The Starter Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer (Audiobook)

Hey Everyone,

So I am going to be honest with you, I have not been reading.  I just started my last semester of university, I will graduating this May with my Bachelor's in Early Childhood Studies.  It has been an incredibly long journey, with many hardships, but I'm almost there.  My semester consists of work Monday through Friday, school two nights a week, and three days of student teaching a week to complete my 196 hours needed to graduate.  Week two just ended, and I will admit I'm tired.  So tired that I used a sick day from work today (SHHH...) and took a nap this afternoon.  I know, totally irresponsible, but it's been a rough few months, and it isn't going to get any easier anytime soon.  I just need to keep going, and if that means taking a couple off, on a slower day, then so be it.

But anyway, I drive a lot, I commute, and the car rides can get pretty dull.  So I went to the library last weekend, and borrowed a couple of their audiobooks!  I miss reading, but to be honest, I just haven't been in the mindset to be able to settle down and read a book.

I started off with something easier to settle into...The Starter Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer.

From Goodreads:

There are starter jobs, starter car, starter houses, and then there are starter wives.  From the bestselling author of "Man-eater" comes "The Starter Wife," a sexy, savvy, and wickedly funny novel about life after divorce and one woman redefining herself after years of marriage to a Hollywood studio head.

When her husband Kenny dumps her by cell phone mere months before their ten-year wedding anniversary, Gracie Pollock finds herself reeling.  Though her nine-year role as the wife of a semi famous Hollywood studio executive often left her dry and she never fully embraced the "status" (according to Kenny), Gracie has grown accustomed to the unique privileges afforded by Tinseltown's brand of power and wealth: reservations at Spago on a Friday night; beauty treatments by dermatologists (Arnie), manicurists (Jessica), and colorists (Cristophe) to the stars; line-jumping at Disneyland with her daughter and Ugg-wearing celebrity offspring.  And despite the fact she had consented to name their daughter Jaden in a (failed) attempt to lure Will Smith to one of Kenny's productions, Gracie believed she and Kenny were different from other Hollywood couples.  She never thought she'd be a "starter wife."  But now that her marriage is over, her phone isn't ringing, her mailbox is empty, and it's only through faux pas by her world-class florist that she learns her husband has upgraded: Kenny is dating a pop tartlet.

With images of Kenny's 'tween queen everywhere she turns, Gracie seeks refuge at her best friend's Malibu mansion for some much-needed divorce therapy.  Soon she's associating with all the wrong people, including a mysterious hunk who saves her from drowning, the security guard at her gated community, and -- God forbid -- Kenny's boss, one of Hollywood's better known Lotharios.

With her signature wit, sassy style, and cameos of the rich and famous -- and wannabe rich and famous -- Gigi Grazer tackles the most delicious and dastardly details of a divorce and recovery, Hollywood style.

My Thoughts:

So I don't know if anyone remembers when USA (the TV Channel) came out with the TV show "The Starter Wife"?  Well that show was based on the book by Gigi Levangie Grazer.  Unfortunately the show was canceled after only ten episodes, which was a serious bummer, because my mom and I actually liked it!

But anyway, after all these years, I've always still wondered how the show was supposed to end!  So when I found The Starter Wife audiobook at my local library I ended up checking it out and listened to it on my commute to school.

Overall, it was okay to be honest.  The story was kind of a bit everywhere for me.  I think it may be partially because I listened to the audiobook versus reading the actual book.  I felt the lay out of the overall story was confusing, especially when listening to it.  At first, my cd's were messed up because out of nowhere it switched point-of-views, and there was no warning!  The whole first half of the book was in the point of view of Gracie, and then out of nowhere it switched into Sam's point-of-view!  When Sam's point-of-view happened, the reader had not even been fully introduced yet to Sam.  We didn't even know his name.  The chapters must not have names, because the transitions felt really weird.

Overall, the story was interesting.  Gracie was an interesting character, I was not a huge fan of her character's voice for the novel.  Gracie gave up everything to be a part of the 90210 world.  Everything, including her up-and-coming writing career, to be with her up-and-coming producer Hollywood husband.

I feel the tough part about audiobooks is you here the readers interpretation of a story, which might be different than what you might interpret it off as you read the book yourself.  Normally, I don't listen to audiobooks until after I have read a book myself, and given it my own interpretation.  But having no time to read, I've decided to give audiobooks more of a try.

Rating:

Overall, The Starter Wife kept me entertained on my car rides to and from school and student teaching.  The transitions were a little confusing for me, because one second it would be about Gracie, and then out-of-nowhere it was about Sam.  I thought I had gotten a different audiobook in the mix!  I also felt the ending was a bit rushed, or far-fetched.  I don't want to give it away, but everything seemed to end pretty quickly and kind-of out of nowhere, in my opinion.

The Romance Bookie