This is a funny book about a serious subject - the losses of midlife as parents die, children grow up, and we have to come to terms with not having lived up to our potential. It is filled with contemporary touchstones that make it feel timely, and like "Where Are You Bernadette" it pokes fun at some of the ways that the educated and aspiring ( always aspiring!) cope. I had fun reading it, and loved the centerpiece of the book, which was that the main character wore her dog in a sling. Always and everywhere. It was a theme that, unlike all the characters, never got old.

I didn't like this book at the beginning. The premise was awkward and the characters were unlikable. It was a surprise to me that about halfway through it crept up on me and sucked me completely into the story. By the end I was rooting for the characters to find happiness.

This book is very bizarre. It was billed as "wickedly funny and surprisingly tender", which I found to be very inaccurate. Maybe my sense of humour is just incompatible with what the author intended, but I found it to be more irritating and grating than light and funny, and I really struggled to get through it.

Judy is a well-rounded mother and wife, who is struggling through the cliched stereotype of the struggling author who has lost her words. One day she starts wearing the dog as a form of therapy, and it sticks. She graduates from wearing the dog around the house to outside- the shop? her son's school??? Not to mention her irritating man-child husband, who smokes weed constantly for his debilitating anxiety.

To sum up, there is the dog-in-sling-wearing mother, the constantly high father, and at some point there are adults wearing puppet costumes and a creative retreat. The whole thing is a rich tapestry, and caused me too much of a headache to try and interpret. It wasn't a pleasure to read, I found myself constantly questioning what on earth was going on. None of the characters had any real depth or motivation, and I didn't find any of them likeable- in particular those who I was supposed to like.

This was silly and kind of sad at times. I didn't find it funny, although I know a lot of people did. It could be that I read this during the Covid-19 quarantine and it was not the right time for me to read this book. I was hoping for something light, which this book was.

It was indeed Hilarious!

Having dogs I could totally feel identified with some of Judy's decisions.
Hers was the character I mostly connected to.

Some of her marriage struggle were in a way very relatable, even in a stable marriage.

I read a review about SEPARATION ANXIETY by Laura Zigman and thought I really needed a humorous book right about early March 2020, the beginning of the Corona Virus News for many of us. While the book sort of starts out funny, it deftly shifts into another, more poignant and frankly, better book, about halfway through. Just about the time the news was getting more intense and my attention was shattering completely. Now, surprisingly, I finished this book, while others fell away. There was a sweetness to the tale of loss and yearning that I wanted to read. The humor may have missed me because of the time in which I was reading. The book is really quite good as a coming-of-age tale for a woman in midlife. While there is humor enough in life changes, there are inevitably losses, and the navigation is rarely pain free. Zigman provides a heroine with energy, pathos and enough weirdness to keep readers glued to the story; a good solution to very weird times. I received my copy from the publisher through Netgalley.

Overall not a bad read. Very open , interesting and honest.
Writing style was good.
Thank you to both NetGalley and publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book

Separation Anxiety by Laura Zigman is a funny book about a woman who is fifty, she is in the midst of a personal crisis involving her husband and teenaged son. Add to that her parents have passed away. The themes of mental health, marriage, and middle age are explored and I think so many people can relate.

With her life not really going how she wants, she decides to wear her dog Charlotte in an old baby sling for comfort. This reminded me of an emotional support peacock someone tried to travel with, but I digress.

Judy uses Charlotte as a coping strategy which is understandable since life is spinning out of her control and dogs offer so much love. Our main character has low self-esteem and I can relate to her feelings, I think many women will see parts of themselves in Judy.

Synopsis:

Judy never intended to start wearing the dog. But when she stumbled across her son Teddy’s old baby sling during a halfhearted basement cleaning, something in her snapped. So: the dog went into the sling, Judy felt connected to another living being, and she’s repeated the process every day since.

Life hasn’t gone according to Judy’s plan. Her career as a children’s book author offered a glimpse of success before taking an embarrassing nose dive. Teddy, now a teenager, treats her with some combination of mortification and indifference. Her best friend is dying. And her husband, Gary, has become a pot-addled professional “snackologist” who she can’t afford to divorce. On top of it all, she has a painfully ironic job writing articles for a self-help website—a poor fit for someone seemingly incapable of helping herself.

Wickedly funny and surprisingly tender, Separation Anxiety offers a frank portrait of middle-aged limbo, examining the ebb and flow of life’s most important relationships. Tapping into the insecurities and anxieties that most of us keep under wraps, and with a voice that is at once gleefully irreverent and genuinely touching, Laura Zigman has crafted a new classic for anyone taking fumbling steps toward happiness.

Middle age….no fun! Thankfully there are books like this one to help us move through tough times and laugh a little.

Who doesn’t want to read a humorous book? So funny! Get it now.

This may seem like a contradiction in terms, but I found this novel both heartwarming and poignant. I cared about the characters and was pulling for them. Although the central conceit (I think I’m misusing this word) – the dog in the sling – defies credulity (may be misusing this one too), somehow it worked for me. I’m a bit surprised that so many Goodreads reviewers don’t think more highly of it. Give it a try – I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I loved this book!
I can so relate to Judy. I never thought of wearing a dog, though. I should try that. For some reason, I dont think my dog would like it. Even less than Judy's.
I was that mom showing up at my son's school to deal with bullshit. I was that wife that dealt with anxiety in a manner outside the box at the disdain of my husband (I am divorced and def okay with it).

Puppet people made the ultimate difference. Time to look outside of your box Judy. Teddy and Gary need you. And so dont you.

I would put this book in the same category as “where did you go Bernadette“. In a nutshell, the protagonist is struggling to hold on. She feels like she is lost on all accounts. If you can stay with that until the end, you will see her come to terms with her life. Thanks to Net Galley for this ARC.

Once I started this book, I couldn't stop! If you have ever struggled with anxiety, or loved someone who has, this story will resonate with you big time, as it did for me.

Judy is struggling watching her teenaged son become more and more distant. Her marriage is troubled, and she's faced a lot of grief recently. It's no wonder she becomes so attached to the family dog. This book is funny and sad, and will have you feeling every emotion in between. I loved all the characters, they're all genuine and understandable, even when they appear to make poor choices.
I especially appreciate the accurate portrayal of anxiety. It's also a realistic look into marriage and aging.

I highly recommend this one for general fiction readers.

Loved it!! Completely understood Judy's issues. It's hard when your child grows up and no longer needs you the same way. Judy and Gary were perfect for each other, even though they couldn't always see it. I hate to admit this.... but I threaten to get a baby a sling for our cat Gremlin. She constantly jumps on my shoulder and expects me to carry her around the house. Would I get a baby sling for the cat??? Maybe (I know I'm crazy!!!!) !!!! Would I walk out of the house carrying me cat in a baby sling? NEVER!!! As much as I identify with Judy, I wouldn't get completely crazy. I found this boo to be completely hilarious and realistic. The Secret Pooper, Sari, the scary Puppets, Judy and Gary's attempts at couples therapy, dogs in baby slings and escaping at night. The puppet people were definitely creepy with their animal outfits, but who am I to judge when I admit to thinking about carrying a cat in a baby sling. I just absolutely loved this book. Judy seemed so real. I loved the friendship between Judy and Glenn. Glenn was amazing. Be a brave bear!!

Definitely recommend the book. I loved the characters, writing style and story. Judy's struggles are real. She's quirky but very lovable. Plus there was a corgi. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House UK, Transworld Publishers through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Love , loss , heart and humor marry perfectly in this book. The book opens with Judy slipping her dog in a sling to deal with loneliness and ends with so so much more. This was an excellent read . Thank you to the publisher for granting this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The description made this novel sound hilarious. I found it merely weird. I don't necessarily disagree with facing mental illness with a sense of humor, but this just wasn't funny to me.

Judy is wearing the family dog.... as a coping mechanism to help her deal with her son being a teenager who wants nothing to do with her, her separation from her husband (who lives with Judy and their son), her parents death and now her best friend is dying. It’s a lot to take in.



The premise of the book seems great and had the potential to be quite funny but for me book unfortunately didn’t hit the mark.. I think this book was supposed to be an insight into mental illness with a funny twist but it was a miss for me.
While the story was sad, I struggled to connect with the characters. I felt like it was missing something. I wanted to DNF it at 50% but pushed through.

Separation Anxiety by Laura Zigman is a quirky novel about a woman dealing with setbacks in her personal and professional life. I think fans of Maria Semple would enjoy it.