Last Couple Standing A Novel by Matthew Norman Mar

Book Excerpt:

"A couple determined not to end up like their divorced friends try a radical experiment—and get in way over their heads—in this hilarious, heartfelt novel from the author of We're All Damaged.

"This warm and witty tale of a devoted couple willing to throw out that pesky 'forsaking all others' rule to stay together crackles with fierce energy and emotional truth."—Judy Blundell, New York Times bestselling author of The High Season

The Core Four have been friends since college: four men, four women, four couples. They got married around the same time, had kids around the same time, and now, fifteen years later, they've started getting divorced around the same time, too. With three of the Core Four unions crumbling to dust around them, Jessica and Mitch Butler take a long, hard look at their own marriage. Can it be saved? Or is divorce, like some fortysomething zombie virus, simply inescapable?

To maximize their chance at immunity, Jessica and Mitch try something radical. Their friends' divorces mostly had to do with sex—having it, not having it, wanting to have it with other people—so they decide to relax a few things. Terms are discussed, conditions are made, and together the Butlers embark on the great experiment of taking their otherwise happy, functional marriage and breaking some strict rules.

Jessica and Mitch are convinced they've hit upon the next evolution of marriage. But as lines are crossed and hot bartenders pursued, they each start to wonder if they've made a colossal mistake. What follows is sexy, fun, painful, messy, and completely surprising to them both. Because sometimes doing something terrible is the only way to get to the heart of what's really good."

Title:  Last Couple Standing

Author:  Matthew Norman

Publisher:  Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating:  Four

Review:

"Last Couple Standing" by Matthew Norman

My Speculation:

From friends that called themselves 'Core Four' were four couples from college who were now all divorced except one.  Jessica and Mitch watched the marriages of their friends all fall apart and was left wanting to make sure that
this didn't happen to them. I will say what they did was rather drastic that did have me shaking my head and saying what and why that? But I guess they had their reasons.  What will happen when they realize this was not the right path they should have taken?  Was this putting some fun into their marriage?  What a ride this story will go as we see how these two were into saving their marriage before it needed to be saved.  There will be some funny parts of the story that will put a smile on your face as you are found shaking your head and saying, wow!  To find out all the answers to these questions, you will have to pick up this read to see how this author brings it all out to the reader.  

I found "Last Couple Standing" was an entertaining, humorous, fast-paced, heartfelt read with a predictable ending that will keep you turning the pages to see what was coming next.  

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.