Product Description

Lucy stole her friend Rose’s ‘happily ever after’ because she wanted Rose’s husband, Peter, and Lucy always gets what she wants. Big mistake. Rose was the ideal wife and is the ideal mother; Lucy was the perfect mistress. Connie – best friend to both Lucy and Rose – is stuck in the middle. She’s got Lucy’s worries about being wife, mother and career bitch in one ear and Rose’s struggle at being a plain old single mum in the other. But Connie has her own troubles: she’s just got the hang of family life when an old flame pops up to rekindle a bit of passion … on the side. For Rose, Lucy and Connie – young wives all – it looks like there’s a few more twists in the marriage tale still to come …

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43281 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 592 pages

Christina Hardyment, THE TIMES
'What makes the characters and their stories distinct are four excellent narrators who take up each tale from its own point of view.... the memorable observations and clever conclusion make for six glorious hours of escapism.'

Review
'What makes the characters and their stories distinct are four excellent narrators who take up each tale from its own point of view.... the memorable observations and clever conclusion make for six glorious hours of escapism.' (Christina Hardyment THE TIMES )

'This is chick lit with a darker side, making it a realistic modern story.... the readers make the characters far more rounded and add a believability factor. Taking nothing away from the written form, the addition of voice made us actually compare the characters with people we know! The story explores relationships and friendship with an uncanny perception that makes it addictive stuff. Instead of being tempted to turn another page, you will find it hard to press stop on the remote.' (www.FromBumptoGrump.co.uk )

About the Author
Adele Parks was born in Teeside, north-east England and now lives in Guildford with her husband and son. Her earlier novels, Playing Away, Game Over, Larger than Life, The Other Woman's Shoes, Still Thinking of You and Husbands were all bestsellers and are published in over twenty different countries.

Customer Reviews

Loved it!
I loved this latest offering from Adele Parkes. The follow up to Playing Away, but different in so many ways. For at start, the story is told from the viewpoint of Rose, Lucy (who stole Rose's husband) and the evil John, lover of Connie in the prequel.

Having Rose as a central character balances out the nastiness of Lucy and John so that you enjoy reading about them and their strange take on things! I was not keen on playing away, as I found Connie to be shallow and selfish, but as she is not half as bad in this book.

The writing style is quirky and funny at times. I couldn't put this book down. I read it overnight it was so unputdownable! I would say that this is one of Park's best books in a long time.

Enjoy.......

A brilliant, thought provoking sequel
Adele Parks is deservedly one of the UK's most talented authors of female friendly fiction. In this sequel to the bestselling 'Playing Away', Parks continues the story a few years later, but using both major and minor characters from the first book to tell their side of the story via first person narrative. The narrators - John, Rose and Lucy provide great insight and their personalities juxtopose one another rather nicely and the characters of the two husbands, Peter and Luke are very muted, to ensure the reader doesn't get overtly confused.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a compelling read about modern day relationships and motherhood.

A damn good read
I thoroughly enjoyed this new title.Written from the perspective of John Connie, Lucy and Rose the characters command sympathy from the reader- even John when we perhaps finally understand why he too, had many insecurities.

For any of you who have been in a relationship and perhaps felt second best to the "first wive" this book will change your feelings forever and make you realise that they too have hang ups.

For the single parents amoungst you it makes you realise that life should be grabbed with both hands, no matter what excuses you have, and for those of you newly married to a divorcee- you will learn how many of them come with more baggage than Heathrow airport.

I couldn't put it down.It made me laugh, it made me cry but most of all, when I finally closed the book after the last page, IT MADE ME THINK.

Enjoy