Getting Rid of Matthew by Jane FallonBy Ginny

What I drank: today was my first day in a real classroom in so many years. So I celebrated like an adult: I ate Wendys in my car and enjoyed a glass (or three) of white wine once I got home.

Goodreads Overview:

When Matthew, Helen’s lover of the past four years, finally decides to leave his wife Sophie (and their two daughters) and move into Helen’s flat, she should be over the moon. The only trouble is, she doesn’t want him any more. Now she has to figure out how to get rid of him… 

Drunk overview: Helen has become one of “those womem” after aleeping with her married boss for four years. She drunkenly begs him to leave his wife and the morning afyer is like “fuck that guy, why have I wasted so mjch time on him” which is when he promptly leaves his wife to be with her.

Drunk thoughts: I dont think Ive enjoyed a book this much where Ive disliked so many of the characters. Helen is a self absorbed asshole. Matthew, the cheater, is oblivious in the bad way and is generally a shitty human being. Most of the background characters are shitty quasi-charicatures who call other women “cows.” I legit think Jane Fallon might just hate women. Or have a strong case of “not like other women.”

• Minor spoiler, Helen befriends Sophie, Matthew’s wife
• Sophie is a doll of a human being
• Legitimately, I want to be friends with her if only to yell “dump him” every time she mentioned her husband.
• The kids are also pretty great. Their descriptions are a little heart breaking but in general they feel like actual kids.
• The best friend Rachel is unfairly maligned by Helen’s bitterness and is legit a great friend!
• The plot is CRINGEY!!!
• I may have put this book down a few times as lies piled up and the inevitable decline was more and more obvious.
• The world building felt kind of like a non issues. The location didnt really matter much. This book coild have easily been set in any big town including Metropolis (Superman in the background wouldnt have hurt).
• Although maybe the derogatory language towards women isn’t considered as bad in British slang?

Ultimately, most of the characters sucked and I wanted bad things to happen to them, but I was genuinely excited about the ending. I do enjoy a book where the main characters demonstrably better themselves by the end.

Rating; 3/5. A strong end can’t completely make up for a weak middle. But I still got something out of it.

Drink Pairing: jungle juice. It might not be the most pleasant drink, but it gets you where you want to go.