This book was such a fun read!
I particularly enjoyed how the author was able to take the themes around divorce and work through them with the protagonist coming out on top.
Very interesting was the fact that the wedding she had to plan was the wedding of her ex-husbands brother which I think is very realistic as with most things in life, divorce really doesn't sever the threads of other relationships you have prior.

Very fun summer read that I went through in a go, will definitely look for more books from the author, as I enjoyed the writing style!

Divorcétante by Mia Heintzelman

We follow Ebony Grace as she’s trying to pick up the pieces of her life post divorce while navigating a public scandal. On top of that, she has to plan a wedding for her overbearing ex mother in law adding even more pressure to an already stressful situation. To complicate things further, she also has to work with Lincoln Bridges, an architect she shares a complicated past with.

I did enjoy Ebony Grace as a main character. She’s sharp, poised and very type A. The chemistry between her and Lincoln is interesting and it adds a nice layer of tension to the story. I loved the theme of a second chance romance. The small town charm of Ellswood gives it a cozy vibe. I liked the divorcétante series and the use of social media as a plot device it was very modern and relevant.

Some parts of the pacing did drag a little for me but overall this was a fun, short read. It’s a nice pick if you’re looking for something light to get you out of a reading to get you out of a read slump.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Honey Blossom Press for the e-ARC. This book is the perfect summer beach read! It has great pacing for a quick one-day read. The Divorcetante had me hooked from the very first chapter - because what is going on!

One sentence summary - Ebony’s life WAS PERFECT, until it wasn’t - not only was her husband of ten years cheating on her, now she has to work with her evil ex-mother-in-law and ex-boyfriend to pull off the perfect wedding for her friend, who is marrying her ex-brother-in-law!

Gosh this book was a STRONG slow burn with a lot of drama! I just loved Lincoln, what a steadfast and intentional man. He was the perfect balance of stoic, but outspoken about what he wanted, which was perfect for Ebony and what she needed. My only wish is that Lincoln spent even more time romancing Ebony. I did feel like the drama in the last half overshadowed the romance, but it was pulled together at the end.

I would recommend this book to folks who love a second chance romance, like hard working, tatted up man, people who enjoy a messy break up, Black & Boujie stories, girlies who love strong FMC who find their voices & USE THEM and folks who love authors with a unique way of telling stories that are both heartwarming, strength-building, and hilarious!

3.5/5

This was a warm and cozy romance. Ebony finds herself again; she opens her heart to love after a lackluster marriage and years of betrayal. I especially appreciated that there was no dramatic breakup or big miscommunication between Ebony and Lincoln; their relationship felt refreshingly mature.

That said, I wouldn’t categorize this as a rom-com. While there are some amusing moments—like Vincent eavesdropping barefoot or Cornelia losing it and slapping the host—they’re few and far between. Given the rom-com label, I expected more consistent quirky or humorous scenes.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and would check out more of this author’s work.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC.

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 saw this book on NetGalley and was drawn to the book the second I saw the cover!

Unfortunately, I had a bit of a hard time getting into the writing, but overall, it was a cute read! There was lots of drama and plenty of spicy scenes! It was nice to read Ebony and Linc's story and see them get their second chance at romance with lots of tension to build up the story! Their characters were super cute, and I really liked them!

Overall, it was a quick read. If you love lots of tension, slow burn, and second chances, this may be for you!

3.5 stars

The Divorcétante by Mia Heintzelman is an absolute knockout—equal parts fiery, funny, and deeply empowering. It’s the kind of romance that makes you laugh out loud, scream into your pillow, blush like mad, and cheer for a woman reclaiming her power loudly and unapologetically.

Ebony Grace Livingston’s story is one of reclamation and rebirth. After ten years of playing the picture-perfect wife to the picture-perfect man (read: master manipulator), Ebony finds herself very publicly humiliated when her husband cheats on her—with the Queen Bee of their social circle, no less. What follows is an addictive, emotionally rich journey of growth, healing, and self-discovery. Ebony is thrown into the fire, and she walks out stronger, sharper, and finally her own person.

This book is the perfect blend of bougie small-town drama, second-chance slow burn, and self-empowerment arc. Ebony isn’t just getting over a man—she’s reclaiming her entire narrative. And the way Mia writes her struggle with identity, expectations, and the burden of perfection is both nuanced and liberating.

Enter Lincoln Bridges, Ebony’s old flame turned unexpectedly scorching support system. Their chemistry crackles from the moment they’re back on the page together, and the slow burn payoff is everything. What makes it hit even harder is how grounded their relationship is—there are real fears, real hesitations, and so much love and respect.

Between the Luxe Ladies fanbase, the ex-mother-in-law from hell, and a high-stakes gala that could make or break both Ebony and Linc’s futures, the stakes are always high. But Heintzelman balances the glamour and scandal with a generous dose of humor, heartfelt moments, and razor-sharp insight into what it means to take back your life on your own terms.

For readers who like:
-Second chance romance
-High-society small town settings
-Real Housewives energy

Final Verdict
The Divorcétante is easily one of the best and most satisfying romances of the summer. With its sharp wit, swoony moments, unforgettable heroine, and well-earned emotional beats, this story will make you feel everything. If you’re looking for a book that delivers on both drama and heart, this is the one.

Grateful to NetGalley, Honey Blossom Press and Mia Heintzelman for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, this was so entertaining, for all the women who been devoured before, sure can relate about the ex cheating husband, and trying to get your life back together. It was refreshing and realistic on all levels. the best friends that not your friends and the in-laws making your life hell. I love her self journey of herself and how to find herself and maybe love if it fits in her journey.

Step into the world of Mia Heintzelman’s The Divorcétante... We got our main character Ebony Grace managing a monster-in-law, mediocre and magnificent wo/men, & monumental (personal & professional) missions. Think coo-coo crazy & cotillion life; mess & media; betrayals, rebuilding & rebranding; a chandelier & construction; + exes & (good/bad) friends, first loves & second chances. The Divorcétante is a messy mash up, which seems unlike the clever and elegant portmanteau of divorce + debutante which comprises the title.

Like the main character Ebony, I have been both a debutante and a divorcee. Now, mind you, I did not debut into a society so snooty, nor have I had a divorce experience so sh!tty. My debutante rite of passage kept us secluded during our training followed by being publicly presented to our community once we were “finished” and ready for public consumption; divorce was a private affair. In The Divorcétante, Ms. Ebony Grace is PUBLICLY passing through the rite of divorce while existing in a social milieu that has elements of excrement mixed in with the extravagance. Can you imagine keeping it classy?

Oh! And Lincoln was a pleasure. For SURE! What’s not to adore in a man who knows who & what he wants?

I’m giving The Divorcétante a thumbs up; it’s a fun slow burn story set in the contemporary world. (***Trigger warning: Black people without m/any race-specific experiences. Think there is a reference to spades.) I’m glad I finally got to have the Mia Heintzelman experience; I look forward to reading more of her work.

Much appreciation to Net Galley, Honey Blossom Press, & author Mia Heintzelman for allowing me to have early access to The Divorcétante for an honest review.

It took me some time to get into the book, but that was just my mood. Once I did, I devoured it completely. Mia’s writing made it hard to put down. I love this book—my favourite read of the year so far. I especially enjoyed how the characters experienced heartbreak and growth on their journey.

At its core, I really enjoyed this book. The author created such depth to the world these characters live in, that I honestly hope this becomes a series with the rest of Ebony's friends! My rating might surprise you that I say that, and it's because of one little detail: the insta-love had me way too ick. The first half of this book though was easily four stars. Ebony was such an fab character to root for, overcoming so much emotionally throughout this book and finding both herself and new love. So here's why this book only got three stars despite all these positive feelings about it.

- Linc and Ebony needed have more of a will they/won't they dynamic for their second chance romance. At some points where Linc is obsessing over her and hoping she feels the same, we know she does but outwardly she gives a bit of whiplash that made me second guess her as well. I would've loved like Linc having a girlfriend and realizing Ebony is still who he wants most and Ebony choosing him in a more mature way rather than the impulsivity of it all that it felt like.

- Ebony admits that she loved her ex-husand and we see her healing from the breakdown and trauma from that relationship. I wish as the reader, I could've understood more why she loved him and the better parts of him to better understand why it wasn't Linc from the get go and what made her not see him as more than a friend until that one night in college but still not choose him anyway.

- The last name plot point didn't make sense to me. It wasn't brought up enough or mentioned clearly enough earlier in the book for me to see that that was an issue to begin with. She did so much proactively like a life coach, dating concierge, that I didn't buy that she wouldn't have had that handled or if she hadn't had a really good reason for it.

- How quickly they told each other they loved each other and then quickly descending into 'baby' was way too much for me sadly. I wanted it, I rooted for it but pace wise it happened way too fast to be believable.

- The lovebirds aspect of the wedding on page 263 was appalling. The DJ calling them out on the dancefloor as the lovebirds at SOMEONE ELSE'S wedding was too selfish for me to get past. It was a sour-ish note to end on, I would've loved if they were in a hallway, heard the DJ calling for the lovebirds (meaning oh I don't know, the bride and groom???) and Linc saying, he could also mean us, and giving her a twirl around a hallway privately. WAY more appropriate than what actually happened. Another person's wedding was not the time or place and had me cringing way too hard with only ten more pages to go.

Second chance romance, the story of Ebony Grace and Lincoln. Working together but is someone out to sabotage them both?

I really wanted to love this book and I was excited for the start of it, but it unfortunately was very cringe.

Firstly, the title (especially how it's used in the story) is so cringe. Why is a grown woman still holding on to her debutante status and still identifying with it in her 30s??

There were so many elder millennial catchphrases used that so unnecessarily... Everytime the was a conversation with her friends, or she was on live with her "fans", I could picture exactly the kind of woman she/they were and.... respectfully, no.

The romance with Linc was an obvious highlight, so was the descent into madness of her ex mother-in-law.

It committed my favourite romance crime of all: proposing at a wedding.

So much potential here, hopefully the next book will hit the spot.

Prepare the be thoroughly entertained! This book is for you if you have ever dealt with the following scenarios:

- a partner’s exhausting mother

- overbearing parents whom had very high expectations and/or practically planned out your entire life since childhood

- a friend who randomly ghosted you

- a childhood friend you secretly crushed on

- a stage in your life that forced you to reinvent or rebrand yourself

This romance story came with all the bells and whistles. Love, comedy, suspense, and even a little drama by way of a villain, I appreciated reading about a FMC who got her HEA because she chose to go against the grain as opposed to following it. It added more authenticity to the plot, making it more enjoyable. Not only will I be adding this to my personal library, but I will also be heavily suggesting this book to my friends and family. I look forward to reading more work from this author.

This may be my favorite book by Mia so far. Ebony is fresh off a divorce and in the midst of figuring out the life she once thought she had to her reality. I loved seeing Ebony get her groove back! Her ex husband was the worst. Total loser!! And his mom…was equally as horrible. His mom plotted on both her and Lincoln’s downfall and it made me so mad.

Who is Lincoln you ask?Lincoln, oh my, you are the best book boyfriend. He waited on the sidelines for Ebony. The pining and waiting he did for Ebony was everything. I’m glad she made him feel worthy and a valued. She had to find herself to put herself back together. So much betrayal was done to my girl and I’m so happy she got to get the last laugh in the end. The ending was so beautiful Linc was top tier and very intentional.

Let's just say I'm a little disappointed. And by a little, I mean a lot. Like, lots and lots.

𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕀𝕤 𝔸𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 ᯓ★

This book promised juicy drama among the rich and scandalous — and started off strong! Ebony’s husband cheats on her, and the story kicks off with her planning a legendary comeback as a Divorcétante (a clever play on debutante). It’s meant to be her journey of rediscovering herself… and finding love along the way!

The premise? Chef’s kiss.
The cover and title? Gorgeous. The reason I picked it up in the first place.
The execution? Err... not so impressive.

★ Let’s talk names for a second.

Ebony Grace King Livingston. I'm sorry, what now? Is that one person or a royal lineage?
The love interest: Abraham Lincoln—
Oops, sorry. Lincoln Bridges.
There’s also a girl named Hillary.
Yes, I found that pretty HILLARIOUS.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 ᯓ★

Okay, I’ll admit: I was vibing with the writing at first. There was something really fun about it.
But then… things got confusing. The dialogue took a nosedive into cringeville, and I was getting lost — and not in the good, swept-away-by-the-story kind of way.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 ᯓ★

Ebony gives Lincoln a whole list of reasons why they shouldn’t be together (none of which made much sense, by the way), and he—bless him—just smiles through it. Then, literally two paragraphs later, she kisses him. Two days later, they’re a couple. And I was sitting there like… what just happened? Hah?

Lincoln apparently always had feelings for her, and Ebony caught feelings way too fast. It all felt super insta-love, and honestly? I was ready to swoon — I wanted to swoon — but I just… didn’t.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕊𝕙𝕠𝕨𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟 ᯓ★

And the so-called villain? She was built up like this calculating mastermind — always one step ahead. But when the moment came to take her down? It was like the author just flipped a switch and made her dumb. Everything got resolved way too easily. No tension. No clever takedown. No satisfaction.

Honestly, by the end, I was just left confused and underwhelmed.

𝕀𝕟 ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟 ᯓ★

This had all the right ingredients — drama, high society scandals, a bold heroine on a mission — but somewhere between the clever concept and the actual execution, things just didn’t click for me. What could’ve been sharp and swoony turned out messy and rushed. I wanted to love it. I tried to love it. But sadly, this one just didn’t deliver the sparkle I was promised.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for honest thoughts.

I love Mia Heintzelman books. In her new book The Divorcetante does not disappoint. Our MFC Ebony Grace is on her second chance with her life after divorcing her cheating husband and Ebony had to found out in one of the most humiliating ways. As Ebony works to rebuild her career as an event planner she gets the opportunity to plan the wedding of her ex brother-in-law and one of her best friends sister the problem is she has to work with Lincoln Bridges someone that Ebony had feelings for in the past but she did not choose him. Lincoln has always loved Ebony and still does and working in close proximity with her brings back all the angst for him.
We get to see Ebony come into her own as she begins to push off all the etiquette of being a southern belle and start to make her own decisions leading us to discover the Divorcetante, This book has the friendships, love and second chances. The story shows the importance of being true to yourself and how following your heart can lead to having a life filled with the happiness and joy you deserve.

This story had me HOOKED! Ebony Grace was that girl, a former debutante turned society wife until her husband embarrassed her on live TV with a scandalous entanglement involving a well-known reporter. After the very public divorce, Ebony decides to reclaim her narrative with a bold new online persona: The Divorcetante.

Things really get juicy when her shady ex mother-in-law hires her to plan the younger son's wedding... and brings in Linc, Ebony’s old friend and long-time secret admirer. Their chemistry was undeniable and the tension was just right. I was rooting for Linc from day one and cheering Ebony on in every moment of her glow-up.

Funny, spicy, and full of heart, this was a beautifully written story about second chances, strong friendships, and finding your voice after heartbreak.

Came for the romance, stayed for the Real Housewives style drama. I love a second chance romance, especially when one or more of the MCs have just come out of a bad marriage. When Ebony, wedding planner extraordinaire, being publicly humiliated by her cheated husband of 10 years in a town full of gossips was the icing on the cake. Lincoln, an architect and one time hookup of Ebony’s (he tried to warn her) who has been pining for her since college. Are forced to work together on a project by Ebony’s truly evil mother in law, the sparks reignite. Will they be able to finally be together or will the obstacles be too much to overcome.
First, many a people in this book have terrible karma coming for them. I mean, stepping in a wet spot with fresh socks on karmic retribution.
I loved the romance between Lincoln and Ebony, but do feel like it was slightly overshadowed by all the other drama going on. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the rest of this series.

Such a great read! As a lover of second chance romances this was everything and more!! Their love story may have started off hectic but I truly enjoyed them conquering the ups and downs! Will only be adding this book to my shelf in my library