- Paperback: 432 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Australia; Trade Paperback edition (30 Jan 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0141012455
- ISBN-13: 978-0141012452
- Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 11.2 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,704,513 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Spellbound
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Jane Green's sixth novel has a touch of Pygmalion about it. Alice Chambers, the heroine of Spellbound was known as "wallpaper" at school a "shy, mousy girl" who tended to disappear into the background. As an adult she runs a successful catering company but things remain pretty much the same. That is until Joe Mitchell, a crush from Alice's teenage years, decides to make her his fair lady: "with a diet, a decent hairdresser and a new wardrobe she'd be a whole new woman by the time he'd finished with her"--and, yes, you can grit your teeth at this very un-feminist idea! Joe works hard and earns lots of money, Alice has a lovely house and enviable clothes, and they both live happily ever after.
No of course they don't. Alice soon realises that "Joe is not the knight in shining armour she had once thought", largely due to his serial philandering. When his affair with a coworker is discovered, he is forced by his company to move to New York, and Alice goes too. It is at this point, in their new country home, that Alice is forced to face up to all that is wrong with her life. Feeling "quite happy" is no longer good enough, nor is staying with a man who "loves his wife", but who "is addicted to having affairs". It's time for Alice to pursue her own dreams, no matter how painful the process. Spellbound is an old fashioned story of metamorphosis, but told with the modern economy and wit that is Jane Green's trademark. --Eithne Farry --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
Alice knows she should be happy. After all, she has a handsome husband, a beautiful apartment and membership to all the most exclusive clubs in London. So what if the rumours about her husband and anything in a skirt are becoming harder to ignore? When Joe's job transfers to New York, Alice hopes it might be a fresh start. Especially when they find a beautiful old house in Connecticut to buy. But why is the house such a steal? And why has it been empty for so long? As Alice sets about restoring it she begins to unravel the answers to these questions. And as Joe's late nights at the office start all over again, she's determined not to repeat the mistakes of the woman who once lived there.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have said it before and I will say it again.... I absolutely LOVE Jane Green! With this said I have to admit that `TO HAVE AND TO HOLD' is my least favorite of her books. While the book started out strong as we delved into the lives of Alice, a plain Jane with aspirations to live a simple life in the country turned sophisticated city girl, and Joe, Alice's husband who loves the fast paced social scene of living amongst the rich and powerful in London. But as we soon find out Joe has a penchant for leggy blonds, which unbeknownst to Alice, he quite frequently acts on.
The relationships between Alice and Joe, Alice and her quirky best friend Emily, and Joe and his mistresses held my attention for about half way through the book. But by the second half `TO HAVE AND TO HOLD' really started to drag. There were long drawn out descriptions of Alice's dream home and too much talk of gardening. I also began to find myself frustrated with Alice for not seeing what was going on right underneath her nose.
The relationships between Alice and Joe, Alice and her quirky best friend Emily, and Joe and his mistresses held my attention for about half way through the book. But by the second half `TO HAVE AND TO HOLD' really started to drag. There were long drawn out descriptions of Alice's dream home and too much talk of gardening. I also began to find myself frustrated with Alice for not seeing what was going on right underneath her nose.
If this is the first Jane Green book that you have read or are thinking about reading, please try `JEMIMA J.', `MR. MAYBE' or `BOOKENDS' any of which I guarantee you will love!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Excuse me for thinking this but is this book not the same as Spellbound just with a new title!!!! Jane Green is my favourite authour I love all her books but how can you sell 2 books with the same story!!! Its not right.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read books like nobody's business and if I don't think much of one I can put it down and move onto the next without much thought. But this is one that will stick in my mind. Although it doesn't stray too far from the 'chick-lit' path (I must add I love chick-lit!!) it's definitely worth a read... it was a definite page turner because I found myself desperate to see Alice finally 'wash that man right out of her hair' to use a terrible cliche... the only thing I would criticise is the use of the house they move to as one an author used to live in. To me it only had a minor role in the book. True, it was used to move the plot on in places; but I didn't feel it was necessary. As the first of Green's book I've read, I will be reading more.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A unexpected good read
I wasn't expecting much from the book, just a light read but I really enjoyed it a lot. I'm going to look at her other books now!
Published 17 days ago by Es Williams
Great.
"Spellbound" like the rest of Jane Green's book, is really good. It makes you to have a wonderfull time. Fantastic!
Published 4 months ago by angeles
The magic of deceit.
This number one bestseller teaches you getting everything you want can have disastrous results.
Alice has everything she needs, a loving husband, a nice house and good... Read more
Alice has everything she needs, a loving husband, a nice house and good... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Fenix Orion
A non starter for me
A non-starter for me. Found myself totally unsympathetic to the central character and the world she "found" herself living in of designer luxury a total turn off. Read more
Published 18 months ago by rachelcreative
Spellbound by this book!!
A really enjoyable read, definitely one of my favourite Jane Green books so far....actually I may even read again, it really is that good!!
Published 23 months ago by staylor59
Couldn't not even finish it
I have to admit that I bought this book 5 years ago and it has been sitting on my bookshelf ever since. With my goal not buying an new books until I read what I had. Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2010 by M. E. Newell
Another great from Jane Green
Jane Green in my opinion is one of the most enthralling 'chick-lit' authors. Green articulates women's thoughts with great finesse and I reckon this is her best book to date. Read more
Published on 6 Jun 2009 by K. E. Farr
Love, a many splendoured thing....
Whether opposites match, is the question when country girl at heart Alice marries her high school hero, big city high flyer Joe. Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2009 by Sissel M. Østdahl
Jane Green never disappoints..........
I must say I am enjoying Jane Green more and more as I read her books and this one casts a sort of spell on you that makes you want to keep reading until you get to the end -the... Read more
Published on 14 May 2008 by Ms. S. King
this book really does put a spell on you!!
spellbound was the first jane green novel i read. Very easy to read and not very taxing, but still it blew me away. Read more
Published on 26 July 2007 by Ms. K. Smith
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