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My Ex-Life
- A Novel
- Narrated by: George Newbern
- Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction
Summary
This program includes a bonus interview with the author.
From Stephen McCauley comes a long-anticipated audiobook about love, life, and friendship
David Hedges’ life is coming apart at the seams. His job helping San Francisco rich kids get into the colleges of their (parents’) choice is exasperating; his younger boyfriend has left him; and the beloved carriage house he rents is being sold. His solace is a Thai takeout joint that delivers 24/7.
The last person he expects to hear from is Julie Fiske. It’s been decades since they’ve spoken, and he’s relieved to hear she’s recovered from her brief, misguided first marriage. To him. Julie definitely doesn’t have a problem with marijuana (she’s given it up completely, so it doesn’t matter if she gets stoned almost daily) and the Airbnb she’s running out of her seaside house north of Boston is neither shabby nor illegal. And she has two whole months to come up with the money to buy said house from her second husband before their divorce is finalized.
She’d just like David’s help organizing college plans for her 17-year-old daughter. That would be Mandy. To quote Barry Manilow, Oh Mandy. While she knows she’s smarter than most of the kids in her school, she can’t figure out why she’s making so many incredibly dumb and increasingly dangerous choices.
When David flies east, they find themselves living under the same roof (one David needs to repair). David and Julie pick up exactly where they left off 30 years ago - they’re still best friends who can finish each other’s sentences. But there’s one broken bit between them that no amount of home renovations will fix.
In prose filled with hilarious and heartbreakingly accurate one-liners, Stephen McCauley has written an audiobook that examines how we define home, family, and love. Be prepared to laugh, shed a few tears, and have thoughts of your own ex-life triggered. (Throw pillows optional.)
Critic reviews
"McCauley’s effervescent prose is full of wit and wisdom on every topic - college application essays, Airbnb operation, weed addiction, live porn websites, and, most of all, people.... A gin and tonic for the soul." (Kirkus)
"With My Ex-Life, a heartwarming comedy of manners about second chances and starting afresh, [Stephen McCauley] has pretty much outdone himself...McCauley fires off witticisms like a tennis ace practicing serves...In the vein of inveterate beguilers like Laurie Colwin, Elinor Lipman, and Maria Semple, McCauley is warm but snappy, light but smart — and just plain enjoyable." (NPR)
"A clever novel about exes reconnecting...Do not underestimate McCauley's witty insights or his ability to make middle-aged, sexless companionship seem wildly appealing." (People)
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What listeners say about My Ex-Life
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 23-08-18
Mildly amusing in places, but not for me.
I got to the end, and found it amusing in places but couldn't really recommend it I'm afraid.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tammy L. Virgili
- 23-05-18
SO ENJOYABLE!
I usually listen to dark, disturbing mysteries, so this was a fun change of pace! Equal parts funny and sentimental, I instantly liked all the characters - even the teen, whose personality is typically written to annoy you, at every turn, was, instead, likable and surprisingly insightful. Was happy to learn Stephen also authored Object of My Affection, with my fav not-real-life-couple starring in the movie. Hope he continues to churn out new material!
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 28-05-19
Intriguing
I really enjoyed this book. The story, the characters, the spoken thoughts. I am so bummed I cannot find another Stephen McCauley book on Audible. Please bring another one of his books to Audible. Until then, I’ll listen to My Ex-Life again.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Shanyb
- 07-11-18
Good Read
The reunion of divorced mates through the need of true friendship and acceptance kept this story intriguing
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- John
- 25-06-18
A wonderful read
So funny, so enjoyable, I couldn't put it down. The characters became alive as you melt into their lives. The dry wit will have you laughing out loud. Highly recommend.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- PJM
- 24-08-18
Frustrating
A very frustrating book about dumb people making bad choices around awful friends. So...basically life.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Trish Kipnis
- 01-08-18
Good story, narrator didn't get it
I've never had this experience before with an Audible book, where the narrator just ruined the story for me altogether. The accents were terrible (and unnecessary), and he maintained the same vaguely bored cadence throughout. Many, many times he lazily put emphasis on the wrong word/s in a sentence and I had to mentally correct for what the author was obviously trying to say. Every character sounded the same somehow, and the humor that should have been conveyed by this funny author was lost. So disappointed - should have just read this one in print.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rose M. Pearlstein
- 15-06-18
Best book ever
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, felt like I was part of a family. It made me laugh out loud, the characters were decent and loving, the location was desirable, appeared to me to be a place I’d like to live and a family who I would love to have for my friends.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
- Dee
- 21-08-20
Chapters are messed up
My mom is listening to the book, it started repeating chapters. If I knew the path to get a refund, I would.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul Acheson
- 09-05-20
realness
touching, plain but powerful style. I saw a lot of me in it. Highly recommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Edmond Clement
- 13-11-19
Touching and Funny
Stephen McCauley’s novel comes like a gift of humor and hope. Narrator George Newbern wisely doesn’t get in the way or impose himself; he allows McCauley’s voice to shine through. It’s nice to hear a narrator who understands his job and doesn’t treat a reading like an audition or an acting-class exercise.