Getting Rid of Matthew    by Jane Fallon Order:  USA  Can Hyperion, 2007 (2007) Hardcover, Audio      Reviewed by Joan Burton Helen is almost forty and still single. She has been having an affair with her boss for the past four years. At first she was caught up in the excitement of keeping a secret from their co-workers, and late night dinners at her apartment. As time passed she began resenting sitting by herself on holidays, never going out in public, and sharing him. She started pushing for Matthew to leave his wife and young daughters so they could be together full time. Her biological clock was ticking and Matthew was already twenty years older than Helen. The day arrives when Matthew shows up on her doorstep, suitcases in hand, claiming he has left his wife. Helen is shocked as she had no warning, and starts to experience feelings of guilt for pushing him into the decision. Before long she begins to notice all Matthew's funny quirks and faults and decides she has made the wrong move. His young daughters do not approve of her and she is tired of trying to please them. She soon schemes to reunite Matthew and his wife Sophie so that she can reclaim her own life again. After following Sophie, Helen strikes up a conversation in the park with her and a friendship begins. Of course Helen has to go by another name, create a new job for herself, and remember everything she has told Sophie. Helen listens to Sophie telling of her cheating husband and a marriage on the rocks. As the story unfolds, we learn that Matthew will never grow up and claim his own errors. He is still lying to Sophie, Helen, and to himself. We see a bond of friendship grow between Helen and Sophie, and even the final outcome cannot break it. Getting Rid of Matthew is a great read. It is a story that will have you laughing out loud one minute and experiencing pain the next. We can all relate to some of the circumstances that unfold and this makes it genuine. Enjoy the journey! Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Romance books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews