About the Book

Forty-ish hipster dad Jake is happily settled down in the politically progressive, urban, and notably self-satisfied community of Greenwood, working at his not-so-interesting job, playing guitar with his band, and enjoying domestic life with his beautiful and accomplished wife Lisa, their two charming daughters, and the beloved family dog.

When Lisa rocks Jake's world by telling him she wants a divorce, their story unfolds from multiple points of view including those of other family members, Jake's self-absorbed divorce lawyer, the cranky family court judge who presides over his custody case, his polyamorous millennial girlfriend, and the eighteen-year-old babysitter who also happens to be his lawyer's daughter. Throughout Greenwood, in the coffee shop, the yoga studio, and the basketball court, lives intersect. Choruses of friends and neighbors gossip, dissect, and weigh in. A surprise witness upends Jake's custody trial. Things are not always as they seem, and there is no one truth about a marriage.

Review

Told through multiple perspectives, Every Other Weekend by Margaret Klaw delves into the complexities of divorce and the changes in families. It has relatable characters, insight into the challenges faced by divorced parents and has thought provoking moments and definitely puts the rawness of divorce during and after out there.

The story revolves around the family of Lisa and Jake. Both live in your typical upper class, progressive neighborhood, specifically in Philadelphia. They find themselves navigating the rough waters of their shared custody and trying to adjust to their new lives after divorce. The book captures the conflicts, tension and effects on everyone including the children transitioning between their homes. We not only get their perspective but also the impact of the judicial system in the mix.

With divorce so prevalent out there, I love how we experience the real and multi perspective of all involved through the process. At first, I thought Lisa was very shallow and her reasoning for asking for divorce left me feeling sympathy for Jake. Then after getting to know Jake, I understand why. Neither is perfect but when two people are on different pages, sometimes it’s best to stop the bleeding if one is willing to change.

Something that stands out about Jake’s character that drove me insane was the lack of accountability no matter what he did or does, his impulse decisions had consequences beyond his comprehension. On the other hand, Lisa’s unrealistic expectations of someone who was very different from who she really wanted to be with, I often wonder about the fairness of evolved resentment.

Getting to the heart of these characters, giving insight into their thoughts and how they feel, allow you to understand their journey. They are flawed. So many similar people out there have qualities like them and with children involved makes it harder. Their journey gives you so much to think about because there’s so many other moving components that people don’t take into consideration and how they can impact all involved, especially the children.

The children were represented so well in the book. Their innocence and then getting to experience from their perspective and how it impacts their lives, emotions and behavior through adapting to the transitions was handled so well. The impact of the decisions their parents made and the courts involvement into their lives really spoke loudly.

This will appeal to those who love emotional stories that will resonate with you. Evident through her law experience dealing with these types of cases, Klaw gives us an insightful and engaging read that takes us to the depth of divorce, family and the challenges everyone involved faces.

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