Product Description

The fourth sparkling novel from the bestselling author of THE TRIALS OF TIFFANY TROTT, THE MAKING OF MINTY MALONE and OUT OF THE BLUE has Rose, a prickly agony aunt, fall for the charms of Theo, accountant by day, astronomer by night. who soon has her starry-eyed. But the starcross'd lovers have many obstacles to overcome on the path of true love. Agony aunt Rose has more than a few thorns digging in her side at present. Her seven-month marriage is in tatters, the bills are mounting up at an alarming rate and to top it off, she's being plagued by a stalker who seems to know rather a lot about the mysterious circumstances of her birth. It's usually Rose who dishes out the advice, but now she must rely on her wacky friends to come up with some solutions.They suggest she advertise for a lodger and at first, geeky accountant Theo seems the perfect choice for the now resolutely single Rose. However, she becomes intrigued by her new housemate's fascination with astronomy and he soon has her starry-eyed. But the path of true love never did run smooth, and the starcross'd lovers face stiff opposition in many forms, including the increasingly deranged stalker who is intent on getting Rose's attention by fair means or foul...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #194303 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 464 pages

Review
PRAISE FOR ISABEL WOLFF: Rescuing Rose 'Hilarious, moving, a wonderful story. I loved it.' WENDY HOLDEN 'Isabel Wolff has done it again. A cunningly twisted plot, a fabulously rewarding romance and a dog called Trevor - what more could you want?' JESSICA ADAMS The Trials of Tiffany Trott 'I absolutely, genuinely loved. It's funny, charming, upbeat and unputdownable. Acutely observed, and so well-written. I was completely diverted and entertained' MARIAN KEYES 'A hilarious novel' JONATHAN SALE, Independent Out of the Blue 'A fabulous romantic comedy' Emma Freud, Radio 4 'A warm, witty, romantic comedy. Perfect! Isabel's work has a lot of substance as well as the fun' Helen Lederer, Express The Making of Minty Malone 'Hilarious and accurate...Truly gripping' The Times 'It's effervescent and heartwarming and somehow the pages just turn themselves' Big Issue

Isabel Wolff's stories of 30-something women meeting the right man aren't on the face of it unusual, but they stand far above their numerous competitors for the charm and sympathy of their writing. The narrator of this volume is Rose, whose successful career as an agony aunt contrasts painfully with her personal misery. Separated from her husband Ed after only seven months of marriage and permanently insecure after her mother's abandonment of her as a baby, Rose buys a house in south London and settles down with only her loquacious mynah bird for company. However, soon her life is looking up. Her effervescent twin friends Bella and Bea are a great support, and her new neighbours Beverley and Trevor the dog prove vital allies. Then Rose advertises for a lodger, and along comes Theo - an astronomer who opens up a whole new world to her. But just as Rose is gaining in spirits and confidence things start going wrong again; soon her career's on the line and her personal affairs are in disarray - and most confusingly of all, Ed starts suggesting they get back together?. This is an entertaining diversion given depth and warmth by the idiosyncrasies of the characters and humour of the plot. Wolff has a sharp eye for the absurdities of life and a Jilly Cooper-like fondness for bad puns, and she gives her creations enough life of their own for the reader to feel real sympathy for their tangles and troubles. In a genre where work is often just the backdrop for romance it's refreshing to see characters whose lives and identities are closely bound with the careers they pursue, and Wolff always makes sure that her heroines gain self-understanding and maturity as well as the handsome hero. All in all, a perfect piece of froth. (Kirkus UK)

Jessica Adams, author of Single White e-mail
‘Isabel Wolff has done it again. A cunningly twisted plot, a fabulously rewarding romance and a dog called Trevor – what more could you want?’

She magazine
'Compulsive'

Customer Reviews

Wonderful Read
Couldn't put this book down, Isabel Wolff has a clever way of drawing you in to her books making you want to find out why the characters are the way they are...This book was no exception, you knew Rose had a secret she hadn't told anyone and you really want to know what it is which keeps you turning the pages because you don't know when you find out.
The characters all have a destinctive personality and you feel like a fly on the wall and that you know them all personally.
At the end it ties up all loose ends and not a "happy ever after" ending either.
Wonderful book i strongly recommend it.
I am currently reading another book by woolf, "Behaving Badly"

Brilliant Stuff
Fabulous reading. It's my day off today and I've done is read. The housework will keep for another day won't it??

Great read.
I absolutely adored this book and I was so sad when I realised I was so close to finishing it. It was a one of those books you just can't put down! Rose is an Agony Aunt with a love-life you wouldn't assume an agony aunt would have. A very believable story with likable characters, I really got involved in the twists and turns that Rose's life took through the story. By the end I just couldn't put it down. The letter from her mother is impossible to read without reaching for the tissues.