The Optimist's Guide to Divorce: How to Get Through Your Breakup and Create a New Life You Love

“Like having a heart-to-heart with a compassionate, no-nonsense best friend. It’s chock-full of wisdom, practical advice, encouragement, and what every woman in the midst of a divorce needs the most: hope.”—Cynthia L. Copeland, author of Good Riddance: An Illustrated Memoir of Divorce

Shortly after their marriages ended, Suzanne Riss and Jill Sockwell realized that the best way through divorce is with the support of other women who understand what it’s like, who know the practical issues as well as the emotional ones, and who can help you keep a sense of hope and a sense of humor.

Brimming with stories and insights, from-the-trenches tips, and sanity-saving takeaways, this girlfriend-to-girlfriend guide prepares you for each phase of divorce, from “the talk,” to figuring our where to live, to co-parenting with an ex, to rebounding and rebooting your life. Covering the process from start to finish, this comforting and uplifting book makes it easy to jump in no matter where you are in your journey. And, even better, to make the choices that will ultimately help you develop a better relationship with the one person you’ll be with for the rest of your life—yourself.
 

Suzanne Riss is a former editor in chief of Working Mother, the author of The Working Mom Survival Guide, and the mother of a son. Jill Sockwell is a former advertising executive, now real estate agent, and mom to two daughters. Together they started the Maplewood Divorce Club, a very successful support group for divorcing women in their New Jersey town.