Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Michael Joseph and Jane Fallon for my arc of Queen Bee in exchange for an honest review.

Summary: Laura is seeking peace and quiet after her divorce, so when a tiny studio flat comes up for rent above the garage of one the mansions on The Close she can't resist. Stella is unmistakably the Queen Bee of The Close so when she becomes convinced that Laura is making a play for her husband Al and cuts her out of life in The Close. So laura makes it her mission to discover who exactly Al is seeing and sets down a path that will blow Stella and her own lives apart.

I didn't like this book as much as I'd hoped I would. I've enjoyed Jane Fallon's previous books but this story fell kind of flat for me. Laura was a likeable character and I felt sympathy for her situation but Stella never redeemed herself and the whole point of the story felt kind of out there and unrealistic. It hasn't put me off reading more of her books in future though.

Have you ever wondered how the other half live? Be careful what you wish for!

Finding a flat Laura could afford after her marriage fell apart seemed like the height of good fortune especially as it's in one of the best London suburbs. Knowing the only reason the rent is low is because her new landlady needs the company more than the cash she is happy to oblige. Not everyone is as welcoming however, and it's soon obvious that, unintentionally, Laura has fallen foul of Stella, the the one woman in The Close who has the power to make her new life a misery.

Having a little influence due to her job Laura discovers something that will devastate Stella and end her privileged lifestyle in one fell swoop. Should she tell her or let her suffer? Can she really expect anyone to listen to the new girl when she has been ostracized by everyone who could help if only she was given the chance to explain?

This is a different type of book than I usually read but I enjoyed it very much. The characters are written with a keen eye for the societal norms of a variety of the capital's population. There's Lisa, hard working, wealthy and enjoying her new tenant's company, while her husband travels with his job. Stella, needy, privileged and enhanced to within an inch of plastic perfection who has never worked a day in her life and is intent on passing her expertise in shallowness on to her daughters but can't boil a kettle. While Laura, on the other hand, still reeling from her marriage breakdown, runs her own cleaning company, raises her daughter almost single handedly and still has time to help out when she answers Stella's anguished plea.

In places this book beggars belief with the levels of selfishness and narcissism of Laura's new neighbours while at others it is laught out loud funny as the author's observations seem cruelly accurate and uplifting in equal measure. It was a satisfying and easy read with some surprises along the way and descriptive enough to immerse the reader in lifestyles very few if any will ever experience first hand.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who wants an engaging summer read with a main protagonist who is likeable and realistic alongside a glimpse of what happens where the grass definitely looks greener.

Enjoyable light read, just the right thing for me at the moment!

The plot (which, as usual in my reviews, I will not regurgitate here) is well thought out, with some interesting characters and observations on life, attitudes, behaviours and realities in various layers of our society.

There's a good mix of characters - some instantly likeable, some wholly obnoxious, and some who grow on you as the plot unfolds.

Just when you think you've got it all figured out, a plot twist tells you otherwise.

All in a all a good read to lift your mood. I've read several of Jane Fallon's books now, and will look out for more of her works - she has a nice relaxed style that I really like.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions in my reviews are my own.

Another fantastic book by Jane Fallon. I loved this book! I devoured this book in two days, amazing characters, brilliant storyline, loved it all. I always look forward to reading Jane's books and can't wait for the next one.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

have to admit this book at the beginning made me feel angry...at all the characters well apart from gail...they are your typical bullying group...all women together who believe the word of the queen bee...

but then gradually as the story went on i actually started to enjoy it...how laura won them round and started to help stella, who needed it but didnt realise it....

and the surprises in store for all of them... well just jaw dropping at its best...

jane fallon has done it again...

Oh, how the other half live! If you've ever been jealous of the shallow lives of the super-rich, this should sort you right out!

When Laura moves temporarily into a flat in the house of an uber-rich area, all she wants is a quiet life. However, Stella, the 'Queen Bee' decided that Laura has her eye on her fiance and soon spreads the word to the other residents. Eager to clear her name, Laura does a bit of digging and discover some information on the man that her sense of fair play makes her share with Stella. Disbelieving at first, Stella soon begins to lean on Laura, but should Laura accept everything Stella tells her?

This is a fun read which really shows the author's sharp wit throughout. If you've ever poked fun at the 'barbie-doll' type women, then this is right up your street. Laura has her feet firmly on the ground but, more than that, she is a decent person. Her observations of the other women in The Close, and their homes, is side-splitting and extremely entertaining. All characters are superbly drawn; the story is funny but with more than a grain of truth. I loved Laura, she has standards and class. A novel to sink into, giggle and enjoy - all of which I did with relish. If you've ever watched any of the 'Real Housewives' franchise, you will love this. Definitely worth 4.5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley. This is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

This is such a great, easy to read book and the perfect antidote to what's going on in the world right now.

I thoroughly enjoyed the escapism this book gave me. Laura is a newly separated mum, with a delightful little girl, Betsy and who is living above the garage in the most amazing 'Close' that's filled with over indulged, rich folk.

The writing is fun and uplifting as well, at times, being emotional and raw. There were definitely moments when I 'eye rolled' along with Laura at some of the behaviours and I got SO frustrated with how helpless some of these women are. However, I couldn't give up on the story and found myself devouring it in, pretty much, one sitting.

It's a tale of friendship, jealousy, money and over indulged, over primped women and I particularly enjoyed the observations of these women and their beauty enhancements (using the term beauty loosely).

It's the perfect escapism read and I'm very grateful to NetGalley and the publishers, Penguin UK, Michael Joseph, for the opportunity to preview.

This was definitely one of those page-turner books, I had to keep reading to find out what happened in the end!

Laura has recently been divorced and shares a daughter, 8 year old Betsy, with her husband. Her new house sale fell through so currently her husband looks after her daughter most of the time, while Laura manages to find an apartment to rent above a garage in a very expensive/posh Close until she finds a new house for her and Betsy.

The Close is full of snobby, plastic-surgery enhanced women who don't work, and their (usually) older rich husbands, all apart from Gail & Ben (lovely couple) who have rented Laura the apartment.

Laura runs her own cleaning company and works very hard, so is nothing like all these other women. Unfortunately she gets caught up in the crossfire when one of the guys, Al, makes out that Laura sent him a signed book, just as a friend, trying to throw his wife, Stella, off the scent of his affair. His company is one of the large jobs that Laura has on her books so she initially goes along with it, even though she has nothing to do with it at all, as she doesn't want to lose the contract. Of course Laura is ostracised by most of the women in the Close then as the wife, Stella, is the one they all revolve aorund, i.e the 'Queen Bee' of the title.

But Laura, determined to clear things up, finds out some not so nice information about Al and feels she has to eventually come clean with Stella, which is when the fun and games start!

There's lots of deceit and going behind backs going on, but it's just a really funny, engrossing read. Nothing is quite as it seems and just as you think you've figured it out another secret comes out. Laura was a great character, although I don't think I would have been quite as forgiving/helpful as she was towards Stella!

A really enjoyable bit of escapism that I thorough enjoyed. I do love a Jane Fallon book!

Thank you to Jane Fallon, Penguin and Net Galley.
Pure escapism, and a study of women who don't have enough to do but spend money and pretend to be close friends with other women who are shallow and pretentuous. Laura was nothing like them and her observations are pure gold. A very entertaining read.

This is such a fab book. Jane Fallon has become an author I just can't pass by such well written characters and a story that really kept me on my toes. Now i'm just left wanting more!

When Laura’s marriage falls apart she needs to find a home for her and her daughter. And quickly.

Welcome to The Close, a beautiful street of mansions, where Laura rents a tiny studio above a garage, and gorgeous Stella is the indisputable Queen Bee, who soon suspects Laura of having designs on her fiancé Al, but when Laura unearths the awful secret he is hiding, it threatens Stella’s perfectly curated world as well as Laura’s career.

Hatching an elaborate plan to beat him at his own game, these former enemies are now best friends, but has Laura forgotten that revenge always comes with a sting in the tail?

The fun is largely in the observation of the inhabitants of the Close - I had to laugh at Laura’s description of Stella’s limited skills as “swanning about, bitching and spending money”, which did seem to sum things up nicely. While the characters are to a certain extent stereotypes, there’s just enough depth to make it, if not exactly believable, at least not entirely unbelievable. And there really are women out there not that dissimilar to the inhabitants of the Close.

Another explosive story from one of my favourite authors.

My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK, Michael Joseph for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review and honest review

Laura has moved into the close, well into the annex as a lodger on the close an exclusive gated development, Stella takes an instant dislike to single mum Laura, thinking she is after Al her partner and with her fears confirmed when Al tells her Laura gave him a book, Stella makes life unpleasant for Laura.

A great book with plenary of plot twists to keep you guessing, this was the first Jane Fallon book I have read but I will certainly be reading more.

I enjoyed this book very much. I read it in 2 days so you can tell that it held my interest, apart from being social distancing!
It was a good story, quite enlightening as to how the other half lives, or how the author imagines they live.
I liked the character of Laura although she is not a cleaner I would I employ - too nosy - but a good well drawn character. As for Stella - well draw your own conclusions.
A good holiday/social distancing type read.

After Laura’s marriage falls apart she must find somewhere for herself and her daughter to live. Renting a tiny flat above a garage in a very salubrious gated community, The Close, Laura finally finds peace.

That is until Queen of The Close, Stella, believes Laura has designs on her fiancé, Al. One by one Stella turns the other occupants against her and Laura is left out in the cold.

Until one day, Laura stumbles upon a secret Al has been keeping. Now she must buddy up with Stella to beat him at his own game.

But will Laura remember that revenge comes with a high price?

For some reason I have never read a book by Jane Fallon before, which is somewhat of a mystery even to me as I follow her on Twitter and she is quietly funny. I saw this one up on NetGalley and thought it was about time I give one a go, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Although it was a little slow to start, I did quickly get involved in the secrets Laura had unearthed and the ensuing revenge scheme plotted out by her and Stella. Stella’s character was a hoot, and hers and Laura’s friendship was endearing. There were many times I found myself laughing out loud at the careful and sarcastic guidance Laura had to hand out.

It made a nice change to read a book in this genre that wasn’t about a newly divorced woman finding the next love of her life. Despite their differences at the beginning of the story, Laura and Stella manage to learn things from each other that changes their lives.

Fallon’s writing is really engaging and this story is an easy and fun read. I highly recommend.

Jane Fallon shows yet again how to write women's fiction. Laura is strong, witty, flawed – a bit nosy –but her heart is in the right place. When she has to move into a granny flat, in a rich area, after her marriage break up, she sticks out like a sore thumb; she is down to earth, hard working and the exact opposite of queen bee Stella. Despite their differences and initial dislike, Laura and Stella learn from each other and both their lives change forever.
This is perfect escapism for right now! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! A great story line that kept me hooked and excellent main characters. I would highly recommend this book.

An enjoyable if unchallenging book. The characters can be a bit cliched at times which leads to a little bit of predictability but Fallon’s humour gives the book a light touch. This would be a great holiday read .

Another great read from Jane Fallon!

Laura is recently separated and, in looking for a place to stay, ends up renting the "servants quarters" in a mansion...in a very 'well to do' road called The Close. She finds out the hard way how the dynamics in The Close work and that Stella is "Queen Bee". When Laura is falsely accused of something, she sets out to put the record straight...with very unexpected results!

I don't want to give anything away, but what I did really like about this book was that it wasn't about Laura moving on and finding love, it is about how she gains confidence and makes new friends post the separation, never letting go of who she is. Her love for her daughter, Betsy, is at the core of everything she is doing and you find yourself willing on this hardworking, strong woman to win through the adversity and heartbreak that she is facing.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the humour and sarcasm that arises from the residents of The Close, plenty of botox and marble floors in the houses to keep you entertained!

Overall a great read, I devoured it in a day! Social distancing certainly has its perks!

Thank you to @netgalley, @janefallon2 and @michaeljoseph @penguinukbooks for the opportunity to review.

Released on 30th April 2020.

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I’ve read other books by Jane Fallon and love them but this one did not engage me as much as previous ones .

I read to the end and felt it was a little flat although the ending was good and saved the book for me!

A good read and an insight into how the other half live ! Overall an entertaining read with great writing style. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Queen Bee was a great read, A book about a woman starting life again after an unexpected break up with her husband. She Is trying to get her life back on track so her daughter can come back to live with her. Along the way she discovers a secret about a neighbour’s life and helps her to get revenge. Lots of twists and turns which made me not want to put it down.