I didn't know this book had ghosts. Personally, I don't usually read books that have ghosts. A little of ghost stuff in the story is pretty okay for me but not if it is the main part of the story. The first mention of a ghost in the story was only after I've listened to a few chapters of the audio book already. By then, I've already liked the voice of the narrator, the pretty humorous and fun writing, the female protagonist, the story I've listened till then, etc. Therefore, I listened on.Most of the other characters are interesting and entertaining. The book has also given me a few laughs. :)Ghosts parts are pretty weighty in this story. Therefore, I don't really like the book much. The book is also not very exciting or memorable book for me. In terms of a Goodreads rating, it was okay (2 stars) only for me, not a bad "no no" book because of the good points I've mentioned above. The After Wife was funny, sweet and interesting. But the plot was formulaic, the characters way too stereotypical and superficial, and I had a had time following most of the references. I wish some of the characters could have been explored with more depth. I appreciated the wry sense of humor and self-deprecating nature of the narration, but it went overboard at times, to the point of causing confusion. I think there was a missed opportunity to bring to life some of the humanity of the people of Southern California; instead, from the first page to the last, I was beaten over the head with stereotypes. Just as you started to like a character (Tom), they went and did some typical-SoCal thing. Maybe that's reality, but it didn't make for a very sympathetic story. The story was a nice, quick read, and I enjoyed the basic premise. It certainly made me appreciate having my husband by my side even more than I already did.
What do You think about The After Wife (2012)?
Funny, charming and beautifully flawed characters.
—verionique
