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philippakmoore's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting one. I've noticed that there aren't many novels about going through a divorce when you're relatively young (which is why I tried to write one myself, but that's a whole other story!) so I was fascinated to hear about this book and read it.
Divorce is one of life's biggest emotional sledgehammers. I have not yet experienced a worse feeling than realising that you have married the wrong person.
There were parts of this novel that mirrored my own experience so acutely that I had to shut the book and put it away for a month because I couldn't bear to keep reading.
Others show the protagonist, Judy, grappling with the aftermath of her decision to end her marriage, having grown weary of the pedestrian lifestyle she somehow found herself in, and these are for the most part well drawn and interesting, with a diverse cast of characters to keep you entertained. Judy herself is indecisive and guilt ridden but excited about her new life...hurt and angry that some people in her life seem unable to cut her any slack, and that the loyalty of her friends is not always where she hoped it was. This too is very familiar for anyone who has been through something like this.
And yet.....and yet. I didn't love it. Because it cut a bit close, perhaps, or because it got some things right and didn't with others, some which felt a bit clumsy or didn't quite ring true. Some parts felt a bit rushed or glossed over. I don't know. I might have to ponder this a bit more.
Divorce is one of life's biggest emotional sledgehammers. I have not yet experienced a worse feeling than realising that you have married the wrong person.
There were parts of this novel that mirrored my own experience so acutely that I had to shut the book and put it away for a month because I couldn't bear to keep reading.
Others show the protagonist, Judy, grappling with the aftermath of her decision to end her marriage, having grown weary of the pedestrian lifestyle she somehow found herself in, and these are for the most part well drawn and interesting, with a diverse cast of characters to keep you entertained. Judy herself is indecisive and guilt ridden but excited about her new life...hurt and angry that some people in her life seem unable to cut her any slack, and that the loyalty of her friends is not always where she hoped it was. This too is very familiar for anyone who has been through something like this.
And yet.....and yet. I didn't love it. Because it cut a bit close, perhaps, or because it got some things right and didn't with others, some which felt a bit clumsy or didn't quite ring true. Some parts felt a bit rushed or glossed over. I don't know. I might have to ponder this a bit more.
jennyanydots's review against another edition
2.0
On the surface, Judy Taylor has the perfect life and marriage, but a cancer scare that turns out negative has her re-evaluating everything and running away to Edinburgh. It passed a train journey, but I found it a bit dull, and I doubt I'll look for any more by this author.
finallywakingup's review against another edition
2.0
I was surprised when this book ended as I was still waiting for the story to really take some direction. It had some interesting ideas and interesting characters and I guess that life isn't always nicely packaged up with conclusions, but it just felt a bit wishy washy, like she'd given up one thing for something else but that something else wasn't really going anywhere either and she didn't seem to be much better off. Again, that can be how life works but it's kind of an odd thing to write a novel about.
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