Alas...

Unfortunately, the same overriding problem that plagued MANEATER is in evidence once again. This novel, like Grazer's last, begins with a strong comedic tone, but gradually the comic edge disappears and an overly serious tone takes over. Things become very unfunny at about the midpoint, but the satirical characters are not substantial enough to shoulder the weight of what remains. Gracie's choice of mate is so ill-advised that the feel good ending feels, instead, absolutely awful. It's a shame, because both this novel and MANEATER begin so well. Sustaining satire is tricky and it's rare to find a novelist who can do it. This one, sadly, can't.

Aspires to be chick-lit

Gracie Pollack has been married to Kenny Pollack, an up and coming movie producer for almost ten years, a life time in Hollywood. They have a three year old daughter named Jaden. All the superficialities, pretentious name dropping habits, and how cutthroat the jet-setting ultra rich community can be are mentioned throughout the novel. Gracie is unceremoniously dumped by her husband via cell phone. He has taken up with Britney Spears. It is hard to take this fictional account of an actual headline star. Her friends Joan, Willl, and Cricket are sarcastically referred to as "the Coven" by her ex. Joan lends Gracie the use of her home in Malibu for the summer. Gracie is determined to start dating again but cannot seem to find the right man. Lo and behold, she ends up dating Kenny's boss. At the same time, she finds herself falling in love with Sam Knight, someone Gracie thought was homeless. Take this novel to the beach this summer for some fun, but do not expect anything challenging or something worth remembering.

Picking through the Trash

I read "Maneater" because of the comparisons to "My Fractured Life" and was happily impressed. As much as I enjoyed "Maneater", I can easily say that "The Starter Wife" is even better. The writing is much more polished and the characters more interesting. In fact, because of the better writing "The Starter Wife" has even more in common with "My Fractured Wife" than "Maneater" did. This is an all out great Hollywood trashing.