- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: Headline Review (13 Dec 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0755330978
- ISBN-13: 978-0755330973
- Product Dimensions: 23.8 x 15 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,916,316 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
SATURDAY TELEGRAPH, 23 FEBRUARY 2008
'There is so much more to this book than its title suggests...It's the depiction of the loss of emotional intimacy in a marriage that brings this book to life, a subtle loosening of connections between two people who once loved each other...'
Product Description
An intriguing, sexy and gripping tale of marriage, mothers and daughters, and choosing the right kind of life.
Becca thought she was happy. She's been with her husband Martin so long it rarely occurs to her that there could be any other way; her fourteen-year-old daughter is growing up beautifully; and she has an unusually good relationship with her parents. But when her mother announces that she's leaving Becca's father, suddenly everything changes. Becca's in freefall, as everything she thought was certain is slipping away. When Martin becomes too preoccupied with training for the marathon to listen to her concerns, Becca is drawn, dangerously, to another man. Whether her marriage will survive or not, Becca's woken up, and she's never going to be quite the same woman again.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed this book thoroughly from the opening family photograph scene [catching the heroine in 'mid-squawk' - loved that!] to its tearful close. Becca is an endearingly anguished four-way piggy-in-the-middle between her mother June and her daughter Lily on one hand, and her marathon-training husband and Paul the Director on the other... it might all be too much, and sometimes it feels it nearly is, but somehow we're kept together and swept along in a story that's easy to read, but with far more depth than you might think if that's *all* someone told you about it!
Becca's a lot stronger than she thinks she is, too, which is just as well when you realise what those tears are for at the end. Read it!
Becca's a lot stronger than she thinks she is, too, which is just as well when you realise what those tears are for at the end. Read it!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I hesitated a little before posting this review, as I seem to be out of line with other reviewers. But here goes .... I didn't like Becca as a heroine. I listened to the audio version of this book and this can make a difference to your perception of characters. Becca's voice whines her way through the story. She comes across as being naïve and immature, and personally I feel she makes some pretty duff decisions throughout the book. I can't say what these decisions are as these would spoil the story for other readers. Suffice to say, she has the chance to change her life into something more rewarding, where she can develop the skills and talents she has, and to my mind, makes the wrong decision.
To me, the author has created an unbelievable character. Becca is upset by her parents' marital problems, but launches herself into an affair as though it were a game. At one point in the story, she goes home after a meeting with her lover, and snuggles up in bed to her husband. No guilt ?? Either she is as hard as nails, or incredibly naïve.
Martin again just doesn't ring true as a character. At the beginning of the book, he is selfish, self-absorbed and totally lacking in sympathy/empathy with his family, and if his wife looks elsewhere for support and reassurance, then who can blame her? By the end of the book, we are expected to view him with sympathy, but nothing has changed. And Lily - well, I found her very tiresome - an over-indulged, pouting child.
I have to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed other books by Sarah Duncan. I loved A Single to Rome and Kissing Mr Wrong but this one just doesn't gel!
To me, the author has created an unbelievable character. Becca is upset by her parents' marital problems, but launches herself into an affair as though it were a game. At one point in the story, she goes home after a meeting with her lover, and snuggles up in bed to her husband. No guilt ?? Either she is as hard as nails, or incredibly naïve.
Martin again just doesn't ring true as a character. At the beginning of the book, he is selfish, self-absorbed and totally lacking in sympathy/empathy with his family, and if his wife looks elsewhere for support and reassurance, then who can blame her? By the end of the book, we are expected to view him with sympathy, but nothing has changed. And Lily - well, I found her very tiresome - an over-indulged, pouting child.
I have to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed other books by Sarah Duncan. I loved A Single to Rome and Kissing Mr Wrong but this one just doesn't gel!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This week just finished has been a busy one for me work-wise and this book has provided me with the perfect way to chill out when I got home, and is definitely a lot better for my health than downing a bottle of wine! On the whole it's a funny, light read and, although it touches on some tough topics such as adultery and parents splitting up, the tone is, for the most part, upbeat.
The story centres around Becca, who has been married to Martin for so long that they have settled into a bit of a routine and Becca accepts that this is simply how her life will be from here on in. They have one daughter Lily who is in essence a good kid but who is still prone to teenagerish strops. When Becca finds out that her mother is about to leave her father for a new life - a chance finally for some 'me time' - she suddenly starts to wonder about everything she holds dear. Martin seems more interested in training for a marathon than discussing anything with her and when Paul - charismatic, handsome and cultured - starts showing her interest she finds herself propelled forward into a situation she would never have considered a few weeks before.
I really liked the character or Becca. She was well-drawn and I liked seeing how she dealt with the various problems thrown at her throughout the novel.
Sarah Duncan uses a technique of cliff hangers at the end of chapters and on the whole this worked well but I felt this technique wasn't as necessary towards the end of the novel as by this point we were already involved with the main characters' lives and would happily have read on anyway. The story is very well paced and there are lots of twists and turns to keep you reading and I really did find myself looking forward to getting into bed and settling down with this at the end of a busy day.
The story centres around Becca, who has been married to Martin for so long that they have settled into a bit of a routine and Becca accepts that this is simply how her life will be from here on in. They have one daughter Lily who is in essence a good kid but who is still prone to teenagerish strops. When Becca finds out that her mother is about to leave her father for a new life - a chance finally for some 'me time' - she suddenly starts to wonder about everything she holds dear. Martin seems more interested in training for a marathon than discussing anything with her and when Paul - charismatic, handsome and cultured - starts showing her interest she finds herself propelled forward into a situation she would never have considered a few weeks before.
I really liked the character or Becca. She was well-drawn and I liked seeing how she dealt with the various problems thrown at her throughout the novel.
Sarah Duncan uses a technique of cliff hangers at the end of chapters and on the whole this worked well but I felt this technique wasn't as necessary towards the end of the novel as by this point we were already involved with the main characters' lives and would happily have read on anyway. The story is very well paced and there are lots of twists and turns to keep you reading and I really did find myself looking forward to getting into bed and settling down with this at the end of a busy day.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
lovely
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.It gripped me from beginning to end wanting to know and caring what happened to each character. Read more
Published 9 months ago by schoolescort
A great read
A great story with characters everyone can relate to. I was drawn into the plot from the first page and was sorry to finish the book. Highly recommended.
Published on 4 Jan 2010 by Mrs. A. Green
Pleasant read
On the whole I enjoyed reading this book which deals with a will she/won't she have an affair story. I wasn't really sure how the story would end. Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2009 by D. Richardson
More than meets the eye
Despite the racy cover this is firmly in the territory of female mid-life crisis done with a light but also serious touch. Read more
Published on 18 July 2008 by AliB
Great fun, well written and thoughtful.
This is a thought provoking good read. The heroine Becca is a very well drawn 3D character, full of doubts and contradictions, taken by surprise by her own and others reactions to... Read more
Published on 13 April 2008 by Anne
I was disappointed to finish it
I chose this book not really sure what to expect. I thought it would be your average `chick-lit' with very little substance and that the title said it all. However, I was wrong. Read more
Published on 2 Mar 2008 by SJSmith
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