DUMPED Review

Getting dumped sucks—and no, we don’t mean by a significant other. We’re talking about the atom bomb of abandonment: Getting dumped by a best friend. Millions of women who know the universally-experienced-but-rarely-discussed trauma of being dumped by a close female friend can relate to the candid stories in Dumped: Stories of Women Unfriending Women (She Writes Press, $16.95 hardcover, March 3, 2015).

Twenty-five celebrated writers—including Jacquelyn Mitchard, Ann Hood, Carrie Kabak, Jessica Handler, Elizabeth Searle, Alexis Paige, and editor Nina Gaby—explore the fragile, sometimes humorous, and often unfathomable nature of lost friendship.

The essays in Dumped aren’t stories of friendship dying a mutually agreed-upon death, like falling out of touch. These are stories of suddenly finding yourself erased, without context or warning.

There should be an Adele song for this—and now, the millions of women who have cried over the inexplicable loss of a friendship can bond over the raw, charming, funny, and soul-baring stories of women who know how they feel.

From teenagers to soccer moms, teachers to friends, Dumped is for women who enjoy Bridesmaids as much as Little Women, or HBO’s Girls as much Anne Lamott and Alice Munro. It will make women ages 16-70 smile, cry, laugh, and best of all, say “Me too!” as they learn that being Dumped by a close friend doesn’t mean going it alone.

Amazon

My thoughts......4 stars

Dumped is akin to sitting around with a glass of wine while sharing difficult memories with good friends. Sure, broken romantic relationships are painful but broken friendships are often worse; especially when there’s no explanation, just unreturned communications and unanswered questions. Wasn’t this the person who would stick with you through thick or thin? Who knew you inside and out, the ugly included. You’d bared your souls to each other. What changed? What was or wasn’t done? Why?

We aren’t talking the gradual fading or growing apart that frequently occurs with physical moves or life changes. These are sudden, wrenching, bewildering, and hurtful. One minute they’re there and the next they aren’t. Where’d they go? Were there signs?  What happened? What was missed? All that remains is conjecture, pain, and memories.

DUMPED has a story for every woman who’s been dumped, has dumped, or both. While every story may not speak to you, you’re sure to find several that do.  Personally, the one that spoke the loudest was How I Lost Her. The most baffling was Ten Days.

DUMPED allows readers to commiserate and find solace. It’s a keeper, to be taken out whenever the need for comfort may arise, a reminder that you aren’t alone.

NINA GABY is a writer, widely shown visual artist, and psychiatric nurse practitioner whose essays and fiction have been published by Lilith Magazine, Creative Non Fiction's In Fact imprint, Seal Press, Paper Journey Press, Wising-Up Press, The Prose-Poem Project, and on Brevity.com.
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