Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28573 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05-19
• Binding: Paperback
• 464 pages

Synopsis
Ellie and Dan are living proof that opposites attract. He always follows instructions and she throws the manual away. He loves sports whereas Ellie's allergic to any form of exercise. Ellie doesn't have a mother. And Dan does - a mother who wants to take over EVERYTHING. At first Ellie is thrilled to have Linda as her adopted mother and to be a part of the close, loving Cooper family. But when she and Dan decide to get married and wedding plans progress, she starts to wonder: is it normal for Linda and Dan to speak on the phone twice a day? How on earth do they come to be having a reception with Chilean bloody seabass and humongous bloody white ribbons tied everywhere when all she wanted was a quiet registry office? In fact, is she marrying Dan OR HIS MOTHER? And Ellie's problems have just begun. When she discovers she's pregnant she realises that Linda's only been rehearsing for the real takeover. She seems to want to live her life through Ellie and in the words of the immortal Princess Diana, there are three of them in the marriage.

Customer Reviews

another compelling read!
I have just read this book after recently discovering jane Green and Imust say I really enjoyed it - I could relate to the characters, and could understand what the characters were feeling! Im surprised at the reviews about this book as I really enjoyed it - my fave book is Jemima J but I already enjoyed mr Maybe and Spellbound! Would definitely recommend this book along with her others I have read!

Not her best Work
I've read Bookends which I really enjoyed, Second Chance which I liked well enough, and I started this--The Other Woman. I couldn't finish it. I read to page 100 and my discomfort with the characters just kept building. I couldn't go on. I know you're not supposed to like the mother, Linda, but by 100, I wasn't even that fond of Dan. The tone struck me as whiney--even though the narrator had things to be unhappy about. The story felt like it was building to a train wreck I just didn't want to see.

In the two other books by Green that I've read she introduces more interesting characters earlier in the book. This one just kept me waiting too long.

Ick.

Average
This was the first Jane Green book I have read, possibly the last. This is easy reading (I read it in a couple of days) and can be funny in places. However there is not a lot to the storyline and I found it dragged out. Although the story line was not as predictable as I expected it to be, the happy ending made sure it all worked out well in the end - frustratingly!
I also found it irritating it was based in London but the author kept using American expressions "draw" a bath etc.
A few days after finishing it I am struggling to remember much of the book so that says a lot - but ok for a holiday read or if you are bored!