They Won't Apologize for the Mess - by Xine Rose (Paperback)

About the Book

Readers will love this comedic look inside wedding photography and divorce as it breaks stereotypes of rural regions. Companion material to the book includes a playlist, a coloring book of chapter images, and the true story of a sinkhole.

Book Synopsis

Story wants a divorce. It's not that her marriage is awful. Or that she doesn't believe in marriage anymore. She is a wedding photographer; she has to believe in marriage. It's just that tying the knot feels a little bit more like a noose than she expected. Never mind what this means for her business, Story must decide what this means for her soul.

Raised to believe a person is only worth the salt in their boot straps, Story must write her own survival guide to tying the knot and hanging on tight. Survival, though, is messy, and love, doubly so. Despite her best efforts, love will find Story in the back of an Astro van. Love will practically curate the soundtrack to her soul's impending doom. If she can't have her cake, then maybe she can have her sins and savor them, too.

Worst case scenario, the earth splits open and hell swallows her whole. If the last thing she does is save Hunter from a fate like her own, then that's exactly what she'll do. May the devils have mercy on their souls.

Fans of Andrew Sean Greer's Less, will enjoy They Won't Apologize for the Mess as they follow its main character through elaborate and hilarious schemes to run away from their problems. Fans of Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love will appreciate this contemporary divorce story for its focus on breaking gender roles, savoring sins and simply remembering to eat: a Love, Pray, Eat if you will.

Review Quotes

"Story, a wedding photographer, and Hunter, a radio DJ, have what Story assumes is a one-night stand in a van in a San Francisco parking lot. They are both there for unexpected jobs and both from Kentucky, though Story denies that this is anything more than a coincidence. It seems unlikely that they will reconnect, but they do once they are back home. Story has a divorce party on New Year's Eve and invites Hunter, not expecting him to come-but of course he does. Their relationship is filled with vast differences: her upbringing was in a double-wide with a drunk mechanic father, while his was full of stiffly proper family and scarily perfect Christmas décor. And yet they have a connection that cannot be denied. Truly bizarre things happen to them (while visiting a Corvette museum they are swallowed by a sinkhole), alongside truly bizarre things that they do (Hunter continuously misplaces the engagement ring). Will they ever get engaged? Will they ever survive the proposal? And how do they actually make a living? This comes from a micro press that wants to publish "non-boring stories," and this book succeeds on that count, though some scenarios defy reason. For collections that serve adventurous readers."

- Booklist, Danise Hoover

"I loved this book. The narrative is vulnerable, raw, and completely relatable. The voice is wholly unique although it reminds me of a grittier Kate Clayborn at times. You'll be rooting for Story the whole while, but you'll also want to just give her a hug."

-Chas, Goodreads Reader

"An irreverent, edgy love story, this book makes you care for the characters in an unexpected way. As much as you adore them, they can frustrate the hell out of you. They always redeem themselves, though, teaching you lovely things you already should have known."

-MKFR, Goodreads Reader

"I loved this book so much. The characters are so real and perfectly fleshed out. I found myself so invested in them, it made it difficult not to read the whole book in one go. Excellent story and clear, engaging voice."

-Stephanie, Goodreads Reader

"This book is so much fun. It's both irreverent and captivating - you keep reading to figure out if the main character will find herself or maybe because you see yourself in her wandering, questioning soul too. Can't wait to read more from one of my favorite authors!"

-Hilary, Goodreads Reader

"Bearing witness to Story's experience was emotionally comforting. Excellent read, left me mentally branded with a reminder to never even try to be anyone you're not and that the only journey worth taking is the one you can be yourself. Great characters, words that painted vivid mental pictures of places with detail. Authentic work of art. Loved it."

-Sarah, Goodreads Reader