Product Description

Jo Edwards never planned to live on a barge. She's not even sure she likes boats. But when her husband trades her in for a younger model, she finds her options alarmingly limited. Dora Hamilton never planned to run out on her own wedding. But as The Big Day approaches, her cold feet show no signs of warming up - and accepting Jo's offer of refuge aboard The Three Sisters seems the only alternative. As Jo and Dora embark on reorganising their muddled lives, they realise they both need a practical way to keep themselves afloat. But, despite their certainty that they've sworn off men for good, they haven't bargained for the persistent intervention of attractive but enigmatic Marcus, and laid-back, charming Tom, who both seem determined to help them whether they like it or not ...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14693 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

Cosmopolitan
A fairytale-like, gently witty read ... Heart-warming - made for
sunny days in the park

Sunday Times
Delicious ... gorgeous humour and the lightest of touches

Daily Mail
A sweet a breezy read - the ideal accompaniment to a long summer's
evening

Customer Reviews

Perfect escapism
This was a truly enjoyable read, very funny and cosy. I loved the descriptions of the barge and the atmosphere of the harbour. The Dutch background was also very true to life (I lived in The Netherlands for five years). A lovely escape this dreary summer!Finding Margo

'Chick Lit'
Katie Fforde is in my opinion one of the better writers of `chick lit' This is her thirteenth novel and I admit to having read most of them, as her writing has always been enjoyable when I feel the need for some romantic escapism. However I was disappointed with this one as it even lacked a plot just a typical theme, take two very different women Jo and Dora, both sworn off men until they fall for the charms of Marcus and Tom. Neither of the romances felt convincing either, just all rather predictable. I also found more than a few of the comments and use of words irritating such as the over use of `perimenopausal' I think we got the message. As for the description on p114 when Dora was changing for the karaoke did we really need to know about `stray armpit hair' surely quite irrelevant?
The most interesting parts were those about the barge Jo and Dora lived on `The Three Sisters', most especially when it was sailed to Holland.
A pleasant enough read for an afternoon in the sun but not one of Katie Fforde's best, as once again lacking some of the spark of her earlier novels. I have mentioned this fact before in my review of `Practically Perfect' last year.
Maybe I am just outgrowing Katie Fforde, I hope not as I have been reading and enjoying her books since she was first published in 1995.
One last point to be aware of is that the ending comes sooner than expected. Due to the dire habit of the publisher treating us to an extract of the author's next novel. A fairly new practice that personally I find particularly irritating.

A romance too far?
I am a long-standing fan and have avidly bought and read every book as it comes out. It seems to me the earliest are the best, with wittier, more 'real' heroines and men I want to meet. As KF's popularity has increased, so her characters have become more bland and the books more formulaic - as if she is being 'edited' to fit the generic chick lit market. I was excited by the prospect of an older heroine in Going Dutch, now I am in my 40s, but she (and Dora) lacked depth and complexity. Katie - if you read your reviews - I'd love to see you return to the form of Living Dangerously and Wild Designs, which are my favourites.Going Dutch