I really enjoyed this book. A great plot with wonderful main characters. I was gripped by the story all the way through. I would highly recommend this book.

I love the way that Nicola Moriarty writes. This book told it as it is, what happens when a group is created that excludes other people from joining because they do not meet a certain criteria. This book also deals with what happens when things turn nasty. Some parts of the book was really fast paced and I could feel the fear the Frankie felt as well as her relief. I could not figure out who the Imposter was but at the end it did fit. A great story line with lovely characters that you can connect with. I would recommend this book to readers of Woman's fiction.

My thanks to Netgalley for my copy of this book. This is the second novel I have read by Nicola Moriarty and I think this is the better of the two overall. However, I didn't think that initially as it took me a while to 'get' any of the characters beyond Poppy but it is very rare that I will give up on a book and this time I was rewarded.

We've all heard of 'man's inhumanity towards man' well this novel is based on the same theory, with just a change of gender, which I am sure all women are aware of . This is especially prevalent in these days of social media whereby one can cast outrageous insults about a sister whilst hidden by a cloak of anonymity. So obviously this book is very relevant and it is also very readable although I did find the ending somewhat rushed although not expected.

Crazy, dramatic, but relatable!

The story begins with Poppy. She discovers her husband hasn't been faithful. That, and he was slightly confused when he told her, he was like her, he didn't want children. A betrayal that would be hard for anyone to get past, alongside her mother's lack of acceptance that her daughter really and truly just doesn't want children. So to move on, Poppy creates her own private, exclusive, Facebook group to connect with like-minded women. It gets disastrous, as do most things when the online world is involved. And to topple it off, there's the side problem that not everyone is who they say they are, and not all their secrets are safe...

These characters will resonate with you, their stories, and their need to talk about their situation. I was overly judgemental regarding some of the women and I was quick to take sides. It was realistic of human behaviour: we listen to a story and quickly decide who's right and who's wrong. But it's never so black and white, for one thing we're only hearing the storyteller's version and we're caught up by our own problems and our own values.

But this book was more than drama, it was intelligently written and beautifully thoughtful in its portrayal of women. Representation is a huge thing, and this book is for any woman: whether you wish to be a mother, and can't contain yourself by the prospect, or whether you simply don't harbour that wish.

I stayed up late reading this, as though it was crucial to read another chapter and to know more. I just felt so involved, it was brilliant. I remember a debate that took place on This Morning, the subject was stay at home mothers vs. working mothers. I despise that there's a rivalry and intense judgment. Nicola Moriarty got that: and she offered the idea of openness and simple acceptance. We should lift each other up and have the more difficult conversations. We all have so much to say.

A very 'fun' Mother's Day read!

I received this book through Netgalley.

Not my usual kinda book but I’m glad I picked it up, I thought the blurb was an interesting one and the book didn’t disappoint me!

It’s basically about the ongoing fued that starts between two online groups (one for mums and one for those who don’t want to be mums!) it gets out of hand with moles on either side going back and forth and spills out into the streets.

In the middle of all that you’ve got friendships beginning and secrets and lies all over the shop. It’s actually a really good book and even though I’m into thrillers I’m glad I read this one as I really liked it, the plot and characters though I found the ending (on the boat) a bit soppy when they’re all been OTT with the “lucre” in my opinion haha!

While this book didn't hook me from the start, the slow burn was worth it to me by the middle/end. I found it very amusing in parts and once I was invested, I was fully invested. I love this author's writing style and can't wait for her next book. Thumbs up!

Loved this really easy read, realistic characters all with their own story. Affairs, secrets, Facebook groups with impostors mum's versus non mum's. Ultimately each woman having secrets of their own and it shows things aren't always what they seem and how easy we make opinions of others

I've read other books by the author and like her style and found this book as captivating to read as her previous books.

Intertwined into the story is the age old issues of mother vs non-mother and within those groups, mums who work, mums who don't, non-mothers who want children and ones that don't. She addresses the issue that as women we spend a lot of time tearing each other down rather than supporting each other. I hope that if nothing else people can take from this book that being supportive is the positive step.

Recommend a read and will be looking out for her next one.

Thank you to Netgalley, Nicola Moriarty and Penguin Michael Joseph got my ARC of Those Other Women.


Summary

Poppy and Annalise are sick of being excluded from community groups aimed only at women. Neither of them want children and they're sick of being judged by parents, friends, siblings and work colleagues who presume there must be something wrong with them. Not to mention they're sick of the mothers who think it's ok to change nappies on restaurant tables or let their kids run screaming down the aisles in the supermarket.

That's why they set up their own Facebook group, one for women who don't ever want children. But things start to spiral out of control when the mothers group and anti mothers group go head to head.

Review

Nicola doesn't disappoint with her novels, and where she gets her ideas from are beyond me! Those Other Women explores highly controversial topics, expressing feelings that most people try to hide and also the presumptions we make in society about people without knowing their story; not to mention the influence social media and the culture of going 'viral' has on our day to day lives and opinions.

But what it also explores is empathy, coming together in times of hardship and understanding of what other people are going through and how the secrets they're hiding aren't always the ones you first think. A beautiful novel of real life problems and mistakes and really, just being human.

I wasn’t sure about this book about 1/3 way in but so glad I kept going! Really picked up the pace of the book and I really enjoyed it!