It took me completely by surprise how much I enjoyed this book, but looking back on it, I shouldn't have.
Mrs. Fletcher follows divorcée Eve Fletcher as she sends her only child Brendan off to college, leaving her floundering with an empty nest and struggling to find a purpose. She takes a class at the community college and meets a diverse group of people, thus stumbling into some interesting potentials that slowly brighten her life. It makes her realize that being middle-aged doesn't need to be the start of a decline, but rather the beginning of something new and exciting.
Truthfully, I've always found something appealing in the narrative of the older woman's sexual reawakening, she who has been worn down by work, life, and kids. In fact, one of my favorite movies of all time is Something's Gotta Give, in which a writer played by Diane Keaton has an energizing fling with a much younger handsome doctor played by Keanu Reeves. So this story is right up my alley.
And it pretty much had me hooked from the first page. I sympathized with Eve's hope that she can still go out there and make a connection, as well as her need to be seen as a real person, not just someone's mom. I found the writing, with a bit of satire and zing mixed in, to be sharp and droll. There were plenty of relevant and timely commentary on today's dating culture, feminism, gender identity and fluidity, privilege, and porn's prevalence in people's lives.
The only parts I didn't find as compelling were the ones centered around her son, Brendan. He is clueless, self-centered, and lacking in curiosity. Every time the book turns to his point of view, I found myself hoping to get back to reading about Eve. I know Brendan's story provides a juxtaposition with Eve's, with him being handed so many opportunities and wasting them, while she works hard to create every opportunity for herself. Thankfully, his idiotic escapades did not eclipse the hopeful and heartening tenor of Eve's story.
I don't think this book is for everyone, and based on the mixed reviews, a lot of readers found it to be underwhelming. But for me, this strikes at the heart of a fascination for me. One day I will be a middle-aged woman. When that day comes, I know I will still feel young at heart, and want the same things I want today: to have a sense of purpose, to feel valued, and to be loved. That's why I found Eve and her story to be so riveting.
Readaroo Rating: 4 stars
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