The Divorce

Bestseller McFadden (Dear Debbie) proves marriage can be hell in this muddled tale of misplaced love. Naomi, a 42-year-old housewife, is happily married to hedge fund manager Jeremy and mom to four-year-old son Teddy. She’s secure in her belief that she’s cultivated true domestic bliss until she arrives home one afternoon to find the locks changed. The next day, Jeremy tells Naomi he wants a divorce, and she shuffles off to a small apartment, hoping to hide her marital failure from the nosy moms at Teddy’s school. Jeremy, meanwhile, hires a team of ruthless divorce lawyers, cleans out Naomi’s bank accounts, and starts dating beautiful 28-year-old Veronica. Naomi blames Veronica for her ordeal, but, in chapters that cycle between the trio’s perspectives, McFadden gradually reveals the toxic foundations of Jeremy and Naomi’s marriage. As the three leads become increasingly unhinged, their power struggle turns violent. By then, however, McFadden has weighed down the plot with too many far-fetched twists and undermotivated double-crosses. The result is a domestic battle royale that’s more exhausting than entertaining. Agent: Christina Hogrebe, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (May)