The Widow's Guide to Sex and Dating

A Novel

By: Carole Radziwill

Narrated by: Carole Radziwill

A deliciously smart and funny debut novel about loss, libido…and true love.

A decade ago, Claire Byrne, now thirty-two, put her biggest career aspirations and deepest personal desires on hold when she became the wife of Charlie Byrne, the famous sexologist and man about town. Equal parts Alfred Kinsey and Warren Beatty, Charlie is charming yet pompous, supportive yet unfaithful, a firm believer that sex and love can’t coexist. When Charlie is killed one day, in an absurd sidewalk collision with a falling sculpture (a Giacometti, no less!), his death turns Claire’s world upside down. She misses Charlie. She needs to reinvent herself. As unseemly as it may be to admit it, she longs to lose her “widow’s virginity.” And she wants love. Over the course of a year, Claire eats too little and drinks too much. She sees first- and second-opinion shrinks, the Village griot, a psychic, and a “botanomanist.” She dates a billionaire, a journalist, a hockey player, and even Jack Huxley — the movie star.

And, as Claire moves on from Charlie and searches for herself, she comes to realize she’s been given a second chance to live the meaningful and passionate life that passed her by once before.

Listeners of Carole Radziwill’s debut memoir, the lauded and New York Times bestselling What Remains, know well that she has a particular talent for writing about friendship, loss, and love. And listeners of The Widow’s Guide to Sex and Dating will discover that those gifts extend delightfully and tenderly to the literary screwball comedy. In spinning Claire’s story, Radziwill limns a world where glamorous movie stars fall for brainy working girls and where true friends must be leaned on until true love arrives, and she reports back with a novel that is as romantic as it is funny and wise.

©2013 Carole Radziwill (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

I wanted to love it...

But really didn't. It was entertaining at times... But all in all a disappointment. What remains was much better.

vocal fry and flat delivery

It was work on my ears to get beyond the narration, and the story lacked heart (whereas 'What Remains' was very heartfelt).

Loved the story

I loved the story but I was disappointed with the narration. I love Carol on the Real Housewives and I was so excited to listen! It is a great story but her narrating skills were distracting. I should have bought the book because then I would have enjoyed it more and owned it forever!

Meh

Would you try another book from Carole Radziwill and/or Carole Radziwill?

I wanted to really like this book but it wasn't very fun and it tried too hard.

Would you ever listen to anything by Carole Radziwill again?

Maybe.

Would you be willing to try another one of Carole Radziwill’s performances?

No! She should not have read this book. An outside narrator would have been so much better.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Parts were cute and it went by quickly.

Interesting story, but not a good performace

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I can't say that this story isn't well written, it is somewhat entertaining. Based on what i know of the authors personal life, it seems to be semi-autobiographical. It's hard not to read between the lines and wonder how much of the characters life, feelings, relationship are true. I found myself wondering which characters are based on real life people and if so, who? The story is certainly interesting, but the author is not able to deliver the story in a way that is listenable.

Would you be willing to try another one of Carole Radziwill’s performances?

No. Ms. Radziwell is very well know, I can only assume this is the reason they have her read her own story. Unfortunately, she doesn't sound natural at all and her monotone makes it very difficult to concentrate on the actual story. I'm sure that I would have enjoyed the book more if it was delivered by a professional.