cover image Nothing Stays the Same

Nothing Stays the Same

Suzetta Perkins, . . Atria/Strebor, $15 (368pp) ISBN 978-1-59309-286-3

This tight sequel to Ex-Terminator checks in on the fortunes of the “Ex-Files,” a group of friends who’ve helped each survive life after divorce. Marvin Thomas and Kenny Richmond run Thomas and Richmond Tecktronics, a Fortune 500 company that appears to be a wild success, but Marvin knows is deeply in debt. Other worries bombard him as well after an argument with his wife, Rachel, leads him to foolishly hook up with a floozy named Peaches, who tries to blackmail him for $50,000. Perkins also follows up on the lives of other Ex-Files friends: Sylvia, Mona, a now-incarcerated Ashley Jordan-Lewis, and Claudette. Perkins delivers a saucy and solid testament to what it takes to keep the home fires burning but not raging out of control. (Mar.)