“Lift and Separate” is the story, both amusing and poignant, of Marcy Hammer, 59-year-old fulfilled wife and mother who suddenly discovers that her husband isn’t nearly as satisfied in their marriage as she is. All of a sudden Marcy is alone in their huge house, buying shopping carts full of food for people who no longer live there and trying to figure out who she, Marcy, as opposed to Mom or Mrs. Hammer, is. Along the way she negotiates problems with her children, parental illness, and new friendships.

In the style of the genre, the book is a quick and easy read, and even though it touches on somber themes–Marcy and her new friend Candy find themselves bonding over visits to the oncology ward, for example–it remains for the most part upbeat and lighthearted. The writing style is smooth and unobtrusive, with many moments of gentle humor as Marcy deals with her new single status and comments on her husband’s obsession with giving her bras (he runs a lingerie company). Marcy herself is a well-rounded and sympathetic character, worrying over her sagging knees and how to tell her mother that her husband has left her in equal measure. I don’t know if “divorce lit” is considered to be its own genre, but I”m going to declare that it is and say that this book is a fine example of it. Readers looking for a story of a woman getting an unexpected new lease on life are likely to be drawn on by this warm and good-humored tale.

My thanks to NetGalley for providing a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.