Is She Really Going Out with Him?

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of bullying and cursing. 

Emotional turmoil fills Anna’s post-divorce journey through financial anxiety, co-parenting difficulties, social challenges, and the daunting prospect of dating again. She explains, “The fallout from a divorce is like the aftermath of a nuclear explosion. There’s the initial shock wave, the devastation and upheaval. Beyond the initial blast radius, there’s a wasteland: your shared dreams, the job of disentangling your finances, your living situation” (335). For Anna, divorce feels like mourning the end of a significant chapter in her life. Losing her partner leaves her feeling lonely and isolated, and she struggles to redefine herself outside of her role as a spouse. Additionally, anxiety about finances, relationships, and parenting becomes overwhelming. Navigating shared custody and disagreements with Dan is a constant source of tension due to an imbalance in parenting roles, as she shoulders most of the household and parenting duties. A dating experiment that begins as a ploy to save Anna’s job becomes an emotional journey of healing from past hurts and finding the courage to open herself up to new possibilities. In doing so, she deals with her feelings of disillusionment and rebuilds her self-esteem.