Been There, Married That by Gigi Levangie: Review

This particular book that I reviewed this week was one that I initially was not going to read. I hesitated because of the subject matter.

You see, I rarely watch TV unless it’s maybe a movie on Netflix or a football game. I pretty much could not tell you who anyone in Hollywood is anymore.

So I really wasn’t sure the subject matter would be something I would be interested in. But I went ahead and read the book. To say it was interesting would be a mild understatement. Read on for my full review.

Been There, Married That by Gigi Levangie
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (February 11, 2020)
ISBN-13: 978-1250166814

Synopsis:
When he changes the locks, she changes the rules.

Agnes Murphy Nash is the perfect Hollywood wife – she has the right friends, the right clothes, and even a side career of her own as a writer. Her husband Trevor is a bigshot producer, and from the outside it looks like they’re living a picture-perfect celebrity life, complete with tennis tournaments and lavish parties.

But the job description of a Hollywood wife doesn’t cover divorce, which is the way Agnes’ life is headed after she comes home one day to find her credit cards cancelled and the security passwords to get into her enormous LA home changed. Oh, and there’s a guy there whose job it is to tase her if she tries to enter…which she does. Needless to say, Agnes’ husband is dead set on making sure she loses big time, but Agnes isn’t the type to just lie down and take it. In a world of fremenies and hot nannies, personal psychics and “skinny” jello shots, Agnes may be losing her husband, but could that mean getting her own life back?

Been There, Married That by Gigi Levangie Review

I’ve heard of this author before but I have never read anything by her. So I’m not sure if this was the book that I should have started with. But start with I did and I had an eye-opening experience.

The first third of this book was completely insane.
-It was maniacal.
-It seemed like menopausal hysteria.
-It was also very difficult to read.

Set in Hollywood, it’s the story of the wife of a movie director and it showcases her insane life.

And trust me you understand the insanity when you’re trying to read between all of the snark and attempts at continual witty comeback‘s.

I actually had to put the book aside for three days and then come back to it. I did that because as a reviewer I make a promise to review each book.

Actually I’m glad I came back to it. The second portion of the book was actually less of a frantic pace. You’re able to actually connect with her crazy life and her insane husband. You begin to understand why everything is cracked in her life.

You can also understand the frantic feeling she gets when her husband takes control of everything and people who are supposed to have your back, don’t. (Although I have to admit, I did not understand why she went along with the visit to the “spa”. That was so obvious.)

Her only saving grace, her sister, and eventually her dad. Even a peek of normalcy peeks through from her tween. Spots of true humor show through and brings this book from crazy to a tongue in cheek, snarky look at people who think they are all that!

Been There, Married That is a story that showcases a world where life has no value outside where you are on the social ladder. Where marriage is a convenience, some friends really aren’t, and Hollywood is a dark and icky place.

This book shows us that there is hope for peace, calm, and normalcy, if you break free from the social acceptance frantic circle and be who you are meant to be.

Gigi Levangie wound up a lot of people with this story. Maybe that is the entire point of it.

3 STARS – love/hate situation here!

Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free ebook so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.