It’s Not Me, It’s You by Mhairi McFarlane

“Could it be this easy, after a lifetime of doggy paddling, to jump in the deep end, and swim?”

While in search of a book that fit my mood, I came across It’s Not Me, It’s You.  It instantly appealed, and although I tend to be a bit weary of books that may be put under the chick-lit category, I felt it was worth a read.  I am so very glad I did.

Delia Moss’ life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers her boyfriend of ten years, has been unfaithful.  Her world as she saw it is flipped upside down, and everything about who she is and what she wants is challenged.  She soon finds herself in a new city and on a new adventure, slowly discovering the Delia she neglected in the past.

My standoffishness when it comes to chick-lit, romance type books is that they very often come across as overly silly and dramatic.  A couple of chapters in, I realized that this was not the case whatsoever.  Instead I found myself immersed in a book that is funny, smart, and that approached relationships with depth and nuance.  Delia Moss is a lovely, strong character, and I loved following her on her journey.  It’s Not Me, It’s You explores many themes: dealing with betrayal, female friendships, finding your way, taking chances, dealing with life’s unexpected turns, getting out of the safety of a routine and daring to follow a new path.  I truly enjoyed all the aspects of Delia’s story, particularly her relationship with her best friend Emma, and their views and experiences.

“‘You know what annoys me?’ Emma mumbled.  ‘When people act as if not having your personal life sorted out by our age is some sort of failure of paying attention.  Like, if you want it, you can automatically have it.  As if it isn’t mostly down to luck.  We’ve both gone at it in different ways and here we both are.  On my sofa.”

A quote on the cover from Marian Keyes, calls it “a total gem,” and I have to wholeheartedly agree.  This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and look forward to reading more of her work.