
Member Reviews

The Divorcétante is a book about Emily Grace Livingston, a debutante who became an event planner. Whilst at a panel show, her husbands infidelity became available to see for all, leading to her life being completely flipped. Taking the scandal in her stride, Ebony looks to plan for a high profile wedding whilst also navigating being at the heart of the gossip. But things take a bit of a turn, when an old friend turns out to be the man overseeing the restoration of the venue she needs to transform. The book looks at exploring Ebony's new independent life, and navigating a relationship with someone who knew the marriage was going to be a sham.
This book highlighted a woman's journey to rediscovery and building her independent life. I found it empowering! However, I feel like there needed to be more stock in this as I feel like having a romance so central to this takes away from the importance of her independence. Ebony is a likeable woman and Heintzelman writes in a way that makes you want to get behind her in the journey.

To say the least, this book checked all my marks! It had spice, romance, drama, character development, and characters that I, as a black woman, could relate to!
Full Review Below: ⬇️
Imagine you get a divorce because your husband was caught cheating on national TV, and instead of owning up to it like a man, he and his dusty old mama decide they wanna make you the villain. Like??! That was Ebony’s life. That was THIS book!!
Mia has done it again with this book! Not only was this story hilarious but it was very real! It truly showed the crazy side of mother-in-law's and how messy divorces can get. And beyond that, it was a true slow-burn, friends-to-lovers type romance - which I am always here for!!
I loved the character development throughout this story, seeing Mia go from this soft spoken character to a confident woman in her skin was to die for! I loved every second of it! And don't even get me started on Mr. Bridges! We love a man that knows what he wants okay!! 😍
To say the least, this book checked all my marks! It had spice, romance, drama, character development, and characters that I, as a black woman, could relate to!
Thank you so much Mia Heintzelman and NetGalley for the ARC! You guys be sure to get a copy of this when it drops on June 24th! You won't regret it!! 🥰

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this eBook.
I truly enjoyed this story! It shows readers into the lavish, drama-filled world of the upper echelon and exposes their devious ways with flair.
Ebony Grace Livingston is juggling more than most: a mother obsessed with appearances, a husband (Julian) who is a certified momma’s boy and serial cheater, and a mother-in-law seemingly sent straight from the pits of hell—finding fresh ways to torment her at every turn. Ebony is so focused on pleasing everyone else that she’s forgotten what happiness looks like for her.
Enter Lincoln Bridges—her former best friend, one-night stand, and current crush. His reappearance turns Ebony’s world upside down. But when mysterious events start affecting both of them, they’re forced to team up, uncover the truth, and hold the culprits accountable—all while reclaiming their power and showing everyone who really runs Ellswood. And maybe reigniting old flames.
The Divorcétante is a wild, entertaining ride—part Real Housewives of Atlanta, part The Devil Wears Prada, with a dash of Monster-in-Law. It’s dramatic, juicy, and a whole lot of fun. I fully enjoyed this one!

The first thing you need to know about this reviewer is that I'm a 60 year old white woman...with adult biracial sons and daughters-in-law. Exploring literature and books like The Divorcetante is one way I expose myself to a cultural and ethnic experience I'll always be on the outside of. Heintzelman's story was well-written and captivating, and immediately drew me in to the happenings of a different generation and lifestyle. I enjoyed those descriptive elements, especially the diverse cast of characters, the relationship dynamics, and Ebony's emotional ARC to finding her place in the world as a strong, independent Black woman. The story's themes of family and societal expectations, self-discovery, crafting a place for yourself in the world, and falling in love are broad enough to entrance readers of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. The Divorcetante is a heartfelt romp that is equally entertaining and insightful.
Evocative of Kennedy Ryan's Skyland series, although much lighter. I hope to read more from this author.

This was a fun and quick romance read with loveable characters and the right amount of drama. It definitely was a charming story of Ebony finding herself again after her divorce. The relationship between Ebony and Linc developped in a nice pace and manner. Their interactions felt very natural and also quite mature, which I liked.

Thank you for the copy of this book, I appreciate it.
DNF @10 percent
I really did love the premise of this book and how much the theme sold me but while reading, I did not seem to connect with the characters at all and this really made it difficult for me to go through it but I do appreciate the storyline it is just not for me.

The Divorcétante gives you that feeling of being in a friend group where the drama never stops. Ebony’s journey of healing and finding herself after heartbreak was such a ride, and I loved watching her grow. Stories where the tough times don’t last forever always hit differently. Cornelia? Absolute Devil Wears Prada levels of ruthless. And Julian? Proof that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. If he wanted to, he would! Plain and simple! The chemistry between Ebony and Linc? Absolute meant-to-be vibes. I was rooting for them the whole time. And that ending? I need to see what’s next for Ms. Ebony.
Thank you NetGalley and Mia Heintzelman

The Divorcétante is everything! Mia Heintzelman has written an excellent book filled with fashion, friendship, drama, comedy, spice, love, longing and the final boss of evil monster in-laws. This book takes you through a journey of the elite and bougie of Georgia all while showcasing a beautiful transformation of a woman that is starting over and coming into her own. This book is so beautifully written and so engaging from start to finish and I absolutely love the story of Ebony Grace. This book is a must read and I cannot wait to see how this series continues.

Thank you NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This was not for me. At the start you are thrown so many names it’s hard to keep up and the story feels like nothing out of the ordinary and a little basic. For me, it fell flat, I wish we got to read more about Ebony’s friends or Linc’s friends, instead of it mostly being about fixing the manor and the ending felt anticlimactic after all this build up of the evil Cornelia.

I’d rate this book a 3.75/5! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Ebony and her self-discovery after her divorce from Ellswood’s “finest bachelor.” The story weaves together themes of friendship, betrayal, second-chance romance, and personal growth. I could feel the bond Ebony had with her divatantes and it reminded me of my bond with my closest friends. You could cut the tension between Ebony and her Ex-mother-in-law. This added an extra layer of drama to the mix. In this book, you can find plot twists, piping hot local tea, and true love. One critique I have is that sometimes the dialogue felt a bit forced, especially when the characters used slang or expressions that tried to sound overly “hip” for the times. Overall, this book was a great palate cleanser in the sense that it was a fun, cute, and lighthearted read compared to some of the heavier books I have been reading. I would recommend!

Picture yourself on a Thursday night, home cozy, and you want some spice, some gossipy mess, with healthy dashes of humor in between to start your weekend just right. (Yes, the weekend starts on Thursday! At least my weekend reading starts then lol)
This is the book for all of that.
The Divorcétante lets us into the mind of a FMC (Ebony) just as a scandal destroys her marriage, and a MMC (Linc) who has his family name on his shoulders. It is a dual POV story and is filled with characters who keep the jokes and side eyes flowing.
I enjoyed this one. It was spicy, realistic, and funny! Ebony is going through it with her ex and his Momma, who both made me want to reach into the pages and act outside of myself. Whew! But they make the reading emotional and relatable. We all have those kinds of people in our lives.
Then there are the friends. The ones who form a circle of support (well, not all of them ahem!) around both the main characters. I especially enjoyed seeing the male relationships, where they spoke the truth to one another, in the most hilarious of ways. That was a lovely touch to the entire story.
Between the wedding, the comeback, and the major get back, I kept turning pages and cheering for Ebony and Linc to find their way forward. And oooooo boy did they ever.
With salacious back stories, and a satisfying end, I feel happy to recommend this one to anyone who loves a good second at love romance.
Thank you so much to Net Galley and Mia Heintzelman for allowing me the chance to review this wonderful arc.

I git 20 percent through this book and I can't go on. The setup is too preposterous. We have a wedding planner, who hasn't worked in a year since she got divorced. Her best friends sister is marrying her ex-husbands brother. the ex-mother-in-law has bought a wedding venue, and hired her ex-daughter-in-laws ex0best friend to renovate it. She hates him, but ahs employed him for some reason that we may find out. She then halves the time he has to renovate the historic building. It's such a preposterous set up, and I just didn't care. Everyone was unlikable, most of them were nasty, and if you hate your community )and she keeps thinking disparaging things about all of them) maybe the answer is to leave town and make some new friends.
As I quit after only 20 percent, I won't be posting this review anywhere else, as that doesn't seem fair.

If you’re into second-chance romances with strong female leads, swoon-worthy love interests, and a touch of Southern charm, The Divorcétante should be at the top of your TBR. It’s empowering, entertaining, and exactly the kind of read that feels like a perfect rom-com escape.

The book follows Ebony Grace Livingston, an upper-society woman recently divorced after embarrassingly witnessing her husband's illicit affair on-air. It kicks off with an immediately intriguing drama and genuine laughs that sets the stage for Ebony's re-introduction to society as a single woman...and romance.
The Divorcétante (a lovely book title btw!) is a second chance romance filled with YEARNING and SPICE! It's a slow burn in the best way. We don't witness a kiss until halfway through the book but once it starts heating up, you quickly find that it was well worth the wait! Heintzelman does an incredible job of teasing sexual tension by creating characters that deeply yearn for each other. Ebony and Lincoln were friends who only crossed the line one time, years ago way before her marriage began, but neither can ever forget it no matter how hard they may try. Heintzelman invokes intense passion and desire within these two characters in a way that becomes contagious to you as a reader. The book is enjoyable as a read but you almost immediately want to see these two on screen. So I hope it does get picked up for a movie or series one day!
Though this story centers around a woman finding herself post-divorce, I think anyone who has ever had a bad breakup after a long relationship can relate to Ebony's journey. You won't regret reading this book! Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC. And much success to author Mia Heintzelman on the release of this book!

This book is an absolute gem. It’s empowering, addictive, and full of heart; a celebration of starting over with grace, grit, and just the right amount of rebellion.

I thought this was a cute romance. The first chapter felt a little too clunky and I got easily confused with all the info and characters that were crammed in, but overall the plot moved at a good pace. Loved the female MC and the romance was done just right.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mia Heintzelman, and the publisher for allowing me to read these as an ARC in exchange of an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I was drawn in from the very first page. I love a second chance romance so this was right up my alley. It also has a good slow burn romance which I love in second chance!

I'm a big fan of Mia's work, and I think her writing is well done. Her novels are packed with interesting characters that make me want to stick around to discover their outcomes. This new story transported me to a world of wealth and power. It was exciting to see how the main female character navigated work, her personal life, and her future. Great job! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A super fun, absolutely charming, and unapologetically black romcom (we love to see it !!). The interactions between Ebony and Linc had me cheesing the whole time and were refreshingly mature. The romance was sweet, believable and so naturally done I’m genuinely in awe. While the plot felt a little contrived for me in certain places, the story was so charming for me that it wasn’t a major issue. Would def read more from this author.

This was my first book ever by this author, and I enjoyed it! I love finding more BIPOC authors to add to my reading list. Ebony Livingston is a very wealthy debutante. She is an elite event planner who knows how to get people talking about her gorgeous galas. Through her job, she is able to make many connections with other wealthy elite families. She soon finds herself betrayed by her husband, creating a high society juicy scandal that reminds me of Gossip Girl and the elite families in that show. Lincoln Bridges (mmc) is a charming architect. He's currently overseeing the venue where Ebony is planning a high-profile wedding. They have a very VERY different outlook when it comes to the creative aspect of the event, which opens up old wounds. Did I mention that he was one of the FIRST people to see through her husband and Ebony's marriage (DRAMAAAA)? The chemistry that these two characters had was easily seen as soon as they started talking to one another. They may butt heads but my gosh the tension was HOT.
Read if you like:
-A high society JUICY scandal
-Legacy families
-A divorced debutante event planner x Charming architect
-Second chance
-Rom com