This review is written with thanks to Michael Joseph, an imprint of Penguin UK, and Netgalley for my copy of My Sweet Revenge.
Paula knows that her husband, Robert, is cheating on her. Before she leaves him, she wants him to remember why he fell in love with her, so that when she leaves, he will care. Together with Josh, the husband of her husband's lover, she hatches a plan for revenge. Will she get the revenge she craves?
Robert is an actor in a popular television series, as is his lover, Saskia. Having produced several television shows herself (including tw0 of my favourites. This Life and Teachers), Fallon has in depth knowledge of the television industry, which she is able to use in this novel. This allows her to give the reader a realistic insight into the lives of the characters throughout the novel. However, despite my insight into the character's lives, I found it very difficult to connect emotionally with them, particularly Paula and Saskia, who I felt were cold and irritating.
This impression was increased by the narration, as Fallon uses first person narration to tell the story, alternately between Paula and Saskia. Although the narration did not help me warm to the characters, I enjoyed the way it exposed each character's lies. In the second half of the novel in particular, this allows Fallon to weave in several twists, which did engage me more as the novel progressed, after a slow start.
Last year, I reviewed Got You Back, one of Fallon's earlier novels, and commented then that Fallon's background in television means that some of her ideas are more suited to this medium and do not translate as well as they might to literature. I feel that the same issue arises here, as there are some aspects of My Sweet Revenge that may generate more suspense on a screen.

My Sweet Revenge
Jane Fallon
Available: January 12, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley.com and Penguin UK for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
While it is widely known among my friends that I adore a British bonk-buster (Jackie Collins, Victoria Fox, Nigel May, etc, etc) I am also a sucker for a story about a woman of a certain age wising up to how her life is going and making major changes. Of course, its common knowledge that if you’re not happy with yourself , how can you expect others to do the same? While it’s a common theme for most of Ms. Fallon’s books (Getting Rid of Matthew is my favorite but I also liked Foursome, and Strictly Between Us) she manages to sculpt each individual novel with its own characteristics, antics, and heart.
What I loved: Part II at exactly 50% through the book – BRILLIANT!!! I am a sucker for an amazing plot twist and Jane Fallon placed a nice one in the perfect place. Well done! Just an overall absolute delight to read.
What I didn’t love: You would think after all of the Brit books I read that I would have a handle on the schooling by now. Forms, O-Levels, A-levels, college, university, aaarrrggghh! Would someone please explain them as they relate to the school I know here in the States? I think the A and O levels are kind of like out ACT and SAT tests that our kids use to gain acceptance to what we call college. Are the colleges in the UK more like our community colleges and the university is more like graduate school. Someone please help me.
What I learned: Revenge……..so cold………sooooooo good.
Overall Grade: B+

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Thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph for the advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lies, deception, jealousy... this book has it all.

Paula decides revenge is a dish best served cold when she discovers her husband's affair with his co-star. She's going to make him fall back in love with her, and then kick him to the kerb.

But that's not as easy as it sounds. How do you go about attracting a man you despise? And there's not much to like about the errant husband Robert, whose ego could Trump the worst man alive. God, this man loves himself.

But then none of the characters are particularly likeable; they are all pretty self-obsessed. At first I felt compassion for Paula, but then I found my sympathy conflicted. I know hell hath no fury and all that, but in trying to stick it out, Paula risks turning into someone bitter and twisted, and perhaps no better than her weasley spouse.

Just like the plot in the book; it twists and turns, and you don't know who to believe or who to root for. Fallon keeps us guessing, as the players outplay each other, and feelings and emotions are manipulated by all concerned.

That all said, My Sweet Revenge avoids leaving a sour taste thanks to Fallon's sharp humour and witty observations. She drew me into the complex plot, utterly enthralled by the appalling behaviour of these self-indulgent people right to the very satisfying end.

Oh guys, "My Sweet Revenge" was one of my most anticipated releases in January... heck, this year! Since reading Jane Fallon's "Strictly Between Us" I've just fallen in love with this author, her writing and her sharp - observed, funny stories. This book is really a brilliant, sharp read, that keeps you asking what would you do in Paula's situation. I personally don't think I'd be able to plot such a plan and this is probably why I enjoyed this book so much. It was something new, something fresh and different.

So yes, OK, we could discuss the main character's motivations and blaming her for wanting to lose weight to win back her husband back, or to blame her for wanting to lose weight at all, as she should be happy exactly as she was, bla, bla, bla, but I'm not going to blame Paula at all. Probably it's not politically correct to try to lose weight, succeed and feel better in the new body nowadays but I found myself cheering Paula on, clapping and being glad that she succeeded and to be honest, she was like inspiration for me. If she could do it, then I can do this as well! Her resolve was inspiring and genuine, her attempts to lose weight, especially at the beginning, not only comical but also so realistic, and her desperation and doubts soon turned out into a full commitment, and I totally admired it in her. I think some may say that Paula deserved what happened to her, with totally forgetting about herself and turning into an unhappy woman who needed to search the net to find something to speak to with her husband, but I am not the one who thinks so - I think that it is normal that people, even those who love each other incredibly and crazy, and it was not Paula and Robert's case - would eventually drift a little apart and live in their own worlds - but not taking it to such extremes as Paula and Robert, of course. Robert, on the other hand, oh boy, Robert, he was such a self - centred and narcissistic bore but it made me hollow laugh to see how happy he was with himself when, in fact, he was a ageing "star" of a soap - opera.
I absolutely appreciated the fact that Paula was honest with us, she didn't beat around the bush and I immediately felt at ease with her. Her narrative and the way she perceived the events made me grin, shake my head and roll my eyes at Robert's antics and lies. She tells us her and Robert's history and it is quickly clear how much she has sacrificed for her husband, and why did she change so much and is not the glamorous woman on his side as would probably be expected - instead she's working at the bakery. But this is the next thing that I loved in Paula - the whole glamour, the flashes, red carpets or the skinny minnies that were working with Robert didn't intimidate her, she was happy with her life and didn't need the false praises to feel better. No, she was realistic and down to earth. Intelligent and perceptive.

All the characters I loved or slowly started loving to hate. They were brilliantly drawn, they were entertaining and they all felt so realistic. Their interactions were funny and sharp and Jane Fallon has this wonderful talent to show their true faces while they themselves are trying to hide them. Even the background characters, such like Paula and Robert's daughter Georgia, or Robert's sister Alice, the self - obsessed one who reckoned she's an actress, even though she was anything but, brought so much life and were like a breath of fresh air. And how well the author portrayed Saskia! She was shallow, self - obsessed, focused on her looks only, hilariously serious about herself but also with some surprises up her sleeve which made her unpredictable and so much more interesting! Or let's take Josh, who, as the show producer, eventually took matters in his hands - the idea of re - writing the script and making Saskia and Robert screen characters unlikeable was brilliant!

I absolutely loved how the story, that already was quick - paced, has suddenly gained even more speed with the unexpected part 2! It was such a surprise for me to turn the page and see that it has a new narrator, and it added not only tons of new details but also complicated the story and we got twice as much mean manipulations, which was brilliant! By mean manipulations I don't mean anything life - endangering although Jane Fallon touches lightly upon the moral and ethics limits but in my opinion she also comes out on top. There was nothing so controversial that made me gasp, she only makes the characters' lives complicated but nothing very bad is happening and I wouldn't say that it turned into nastiness nor anything similar.

I was really hooked from the first page and didn't want this book to end. "My Sweet Revenge" is a bittersweet story with strong and solid characters, with laugh out loud moments and many twists and turns, and you really can't be sure what to expect and - and it was the best! - who to trust and which information is true, the author has really messed with her readers! Revenge is for a sure a dish best served cold - but this book is not only about revenge. It is about finding happiness, finding yourself, about changing and not being afraid to live life like you want it, about gaining self - confidence, and I thoroughly enjoyed this addictive, witty novel - it had all what I'm looking for in a great book. It was clever, witty and there were the so much appreciated by me last minute revelations. Highly, highly recommended!

Her best yet. An artful combination of cleverness and easy reading. Read it in a day and thoroughly enjoyed

Three and a half stars.
What do you do when you discover that your husband is having an affair? Ignore it or try a spot of revenge? This is Paula's dilemma when she finds out about Robert and his co-star Saskia. Paula and Josh (Saskia's deluded husband) work out a plan of action - what could go wrong! This was humorous with a touch of meanness thrown in too - I laughed one minute and the next it was "what"? Most of the characters are ones you'd cross the street to avoid, well I would. I felt this novel could have been a bit shorter as it started meandering a bit in the middle which made it slightly confusing. But it was enjoyable and a great way to pass the time - the reader will certainly want to keep turning those pages to find out how or if Paula and Josh get their own back on their "delightful" spouses.

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have always enjoyed Jane's books and this was no exception. Paula and Robert have been married for a long time and she finds out he is having an affair and serves up her revenge. Paula sets about befriending the other woman, transforming herself and ruining her husband.

There was plenty of laugh out loud moments and as always perfect reading.

When I read the blurb for this book, I immediately thought that is sounded unusual. And it was. It is a story of revenge, definitely, but it is also a story of relationships, friendships and manipulation!

It started well and I was enjoying it immensely, but then it seemed to slow right down. The plot became increasingly complicated and drawn out. This meant that I began to lose interest and then literally lost the plot!

A good idea but it was too long for me.

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first book I've read by this author and it certainly won't be my last. I loved it and highly recommend it.

My Sweet Revenge was a real page turner and Jane Fallon is the queen of the plot twist. Having said that, I started out believing that I’d unravelled this plot just a few pages in – but how wrong was I?
A novel written in two parts, mostly from the first person point of view of the main character, Paula, this novel moves at a comfortable pace, one I enjoyed and loved getting stuck into. On the whole characters are well defined and developed and the dialogue is realistic and moves the story along nicely.
It’s a very ‘grown up’ book with adult issues that play on the emotions. I felt angry and upset at times but Fallon laces the story with humour and witty comebacks from the cast of characters and I laughed out loud at least once.
I would recommend this book to readers of general and women’s fiction looking for a good writer to entertain when you want to snuggle up with a book and a cup of tea.
A couple of things I wasn’t sure I liked was the way the protagonist speaks directly to you as a reader at times and brings you into a conversation – those were the points of the novel I felt were forced and didn’t quite flow for me. Also, I got a little confused with the way the ending was told - jumping to three months on to a character I always thought was surplus to the story and then jumping back to find out what happened in the main plot. it could be because this was a galley copy and needed to be fixed. But you will find that there is a satisfying end to a satisfying story. Grab a copy.

A really twisty revenge based story that was great fun, I especially enjoyed things from the halfway mark. A pleasant but slightly far fetched read, there's no way I could have restrained myself.
Hard not to describe without any spoilers, but it's a recommend.

I started off really enjoying My Sweet Revenge, but the longer everything was drawn out for the more my interest started to wain. I am not sure that I could do what Paula does in this book, which is find out my husband has been cheating on me, and not let on to him at all, for months until she is ready to try and enact her revenge.

There was a lot of porky pies being told by Paula, but also by Robert, Saskia and Joshua, the focal characters of this book. In some ways I do admire Paula, as her initial plan for revenge seemed solid, by making her husband fall back in love with her, before admitting she knows the truth and kicking him off.

However as the story progresses she realises that won't be enough, and that she really needs to try make sure he and his piece on the side have broken up, so that he can't have either of them. It is from those thoughts that she attempts to befriend Saskia, the other woman.

What I have neglected to mention is that Robert and Saskia work together on a drama series, as does Saskia's husband, and they are both trained actors. So when Saskia and Paula start meeting up, it is hard to know what information to trust.

My personal thoughts about the characters personalities aside, this is a likeable book, with a story that will certainly appeal to others. I enjoyed Jane Fallon's writing style, and there were moments where I was loving the book. I really enjoyed the few times Alice was mentioned, she is Robert's sister, and is self obsessed and reckons she is an actress too. I also really felt for Georgia, their daughter, at some points, especially since this was all happening during exam time.

Towards the end I think I was more confused and befuddled than anything else, as I couldn't work out who was supposed to know what, and I had lost track of what the truth for any character really was, which is unfortunate as I don't like feeling confused in the run up to the end of a book.

If you like books with complex revenge plots against a spouse, and involve manipulation of people's emotions then My Sweet Revenge will be your sort of story.

Thank you to Michael Joseph and Netgalley for this copy of the book that I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

What a great book to start my new year reading on its way. It was funny, lighthearted and had likeable characters too. Paula, the main character, is a strong willed lady, I liked her a lot. I never put this book down, I read it in one sitting as I needed to make sure everything went to plan.

My Sweet Revenge is one of those books which makes you sit up and take note. It makes you smile. It comforts you. Basically it has it all and I personally see it as a number one best seller. 💜

I rate this book 5/5

This is definitely a must read this year! It's the story of woman who finds out her husband has been cheating and the steps she takes to play out
her revenge. For me I found it enjoyable because the main character didn't just let it destroy her, she was proactive and strong!
This was my first book from Jane Fallon but it definitely won't be my last.

A novel that focuses on an idea - the wronged wife decides to get her husband back only to reject him. I felt it was all idea and the characters were very thin. The ending didn't feel like it led on from the rest of the novel.

Twenty years ago Paula and Robert were both aspiring actors but then they had a daughter and agreed that Paula would parent whilst Robert forged a career. Now Robert has some fame as a lead actor in a cosy rural drama and Paula is overweight, unfulfilled and working part-time in a bakery. Then Paula discovers that Robert is having an affair with a co-star and she decides to make herself over before dumping him. However things are not always so simple.

In the genre in which she writes Jane Fallon is a master and this book is no exception. It is as light and frothy as one could wish for, even attempts at high drama and pathos are not so much heart-wrenching as mildly amusing. A book like this will never win prizes for literature but it will sell like hot-cakes because it is easy to read, entertaining and perfectly judged. I'm not a big fan of chick-lit but I really enjoy reading Fallon's work as light relief and this was true to form.