FICTION

In Violet's Wake

by Robin Devereaux-Nelson
Soft Skull. Dec. 2013. 272p. ISBN 9781593765347. pap. $15.95; ebk. ISBN 9781593765712. F
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Devereaux-Nelson's debut novel opens shortly after the titular Violet has walked out on her sixth husband, Marshall VanDahmm, giving him very little reason for her decision. Marshall, looking for anyone to blame, seeks out Costa, Violet's second husband, but his anger soon subsides and the two men strike up a friendship based on their common past. One by one, Marshall and Costa seek out Violet's other ex-husbands and form a support group to help themselves understand what they loved about Violet and why she abandoned them all. When they learn Violet plans to track down Jake, her old high school love and "the one who got away," the men set off on a road trip to find Jake before Violet does.
VERDICT Devereaux-Nelson's novel is somewhat reminiscent of Nick Hornby's A Long Way Down, but much lighter and with very little depth or originality in her characters. The author missed the mark in her attempt to spin an interesting idea into an emotional and uplifting story, as the characters and dialog are rather unsatisfactory. For a reader in search of an easy, somewhat entertaining read, they may enjoy this book, but they would likely be just as happy reading anything else.
Reviewed by Katie Wernz, Kent State Univ., OH , Dec 06, 2013
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