Divorce is complicated, but family and criminal defense attorney Hellis aims to make things manageable from both a legal and a self-help perspective. The "no-nonsense" of the title is evident in her advice to cry in the shower and her rules for going through a divorce ("Rule 1: Whatever this shit is, it belongs to you. Don't make your shit your children's shit. Ever"). Amidst the tough love is solid advice on managing the legal process: how to choose a lawyer, how child custody arrangements are built, choosing mediation before or instead of a trial. Hellis suggests therapy and covers a lot of the nonlegal aspects of divorce: handling social media and dating after divorce, for example. She also covers worst-case scenarios, as in instances of abuse and addiction... Though geared primarily toward divorcing couples with children, The No-Nonsense Guide to Divorce offers both practical and emotional advice for anyone dissolving a marriage.

Booklist

A no-nonsense guide to divorce and co-parenting, illustrated with cautionary case stories and spiced with Hellis' sharp wit. Hellis delivers a wealth of information in a conversational tone that will be welcomed by anyone considering a separation or divorce.

Ann Gold Buscho, PhD, psychologist, collaborative divorce coach, and author of “The Parent's Guide to Birdnesting: A Child-Centered Approach to Co-Parenting During Separation and Divorce”

Excellent book that demystifies the legal process of divorce. I highly recommend it!

Kris Godinez, LPC

Blunt, humorous, and extremely helpful, this book could be retitled: 'Tough Love for Divorcing Parents' because family law attorney and author Hellis doesn't waste time, mince words, or let anyone off the hook of responsibility for splitting up a family. She's not against divorce, but she is for doing it in a knowledgeable, sensitive, and mature way so that all concerned can move on. This should be required reading for divorcing moms and dads.

Carl Pickhardt, PhD, author and blogger, “Surviving Your Child's Adolescence”