Product Description

At the age of eighteen, in that first golden Oxford summer, Milly was up for anything. Rupert and his American lover Allan were all part of her new, exciting life, and when Rupert suggested to her that she and Allan should get married, just so that Allan could stay in the country, Milly didn't hesitate, and to make it seem real she dressed up in cheap wedding finery and posed on the steps of the registry office for photographs. Ten years later, Milly is a very different person. Engaged to Simon - who is wealthy, serious, and believes her to be perfect - she is facing the biggest and most elaborate wedding imaginable. Her mother has it planned to the finest detail, from the massive marquee to the sculpted ice swans filled with oysters. Her dreadful secret is locked away so securely she has almost persuaded herself that it doesn't exist - until, with only four days to go, her past catches up with her. Suddenly, her carefully constructed world is about to crash in ruins around her. How can she tell Simon she's already married? How can she tell her mother? But as the crisis develops, more secrets are revealed than Milly could possibly have realised...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17109 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

About the Author
Madeleine Wickham was born in London. She read PPE at Oxford and published her first novel, The Tennis Party, while working as a financial journalist. Since then she has written A Desirable Residence, Swimming Pool Sunday, The Gatecrasher, The Wedding Girl, Cocktails for Three and Sleeping Arrangements, all published by Black Swan. She is also the author of several novels published by Black Swan under the name of Sophie Kinsella. She lives in Surrey with her husband and two small sons.

Customer Reviews

One to read if you're suffering pre-wedding stresses!
My fiance bought me this the week leading up to our wedding and I couldn't put it down - I read the whole book in 2.5 hours - then picked it up and read it all over again! In fact I read it 3 times in the 4 days leading up to our wedding! AND I was rushing around!! It's funny, gripping and has an unexpected twist that stopped it being predictable! Can't wait to read the others Ms Wickham has written!

Brilliant, lots of little twists and a really decent read
Was one of those books that you didn't want to put down from the start. A really easy read and perfect for that true 'escapism' feel. Am definately going to search for more books by Ms Wickham - excellent, thanks very much!

Disappointing, too slick
I bought this because of several good reviews in the press, I honestly can't understand the enthusiasm. She writes well but the story line is too glib, there isn't enough depth of charecterisation, ultimately the happy ending just doesn't ring true. Shame, because there was a really good book in there. Perhaps it was written too quickly to meet a deadline?