Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties

A blurb describing Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties calls it a hilarious and hopeful story about a woman on the verge of a nervous breakthrough. Perfect description. Maggie and Adam Harris have been married almost thirty years. Their children are grown and Maggie and Adam are about to embark on the next phase of their stable, happy marriage, including a long-dreamed of anniversary trip to Rome. But then the unimaginable happens. Adam tells Maggie he is leaving. He’s not happy, hasn’t been happy for a long time, has found someone younger who makes him feel alive. His words are cruel and cutting. He’s already made his decision and there is no talking about it; Adam is almost casual in telling Maggie their marriage is over. She’s show more naturally devastated and struggles to move forward and understand how she became someone not even worth fighting for. Did she change so much, become so uninteresting, so unlovable?

Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties makes you think. Many of us may have found it easier to give up another piece of ourselves instead of following a dream that is ours alone when we encounter the resistance – real or perceived – upon sharing that we want to be someone more than just Mom or Honey. It’s not even a long drawn-out thought process about something we regret giving up. Our brains just automatically lead us to the conclusion that this is not best for our family, and face it, family is #1.

Even later when you are in your forties or fifties, and your family has known you intimately forever, they have no idea who you are, you the person. They look at you in genuine surprise when you say, “I always wanted to . . . . “ And you’ve probably forgotten a lot of what you “always wanted to . . . .”

The trip to Rome was supposed to be the anniversary trip they’d dreamed about, but instead it’s Maggie trying to put one foot in front of the other and figure out just how she is going to start a new life without everything familiar – without Adam. When she decides to go alone, we begin to hope that even if she doesn’t think so yet, maybe, just maybe, she can survive this loss and hurt. The trip to Rome is so brave yet so poignant.

Fate, serendipity and humor play a big role in the story. Maggie meets someone on the plane to Rome who shows her a possible path forward, at least so she can begin to heal. Maggie meets someone else in Rome who makes her look closely at just who she might be which also plays a part in her next steps, and she then meets someone in Ann Arbor who gives her pause and shows her she really has been invisible since her thirties. Maggie doesn’t always like what she finds on this road of self-discovery but she persists. And learns a lot.

I don’t like spoilers so I won’t reveal which path Maggie decides to take, but I do know that whatever choices Maggie makes going forward she is now a woman who will be seen in her fifties and beyond.

I listened to an audiobook of Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties read by Amy McFadden. This is a wonderful story and the audiobook brings it to life. It was a joy to listen to. The characters in the story are complex and well-formed and relatable, and their voices and personalities are captured to perfection by Amy McFadden. Their emotion shines through. I loved every minute of this novel with its perfect balance of emotion and humor - some really funny scenes and some that will break your heart. I have enjoyed every book I have read by Camille Pagan and look forward to whatever is next. And reader Amy McFadden is now on my list of favorite narrators. show less

When I first saw the title of this book, I thought it would be about a woman in her 30s. Was I ever wrong - it's about a woman in her 50s and I was thrilled. I feel that this is an age group that is being ignored in modern books and it was great to have such a multi-dimensional and well written character take the lead. Kudos to Camille for writing such a fantastic main character and a great book.

After 30 years of marriage and being part of a couple who were well matched and happy, Maggie's husband decides that he no longer loves his wife and wants a divorce. He has found another woman who is as young as their two children and wants to start his life over. Maggie is shocked and at first thinks that he will be back soon. She even plans a show more family Thanksgiving dinner several months later so he can see what he's missed and beg to come home. It doesn't work that way and Maggie has to re-invent herself and her life and at 53 that's a tough thing to do. She ends up taking a solo trip to Italy and then moves to another state to try to find herself and figure out what she wants out of life and what her life will look like as she moves forward. I loved Maggie and I laughed with her and cried with her and was rooting for her to find a way to move forward with her life. This book doesn't disappoint and you don't want to miss it.

Thank you to the author and the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team for the review copy. All opinions are my own. show less

Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties
Camille Pagán

MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️
PUBLISHER Lake Union Publishing
PUBLISHED February 27, 2017

An expertly drawn portrait of a woman finding the strength to go find out what is next in life.

SUMMARY
Adam Harris packed a suitcase and left his wife Maggie, for a younger woman. He said he wasn’t in love with her anymore. And now Maggie is alone in the house where they had raised their two children, desperately trying to figure out what to do next. Her husband and children have been her whole life. She and Adam had been in the midst of planning a twenty-eight wedding anniversary trip to Rome. Scared but hopeful, fifty-three year-old Maggie heads to Rome, all by herself, to begin her journey show more of recovery, rebuilding and rebounding.

REVIEW
Maggie is tired of trying to make everyone else happy. Now is the time for herself. This is a witty and endearing story of Maggie’s discovery of who she is and what she wants. Maggie’s well-drawn character of an “invisible” woman is someone many women can relate to. “How could I possibly face the world alone if no one can see me?” Camille Pagán’s writing is both clever and entertaining. The plot moves fast and is captivating. I really loved how this book just throws us right into the crux of the story, with Adam leaving Maggie for a younger woman right on page one of the book. Overall, Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties is a touching chronicle of a woman struggling with identity when her world has been turned upside down.

Thanks To NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Camille Pagán for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. show less

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this entertaining read.

Every mother and wife will likely relate in some way to Maggie Harris. We all give part of ourselves to those we love, making their life the focus of ours.

Maggie's got an empty nest and a long-term marriage that she's assumed will last until "death do us part". Not so, according to her husband who shocks her with news he is not happy in their marriage and is out the door.

Maggie's lost. The foundation of her happiness has always been her family, and now that foundation is on shaky ground. She doesn't see a way to be happy on her own. She's forgotten how to be the woman she was decades ago.

But she is stronger than she thinks. The story leads us down many paths show more Maggie tests. Some work for her, some do not, and somewhere along the way she remembers how to live to make herself happy.

I like the author's sense of humor in the writing, and she doesn't take the easy way out with her characters. She puts Maggie through the ringer--and it makes Maggie a stronger woman along the way. show less

"Husband unexpectedly leave wife of many years; shell-shocked, devastated wife ultimately recovers and forges a new and interesting life for herself."

I have read approximately 1.2 million novels that have this same basic theme; and I seem to be incapable of growing tired of it. I am pretty sure my husband will not leave me, but maybe this type of novel is sort of a disaster-preparedness exercise?

"Woman Last Seen..." is not in any way a unique or remarkable example of the genre, but I enjoyed it. I really liked the main character, Maggie; and the story zipped along nicely with several changes of scene including a solo trip to Rome that was meant to be an anniversary trip for her and her husband. The ending was satisfying. But I always show more wonder: The ending of these novels is always "will she or won't she" return to the husband who has inevitably realized the error of his ways and wants the scorned wife back. How often does this scenario play out in real life? show less

I could definitely relate to this book. Married for so long and just as soon as the kids are about to move out, your "significant other for life" decides everything has been a waste. No growing old together, no until death do us part, and yes, lots of heartbreak.

Divorce can be really hard, especially after that many years, and I really sympathized with Maggie. However, I so admire her. Many women probably would have gone back to their ex with a weak spine and a severe case of loneliness. However, not Maggie. She took the bull by the horn and turned her life around.

Definitely a feel good book for the women who can totally relate to Maggie and the term "woman last seen in her thirties" because after that, all she became was wife and show more mother. The rest of her was lost taking care of her family.

An absolutely great book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Huge thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. show less

When I began reading Woman Last Seen In Her Thirties, I thought it was about why women of a certain age feel invisible in this world because of society’s obsession with youth and beauty; and how difficult it is attempting to navigate life amongst those who hardly acknowledge a middle-aged woman’s existence. But really, it was less about that and more about how a mature woman struggles to regain her confidence, redefine herself and reshape her life after her husband leaves her.

I enjoyed this book. The ending brought tears to my eyes. Nicely written.