My Ex-Life A Novel
My Ex-Life A Novel by Stephen McCauley is a reprint edition published by Flatiron Books on May 7, 2019. This 432-page novel explores themes of home, family, and love through the humorous and poignant experiences of David Hedges, whose life is unraveling. As he navigates the challenges of his job and personal relationships, an unexpected reconnection with his old friend Julie Fiske brings both laughter and reflection on their shared past.
Readers will find a narrative filled with sharp wit and relatable moments as David and Julie rekindle their friendship while facing their individual struggles. The story delves into the complexities of family dynamics and the choices that shape our lives, all set against a backdrop of humor and heartfelt insights. With its focus on the intricacies of relationships and the pursuit of happiness, this novel offers a thoughtful examination of life’s ups and downs.
Official synopsis Publisher
National Bestseller
Best Book of the Year: NPR, Shelf Awareness
In prose filled with hilarious and heartbreakingly accurate one-liners, Stephen McCauley has written a novel that examines how we define home, family, and love. Be prepared to laugh, shed a few tears, and have thoughts of your own ex-life triggered.
David Hedges’s life is coming apart at the seams. His job helping San Francisco rich kids get into the colleges of their (parents’) choice is exasperating; his younger boyfriend has left him; and the beloved carriage house he rents is being sold. His solace is a Thai takeout joint that delivers 24/7.
The last person he expects to hear from is Julie Fiske. It’s been decades since they’ve spoken, and he’s relieved to hear she’s recovered from her brief, misguided first marriage. To him.
Julie definitely doesn’t have a problem with marijuana (she’s given it up completely, so it doesn’t matter if she gets stoned almost daily) and the Airbnb she’s running out of her seaside house north of Boston is neither shabby nor illegal. And she has two whole months to come up with the money to buy said house from her second husband before their divorce is finalized. She’d just like David’s help organizing college plans for her seventeen-year-old daughter.
That would be Mandy. To quote Barry Manilow, Oh Mandy. While she knows she’s smarter than most of the kids in her school, she can’t figure out why she’s making so many incredibly dumb and increasingly dangerous choices?
When David flies east, they find themselves living under the same roof (one David needs to repair). David and Julie pick up exactly where they left off thirty years ago—they’re still best friends who can finish each other’s sentences. But there’s one broken bit between them that no amount of home renovations will fix.
“I didn’t know how much I needed a laugh until I began reading Stephen McCauley’s new novel, My Ex-Life. This is the kind of witty, sparkling, sharp novel for which the verb ‘chortle’ was invented.” —Maureen Corrigan, Fresh Air
“McCauley fits neatly alongside Tom Perrotta and Maria Semple in the category of ‘Novelists You’d Most Like to Drive Across the Country With.’” —The New York Times Book Review
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “My Ex-Life A Novel” about?
Who is the author of “My Ex-Life A Novel”?
When was “My Ex-Life A Novel” published?
What is the ISBN for “My Ex-Life A Novel”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
