Getting Rid of Matthew (2007)

EX-FILES Fallon's debut novel tracks a woman who gets her man — then quickly discovers she doesn't want him

After four years of mid-evening ''playdates'' three times a week, Helen has finally convinced Matthew to leave his wife and family for her. Surprise: He's a needy man-child who was never worth the fuss. So to push him away, Helen dials back the hygiene and cranks up the foul-mouthed indifference — while stalking, then befriending (under a pseudonym), his wife. Without descending into cliché, British TV producer Jane Fallon (This Life, Teachers) makes Helen's twisted mind pathetic, hilarious, and relatable all at once. Getting Rid of Matthew is a gritty look at the madness of never knowing exactly what you want. B+