Let me get this out of the way right now: The Improbable Existence of Life After Divorce is not a romance. I repeat—this is not a romance. That being said, the story of Russell Brown’s struggle to undo his worst mistake is filled with enough love to transcend time and space.
Ok, so that may seem like a bold statement to make considering this novel begins with his wife discovering his adulterous affair. And then she divorces him. And he’s distraught. And he just wants to give up on life.
I get it—you’re just not feeling the love. But stick with me.
The entire premise of this story is that Russ hates what he’s done to his beloved bride and he wants to find a way to win her back. And not just to get her back but to undo the hurt he’s caused her because he really, truly loves her. Now, that’s a sweet sentiment, isn’t it?
If he loves her so much then why did he act like a schmuck and cheat on her?
To be honest, he has no idea what made him do the very thing he never wanted to do. But he’s grappling with it. And, as the story unfolds, he comes to a lot of realizations about himself and his actions.
Ok, so Russ, though he acted a fool, is fueled by his love for his ex-wife and is striving to repair their marriage. But that’s not even possible? Like, she’s not just gonna forget he slept with another woman, right?
I’ve gotta say—I have a lot of sympathy for his ex, Katie. He broke her heart into a million pieces. So, adultery isn’t a situation I am taking lightly. Russ made his decisions and he’s gotta suffer the consequences. But haven’t we all been there, dealing with the fallout of our own stupidity, just wishing we could reverse whatever it is we’d done?
That’s totally what Russ is dealing with. Deep remorse. Endless guilt. Self-hatred, even. But that’s not where the story ends. Now comes the fun part.
A key. A dilapidated relic in an abandoned field. Secrets hidden away and long forgotten. These may just lead to the solution Russ has been searching for. In any case, they alter the trajectory of his future forever (and maybe his past too). Time will tell!
One more thing I want to add: Valentine’s Day is a recurring element in this story. Not in a mushy, gushy kind of way. But just in a “I dropped this here and wondered if you’d notice” kind of way. I hope you enjoy finding the little Easter Eggs (or should I say, Conversation Hearts)! Happy Valentine’s Day!
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