It can be so very easy to lose yourself when you’re not looking. Life gets busy, you put everyone else’s needs before your own, and the next thing you know, you can’t even remember the last time you’ve seen the person you used to be—and you can’t remember the last time anyone else has seen her either. This is the crux of Camille Pagan’s fantastic new novel, Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties, a funny and touching read about misplacing yourself, finding yourself, and hoping with all hope that you don’t go missing again.
Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties introduces us to Maggie Harris, a fifty-three-year-old wife and mother who worries about everything on earth. The one thing she’s never had to worry about is her solid marriage of nearly thirty years—that is until her husband, Adam, walks out the door. With an empty nest and a gaping hole in her heart, Maggie soon realizes that by dedicating her life to everyone around her, she’s somehow become invisible in the process. In an effort to rediscover the woman she left behind, Maggie embarks on a journey that includes a trip to Rome, a changing career path, and the potential for a budding new romance. Woman Last Seen in her Thirties is a delightful read filled with humor and heart, and I breezed right through it.
Maggie may be a character who doesn’t feel seen, but on the page, she’s far from invisible. Camille Pagan delivers a heroine who is funny, flawed, and real, and I enjoyed every minute of this warm and wonderful tale. What’s special about this novel isn’t one big ticket act that propels our protagonist into the new Maggie–although she does have some memorable adventures. What makes this book shine is how it highlights the little things that can break and make a person over time–the good, the bad, the heartbreaking and heart-taking moments that make up a life. This book is as much an examination of how the past informs the present as it is a tale about forging a new path for the future, and it’s filled with moments that are equal parts light-hearted and complex.
This is the first book I’ve read by Camille Pagan, but it certainly won’t be my last. Her writing is engaging, emotionally charged, and a joy to spend time with. I can’t wait to read her other books.
Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties releases on Tuesday, February 27! Order it now on Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or wherever you buy your books. For more on Camille Pagan, visit camillepagan.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Camille is a member of the Tall Poppy Writers, and is hosting their wonderful Facebook group, Bloom, this week!
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