A relatively pedestrian story of three women and the trials and tribulations of marriage and the effects of betrayal on each one in a different way. Trite.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't enjoy this book and almost gave it up at the 40% mark, but I thought I should continue it to the bitter end.

Three married women, three stories. None of which were good. I found it difficult to relate to any of them as I didn’t really like the characters well enough. Only Jill, the main character, seemed to be developed enough to form an attachment too, and even she was hot and cold for me. Her friends, Leigh, and Wendy, we less developed, even though Leigh plays a bigger part than Wendy does throughout the book. The British vernacular threw me off at times, and let’s not even discuss the ending which was unbelievable, if not predictable. I’m all for happy ever afters, but not when one character does a complete 180 to get there.

This book just wasn’t for me, but maybe the next one by this author will be.

This novel explored female friendship, loyalty, family's and infidelity among other topics .
I found myself relating to all the female characters and was routing for Jill who I felt was punished harshly for one mistake. I personally have encountered some of the issues explored in the book and could relate to how the characters particularly Wendy and Rob behaved. I think the author protrayed emotions very
well.
The end of the book was great put a smile on my face. Overall I felt the book a bit slow at first but definitely enjoyed it as I got into it and would recommend it highly.

I love a book that possesses twists and turns. I love a book that delves into the meat of relationships. I love a book that examines reasons why people do what they do. That is why I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Although flawed the main character, Jill is someone I still found myself cheering for throughout.

Warning: Do not go in expecting a super sugary/soft/fluffy read. It's not that. It's turny and twisty and a great book with summer on the horizon.

I really enjoyed the ending of this book, it was not what I was expecting and it tied up nicely which I always like! A great read.

An average book which didn't really offer anything new or exciting. I didn't feel a connection to any of the main characters as the story, and thereby their life stories, seemed disjointed. Some things which didn't need to be were explained in too much detail, and other intriguing aspects barely mentioned or explored.

This debut novel by Carol Mason revolves around three friends and their husbands. Jill, the protagonist, has been happily married to Rod for ten years but for the past six months he has been struggling with the fact that he cannot have children. As a result their sex life is non-existent and Jill feels unattractive and abandoned. Meanwhile, flamboyant and successful Leigh is looking for some excitement whilst Lawrence, her husband is unaware. Both Jill and Leigh believe that Wendy’s marriage to the handsome Neil, a police detective is blissfully happy.

However, the three women have their own secrets. Leigh reveals to a horrified Jill that she is contemplating an affair which leaves Jill considering her own marriage and the problems that she has not revealed to anyone. Both women are unaware of Wendy’s own secrets. For each of the couples there comes a crisis which impacts on the three women in different ways.

This book is somewhat more than ‘chick-lit’, although in all honesty I cannot imagine a man reading it. This feels much more considered; with more integrity; more complex; more an examination of how female friendships work: the close relationship offering support and advice to each other, which in turn leads to self-examination, self-reflection in the consideration of friends’ actions and motivations, where they lead and how they affect you and how you justify your own actions. It is also an examination of marriage and how people choose to negotiate their relationships and deal with their problems. Like many books there are secrets and for the reader just the sense of ‘just communicate with each other’ or ‘don’t do it’.

The assembled characters in this book were superb resulting in my love/hate identification; Jill somewhat dazzled by Leigh’s antics but still clearly in love with her husband Rod – who was just … lovely. Leigh who appalled me by modelling her undies in the department store (what a lack of class), she came across as brash and brazen. And Wendy, lovely Wendy; sensible, cautious, mindful of what she was doing and just… decent. The dialogue was spot-on. Each character having a clear and distinct voice that resulted in a fantastic, revealing plot. I didn’t expect that ending though!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

I liked the ending of the book. There were times in the story I was so caught up I wanted to punch some of the women. This would make a great beach read, I could not put it down.

I loved the cover of this book and the book blurb sounded really interesting, but I just could not get into this book. I don't find any of the characters people that I can connect with. It is set in England and there are several terms that I was unfamiliar with like a small bandage is called a "plaster" and I found what I thought were errors in grammar and punctuation (a single quote was used to denote dialogue) were just the way British people talk/write. I had a hard time reading some of it because of the different ways of speaking. I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn't finish it. I'm sorry.

Sorry, in a rare twist (for me) I remembered the author's name and not the book''s title, so I remembered reading and enjoying something by Carol Mason a few years ago when I requested this. I didn't realize it was a re-release of a book I've already read.

I didn't realise that I had read a previous issue of this novel. My original feedback can be seen on Goodreads.

I always like to try something different and this was one such novel. I can see how this novel would appeal to many and know my daughter and granddaughter would love it.