I enjoyed Ruth Jones previous novel Never Greener and was delighted to receive an arc of Us Three. The story though of three childhood friends who go onto lead different lives never really got going. Written with warmth, the characters lacked depth and the ending was abrupt. A pleasing read on a rainy afternoon.

Thanks to @penguinukbooks and @netgalley for letting me read an advance copy of Us Three by Ruth Jones.

Like everyone else, I love Gavin and Stacey so I was quite looking forward to picking up her second novel. It's about Catrin, Lana and Judith, best friends growing up in 70s and 80s Wales, and their life over the decades. I have to say I wasn't too impressed by the writing, it kinda felt like she was overusing adjectives for the sake of it, and sometimes the commentary really seemed to come from an omniscient narrator rather than being from the perspective of the character it purported to be from... If that makes sense. But I really liked the story - it was absorbing and entertaining, and it was fun being with the characters for a while and reading about their lives! Two faves: all the descriptions about their Greek island hopping trip after school, which made me realise how much I enjoy reading about travelling in fiction, and Gareth - who is the ultimate book boyfriend. 3.5 🌟

I loved Ruth Jones’s previous book. I found this one weaker in comparison. This book reminded me of a soap opera – it works around three friends, and it follows their lives, from 18 years olds going off on an island hopping adventure, through fallings out, betrayals, love, marriages, death and so on. It stopped at a certain point, but could just as easily have gone on tracking their lives through grandchildren, retirement etc. It was a good read, but not particularly memorable.

This is the second offering from Ruth Jones who many may know better as Nessa from Gavin and Stacey or the eponymous Stella.
The complicated twists and turns of friendships have always intrigued me and this story is an exceptional example of type.
Three friends who swore loyalty to one another only for that oath to crumble under the weight of time. I think we’ve all been there where, despite our best efforts, we outgrow our friendships. Occasionally, if we’re lucky, we get to revisit those friendships and reignite the bonds that had long since frayed.
I loved the way this book embraces the good and the bad in those friendships and the way that all behaviour is laid bare.
I particularly enjoyed the discovery of the Cypriot connection and the way Judith’s extended family embraced the young girls.
Judith’s fractured relationship with her mother was difficult read for me but, it added to the story beautifully and highlighted the different upbringings of the three friends.
This is a wonderful book and a great follow up to Never Greener. I laughed and cried.
Ruth Jones has a keen mind for exploring the complexities of human relationships. She examines the flaws as well as the joyous connections.

What a heart-warming story. Lana, Judith and Catrin are best friends and have been since they can remember but when they begin to grow up and adulthood is on the horizon they inevitably begin to grow apart.

Told in a multi-perspective narrative form and during different time periods Us Three really does give the unique yet universal experience of belonging to a group of friends. Jones has captured the highs and lows of it perfectly.

I really loved reading Us Three. I loved the differentiation between the three main characters and how you didn’t have to work hard to figure out who was speaking – the character voices were so perfectly balanced for their personality. Jones makes it very easy for you to fall into their story. I also love that all you are kept on your toes throughout. You never see what is coming and when events do transpire your mind is blown how you didn’t see it all along. I was truly clueless as to where the plot was going but in the best possible way. Us Three can never be accused of being predictable.

Us Three is a brilliant novel that deals with the complexities of friendship and growing up.

Us Three by Ruth Jones is available from 3rd September 2020.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was my first kind of contemporary read, and I was happily surprised. I've pretty much watched things Ruth Jones has written throughout my life so I was super excited to give her literary work a go - she did not disappoint. Us Three was light and fun but had rich and gripping moments of drama. Because I was following the characters for such a long time I was rooting for them and even in points of tension between them I could still see where everyone was coming from. It was at times heart-warming, at times heartbreaking, hilarious and simply great throughout. This book really challenged the inner workings of friendship and the developing dynamics between them as they grew individually. It was raw and true and showed both the good bits and the bad bits. Plus I found I related to this as I myself am from a small Welsh town - I don't see that much at all in books but I found it was very enjoyable and definitely think it should be done more (but I will be honest, due to the 3 friends and the holiday I couldn't help but be reminded of Beryl, Cheryl a Meryl (by no means a bad thing!) - if you know, you know). This was a lot of fun and I will definitely be reading more of the same - thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the advanced readers' copy!!

Absolutely loved this book. Ruth Jones is a natural writer.
Lana,Judith and Catrin have been friends since they was in primary school.
They decide to go on a trip of a lifetime to Greece before they go to university and spread their wings. Once they are back things change can they be best friends forever or are some friendships not meant to last. We see the girls through their teens and into their fifties.
Can’t wait for Ruth’s next book.
Thanks NetGalley

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I was left slightly cold by this novel. The concept is great - I love books that delve into the complexity of female friendships (Anna Hope's Expectation was one of my stand-out books of last year) but I felt the writing was stilted in places and the characters were slightly clichéd.

I really enjoyed this book as it was a change for me from my usual murder mystery psychological thrillers. I liked the different time lines and thought there was a great build up of the characters of the three girls who all had their own unique voices. Mentioning voices - I loved the welsh dialogue which I could hear in my head as I read it. I confess to having shed a few tears along the way. I didn’t realise the author was the talented Ruth Jones whose writing (and acting) I admire in Gavin & Stacey and Stella. I’ll definitely be reading any future books she publishes.

The book had so much potential - strong female bonds, the hand of fate, perceived betrayals - but for me something was missing. The story follows the friendships of three best friends and how life impacts their bonds. Lana, Judith and Catrin have been best friends since childhood but when Judith ends up with Lana's ex-boyfriend, friendships are tested and an irreversible chain of events are put into motion.
The book started too slow for me and I really struggled to remember which name and backstory belonged to which girl. The second half picked up, but considering I only "liked" one of the three characters, I never felt fully invested in the story and its outcome. Overall, a pleasant but possibly forgettable read for me.

This is honestly one of the best books I have read this year! I absolutely devoured it within a few hours & once I had started I just couldn't stop until I had turned the last page.

Absolutely brilliant characters & a fantastic storyline that will make you laugh & cry in equal measure. I will definitely be reading more books by Ruth Jones!!

I really enjoyed this. Perfect summer reading. Great characters who developed throughout the novel. and it was lovely to see them grow. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this book,the characters were so realistic and well written,the plot was good and believable and I loved the writing style.Having read this book I want to read Ruth Jones first book now .I liked the characters so much that I will really miss them.I think this is the best book I have read so far this year and I read a lot of books.Anyone who has still to read this book is in for a treat and I hope they enjoy it as much as I did.

Thoroughly enjoyed this. A story of three friends who are woven together from the age of five when they meet in primary school. Family, relationships, marriages, deaths and births are all explored. In some places it’s superbly happy and in others devastatingly sad. An easy read and well written.

I have to admit I only picked this book because of the Author, Ruth Jones, as this sort of fiction isn't what I'd normally pick.

Us Three spans 40 years and tells the story of three childhood friends, Catrin, Judith and Lana. They promised to always be there for each other but, predictably, things fall apart slightly in their 20's as they all pursue their own lives. The book covers the many up's and down's of their friendship over the years and how they are still entwined in each other's lives no matter what happens.

This review is a tough one, as I expected more from Ruth Jones and I struggled with the pace of the book as I found it quite slow. A lot of the arguments and falls out could have been easily resolved by simple communication but the lack of this is what made the book believable. It's an easy read and one i wouldn't actively recommend but I wouldn't tell someone not to read it either. 3*

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh I'm so sad to have finished this book. I picked it up yesterday morning and knew within 20 minutes that no housework was taking place. I carried the book around with me all day and hid from the kids until they demanded dinner (which I cooked one-handed while I continued to read). Kids can be such an inconvenience at times 😀

I loved the story of three little girls who bonded at primary school and grew up in a tight little Welsh village. The girl's experiences were quite typical which made me love the book even more nothing seemed far fetched or added for dramatic effect. Being Welsh myself I related so much to my own childhood and families that I knew growing up. It made me laugh out loud and also fill up with real tears.

This is Ruth Jones's second book and I thought it was very well written. I hope that she writes more books based in Wales as I really enjoyed reading in my own accent. It came unexpectedly but also quite naturally, it made laugh at myself, our little Welsh traits and made me love and relate to the characters even more. They were my best friends.

Best book of the year so far. To sum it up I'd say "it was bloody lush"

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this title in exchange for an unbiased review.

absolutely loved this story. Ruth Jones has a wonderful way with words that makes reading her books a dream. The writing flows, your heart expands and you feel everything that the characters are going through. You share their joy and you share their pain. Written with brutal honesty that life isn't all roses. A gorgeous book that I didn't want to put down.

Really enjoyed this book. Steady paced, humourous, great characters, I was absorbed throughout. Will be reading more Jones books in the future!

I really enjoyed this novel much more than I did Ruth Jones’ first book.
Three school friends go together for a post-exams holiday and things change drastically for all three as a result of this. One has dreams of a theatrical career another a doctor and to an extent this all happens but there is an unbreachable rift. Throw in a few deaths and tragedies and it may not seem like a fun read but it is actually a light, enjoyable book with a lot of amusing bits.
The really clever parts are that the author can evoke the pre-internet ennui of the 1980s in a small town and also that all the characters are both flawed and likeable. From the brash loudmouthed show off and the boring, dutiful plodder, they are all so real and believable.

I really wanted to like this book but I really struggled and couldn't complete it. Too much Gavin & Stacey for me.