The Optimist's Guide to Divorce - by Suzanne Riss & Jill Sockwell (Paperback)

About the Book

A warm, friendly, girlfriend-to-girlfriend guide to surviving divorce and coming out better on the other side, in three stages: Deal (the aftershock of separation), Heal (learning to detach and move forward) and Reveal (celebrating the stronger, happier you).

Book Synopsis

For the more than one million women who get divorced each year, welcome to your support group. Wise, comforting, and uplifting, The Optimist's Guide to Divorce captures the experience of sisterhood through the voices of its authors and their community of women in the Maplewood Divorce Club-women who understand what you're going through, who know the practical issues as well as the emotional ones, and who can help you keep a sense of hope and a sense of humor. Brimming with stories and insights, valuable resources and smart strategies, in-the-trenches tips and sanity-saving takeaways, this book prepares you for each phase of divorce, from having "the talk," to breaking the news to family and friends, to figuring out where to live, to co-parenting with an ex, to rebounding and rebooting your life. It's divided into three sections that cover the process from start to finish-Deal, Heal, and Reveal-and make it easy to jump in wherever you are in your journey. And even better, to make the choices that will help you develop a better relationship with the one person you'll be with for the rest of your life-yourself.

Review Quotes

"A valuable resource for recently divorced women who need to get back on track." --Library Journal, starred review

"The overall effect is a chorus of relatable, emotional, and true-feeling stories about the many facets of divorce that will have newly single advice-seekers feeling less alone and more sure they'll get through it, too." --Booklist

"The warm and empowering tone of this book will convince readers that there's life on the other side of a painful divorce." --Publishers Weekly

"The Optimist's Guide to Divorce is a straight-talking fount of information for your heart, sanity, and soul during the horrendous slog of divorce. It's the book (and club) I wish I'd had--peace of mind on every page and more useful than your best friend."
--V.C. Chickering, author of Nookietown

"This is not just a book about how to survive the vicissitudes of a divorce; it's about how to create a better life. Coming out whole on the other side of even the most devastating divorce is more than possible--if you read this book, it's a sure thing. Riss and Sockwell don't just point the way, they take you by the hand and make the journey with you. This really is a guide to a new life--to a new you--so enjoy the journey with two very wise guides."
--Dennis Merritt Jones, author of The Art of Uncertainty: How to Live in the Mystery of Life and Love It and Your (Re)Defining Moments: Becoming Who You Were Born to Be

"Like having a heart-to-heart with a compassionate, no-nonsense best friend. It's chock-full of wisdom, practical advice, encouragement, and what every woman in the midst of a divorce needs the most: hope."
--Cynthia L. Copeland, author of Good Riddance: An Illustrated Memoir of Divorce

"An excellent, easy-to-read tour of the twisting roads you'll need to travel to get through a difficult divorce in the best shape. Full of practical, compassionate, sometimes humorous, always wise advice from the women of the Maplewood Divorce Club."
--Lawrence Birnbach, PhD, author of How to Know If It's Time to Go: A 10-Step Reality Test for Your Marriage

"A clever guide for those navigating through the nightmare of divorce. A must-read filled with great stories, tips, and humor, as well as many different points of view."
--Jodi Topitz, author of Seriously! As If Going Through a Divorce Wasn't Bad Enough...

About the Author

Suzanne Riss is a former editor in chief of Working Mother, the author of The Working Mom Survival Guide, and the mother of a son. Jill Sockwell is a former advertising executive, now real estate agent, and mom to two daughters. Together they started the Maplewood Divorce Club, a very successful support group for divorcing women in their New Jersey town.