Title: Then There Was Larry
Author: Marie Estorge
Genre: Memoir
Book Blurb:
From Marie Estorge, bestselling author of Storkbites: A Memoir and Confessions of a Bipolar Mardi Gras Queen, comes THEN THERE WAS LARRY, a real-life cautionary tale of deception and scandal. Marie offers a unique and razor-sharp look at duplicity and betrayal among friends and lovers in her newest memoir. Headlines about the arrest of a well-regarded community member for charges of child pornography and abuse are disturbing in the collective sense. When the person charged and sentenced to 15 years turns out to be a man you’ve dated, the blow is sharp and personal. The questions and shock, the shame, reverberate at length. Infused with empathy, insight, and humor, THEN THERE WAS LARRY is an exploration of how well do we really know anyone? How can we trust that people are who they seem? As this quirky yet disturbing chronicle of a woman unraveling the layers of frayed friendships and a scandal from the past is revealed, the previously dismissed red flags reveal darker secrets.
In THEN THERE WAS LARRY, Marie Estorge delves unapologetically into the universal themes of love and betrayal with the keen eye of a surgeon’s scalpel; dissecting, slicing, juxtaposing the truth against the backdrop of loyalty, friendships, and the unconscionable versus the forgivable. Sit down. Strap yourselves in. Enjoy the ride. — Regina Louise, author of Someone Has Led This Child to Believe
It’s cliché but I truly couldn’t put THEN THERE WAS LARRY down. It manages to be dark and funny at the same time. Its premise, the narrator’s unsuspecting relationship with a convicted sex offender, adds a new dimension to the #MeToo movement conversation. Christine S. O’Brien, author of Crave: A Memoir of Food and Longing
My Review:
Single mom Marie reads the morning paper as she does every day when a headline makes her blood run cold. Her boring 'ol ex-boyfriend Larry is arrested on charges of unspeakable crimes of a sexual predator. Larry? Her milquetoast handyman ex? How did she not see the signs? As she reflects on her relationship with Larry, alarming questions pop into her head. Midlife dating seems innocent enough to Marie... but then there was Larry.
Then There Was Larry is an eye-opening cautionary tale for women everywhere. Marie Estorge's story is not an unusual one when it comes to sexual predators as there are thousands who are victimized each year. Marie Estorge shares her story with self-effacing humor and stark honesty. I connected with Marie, nodding my head in agreement the further I delved into this memoir. Then There Was Larry moves at a nice easy pace with natural ebbs and flows. This memoir is an example of how deviants infiltrate our society, earning our trust. Then There Was Larry blends true crime and the pitfalls of dating. You'll be so taken in by Marie's story, you won't be able to stop reading. Every woman needs to read Then There Was Larry so she will not make the same mistakes as Marie Estorge. Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5 stars
Buy it Now:
Giveaway:
I’m one of the authors participating in the Are Ye Feeling a Wee Bit Lucky Giveaway and you can win a print copy of Then There Was Larry by Marie Estorge (US only).
Runs March 1 - 31 and is open internationally for most prizes.
Winners will be drawn on April 1, 2021.
Author Biography:
Marie Estorge is a member of the Squaw Valley Community of Writers. Her debut novel, In the Middle of Otherwise, was published in July 2020. She is the author of two previous memoirs, Storkbites: A Memoir and Confessions of a Bi-Polar Mardi Gras Queen, published under the name Marie Etienne. Her essays have appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, the Contra Costa Times, Diablo Magazine, and other publications. Marie and her two sons live in Northern California.
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Reviewed by: Mrs. N