My Lover's Lover and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more

Buy New

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
Buy Used
Used - Very Good See details
Price: £1.50

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Colour:
Image not available

 
Start reading My Lover's Lover on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

My Lover's Lover [Paperback]

Maggie O'Farrell
2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
RRP: £8.99
Price: £7.19 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £1.80 (20%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Only 6 left in stock (more on the way).
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon. Gift-wrap available.
Want delivery by Tuesday, 28 May? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more.

Book Description

6 Jan 2003
Maggie O'Farrell's second novel is an intense, unnerving and passionate story of betrayal, loss and love, with all the frisson and psychological intensity of REBECCA.

When Lily moves into Marcus's flat and plunges headlong into a relationship, she must contend not merely with the disapproval of flatmate Aidan, but with a more intangible, hostile presence. Could it be that Sinead, Marcus's ex, is trying to communicate with her? When Lily begins to 'see' Sinead, first about the flat, and then on the streets of London, she must question not merely her sanity, but whether the man she loves is someone she can, or indeed ought, to live with at all.

Frequently Bought Together

My Lover's Lover + The Distance Between Us + After You'd Gone
Price For All Three: £19.77

Buy the selected items together


Product details

  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Headline Review; New Ed edition (6 Jan 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0747268177
  • ISBN-13: 978-0747268178
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 2.2 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 27,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, and more.

Product Description

Amazon Review

Maggie O'Farrell was heralded as a major new writer with her debut novel, After You'd Gone. And here she is with My Lover's Lover, demonstrating again her extraordinary talent. The coda to the novel's final part is Evelyn Waugh's "To know and love one other human being is the root of all wisdom". It's the choices and chances, the compromises and delusions, made in the search for love that preoccupy O'Farrell's central characters. The setting is 30-something London, New York, and rural China. Lily and Marcus meet at a gallery opening; almost the day after, they're sharing his chic loft, and soon after that, his bed. But if this sounds like chick-lit, any similarities end here. Narrated in four parts, O'Farrell moves adeptly from third to first person, from present to past to future.

Through Lily's account in the first section, a claustrophobic fear pulsates: she is haunted by Marcus's previous lover, Sinead, who seems to be everywhere--"The flat seems sticky with Sinead's fingerprints. [Lily] doesn't know what to do." But according to Marcus, Sinead "is no longer with us". On every page, O'Farrell's transcription of the body as register of the emotions, of fear and desire, is breathtaking. Language dissects and insinuates; revelations unfurl and double back. Sinead's incredulity at Marcus's being "not exactly faithful" and Marcus's old friend Aidan's consternation at his own secret longings are described with such tactility, such spare suggestiveness that these lovers' tales take on a brooding, yet haphazard quality. O'Farrell is an insightful and passionate chronicler of human emotions. It's compulsive and thrilling stuff. --Ruth Petrie --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

A quietly dramatic dissection of the way past loves can haunt the present (The Daily Telegraph)

...an emotional whirlwind, all passionate yearnings, raw pain and messy truths; powerful in nailing the complications of love without missing it out the power of the emotions involved (The Scotsman)

This Rebecca-esque ghost story puts at its heart the gnawing insecurities that any act of intimacy soon invites (The Independent)

O'Farrell's writing has a crystalline precision of idiom - there isn't one image that fails to ignite recognition (Independent on Sunday)

O'Farrell has honourably equalled the success of her first novel, After You'd Gone, with a story that is certainly as absorbing - and just as beautifully written (Sunday Express)

Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I spent a lazy Sunday afternoon completely engrossed in this book, and must say I am surprised at some of the reviews on here as I thought it was fantastic!

The story begins with Lily moving in with a man called Marcus who is renting out a room in his converted flat. He is boyish and charming, but deeply affected by the break-up of his relationship with Sinead. Although Lily and Marcus become lovers, Lily cannot escape the presence of Sinead. It is so overpowering that Lily is able to 'see' her and smell her perfume, which makes Lily too nervous to be in the place alone. Although Marcus seems sincere, Lily finds that he is still obsessed by Sinead and this forces Lily's curiosity to grow into a an encompassing quest for the truth.

This is the first of Maggie O'Farrell's books that I have read and I found it to be an absorbing, haunting novel detailing the sometimes destructive power of love and the painful memories tied up with old relationships. Farrell's writing shows a great depth of knowledge into the human psyche. However, I like other readers did find Lily hard work to begin with, I couldn't empaphise with her and found her to be quite shallow and tactless and cringed when she kept putting her foot in it. I felt that Sinead was the most powerful character in the novel, she had real strength and power and I found myself empaphising with her more than Lily. Apart from that small niggle though the novel just kept unraveling in a dreamlike way consistently revealing more facets of this sparkling novel. It is full of twists and turns, many of which I saw coming and others were a surprise.

I cannot wait to buy Maggie O'Farrell's first novel as I have seen excellent reviews of that one...
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars well written, keeps you guessing 7 Jan 2004
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed this book and am surprised at the mixed reviews it has recieved. I have not read Maggie O Farrell's first book but after reading her second i will search out 'after you'd gone' as i feel hungry for more novels by this author. I admit it seemed a little strange to jump so suddenly half way through the book but i saw it as a chance to get to know the other characters a little more. Personaly i would recommend this book to others as i enjoyed it so much i couldnt put it down.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Good idea but a poor ending 11 May 2002
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
I loved 'After You'd Gone' and couldn't wait to read this one. The basic idea is good - the ex-lover who continues to haunt the present. However, it soon becomes clear that the main character has a very creative imagination and this central thread is left hanging at the end, leaving the reader with more questions than answers. Whereas 'After You'd Gone' caught the wrenching agony of loss, this novel merely describes it.
For all its weaknesses this is quite a good read and I suspect there is a lot better to come from this novelist.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?   Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
Oh maggie! I loved "after you'd gone" th vanishing act of
Esme Lennox" and especially"the hand that first held mine" but the ending of this book was such a let down.
Published 28 minutes ago by lauren warner
2.0 out of 5 stars A bit of a disappointment
Certainly not upto the author's normal standard. I kepy waiting for the twist in the tale and it just didn't materialise unless I missed it !!!
Published 3 days ago by Tamsin
3.0 out of 5 stars Just about held my interest
Not the best of Maggie O'Farrell's novels. The characters not as well drawn as I expect from this author, and overall somewhat lacking in depth.
Published 1 month ago by MissInformed
2.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your time
Very disappointed. Usually a great author but this gave a poor story line, annoying characters and went nowhere. Definite miss.
Published 2 months ago by Iona's Mum
4.0 out of 5 stars My Lover's Lover
A very good read. I intend to read it again and pass it around my friends.
I look forward to Maggie O' Farrell's next book.
Published 11 months ago by Morag Henriksen
4.0 out of 5 stars Haunting
Like many others I loved Maggie O'Farrell's earlier book "After you'd gone" & again this one is beautifully written. Read more
Published 12 months ago by DocE
1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
The book got off to a great start,and hooked me in. However by the end I was disappointed and frustrated. Read more
Published 13 months ago by As Roberts
1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
I recently read The Hand That First Held Mine, which I enjoyed, so I thought I would try some of Maggie O'Farrell's other books. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Carmel
3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed
I have already read 2 of this author's books and thoroughly enjoyed them. I didn't enjoy this as much. Read more
Published 24 months ago by StMarys
2.0 out of 5 stars The Reader
This is the first Maggie O'Farrell book I have read - it was given to me and recommended by a good friend. I was gripped at first and enjoyed the way the story was played out. Read more
Published on 6 May 2011 by The Reader
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Discussion Replies Latest Post
Self-published books: pain or gain? 6008 4 minutes ago
how much can you trust an editor? 60 13 minutes ago
What are you reading now? 8081 43 minutes ago
Great Authors who are ignored probably because they haven't been on a reality show 68 55 minutes ago
Books that publicly embarrassed you 330 55 minutes ago
The non author mosty harmless book club. 1606 1 hour ago
Any good books involving buttoned-up characters set in aristocratic homes? 9 9 hours ago
Come on - why don't we write our own book right here in the fiction forum ? I'll do the first sentence, and then jump in....hold on, here we go... 7129 11 hours ago
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Feedback


Amazon.co.uk Privacy Statement Amazon.co.uk Delivery Information Amazon.co.uk Returns & Exchanges