Rating: 4 stars
Published: December 12, 2012
Pages: 418
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Reading this book was a landmark event because it meant I would have read all Kerry Fisher’s books (except her one nonfiction book). I therefore was excited getting into this book as I always do with this author.
In this story, best friends, Octavia and Roberta are at crossroads in their lives and marriages. Octavia’s marriage is the first to finally heads for the rocks and while Roberta steps in as usual to support her, she realizes that all is not well in her own marriage as well. Told from both Octavia and Roberta’s points of view, we come to learn about their friendship right from their teenage years, getting married, having kids and getting to the point where they begin to question their choices and if there is more to love and life than what they have both settled for.
As always, this was unputdownable as these two women engulfed me in their world, their friendship, and their lives. However, I found Octavia’s character more believable than that of Roberta or let me rephrase that; I found a part of Roberta’s character not quite as believable and relatable as Octavia’s. I think Octavia’s story though dramatic at the beginning was more straight forward, but Roberta and Jonathan went way over the line for me despite the fact they had three children in the middle of all these “feelings” they were feeling (sighs). I admired the two women’s friendship and thought that the way the author explored the theme around “regret” on your choice of a partner years after marriage was well done and really insightful. Although I did not agree with Roberta’s final decision and really thought Jonathan her husband was a complete idiot (also Octavia’s husband), I can understand the urge and yearning that people may have over what may have been with a lover they believe to have lost along the way. I think I may have blabbed on and haven’t made too much sense in this review, but I know for sure that it’s definitely must-read. I therefore highly recommend.
Now that I am a proud fan of the author who has read all her published fiction books, I can now sit pretty waiting for her new books and follow her on her writing journey. If you haven’t read anything by this author, I recommend you do and you won’t regret it.
The Author:
Kerry Fisher is the bestselling author of five novels, including The Silent Wife and The Secret Child. She was born in Peterborough, studied French and Italian at the University of Bath and spent several years living in Spain, Italy and Corsica. She is married with two children and her dog.
