More About My Year of Casual Acquaintances
When Mar Meyer's husband divorces her for another woman, she reacts by abandoning everything in her past: her home, her friends, even her name. Though it's not easy to start over, Mar is young-looking, fit, and ready for new adventures-as long as she can keep things casual.
With each passing month, Mar goes from one acquaintance to the next. Among them: a fellow gym member down on her luck, a flirty hip-hop instructor, a bossy but comical consultant, a kindly older gentleman... and Charlie, a handsome best-selling novelist who wants more from Mar than she's able to give. She learns something new from each encounter. But can she change enough to open herself up to happiness and true connection?
Surrounded by an ensemble of quirky, endearing characters, Mar follows a tortuous and unpredictable path as she navigates the first year of her reinvented life. My Year of Casual Acquaintances is packed with laugh-out-loud moments mingled with scenes of loneliness and self-doubt that will put a lump in your throat.
More About Ruth F. Stevens
Ruth F. Stevens likes to create stories that will make you laugh and cry. Speaking of her writing, she says: “I find myself motivated to write about the topics that worry me the most. Since I worry about a great many things, there is never a shortage of material.
"“I am also a big believer in the power of laughter to ease our pain and anxiety. Humor is therefore an important component in anything I write, no matter how serious the subject matter.”
Ruth is a resident of Torrance, California, where she lives with her husband, David Olson. Though she’s lived in California for more than half her life, she maintains strong ties to the East Coast, having grown up in Rhode Island. Ruth served as a vice president at the international public relations firm of Burson-Marsteller in New York and Los Angeles prior to forming her own company, Stevens Communications.
Since leaving agency work, Ruth has taken up creative writing—her real passion. Her theatrical works include the Alzheimer’s dramedy Stage Seven, which was produced in 2018; and the futuristic dark comedy, Angry Snowbirds (previously called Instability), a finalist in the Garry Marshall Theatre New Works competition. She has written a debut novel, Stage Seven, based on her own stage play and a funny-sad duology titled My Year of Casual Acquaintances and The Unexpected Guests, coming from Black Rose Writing in 2024.
Ruth is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild of America, the Women Fiction Writers Association, and AlzAuthors, where she volunteers as acquisitions editor for fiction. In her spare time, she enjoys travel, hiking, wine tasting, hip hop dance classes, Broadway musicals, movies, leading a book club, and visiting New York to spend time with son Jake Olson, daughter-in-law Luciana, and grandsons Lucas and Nicolas.
Website: https://ruthfstevens.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rfsauthor
My Thoughts on My Year of Casual Acquaintances
Since my job involves a lot of screen time I hardly every do this with an ebook but I made an exception for My Year of Casual Acquaintances. I read the entire book in one day (technically several reading sessions but in all, less than 24 hours). I couldn't stop myself. Author Ruth Stevens made it irresistible with the format of each chapter (sometimes a group of 2 or 3 chapters) "starring" one of Margaret's new friends and how they add to her story. I was, "I'll just finish Audrey's story." But Audrey's story would finish and I'd say, "Well, just one more friend story." If there are any typos in this post it's because I'm sleep deprived because of Ruth!
Read this book. Just do it. Trust me.
I guess I have to say more, don't I? Margaret may be a newly divorced 50 year old but basically her story is the story of every person. Meeting people then trying to determine if they'll be an acquaintance, that person you avoid in the lobby, or maybe, a friend. In the course of a year Margaret meets a dozen new people. Throw a few family members with shaky relationships into the mix and Margaret has a lot going on in her new life. But the descriptions, back stories and actions of each person are so unique and memorable that there's no paging back to an earlier chapter because you forgot which one was Jax or Whitney. Stevens does an incredible job creating characters that jump off the page, alive.
My Year of Casual Acquaintances reads like a friend venting to you about her complicated life. I found myself admonishing, cheering and sympathizing with Margaret aloud. "Margaret, what are you thinking? This is not going to end well," earned me a strange look from my son, who happened to be walking through the kitchen at the time. You'll experience so many emotions: sadness, frustration, happiness, hope. But from page 1 to page 317 the story remains completely believable. And addictive.
A Little Extra
If you fell in love with watching Margaret stumble through her life, just doing the best she could, it doesn't have to end. Ruth Stevens' next book continues the story of several characters from the book in The Unexpected Guests which is available in late 2024.
You can sign up for the newsletter to get all the updates on the next book HERE.
Want a Free Copy?
You could enter to win a copy of My Year of Casual Acquaintances and learn more on the WOW-Women on Writing Blog Tour on the Muffin. You only have until October 6th to enter to win HERE!
If you don't win, you can purchase a copy HERE.
Follow Along the WOW Blog Tour
September 23rd @ The Muffin
Join us at The Muffin when we celebrate the launch of Ruth F. Stevens' book My Year of Casual Acquaintances. We'll be interviewing the author and giving away a copy of her book.
September 24th @ The Faerie Review
Join by Lily's blog for a spotlight of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
September 25th @ Words by Webb
Visit Jodi's blog for her review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
September 27th @ Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
Stop by Lisa's blog for an interview with author Ruth F. Stevens.
September 29th @ Book Review From an Avid Reader
Visit Joan's blog for her review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
September 30th @ Just Katherine
Visit Katherine's blog for an excerpt from My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
September 30th @ Choices
Visit Madeline's blog for a guest post about how casual acquaintances play an important role in our life.
October 1st @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdra's blog for a spotlight of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
October 2nd @ Create Write Now
Visit Mari's blog for a guest post by Ruth F. Stevens about why fifty is nifty for a fictional character.
October 3rd @ Knotty Needle
Visit Judy's blog for a review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
October 5th @ What Is That Book About
Stop by Michelle's blog for an excerpt from My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
October 6th @ Storey Book Reviews
Visit Leslie's blog for a review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
October 7th @ Life According to Jamie
Stop by Jamie's blog for a review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
October 9th @ Beverley A. Baird's blog
Stop by Beverley's blog for her review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances
October 11th @ Beverley A. Baird's blog
Visit Beverley's blog for an excerpt from My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
October 12th @ Author Anthony Avina's blog
Join Anthony for his review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
October 13th @ Rosh's Reviews
Visit Roshni's blog for her review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
October 15th @ Frugal Freelancer
Visit Sara Trimble's blog for a guest post by the author about whether AI is a friend or a foe.
October 18th @ A Wonderful World of Books
Visit Joy's blog for an excerpt from My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
October 20th @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie's blog for an interview with author, Ruth F. Stevens.
October 23rd @ Boys' Mom Reads!
Visit Karen's blog for a review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
October 26th @ Boots, Shoes, and Fashion
Visit Linda's blog for an interview with author Ruth F. Stevens.
Thank you for this fabulous review! I especially liked the part about your son's reaction when he heard you admonishing Margaret aloud in the kitchen! And so glad you appreciated the episodic format. Best regards, Ruth F. Stevens Author