First You Try Everything: A Novel

At first, reading this novel was like seeing a bad accident: intensely disturbing, but impossible to look away. The novel details the unraveling of Ben and Evvie's marriage. Once deeply in love (and probably a tad bit codependent) the couple has drifted apart, and Ben has decided to end the marriage. Evvie, who still loves him and wants to hang on to the marriage, is sent on a downward spiral that threatens her sanity.

Initially the characters were a bit one-dimensional (clingy, neurotic wife and distant husband), but the writing was terrific enough to overshadow this. As the novel progressed, different layers of the characters were revealed such that the reader, presented with alternating narratives from Ben and Evvie's viewpoints, gets show more a sense of what it is to be them.

At the end of the day, no one walks away from the end of a marriage unscathed, no matter whose choice it is; there are no clean breaks, and no clear sinners or saints. Jane McCafferty fluently articulates the psychological messiness of the end of a relationship, and makes it impossible to turn away. show less

This book was not at all what I expected. I didn't want to read it at first, but was on a long trip and a friend whose opinion I respect handed it to me to pass time. I was engrossed in no time at all in this painful yet beautiful story.

Evvie and Ben are in love, but Evvie is idealistic, needy and a bit insane--she talks to herself in public and lacks true purpose despite her radical idealism and commitment to animal rights. She clings to her soulmate, Ben, to the point of smothering him. The years pass and as Ben gets older and changes, he can no longer bear the traits that once drew him to Evvie and he leaves her. Heartbroken and distressed, Evvie's behavior gets more and more crazy, especially when Ben moves on with another woman. As show more he tries to completely cut her off, she grows more and more deranged and hatches an insane plan to get him back.

As Evvie's scheme plays out, it's clear how far off the deep end she has gone--and it slowly becomes clear to Evvie herself. It's hard to watch Ben ignore her repeated cries for help, especially when they were once so in love. What I love about the book is the way it shows us how clearly this couple can never again be together, yet a part of each other will always be intertwined. show less

I find it really hard to like a book where I just didn't like or understand the main characters.
I had this problem with this book as well. Although I was drawn to the his/her alternating chapters in the book, and at first could not put it down - by the "climax" at the end of it, I didn't like either Evie or Ben. Evie was so whiny I just wanted to punch her. Ben seemed so apathetic and passive, I wanted to punch him too!
However, the story of this long married couple and their relationship disintergrating was an interesting read by an author I will look out for in the future.

I received this book for free as a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

It's been a while since I read a book like this one. It made me think, it tore at my heart, and it confused me. Reading this book was like being on a roller coaster: at first I enjoyed it, but halfway through the ride I started wanting to get off.

McCafferty has an elegant writing style that drew me in from page one. At times the words spoke right to my heart, as if the author was writing just for me. There were quite a few moments where I had to go back and read a sentence again because it was just so true and so honest.

Plot-wise, the first half of the book was great. It was dark, heavy, and depressing, but great. Whenever I put the book aside after reading a few show more chapters, it was hard to completely separate myself from it; the dark feeling hung over me for a while. Evvie's struggle to hold on to Ben was heartbreaking, and Ben's need to escape Evvie was equally tragic.

In the last half of the book, when Evvie gets desperate and as a last resort tries "everything," the plot got a little bizarre for my taste. I really wanted to get lost in First You Try Everything, but I just couldn't. I felt like I was a little kid trying to follow along with the grown-ups' conversation; I know there was something more I should have gotten from the last half of the book, but it was over my head.

Full review posted on my blog, PidginPea's Book Nook. show less

I really liked the first 2/3 of this book as the main two characters grappled with the obvious flaws and trouble in their relationship. It was believable and interesting. I was somewhat less interested and not at all believing of the ending of the book and the events that led up to it. I reckon McCafferty is a pretty good writer in the sense that she's an astute observer of human behaviour and can get those observations onto paper. Sure, her characters are often a bit on the wacky side, but I like that in many ways. I think the society I live in has a lot more wacky people - slightly deviant and not really comfortable with the mainstream - than we tend to recognise.

Jane McCafferty’s novel, First You Try Everything, charts the course of a dissolving marriage from the alternating perspectives of husband (Ben) and wife (Evvie). When young, Ben and Evvie were inseparable, sharing a love of music and freedom from career constraints. Over time, Ben has shed the alternative lifestyle of his youth and settled down in a stable, if mundane career. Fed up with Evvie’s antics, Ben decides to leave his eccentric and emotionally unstable wife, setting off a series of heartbreaking reunion attempts by Evvie. First You Try Everything is a vivid depiction of how relationships change over time and a sensitive portrayal of unconventional mental states. Certain parts of the plot stretch credulity, but the show more dramatic effects are worth the required suspension of disbelief. show less

I received this novel from a Goodreads giveaway, that in no way affects the content of my review.

This novel is about a couple, Ben and Evvie, who had been together for 16 years when Ben decided that he no longer wants to be with Evvie. He sees Evvie as a changed person, one that he can no longer live with. Evvie still wants to be with Ben and becomes desperate to get him back. Evvie's plans to get Ben back spiral them both into a dangerous situation.

From the start of this novel I thought that there was something a little off with Evvie. She just became more insane throughout the book, and it felt like watching a carwreck, you don't want to watch but you can't look away. I found myself yelling at Ben to stop encouraging her. I think her show more mental illnesses (because she clearly has some no matter how she tries to say she doesn't) run in the family. Cedric seemed a little off to me too.

The start of the novel felt like I jumped into the middle of a story. Throughout the novel I wanted more back story on both Ben and Evvie. It was a little hard for me to connect with them at first. I enjoyed the ending of the novel and enjoyed how the characters lives played out after a couple years.

I would recommend this book to family and friends. Evvie will hook you into this novel. show less