I found a copy of The First Husband by Laura Dave at the Strand for $1.00 and couldn't help but pick it up based on the cover alone. It looked like a fun book, so I decided to take it with me on my recent trip to Los Angeles and read it on the plane. I'm very glad I did!The First Husband begins with our main character Annie being dumped by her long-time boyfriend, Nick. Annie is heartbroken and lost, and finds herself at a local bar late one night. There she meets Griffin, a chef with whom she falls in love instantly. Annie and Griffin hit it off, and begin a relationship, but before Annie can find comfort in her new life, Nick comes back seeking forgiveness. The First Husband follows Annie as she travels across the country, and subsequently across the Atlantic, to decide where, and with whom, she belongs.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is a light, adult contemporary that does have some serious scenes, but is otherwise a great beach read. Annie is a very relatable character, and it was easy for me as a reader to connect with her and share her emotions, whatever they may be. Similarly, I liked that readers get to know about Annie's career as a journalist in addition to just her love life. It really provides some depth to her character, and makes the book more believable.
At just under 250 pages, The First Husband is the perfect book for traveling, as it's a quick read and can fit perfectly in your beach bag. I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, as I even though I really liked it, I don't think there's anything that special about it, and I don't plan to pick it up again. I definitely recommend The First Husband if you love contemporary novels and are looking for a summer read. You can purchase the book on Amazon HERE.
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