Sponsored Post: The Longest Date- Life as a Wife

Disclaimer #1: The nice folks at Penguin sent me a review copy for an honest opinion.

Disclaimer #2: I don't typically read books like this, but the author, Cindy Chupack wrote for (I think) five years on Sex and the City and now works on Modern Family, both shows I adore. Plus the lady at Penguin assured me it would be a short read, which it was. 

The Longest Date- Life as a Wife by Cindy Chupack chronicles her first five years married, after forty years of being a single woman. The book is set up into quick little chapters that describe an event, period, or issue that has been some sort of marker, milestone, or metaphor for her time thus far in marriage (elaborate dinner parties help her relax more and work with her husband, getting a dog symbolizes her need to realize her home is no longer just hers, the straight-up heartache of miscarriage, and so on and so forth). 

The writing itself was witty and often humorous, Chupack sharing honest flaws in herself and marriage. Let's face it- I could hear a little Carrie Bradshaw in there, and I liked it. The end was a bit too sentimental for my liking, though, and I thought the tone strayed a bit from the one that she had maintained previously.

A large portion related to her and her husband's quest to have a baby- she was older and they tried pretty much everything from acupuncture to IVF to HGC shots (I'm very glad that I'm reading this book now and not twelve or eighteen months ago...). Eventually the couple to pursue alternate methods, chronicled by both Chupack and her husband. 

On one hand, I finished the book appreciating the message that marriage is hard and requires work, compromise, honesty, and love. But on the other, I wasn't sure if her story really warranted a book. Her story isn't that unique- thousands of women marry late in life and struggle to get pregnant. I wasn't particularly moved, inspired, or enlightened either. Somewhat entertained, yes, but never moved to laughter or tears.

I've been wracking my head trying to find the right audience for this book. Bridal showers or weddings? So they can start worrying about their fertility? Women who are in their mid-thirties tired of dating? So they can worry about never getting married and having kids? Women who are married and have kids? So they're forced to be thankful they were able to. Perhaps fans of the shows she's worked on? SJP was a fan, after all...