Book ~ "Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis" (2008) Robyn Harding

From Goodreads ~ Lucy had no clue that her husband of sixteen years was about to bolt. Now she's dealing with shock, loneliness and girlfriends who alternately pity her and provoke her. She also - unbelievably - is apparently competing with her own teenage daughter for a new man's attention.

Trent pictured freedom, self-discovery ... and maybe some sex with actual passion. So far, he's mostly watching hockey in a hotel room and wondering what's next. Being middle-aged and married isn't easy. The jury's still out on being middle-aged and single.

Trent and Lucy are in their 40s, have been married for 16 years and have a 15 year old daughter named Samantha. Trent comes home from work one day and says he needs to find himself and is leaving. Lucy is stunned (he's never given her any indication of how he was feeling) and figures he'll be back home shortly.

Trent has had his eye on Annika, a colleague, for about a year and now that he's "single", they get together right away. She starts planning their future and all he wanted was a fling but she's hard to get rid of (she was way to extreme to be believable). In the meantime, Lucy, who works as a props procurer on a TV show, has suddenly attracted the attention of Wynn, a 27 year old who plays a 17 year old character, who's never given her the time of day before (really?!). Against her better judgement, she goes along with it hoping for a revenge fling but Wynn wants more (a young fella with morals?!). In the meantime, Samantha starts rebelling.

I've read a couple books by this author and liked them but I didn't care for this one. I found it too unrealistic and the characters unlikable (especially Samantha who is a super stereotypical spoiled teenager). Trent learned he should have been careful what he wished for ... he got the life he wanted but realized it wasn't all it was cracked up to be so was ready to go home and was shocked that Lucy wouldn't forget/forgive him for "banging" Annika. Lucy learned there are consequences for her actions when she lets things move forward with Wynn (double standard?!).

It's written in first person perspective in Lucy and Trent's voices (the chapters are labeled). It was written in 2008 and is dated as there are references to Richard Dean Anderson and Richard Hatch being relevant at the time. The ending comes quickly and abruptly and I wasn't buying it. As a head's up, there is swearing.