way.”
“Who?” Noelle had a knack for making something as mundane as vacuuming into the dramatic.
“Oh, for God’s sake, our own former Mr. Big. Who else?”
If I turned my head and shot my eyeballs to the far left, I could see Alex in profile. With a blonde. I turned a few degrees more, tilting my neck, keeping my head straight.
“It’s not working,” Noelle said.
“What’s not working?”
“It’s obvious you’re looking at him.”
Seeing him on his home turf, relaxed, in charge, and preparing dinner had made me imagine Alex in all sorts of homey mini scenarios far removed from the classroom. Those knives. The pungent scent issuing from the old-fashioned crock pot. And that apron! Talking, getting real, sparring with his friend Jewel. And now with a date, so…unexpected. “What should I do?” A ridge of unease in my stomach.
“For freak’s sake. We’re acting like adolescents.” Whatever else she said was lost in the rising volume of talkers outdoing one another, cell phone alerts, and behind the scenes shouts and pans clanging whenever the doors to the kitchen whipped open.
“Should I wave?”
Noelle shrugged, then turned and aimed a jumbo smile in Alex’s direction at the same time I gave into sheer nosiness, twisting around to get a good look.
His interest level in his date, judging by how far he was leaning over the table to talk to her? Looked like a 9.5 out of ten.
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**My thoughts**
Shirley Goldberg does it again in the second installment of her Starting Over series, about what it's like to date after the age of 40. This time, she is tackling divorce, and more importantly, what it's like trying to date after major physical and health changes. A lot of people around this age go through the process of dropping a lot of weight and starting over again. It's not easy to do, because you still have your mental and emotional demons to drop.
Our society has a fixation on food that permeates almost all areas of our lives. And it complicates how we view ourselves and our relationships. This story delves into that from different perspectives. And those perspectives are extremely honest and something you'll see every single day, from the stories we tell ourselves to what people around us are saying. No matter your size, I'm sure you'll recognize something.
And then of course, the dating part. How do you tackle dating later in life? Then there is the whole friends issue with the potential to date. And if you do decide to date, how will that go? Add in the complications of also being coworkers and the identity of the new vice-principal. Don't even get me started on their new principal at school. I had some flashbacks to my teaching years that I'd rather forget.
There's a lot of REAL in this story, with plenty of moments to make you smile, as well as to make you think. It's not a lighthearted rom-com, but it is still quite enjoyable. I'm glad I picked up this one as well.
I received a requested review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Contact Links:
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ReplyDeleteThe excerpt is fun.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it. I had fun writing it.
DeleteSounds like a good book!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I do my best to keep the reader turning the pages.
DeleteShirley
Sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy it. Feel free to read another excerpt on my website. It's the one where she and her friend Noelle see a fellow teacher (hot guy) on a date.
DeleteAndi, thank you soooooo much for the great review. So sweet of you. I apologize for the belated thanks. So much happened at the same time I couldn't keep up. But you've got to know my characters, Dana and Alex, are jumping up and down (partly for exercise) and are excited to make a guest appearance here. Sunny says hello, btw!
ReplyDelete