After an unexpected call from an old flame, the married Shapiro, a successful writer living in Manhattan enduring an unfulfilling summer, finds herself on a quest to track down and pick the brains of all the men who broke her heart. Brad, the Harvard scientist, George, the theatre professor, Richard, the music biographer, Tom the lawyer, and David the dentist.
Most of us have had our heart broken. And we can go a lifetime wondering, what went wrong? I actually considered, in the spirit of girlfriendbooks of course, contacting one man who broke my heart. After trying for two years to break up my relationship with a college sweetheart, he finally succeeded, and after two months of what I considered to be an exclusive relationship, I caught him with another woman. What's up with that? Too angry to ever listen to his explanation, he moved away to Colorado and I never spoke to him again. But I always wondered....was it me or did he have major commitment issues?
Casually mentioning to my husband that I thought it would be interesting to contact him for the review, he was clearly not happy. Why did I need to contact him? He could tell me exactly what went wrong - he was probably one of those guys who only wanted what he couldn't have. Oh. Thanks.
Which leads me back to Shapiro. What was it that she was able to capture from these reunions? At one point I was literally standing in the middle of my living room reading this book. You really can't wait to read about her next liaison, and the discoveries she makes about herself along the way. Perhaps the benefit of such meetings is the person's de-mystification? They may not be as handsome, or as funny as you remember. Or, in her dentist's case, he's downright mean and bitter. Through it all, you'll find yourself endeared to Shapiro, who is self-deprecating and hilarious, as she stops at nothing to put her past to rest.
As captivating as her reunions are, her relationship with her husband and family makes for great story-telling as well. Her husband Aaron, a comedy writer, is dry and sarcastic, and her Jewish family back home is endearingly entertaining. The tale of her courtship and marriage makes it clear to the reader, maybe even before Shapiro realizes it herself, that the hero of this book is her adoring but imperfect husband. In the end, Shapiro, through the lenses of her revisited past, views her husband and family in a new, content light.
With its sweet ending, sharp wit, and honest portrayal this book will leave you hoping for a sequel.
About the Author: Susan Shapiro has written for The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Village Voice, Salon.com, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and Jane. She lives in New York City.