The Break-Up Clause by Niamh HarganMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Fiadh (Fia for those that can't read/speak Gaelic) is an Irish family lawyer who transferred to her firm's New York office several years ago. She's angling for promotion so jumps at the chance to be a mentor to one of the firm's summer interns. Imagine her horror when the intern assigned to her is none other than her husband, who she hasn't seen (or heard from) in eight years.
Fia and Benjamin were counsellors at Summer Camp together. They were like oil and water, always arguing: she hated his privileged, wealthy, frat boy, life-and-soul-of-the-party persona, and he hated her uptight, follow-the-rules, rigidity. An end of camp trip to Vegas ends in the inevitable drunken marriage. Benjamin promised to divorce Fia once his mother's election was over, but when she contacted him time and time again he didn't respond.
Now sharing a tiny office is beyond awkward, but they both have too much to lose to either confess to the partners or leave. Fia is also incensed to find that Benjamin is treating her with contempt - what has she ever done to him?
Eight years may have passed but Fia and Benjamin still disagree about everything, from how to organise their desks to how to approach their client's divorce petition, but as they learn to work together it seems their marriage might not just be in name only.
As is only to be expected, this relies on a series of misunderstandings and unfortunate events, in which respect it reminds me of Niamh Hargan's previous novel Twelve Days in May, although the rest of the plot is wildly different. Stepping back, I believe there was more than one way for Benjamin to resolve the issue (I'll say no more because ... spoilers), but that's in hindsight.
Overall, an enjoyable, well thought-out, second chance, enemies to lovers, Vegas wedding romance.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
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