Lift and Separate: A Novel, by Marilyn Simon Rothstein

30172760Lift and Separate: A Novel, by Marilyn Simon Rothstein, published by Lake Union Publishing, 2016.

They say not to judge a book by its cover, but when that cover is a lively display of different colored bras, a reader’s interest is naturally piqued.

In Lift and Separate, the reader is introduced to protagonist Marcy Hammer at the worst time of her life. Her husband of over thirty years has just had an affair with a younger woman, her mother is suffering from health problems, and one of her newest friendships is about to be put to the ultimate test.

Conditioned to a life of being first and foremost a Mother and a Wife, Marcy must adjust to thinking of herself in new terms – as a single, middle-aged woman at the brink of making decisions that will determine the second half of her life.

Rothstein does a number of things well in this novel – the characters are intelligent, well-spoken, and all contribute to move the story forward in their own way. There is a wonderful emphasis on the special bonds formed within female friendships, both old and new. And there are many moments when the author’s own sharp wit shines through in Marcy’s introspective thoughts and interactions with other characters.

A quick, easy read, Lift and Separate is a good book to fill a lazy Sunday afternoon. So grab a cup a coffee, don your comfiest slippers, and settle in to read a novel about love, friendship, self-discovery, and second chances.

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Shannon Bowring

About Shannon Bowring

I am 26 years old. I was raised up in the County, in the tiny town of Ashland. I attended the University of Maine in Orono and graduated in 2012 with a BA in English, with a concentration in Creative Writing. Reading and writing have always been the greatest loves of my life. I am most at home in the dusty corners of used bookstores, surrounded by forgotten books. One day, inspiration struck when I decided I wanted to combine all my loves – writing, reading, traveling, exploring these beloved shops – to create an outlet in which I can share my bookish adventures with an audience of like-minded readers who could appreciate my love of words and stories.