I love William Boyd’s books so I was excited to get a copy of his latest one.
I found it very readable and I enjoyed the characters and can imagine that this is what life in the entertainment industry is like. 
I found the book sad in parts, funny in others and I wanted to keep reading to see how the story ended. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed William Boyd books but also to anyone who enjoys a good story.

This is not a difficult to read book , its characters are diverse but  not one of them is who they seem to be. They all have extra marital affairs, a hidden LGBT personna, more than the requisite number of boyfriends. What none of them has is a storyline to carry them through this narrative in a way that will engage the reader. I could not care less about them, the supposed film they were making, the ways they were all planning against each other or anything else. Not for me this one

I usually love this authors books but I'm afraid this one wasn't one of his best Set in the sixties it centres on Three main characters lives and although I  liked one of the characters story the others didn't gell for me I'm sorry to say. I'm sure that it will appeal to many readers but just not me unfortunately

my first sensation beginning to read was to sigh with pleasure - I was in the hands of a master - I was confident that despite what felt like a long time build up, something would come - the characters were funny and Elfride (sp?) the writer who'd had success and now hid, and told lies to protect herself, is a wonderful depiction - deft and observant. the film has all the characters that we not only imagine will be there, on set, but we want them to be there - and even though they act in familiar ways - we want that - and it is confidently suppled - there's a great deal of pleasure in being on the receiving end of such reassuring material. so, it does not jounce along with too much forward drive, or obsessively stick to an action plot - it gets there and it's satisfying. I loved this one, as I have loved many of Boyd's novels over the years.

Boyd always guarantees a good read and as much as I like this I didn't feel it was his best. 
It's a very character driven book (which personally I like) and the 3 protagonists are all unique characters which is what will keep you reading. For me the book lacked plot but I loved immersing myself in the era and the lives of the trio. If you're new to Boyd then maybe I wouldn't start with this one but if yore a fan then I would still recommend this. I do think this would maybe be better suited to the screen....

This book was not as good as William Boyds's other books.  The characters were poorly drawn and very unsympathetic.  I'm not sure whether even the writer knew whether he was writing a straight novel or a "spoof".  Either way, the plot was uninteresting.
As with so many other books, the ending was awful.  I would only give it two stars.
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This was an enjoyable read, but I wouldn’t say it was his best. It took quite a bit of getting into the story for me. 

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

This novel is based around the making of a film but the true cinematic quality is in the lives of the main trio of characters. In fact it feels like a film within a film.  All the main characters struggle to be something they are not, they use non de plumes or professional names but these are covers for struggled artistry and a place in a changing world in 1968 (sexually, politically, artistically and socially).  The novel is witty and humane and the reader roots for these characters in spite of their errors and mis-guided judgements.  They are so real they each deserve a novel of their own.  Who knows!

A new novel by one of our best writers. It is many years since I last read a Boyd novel, but this one didn’t disappoint. Set in 1960s Brighton at a time of great social change, it examines three very diverse characters connected by a film being made. The film director, failed alcoholic novelist and ingenue film star are all dealt with sympathetically as they each try, with different levels of success,to work out how to rescue their lives. One ends in tragedy - not the one you might expect.

William Boyd is such a clever writer, that this novel won't disappoint, but I didn't rate it as highly as some of his others. Set in 1968, on the set of a movie, the story has an array of great characters, and enough plot intrigue to keep your reading. My favourite character was Talbot Kydd, the film’s producer. And his secret life really interested me, but I felt Boyd could have gone much further with that plotline. Still a very enjoyable and rewarding read.

I received a copy of this book to review from Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity.
As always, Boyds noels are extremely well written. The time described is not one I usually enjoy but the writing was os well done and the story so well crafted that I found myself unable to tear myself away for the story. 
However, the story was stretched out at times and the formatting of the book was hard to read. 
A great read.

Always thrilled to hear of a newly published Boyd novel - however I was not so keen on the era in question, the swinging 60’s nor the subject matter film making. Despite this the characterisation was good, interweaved through three storylines, a novelist an actress and a producer. The scene is set at a time of rioting students in Paris, liberal drug taking, divorces, alcoholism and a struggle to keep private lives private.  As the novel progresses that struggle becomes more apparent. I can imagine this being adapted for film production

Thanks to Netgalley the author and Viking publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

The story is set in Brighton in the 1960’s where we meet a writer, film producer and an actress who are all working on a film. 

They all have their own secrets and as the pressure builds, which one will explode!! I loved how we got to know the characters and their individual demons. 

An author I will definitely be looking out for.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

I enjoyed reading this book, mainly because I thought this writer must be taking us somewhere interesting. The era and the characters all felt like people I'd seen before but that, of course, wouldn't matter if the story said something new. So I bounced along for the ride and found it mostly entertaining but then was pretty let down when it all came to very little. If the world of this story is of interest to you, then definitely give it a go. Otherwise, I wouldn't strongly recommend it.

William Boyd is one of my favourite authors and although, in my opinion, this is not quite up to his usual standard it is still an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend this book to those who want a lighter read from a quality author.

During revolutionary summer of 1968, a film is being shot in Brighton.  Three characters have lives entwined in the film - Talbot is the producer and is struggling to lead a double life; Elfrida was once a famous novelist who now appears to be drinking herself to death and Anny is the star of the film, but with very dubious taste in men.  As the shoot continues, their private lives begin to become the big news.  We become totally involved with the trio in this utterly delightful and very moving novel.  Highly recommended.

Trio is based in Brighton in the summer of 1968, and focuses on three main characters who are all related in one way or another to the film production that is central to the story. Talbot is the producer of the film, but is he keeping a secret from everyone he knows? And is his business partner trying to rip him off? Anny is the beautiful, unpredictable star of the film, but is her past coming back to haunt her, in the form of old lovers? And how will her new lover deal with this? And Elfrida Wing is the alcoholic, reclusive author who is married to the director of the film, desperately searching for her next source of inspiration. 

I found this book quite unusual, the characters are incredibly vivid and well written, and I found them each quite compelling in their own way, although if I had to order them in preference, I probably found Elfrida the most interesting, with Talbot in the middle, and I was a bit indifferent towards Anny. The concept of the story was good, but I’m afraid it just didn’t quite grab me, although in saying that, I was never tempted to not finish the book - I wanted to know what happened and found it a decent read, but I wouldn’t re-read it myself. The characters are great and the story was intriguing, and I thought it all came to a good resolution, but it just didn’t hit a particularly high note for me, I’m afraid! If you’re on the fence about reading it, I think it would be worth a read - you’ll probably figure out quite quickly if it’s for you or not. 

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Trio focuses on the making of a film in Brighton at the end of the 1960's. William Boyd is such a skilled storyteller, and this is easy to read and enjoyable but not my favourite of his novels. The tone wasn't quite right for me (neither funny nor serious enough),  the characters weren't quite real enough and i felt it ended a bit abruptly.

A very enjoyable and easy read set in the British film industry at the end of the 1960s, the story hangs around the making of a film “ladder to the Moon”. I found it a little slow to get started but I am glad I persevered because I find William Boyd is able to bring his characters to life for me making me see and feel life through their eyes. Life for his 3 central characters, Elfrida the novelist, Anny the American filmstar and Talbot the movie producer, is not straight forward either!  I soon found myself being drawn in by the authors story telling abilities. As I learned more about each of the main characters own personal struggles with life I felt more empathy and sympathy for their often tragic and sometimes beautiful but very lonely paths. This book might have been one which could make the reader feel sad but not for me. Trio, made me reflect on the solitude of life, how we can react to it and also the ability that we all have within us to be, at times, capable of great change and acts of unseen heroics. In contrast life and circumstances can sometimes overwhelm the most unexpected people. A thoroughly enjoyable read which I ended up unable to put down until I finished it, wonderful escapism and well written by a master in their craft.

I have been a huge fan of William Boyd since reading Armadillo 20 years ago and particularly loved Any Human Heart and Restless, so I was thrilled to. receive this ARC copy from Netgalley and Penguin. Unfortunately however I really struggled to engage with Trio, in stark contrast to his previous novels which I devoured. Whilst his prose is as lyrical as ever I just couldn’t warm to the characters.