A Girl Like You

Scribner’s debut chronicles the dating misadventures of 57-year-old Jessica Gabriel—a two-time divorcée and loving mother of two grown children—in evocative, if sometimes painful, detail. Jessica survived the dissolution of her long-term first marriage by throwing herself into a new one, so she’s doubly shaken when the second fails just a few years later. As Jessica mourns the life and security she thought she’d have, she must also learn to navigate middle-aged singledom, signing up for dating apps, buying a vibrator, and exploring BDSM. Having devoted her life to her family, Jessica enjoys an enviably close relationship with both of her children, who support her by sharing war stories from the romantic trenches and cheering her chaotic reentry into the world of dating. The themes of love, loss, resilience, and rebuilding are familiar territory, and though Scribner’s candid tone will put readers in mind of a more explicit Sex and the City, the characters, observational humor, and frank (and sometimes graphically detailed) sexual exploration feel fresh. Fans of women’s fiction will want to take a look. [em](Feb.) [/em]