A Mother Realizes Her Husband Won't Join the Family Trip

In Moa Herngren’s latest novel, “The Divorce,” readers are introduced to Bea, a middle-aged mother preparing for a family holiday in the Baltic, only to discover that her husband, Niklas, will not be joining her. The narrative unfolds with Bea’s obsessive preoccupation over whether Niklas will purchase the ferry tickets, a question that dominates the first hundred pages of the book. Despite the intriguing premise, the title “The Divorce” casts a shadow over the unfolding drama, suggesting a deeper conflict that remains largely unaddressed. The novel, translated by Alice Menzies, showcases Herngren’s elegant and straightforward prose. However, the story is described as a “literary train wreck,” with Bea’s self-centered efforts to save her marriage from Niklas’s midlife crisis eliciting more embarrassment than empathy. The reader is left feeling a sense of relief when Niklas’s perspective is finally introduced, but this shift does little to redeem his character. Instead of emerging as a relatable figure, Niklas is portrayed as an emotionless automaton, whose marriage to Bea seems rooted in selflessness rather than genuine connection. The narrative hints at a tragic backstory involving the death of Bea’s brother during their teenage years, yet this context fails to add depth to either character. Ultimately, “The Divorce” presents a compelling yet frustrating exploration of marital discontent, leaving readers questioning the authenticity of the characters and the resolution of their struggles.