Book Review: I’m Divorced Now What?: A Guide to the Rest of Your Life
I’m Divorced Now What?: A Guide to the Rest of Your Life
Author: Adrienne Rothstein Grace
Published: June 1, 2023
Paperback: 175 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: July 19-28, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Divorce is one of the most difficult things a woman can go through. Unfortunately, the difficulty doesn’t end when the divorce becomes final. There are many challenges and many potential pitfalls as you enter this new phase of your life. From practical matters like finances to emotional issues of self-worth, the question “Now what?” comes up time and time again. Adrienne Rothstein Grace has helped countless woman answer that question. Now, in her latest book, Adrienne and a select group of experts share insights that will help you move forward with confidence. I’m Divorced, Now What? A Guide to the Rest of Your Life will empower you to make the right decisions and take the right steps on the path to a new life and a new you.
Jessica’s Review:
This review will be one with emotions on mainly how 2024 has gone for me. You know how it is, you just need to get it out and since this is a self help book on divorce, this book gets some of my story. This is a sort of therapy in a way.
2024 became a year I never expected: My husband had been having some issues for a few years and finally told me. Needless to say, I was beyond devastated. I tried to help the marriage and we went to counseling even though he didn’t want to. In the third session I realized that there is no fixing it and changing his mind. Then it became about taking care of MYSELF. He even told me that it is not my fault, it’s all him. (And it is!) I found myself having to figure things out: Money (as everything is so expensive now!), where I was going to live (again… how am I going to afford it on my own on a government worker’s salary) and the end of a life that I thought I was going to have.
I have a great support system of friends and family. I say friends first as my family is at least an hour away in heavy traffic. They have all been so much help. The divorce is final now (it was very quick too, my lawyer was on it!) , and I have two of the cats. I would have taken all three if I could have. And I am doing much better now. I continued therapy and am now at a point where I don’t need to see my therapist unless something major comes up. I have received my new driver’s license with my maiden name (and a terrible picture! It’s like they try to take the worst possible one of you! Can you do that close up of my face any closer!?!?! LOL) and still working on getting everything set up for my new chapter of life.
Now that I have gotten that out, some tears out of the way, and you know some of my divorce story, here are my thoughts on the book:
The book is made of two sections: Practical and Personal Development. It seems like this book was written for a different type of divorcee than what I am. It seemed like it was written for someone who was totally dependent on the ex-husband and may or may not have children. I have always been independent, so it felt like this book wasn’t totally for me. The Personal Development section was better for me. We didn’t have children, but I had three cats, now two as he kept one. I would have taken all three but apartments only let you have two pets.
Each chapter in the two sections seemed like it was a conversation between the author and an expert that was typed up. The chapter ends with a biography of whom the author talked with along with their contact information. The chapters also come with ‘takeaways’ where you can write down your thoughts to questions the author poses.
Needless to say, the author has done this for over 30 years and helped many women as they start their new chapter. I did like her Facebook page.
It will take some time, and I know some things will be very hard to do, but I do know I will be ok! I am at a complete 180 from where I was in January. I hope you don’t, but if you ever find yourself in this situation, I totally know how it feels: It feels like a death and in some ways it is, but the other person is still alive. It feels like the end of the world, and even though it doesn’t feel like it, YOU WILL BE OK! I know I will be!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK