My Year of Casual Relationships

South Bay, #1

by

Ruth F. Stevens

Absolutely wonderful and thoroughly satisfying!

My Year of Casual Relationships by Ruth F. Stevens is a new adult contemporary novel filled with memorable characters, unlikely friendships, love and loss, and self-discovery. Mar Meyers is an icon for healing, growth, and second chances. 

The main character, Margaret ‘Mar’ Meyers, is putting together a new life, including a new persona after her husband of 28 years leaves her for one of his employees. As often happens, Mar loses not only Henry (good riddance!) but also their couple friends, who gravitate toward the newly-formed couple rather than the newly single Mar. Worst though is the contentious relationship that develops with her only child, Michael, who’s married and has a young son of his own, Mar’s grandson, Benny. Michael inexplicably takes his father’s side in the divorce, even though Henry is the one who had the affair and broke up the marriage. I ached for Mar with every unhappy and ugly interaction with her son but had strong suspicions as to the underlying reasons for his behavior all along. 

Mar’s mother, who lives across the country from LA in New York City, is another unfulfilling relationship in her life. Whether due to her British stiff-upper-lip demeanor or the fact that she’s completely self-absorbed, she’s no source of comfort or support for her daughter when she needs it the most. She seems so cold and unfeeling, which may be the reason for some of Mar’s own personality flaws. Mar struggles with being standoffish, critical, and expressing empathy. She is well-known for speaking her mind without considering the consequences of her words until it is too late. However, despite her initial emotional distance, she experienced significant personal growth as the story progressed, and I liked her more and more for it. 

The author’s writing style is smooth and comfortable, and it drew me into Mar’s life from page one. I was genuinely interested in what Mar thought and had to say. The descriptions of the fitness center, Mar’s waterfront apartment, restaurants, and clubs she frequents are vivid, and I could easily picture the characters in these settings. I enjoyed the names Mar initially gave to the women regulars at the fitness center, which also created a strong image of each. However, I was glad she got past this superficiality and eventually got to know them and their true identities. I was delighted to see at the end of the book that the planned sequel is already in the works and is scheduled for publication very soon. I’m not ready to leave Margaret’s story behind. 

With its relatable and sympathetic main character and realistic plot, I recommend MY YEAR OF CASUAL RELATIONSHIPS to readers of contemporary and women’s fiction. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through WOW! Women On Writing Book Tours.