In Violet's Wake

September 9, 2013
In Devereaux-Nelson’s debut novel, five hapless men in contemporary Michigan struggle to overcome the whirlwind of devastation left in manipulative femme fatale Violet Benjamin’s wake. When Violet suddenly abandons husband #5, Marshall, his jealous suspicions lead him to another of Violet’s exes, Costa. Bonding over their shared marital battle scars, they go on to befriend Violet’s other ex-husbands, including unstable Brian, dutiful Tim, and lovesick Owen. The men, united by their common fixation, together begin to find a way of coping with life after Violet. Meanwhile, their beautiful, narcissistic, therapy-loving ex-wife has set her sights on a new target: Jake, the one man who never fell for her wiles. Learning this, the men decide to find Jake and warn him of Violet’s sinister power before it’s too late. A diffuse structure and stereotypical characters prevents the novel from building up much suspense before reaching its forgettable climax. Violet herself remains a frustrating cipher, leaving the reader wondering why her ex-husbands are still obsessed with her. As a tale of romantic loss, though, the novel is more successful, offering a moving portrait of the neurotic fixations of unhappy lovers and the bonds they forge to overcome grief.

October 1, 2013
A witty and insightful debut about the support group five ex-husbands form after their marriages to one alluring, albeit troubled, lady. Husband No. 6, Marshall, knew about Violet's past--her five previous marriages--but like any heartsick schmuck, he thought he'd be "the one." But he wasn't. When Violet leaves him, he convinces himself she is returning to Costa (husband No. 2) and decides to track him down at his Greek restaurant. After drunken accusations, a little brawling and embarrassed apologies, Marshall learns that Costa is now happily married with two kids. But boy, does he know what it's like to be dumped by Violet. To help Marshall avoid what he went through (a flirtation with alcoholism and bankruptcy) and to serve as a cautionary tale, Costa drives them to see husband No. 3. Since Violet divorced him, Brian has retreated into a world dominated by his bipolar disorder and has since created a house covered in hubcaps. Surprisingly, the three enjoy commiserating, and soon, husband No. 4, Owen, a grumpy vet, and No. 5, Tim, an IT expert, are tracked down (husband No. 1, the wealthy and older Winston, died), and the five form a kind of support group-cum-super club. The mysterious Violet is seen only through the husbands' recollections and the notes of her current therapist, though it is clear she has serious issues and has left a wide swath of heartache in her wake. Though the men try to convince Marshall he's better off now that Violet is gone, secretly Owen has maintained a friendship with her over the years, hoping to one day win her back. In their last conversation, Violet confesses her latest obsession to Owen--she's going after the "one who got away," her high school crush, Jake. The men decide they have to warn Jake, if only they can find him before Violet does. A charming anti-romance. Devereaux-Nelson's group of guys learns a touching lesson from the girls: Sometimes, all you need is to talk it over with friends.

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November 15, 2013
Violet's sixth husband, Marshall, decides she left him for husband number two. When Marshall shows up swinging, Costa recognizes the signs and becomes Marshall's post-Violet mentor. They soon gather Violet's other exes into a mild, supportive fraternity, including Brian, who succumbed to his bipolar disorder when Violet left and covered his house in hubcaps; Tim, a computer programmer who moved back home to take care of his aging parents; and Owen, a veterinarian who is secretly still in touch with his ex. The men are haunted by Violet's constant comparisons to Dead Winston, husband number one, and Jake, her high-school crush. When the exes find out Violet is planning to track Jake down, they take a road trip to northern Michigan to see for themselves what they couldn't live up to. Snippets of Violet's therapy hint at a problem more serious than self-involvement, and even though the tone stays light, Violet is more villain than victim. Readers of chick lit with a high tolerance for the gender dichotomy will be drawn to this twist on the post-breakup bonding story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)