Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage

According to former New York Magazine “Ask Polly” advice columnist Havrilesky (What If This Were Enough?), marriage is not all that it’s cracked up to be. It’s not pure bliss, but is bliss mixed with irritation, rage, delight, and disgust. With shrewdness and wit, Havrilesky details the ups and downs of her 15-year marriage, from meeting and marrying her husband, Bill, to pregnancy, childbirth, moving to the Los Angeles suburbs, and parenting older children, all while navigating the landscape of her ever-changing married life. Havrilesky writes with an engaging combination of bluntness and compassion, delivering cringeworthy statements about her husband’s bodily noises only to then reveal the deep tenderness that she feels for this steadfast and still sexy man. Listeners will enjoy her narration, as it creates a sense of intimacy and transparency, making it seem that Havrilesky—advice columnist, best friend, and fallible guru—is speaking directly to them.