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from the first pages of the book I thought to myself “well this is going to be a good laugh”. And it absolutely was! Paula is an overweight housewife of a well known actor. Accidentally she finds out, that her husband Robert is cheating on her. She doesn’t want just to finish the relationship, she wants to make Robert to fall in love with her again and then ditch him. But it’s not that easy as it might sound. What I really liked about this book was, the way author picked the characters. All the characters were really diverse and very believable. We have a overweight Paula and her opposite, skinny Saskia. We have grumpy Robert and his opposite - sweet and calm Josh. I really enjoyed Paula’s journey in this book, and I’ll tell you that, after reading this novel It made me want to exercise and get on the diet. If Paula can do it, why I couldn’t? I really enjoyed, that author gave the voice to more than one character in the book. It really helped to understand the characters better and added some fuel to the fire.
When you start reading the book, the whole plot looks a little bit unbelievable. Celebrities, movie shoots sounds not very relatable for common man. But after reading about the author of this book, I understood that this is a perfect insight into filming industry. Author has plenty of experience in this area and I believe that was her way to share it with us. The plot of this book is really well thought through. When you think that it will get boring and repetitive, author throws some well planned turn or twist. They were so unexpected and it kept the whole book like emotional roller coaster. The whole book is really funny and I had that silly smirk on my face while reading it, it lifted my mood. Nevertheless there were some important themes discussed in this book e.g. how weight loss makes you feel or how a divorce can influence you and the ones around you. I loved the ending of the book, it concluded the story very nicely and left me really satisfied. So to conclude, if You like “Bridget Jones”, you will definitely love this light hearted, easy to read and very enjoyable book, with lots of twists and turns and so very sweet revenge.
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Loved this book and by the end I felt I was in the middle of a west end farce! So maybe just a little bit too much for five stars but I would still really recommend it and look forward to other books from this author.
The characters were all too true to like but extremely likeable too. I couldn't guess the ending but fit wouldn't matter if I had it was good fun all through.
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Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book. At first I thought it was going to be the usual fare about woman discovers husband is having an affair, transforms herself saves her marriage. However this was not the case. There were certainly enough twists and turns and red herrings to keep you guessing and interested.. The characters were well written and developed and you found yourself routing for Paula. She grew both as a character and in her self esteem. This was a story of love, deceit, strength, growth and revenge. I heartedly recommend it and I look forward to reading more from Ms Fallon
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Previous to this book I had only read one other book by Jane Fallon (getting rid of matthew). I did enjoy the book but had never got around to reading any more by this author until now and am so glad I have. It took me awhile to really get into the story, was thinking would be some woman keep planning ideas to revenge her cheating husband and how far could you really go with this story line but it was more than that. I enjoyed reading how paula started to reinvent herself and though at first it was to get her husbands attention it was soon apparent that she was doing it for herself and doing what was right for her. The story is full of secrecy and mystery, humor and self reflection, and I loved the plot twists. By half way I was hooked and couldn't put down for wanting to know what would happen next. Would definitely recommend and already adding more by jane fallon to my wish list!
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I like Jane Fallon's writing style. I have read her other books and enjoyed them and this didn't disappoint either.
It did get a little confusing with a certain characters lies but it all worked out good. Definitely worth a read.
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I started reading this book around the time that Delicious aired on SKY so for some reason the book reminds me of that series! I can imagine Dawn French or Caroline Quentin as Paula. It felt as if Paula was a close friend of mine and was narrating it to me over a lovely cup of tea! Lots of laughs and twists throughout, however I found myself getting confused as the multiple layers of twists emerged and it was a lot of hard work trying to remember who knew what and when, sometimes i did not even care. It started really well though but just got very convoluted for my liking. A solid 3.5 stars.
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I wanted to read this book after hearing an interview with the author on the radio. This is a fun, light and entertaining read about Paula who finds out that her actor husband, Robert has been having an affair with a fellow actress, Saskia, on a country soap opera. Instead of having it out with him, she hatches a plan to make him fall back in love with her and once he is ensnared she plans to leave him. At first, this is easier said than done. After a long marriage, Paula has let herself go and is significantly overweight which is not helped by the fact that she works in a bakery and is tempted by all the goodies. She has lost confidence and it is not easy to get into taking regular exercise.
She and Robert have a daughter, and many years ago they had made a pact that Robert would further his career at the expense of Paula and further down the line, he would take greater responsibility in the family arena and Paula would pick up her career as an actress. Only somehow that never materialised. Paula slowly improves her body image as exercise pays off. There is much intrigue as she befriends Saskia secretly, who is married to Josh. She acquires a co-conspirator and the two of them plan and scheme. There are a few twists.
This is a well written escapist novel, that has charm and some great characters such as Paula's boss who cheerleads Paula's self improvements and her outlandish plans, even when they veer on the side of mean. I particularly liked the part where Saskia is referred to as Sadskia by the press. As with all the best laid plans, elements misfire and the story ends up in a different direction. There is plenty of comic touches, wit and humour to keep the reader engaged. Recommended for those times you need just pure entertainment. Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
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My Sweet Revenge was a fun, clever and witty read. That proves that there is great fun to be had even when you are hell bent on revenge. I loved all the twists and turns in the story. I had no idea how everything would turn out. But I was rooting for Paula all the way, to show Robert what for. Mainly because I found Robert to be a bit of a prat so I quite enjoyed him getting his comeuppance. To be honest he deserved nothing less. And the fact that he like the awful Saskia really did him no favours. He was a typical idiot who can't see what is under their nose.
Paula was someone who I could really relate to. And I'm sure that there are others out there who could take some inspiration from Paula. By the end of the book she is a completely different person, and to use a cliche, she has been on a journey. She may have changed physically, but is it also her attitude and perseverance that really makes you want to wave your pom poms in the air.
The only downside to this book was the middle. I felt that in the middle the story was a bit flat. And while I pushed through and was rewarded by a brilliant ending. The middle was a struggle, as there were some big reveals and a change in tact and how the story was told. However I fell, hook, line and sinker for the ending. I thought that this book could not get any more twisted. But it did. And while I feel like a fool for taking the bait. This is what makes this book so so good. And proves that sometimes you have to keep pushing to get to something so satisfying.
My Sweet Revenge was a book that I was eager to read from the very moment I held it in my hands and I was not disappointed. It was everything that I wanted, this is one sweet book perfect to curl up with with a slice of cake and a cup of tea.
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I’ve finally got a free evening to myself, so I thought I’d use it to catch up with some of the reviews for books I’ve read over the last few weeks and months. One of the books I read in the month of December was My Sweet Revenge by Jane Fallon, a contemporary published by Penguin Michael Joseph. Thanks to them for my copy of the book!
I’ll start off by saying that this book intrigued me from the offset: our protagonist Paula has just discovered, through glancing over at her husband’s abandoned mobile phone as it lit up with a message alert, that he is having an affair with one of his colleagues. Instead of confronting him about his adultery, she comes up with the perfect plan to enact her revenge: to make him fall back in love with her so she can snatch it all away, break his cheating heart and leave him with absolutely nothing but egg on his face. She hitches a very cunning plan to lose the extra pounds she’s accumulated over the years, all the while sneakily increasing her husband’s daily calorie intake exponentially. She starts running, she signs up to the gym and hires a personal trainer: you name it, she’s considered it. The entire novel was full of twists and turns and remarkably bad acting; which was a shame, considering that 3 of the 4 main characters were actors. All jokes aside, the book read incredibly well and is definitely one of my highlights of the end of 2016.
I personally wouldn’t be able to pull it off. I would fume monumentally if I ever believed that my husband was having an affair; even more so if the proof was right in front of my eyes. In spite of this, the book was an incredibly enjoyable and clever contribution to the contemporary fiction genre. I loved Paula’s character and thought her plan, albeit longwinded and incredibly risqué – befriending the woman her husband was having an affair with was definitely something that I would never do in my wildest dreams- was one which was incredibly clever and sneaky. It was incredibly easy to read and easy to stick at as well, which is always a bonus as far as I am concerned. It was well written and humorous and just what I needed to pick me out of a horrendous reading slump. I’ve never read anything by Paula before but I’ll be sure to add her name to the (extremely long) list of authors to watch out for!
3.5/5
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It has been two weeks since I finished My Sweet Revenge, and I still don't know how to write my review without possibly offending some people.
Not reviewing it would easy and, in a way, right decision, but after a while I decided to do it anyway.
My opinions are my own, and I do apologise to everyone who might be offended by them.
My Sweet Revenge follows the story of Paula, who found out her husband was cheating on her for a while. Instead of confronting him, she decides to keep a secret that she knows what he's doing, and to make him fall in love with her all over again. Once he'd realize he doesn't want to lose her, she'll leave him.
The reason why this story was on my most anticipated books in 2017 list is because I was so curious how Paula is going to make her husband fall in love again with her.
I also didn't know where the story is going to go, and I was eager to find out.
The one thing I should emphasise is the novel's unpredictability. No matter how hard I tried, I just could not imagine what was going to happened next, and I wanted to read as fast as I could to find out.
Paula was a character so much different from me, with many different opinions, making decisions I would never make.
Because of that, I wanted to follow her story, trying to understand her decisions with an open mind.
However, it was so hard for me to connect with her or like her in general.
Paula's husband was cheating on her, and it is a terrible thing to happen' to anyone.
She felt betrayed (as she should have), blaming her husband for everything, stating over and over how self centered he was, but not once did she ask herself what made him do it.
You see, Paula gained a lot of weight (which SHOULDN'T be a reason to be cheated on, but sometimes it is) while her husband was working out every single day, making sure he looks right.
She also can't remember when was the last time they slept together, and one time in the story when he wanted some action, she refused.
People have needs, and having sex is one of them. If a person does not get it from his/her spouse, it's natural that with time he/she will want to find someone else to get it from.
It's like being thirsty and not getting a glass of water from the one person you're sharing your life with.
So yeah, I don't justify cheating, but in this case, I understand why Robert did what he did.
Also one more thing I didn't like is how Paula (and one more character in the book) stated more then few times how young girls dating older men is gross.
I get why some women think that way, but young girls dated (or married) older men always, in the past and today, and it is not gross, it is natural. To each their own!
The book is written in first person, following Paula's and Robert's mistress POVs.
I really liked Part 2 because the story became more interesting from there.
There were some laugh out loud moments, some "OmG moments", and then, there were some dull moments.
The writing style is good. The book reads pretty easily.
I was happy with the end. It all concluded very well and I am glad how every character got an ending that was the best for him/her, even though not all of them were aware of that.
All in all, I am glad I read this book because it showed me perspectives different from my own.
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I was hooked with this book as soon as I read the opening paragraph, I couldn’t help but be excited that this was a book I knew I was going to love. The idea of what lengths Paula was going to go to all so she could win back her husband was intriguing. Also the fact that the tone from the offset was quite jovial meant that I knew that this was going to be quite a lighthearted story, considering the fact it is about a topic that can be quite devastating.
I really connected with Paula, I liked that her outlook on the situation was so different to how a lot of people would handle it. I also admired the amount of humor I found through her voice and actions as the situation started to progress. Her determination to put a plan into action and subsequent contrition as things start to unravel made her feel very genuine.
However there was a part of the storyline that immediately deducted points for this book, because in all honesty it made me a bit mad when I started to read it. Paula describes herself as overweight and always wearing baggy clothing but as soon as she finds out that Robert is having an affair and that the women he is having the affair with is skinny, she is determined to lose weight.
I understand that it was maybe to highlight that Robert was quite superficial and that she would stand a better chance in her goal at winning him over by losing the weight, but it just felt clichéd. With how interesting the plot was, I felt a little bit let down that this was the reason for her doing it. I could understand her wanting to better herself to make him take notice as part of her plan, or just for herself but something about it being just because of this other women, I don’t know it just didn’t work for me.
Having said that once I got past this bugbear I did find myself cheering her on, empathizing with her over running for the bus and I really enjoyed seeing how she became a lot more confident in herself.
The storyline in this book is brilliant and certainly unique. I loved that everything got flipped on it head, and that Paula was getting just as dastardly as Robert at points; some of her schemes really made me laugh.
There were a few little bits and pieces that I thought were fairly obvious to guess at what would happen, but then there were other points where I thought it would take the predictable route and there was a twist that I didn’t see coming. I have to say that I didn’t want to put this book down because I wanted to know what nonsense Paula was going to get herself into next, and if she’d manage to get out of it.
This is a really fun and enjoyable read, full of twists and turns that you won’t always expect. Even if it’s not a situation you would ever find yourself in, you’ll feel a camaraderie with Paula, as she navigates the new direction her life has taken.
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Personally I didn't really enjoy the story. I felt it was too formulaic and I guessed the ending not even half way through.
I didn't understand why Paula wanted to get revenge on Saskia instead of just confronting her good for nothing husband. I felt that Paula bettered herself physically for the wrong reasons.
I myself am not keen on books that put so much stock in personal appearance. For instance when Saskia was forced to gain weight for a TV role, therefore making her feel ugly. I don't like that.
The character of Georgia wasn't really needed and I didn't see the point of her to be honest.
There were some laugh out loud moments, but I found myself skimming the book in the end to finish it.
Sorry
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Your wife/husband has been cheating on you; how do you feel? Of course, you're going to be fuming, devastated and so on. Would you confront them about it? Or would you be badass and seek revenge?! Well, Paula has found out that her world is about the crumble (pretty much rivalling the amount of crumble on a good ol' apple crumble to be honest); but instead of getting in his face and turning the air around them rather colourful, she is taking matters into her own hands.
The thing is, millions of people have been cheated on and continue to do so for reasons that are only known to themselves. Jane Fallon knows that, that is probably why she took one of the most relatable, soul-destroying and realistic situations and severely owned it.
Have you been cheated on? I have, multiple times. It was the most confidence shattering experience ever; an unforgettable experience if you will. Never mind self-help books, I needed a book like this!!! Writing novels, you have the ability to make people do things that you probably wouldn't do yourself, yet some other books that contain situations similar to this one, have the characters doing what us readers would do ourselves.
OF COURSE WE ARE GOING TO SNIVVEL IN SUPER OLD PJS AND HUMONGOUS SLIPPERS, HOLDING THE TUB OF BEN AND JERRYS.
Instead, Jane Fallon has created a badass, sassy and phenomenal main character who does the complete opposite. She seeks revenge! Paula is officially my heroine, she totally needs to be made into a super hero character! Sorry, going off subject. Anyway. The steps that Paula takes to turn her heartbreaking situation around are very bold, very daring, very 'oh my god you're doing what?!', yet unbelievably brilliant. A couple of times throughout the book, I did wonder whether Paula was acting slightly childish with the tit for tat and wanting to 'get him back' so to speak. However, that swiftly became a thing of the past the more that Robert annoyed me.
There is A LOT to take in with 'My Sweet Revenge' and you do need to keep extra focused in case you do miss out on any vital information, but oh my goodness it is SO worth it! The storyline to's and fro's, changes direction multiple times but it really is one that will keep you on the edge of your seat in anticipation.
Jane Fallon has exceeded my expectations with her latest novel, especially as her sharp humour is on point from start to finish. I thought Paula was a clever heroine but Jane Fallon has taken that role over!
My Sweet Revenge is a book that will have you crying, laughing, forming a group of solidarity with a woman who is only alive on paper, and realising that it IS okay to put your foot down and own a situation.
Absolute brilliant read; I definitely recommend this as your not-so-guilty secret. Girlpower!
Thank you Penguin, Netgalley & Jane Fallon.
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I am a big Jane Fallon fan, so when I found out that she was releasing a new book, I knew I had to read it immediately. After Laura’s request on NetGalley was accepted (thanks to……), I was thrilled to be able to delve into the book straight away - it definitely didn’t disappoint.
My Sweet Revenge centres around Paula, who finds out that her husband Robert is having an affair. Instead of confronting him about it, she decides to take revenge on him instead. The book follows her journey as she plots her sweet revenge. Not only does she befriend Saskia, Robert’s lover, but she also undergoes a physical transformation.
Immediately you find yourself rooting for Paula, who at the beginning is overweight and lacks confidence. As the plot thickens, you see Paula develop into a strong woman and you hope to yourself that she can pull off her revenge. I’m not sure how many women would be able to keep their cool as well as Paula did throughout, especially when things didn’t always go to plan. However, the character transformation is brilliant, and it’s great to see Paula regaining her confidence.
Jane Fallon is great at developing characters that we either despise or empathise with. The characters of Robert and Saskia are horrid - Robert is portrayed as a lying, pathetic weasel, and Saskia is the ultimate bitch, which is emphasised in the second part of the book as it is partly in her narrative. It’s pretty easy to hate both characters. There are plenty of minor characters throughout the book too, all of whom add a little something to the main plot.
My Sweet Revenge is full of quick wit and laugh-out-loud moments, as well as some shocking turns. As with a lot of Jane’s books, just when you think you know how everything will pan out, she throws in a plot twist. The second part of the book is full of them and I was kept guessing until the very end.
Jane Fallon is the queen of chick lit with an edge, and My Sweet Revenge stands tall as one of her best books. I devoured the book over two nights, and whilst I’m a sucker for chick lit in general, what I love the most about Jane’s work is the sass throughout. There’s no soppy love story here, just a feisty and witty tale of betrayal and the ultimate revenge. I would definitely recommend My Sweet Revenge to anyone who wants a different take on your standard chick lit - prepare to be hooked!
*REVIEW TO BE POSTED ON BLOG 31/1/17
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The is one of many books I have read by Jane Fallon, and like always I thoroughly enjoyed “My Sweet Revenge.” The first part of the story is told from Paula’s perspective while the second part is told by her husband, Robert, and his lover. Paula is described as an overweight housewife who gave up her dreams of acting to care for her and Robert’s child, while he lives his own acting dreams. Paula finds out Robert is cheating on her, but instead of ending their marriage and kicking him out of her life, she decides to seek revenge by making him fall back in love with her, only to break his heart. This book was an entertaining read full of twists and turns, and had a perfect ending.
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I read Jane Fallon’s Strictly Between Us a year ago, and really enjoyed it, so was happy to get a review copy of her new book. This one too was very readable and entertaining, and went down like ice-cream.
These are the opening lines:
I want to make my husband fall back in love with me.
Let me explain. This isn't an exercise in 1950s wifeydom. I haven't been reading articles in old women's magazines. 'Twenty ways to keep your man'.
That couldn't be further from the truth.
I want him to fall back in love with me so that when I tell him to get the hell out of my life he'll care. He won't just think, 'Oh good'.
I want it to hurt.
Narrator Paula has found out that Robert – a successful actor – is having an affair with his co-star. And she is angry, and looking for revenge. She has an elaborate plan, which includes a makeover for herself – and also making a friend of the femme fatale actress, Saskia. She will soon involve the cheated other husband Josh in her plots. From reading the previous Fallon book, I guessed there would be some twists and surprises, and perhaps changes of viewpoint, along the way, and that maybe everything wouldn’t be exactly as it seemed. That was certainly the case, and although there are only so many variations on the theme, Fallon uses them cleverly.
Along the way there is a very funny and convincing picture of modern life – of London teenagers, of the drama of A Levels, and of the give-and-take of a longstanding marriage, with many witty remarks and recognizable moments.
David Essex in his heyday
Fallon is also very funny about the long-running TV drama Robert is in (not supposed to call it a soap…), Farmer Giles, sounding something like The Archers transferred to television. He plays an antique dealer, whose favourite outfit is
a cross between Lovejoy and the Davids Dickenson and Essex. I could just imagine the first costume meeting. What do antiques dealers wear on TV? Dapper but eccentric with a hint of whimsy. That’ll do. No point in trying to be original.
And there is also the question of his big scene in
a set that looks like a back alley where someone might be murdered and not discovered for days (where this is meant to be in our sleepy fictional village is unclear. Everyone stopped caring about the geography years ago).
I very much like the way she can switch your sympathies among the characters – there aren’t outright baddies and goodies, and nobody is too pure of heart. Her characters resemble real people with their faults and kindnesses.
Sweet Revenge didn’t make me gasp and laugh out loud quite as much as the previous one, but I’m certainly up for reading more Fallon, and intend to investigate her back catalogue.
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When Paula suspects her husband of having an affair with his costar- she plans to get revenge by making him fall back in love with her and wrecking any chance of his new love staying together.
She gave up the chance to have her own acting career to look after their daughter and the timing was never right for her to try and succeed as an actor. She is currently working part time in a cafe and feels as though she has let herself go a bit.
When she starts her campaign to win her husband back- she looks at keeping fit, with some very funny scenes.
She also attends some of the celebrity parties she has been avoiding and makes friends with her husband's girlfriend.
I loved the plotting, her friendships and the way she improves her own life in the process of trying to wreck his. It was a real page turner and I loved every page.
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I would like to thank netgalley and michael Joseph for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
From the first page I knew that I was going to struggle to put this down and I did struggle as it's the fastest I've ever read a book!
The story is mainly told from Paula's perspective and I found her a very real, likeable character although I don't know if I could have hung on in there with my husband had I known he was cheating and get to know the bit on the side as well, but I suppose some would to get to perfect revenge. The story is split into two parts and when it gets to part two which is roughly half way the story turns like I didn't expect because yo be honest I thought I'd got this all wrapped up but no I hadn't I'm glad to say.
This is a revenge plot book with lots of emotional manipulation and laughs as although it is a sad thing that is happening to Paula she is a very strong character that gives you a lot of laughs along the way. The husband Robert though I thought was a two faced ****!!
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What a great book. I was hooked on it from the start, with some surprises and twists it was not predictable.
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I really enjoyed this story as I just needed a "nice" book at this point of the year.
The characters are well drawn and you find yourself completely rooting for Paula.
Part two was a little tricky at first, because this is when you start to hear Saskia's side of the story too - I already hated her by then, so did not want to read her "voice". I am not sure this adds to the book, as Paula is a pretty good narrator.
Very entertaining and has a good ending (go Josh!!).