Standard Deviation

Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny is a humorous novel about the complexities of a long-term marriage, the challenges of parenting, and the unsettling thought of "the path not taken."

Graham Cavanaugh is a rather steady and ordered man who divorced his first wife, Elspeth, to marry his second wife, Audra. Audra is a force of nature: spontaneous, endlessly charming, incredibly chatty, and completely without boundaries. She's the kind of person who invites doormen to move in, brings home eccentric members of her son's origami club for Thanksgiving, and generally lives life with an open-door policy and a relentless desire to connect with everyone. While her vivacity is alluring, it can also be exhausting for Graham.

Their life together, with their ten-year-old son, Matthew, who is on the autism spectrum and obsessed with origami, is a constant stream of delightful chaos. Matthew's unique needs add another layer of complexity, and the novel beautifully portrays the different ways Graham and Audra navigate the joys and frustrations of raising a child who doesn't quite fit the "standard deviation."

When Audra, with her characteristic lack of filter, decides it would be a good idea to befriend Graham's ex-wife, Elspeth, tensions arise. Elspeth is Audra's polar opposite: reserved, precise, and emotionally cool. As these two vastly different women, along with Elspeth's new partner, begin to spend time together, Graham is forced to confront his past choices and question if he made the "right" decision. Heiny explores the nuances of human connection, showing how ex-spouses can be simultaneously strangers, and yet know you better than almost anyone else.

Audra is an unfogettable character. This is a novel that will make you laugh while also offering a tender look at the compromises and enduring love that define a marriage.