No One's the Bitch: A Ten-Step Plan for the Mother and Stepmother Relationship

The issue of just how close the Ex and the "new" wife "ought" to be is a hot topic at the moment. Jennifer Newcomb Marine and her ex-husband's wife Carol Marine don't just talk the talk; they provide a helpful, readable, and informative roadmap for navigating what is often a highly-charged, contentious relationship. No One's the Bitch bravely explores the powerful feelings--competition, betrayal, jealousy, mistrust--that can vex the relationship between ex wives and wives, mothers and stepmothers. With honesty and humor, the authors offer exercises, tips, and advice that can help women in linked households form working partnerships, making life and transitions easier for the kids and themselves. It's a worthy goal, and depending on your circumstances and your energy for the task, this is a book that can take you there with grace, helping you gain not only a sense of control, but that most invaluable and elusive thing for those affected by divorce and remarriage--peace of mind--as well. Wednesday Martin, Ph.D. author, Stepmonster: A New Look at Why Real Stepmothers Think, Feel and Act the Way We Do [...]

Are you a step-mom and think your husband's ex wife is crazy? Reading this book may give you some insight into the insecurities she's feeling about having a woman she doesn't know start raising her children. It may open up a whole new world that you couldn't have imagined. Are you a bio-mom and think your ex-husband's new wife is trying to take over the family? Maybe it would help you to understand what she's feeling. To see what it's like from her standpoint, coming into a new family where she is a complete outsider. This book does an amazing job at being honest and open from both the step-mom's side and the bio-moms side. It's a must-read for all involved. The children's emotional health is too important to let our insecurities and anger issues get in the way of acting like humane, decent individuals. Definitely a 5-star book!

In my role as a mentor to young adults, I often listen patiently while a student complains about her role as a stepmom or ex-wife, so I was eager to read No One's the Bitch in hopes of gleaning useful insights. What I found was a clever and compassionate depiction of the path to friendship between Jennifer and Carol Marine. They charted their journey with an honest portrayal of the challenges they faced yet, in the end, they were able to generate impressive and meaningful traditions that include all of the family members. By taking a proactive approach to their relationship, they redefined the situation and successfully created a "new normal" for everyone involved in the family network. Bravo! And yes, I will recommend this book to my students!

This book will make you laugh, make you say 'yes I've so been there!' and will even make you cry ... and ultimately change your life as you finally learn to get on with the mom/step mom in your life and make your family the happy, safe place your children/step children so deserve. I can't recommend this book more highly! This is a book that will touch and transform your life. Witty and brilliant writing.

How I Spent My Lunch Hour (ok, Two Hours!) I started reading this at lunch and read through another hour of "work" time I'm blown away. These two ladies have written a fabulous book that is solely focused on the relationship between the mom and the step mom. In between the humor, the journal exercises, and the short quizzes is a book that will hit nearly every woman who's in a mom/step mom relationship right between the eyes. I know it did for me. A loving mental dope slap! I was blessed to fall into a decent relationship with my husband's ex-wife and her family. It doesn't mean it's been a bed of roses. Fortunately, she and I can come together, put the kids first (and the kids are adults except for my youngest step son, who just turned 17), and do the right thing. Even with our great relationship, this book has given me my own a-ha moments! Owning My Own Crap (I loved this chapter!) I'm usually pretty good about owning my own stuff...and when the authors talked about this I realized that I'm still trying "look good" as a step mom. I've agonized over this because of my own self-imposed microscope and this silly false belief that my husband's ex-wife's family (ok, really, they're his family, too...long story...stay tuned) are watching me. Can someone pass the pin to pop my ego? No one is watching me! Another thing that just made me cringe inside is how critical I've been towards my step kids' mom. At one time or another (even now) I can say "yes" to each critical statement Jennifer and Carol listed in their quiz "The Joy of Being Judgemental." I daresay, I have more WORK to do on myself! Standing Ovation to Jennifer Newcomb Marine and Carol Marine - I believe you ladies have hit a Grand Slam! I'm recommending this to every step mom I know and don't know! Peggy Nolan, http://thestepmomstoolbox.com and creator of "The Mother's Day Dare" Project