Jane Fallon’s books are a little like Christmas as they come but just once a year! This really allows you to build your anticipation for them and to savour them while you are reading them. I made sure I was in the right headspace, I had a sufficient amount of time to give to reading it, and I settled in for the long haul! I knew I’d be in for a treat as her writing is so superior and you can tell that she has developed and cultivated the story over the past year. It has been a labour of love. It hasn’t been rushed, it has been created and then presented to us with a big red bow (again just like Christmas!). I was reading this version as an ARC; hence, there was the odd typo which is to be expected, but I just know that the lucky people that will be clambering to buy this in April when it is released are in for a real treat!
I certainly wasn’t disappointed! The characters were such fun to read about, and the story was so different from what she has done before. The protagonist has already walked away from her marriage, so it wasn’t about her revenge or misunderstanding. It wasn’t about her immediate cheating spouse. So even though these themes are apparent in the peripheral storylines, they are interwoven in a completely new and fresh way that Fallon hasn’t done before.
It was definitely a creative and original storyline. Some of the characters you could really sympathise with and some you just loved to hate. There was a real balance and mix.
The only minor gripe I have is that the prologue threw me a little as I thought it was the protagonist finding out about her husband. Especially as the first chapter was her moving out of her marital home and they have just split up. I spent there first 25% convinced that even though she was saying nothing had happened, the prologue was the catalyst behind their split. So, it was slightly confounding to be then catapulted back to the beginning as part of a different storyline. Once I had this cleared up in my head, everything made a lot more sense.
Overall, another superb read from Jane Fallon and once again, I have to wait like an over-excited child for next years offering!

I thought that this one was ok but I’ve never been blown away by any other books by this author. An easy read, nothing ground breaking and quite samey to her usual books.

Queen Bee is full of characters that you’ll either love or hate. That’s the key to a brilliant book – and Jane Fallon is great at constructing characters that you either want to boost up or tear down. There were some great twists in this book which kept it refreshingly unique and a different kind of contemporary fiction. This will make a great Summer read for 2020!

Queen Bee by Jane Fallon a five-star novel perfect for a holiday read. This has all the hallmarking’s of another best seller as Jane Fallon shows us why she writes such witty and funny stories, it makes me desperate to sit and have coffee with her just to pick her brain and see what makes her such a good writer, as not many can pull of the understated and occasionally underhanded wit when writing a novel. Laura if she were real would be another one added to the list of coffee mates, as she was so well written you could imagine her there with you, sharing witty jokes and making up life stories for those people who pass the window and you would likely never see again, but between you have plotted the fanciful life history. That’s what makes this a great story to read on holiday or any time really as it’s got enough to keep you hooked, but its not overly complex so you don’t lose your place if you get distracted by a nice bottom on the beach, or bending over delivering coffee. If you are in the market for something funny and captivating, then pick this novel up now and you wont be disappointed.

Absolutely adore Jane Fallon and actually happy danced when I was approved for this one on Netgalley. Such a gorgeous and easy read! I have eagerly awaited this one and I definitely not been disappointed ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nobody needs telling that reading a novel by Jane Fallon will cast you straight into an escapist, usually middle class, often London world of people who are in the throes of a personal crisis. Whilst the stories can be described as formulaic, they are usually a very enjoyable ‘beach read’. However, I really can’t say that about ‘Queen Bee’. The titular character, Stella, is a Barbie caricature: lots of plastic surgery, over the top mansion, rude to her housekeeper, very spoilt children etc, etc. No surprises there – and the trouble is that she never really evolves into something more either. Polar opposite is the central character, through whose eyes we see the privileged lives of the collection of ‘Hampstead Wives’ who buzz round Stella. Her name is Laura; newly separated, she runs a small cleaning company and is devoted to her eight-year-old daughter. The only reason she becomes embroiled with these women is through her temporary renting of a tiny flat opposite Stella.
Laura uncovers Stella’s husband’s dreadful betrayal of her through work and thereafter there are plenty of moral conundrums to be faced. Unfortunately, it is difficult to appreciate why Laura would want anything whatsoever to do with Stella and the other women. Even the suggestion of some sort of general sisterhood doesn’t really ring true amongst these characters and Laura knows this. So, why get involved? Well, because the author needs a plot!
If this all sounds a bit harsh, it’s only because Fallon’s other novels do have some elements of credibility. Sadly, this one does not. As ever, it’s well written with an excellent ear for dialogue and domestic detail and fans will, no doubt, love it. However, it’s not for me.
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK, Michael Joseph for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

Having read previous books by this author, I knew that I was in for an entertaining story.

Laura, the main character, has separated from her husband David, and is renting a small room in a luxurious mansion. She owns a cleaning company and is kept busy managing staff, work schedules, and looking after her daughter.

However, Stella (a neighbour) believes that Laura has been flirting with her partner Al, and has spread malicious gossip, resulting in others taking an unfriendly attitude towards her and her daughter Betsy. Laura is determined to prove Stella wrong and sets about finding out what Al has really been up to. This opens up a whole can of worms!

The strength of the book is within its main characters, friendships and humour running through the passages. Starting at a steady pace, the story gradually unfolds and becomes more complex, with several twists and turns, along with misunderstandings. With charismatic, engaging characters, an entertaining storyline, lots of humour, all combining to make an enjoyable and entertaining read.

Recommended, I can’t wait for Jane Fallon’s next book.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from Netgalley. I read 'Tell Me a Secret' a year or so ago and really enjoyed it, so was pleased to be given an ARC of this. As an easy to read, light, enjoyable novel this did not disappoint, and I liked the characters of Laura, Betsy and Gail. The story was paced and written well.

Initially when I started reading the book I wondered what the hell it was all about, and I even went back to check the synopsis to see what it was that I was supposed to be reading! Thankfully it then got better... much better and I then really loved reading the book. Great characters and a great storyline once you get past the initial stages! Very happy to recommend it!

Jane Fallon is one of my favourite authors and she didn't disappoint.
Funny, emotional and relatable this is the story of Laura who after separating from her husband temporarily moves into The Close, an upper class suburbia, and a life that she is definitely not accustomed to. Forming unlikely friendships follow Laura as she uncovers a secret affair whilst trying to get her life back on track.

Laura's husband tells her he doesn't want to be married anymore and they have to sell their house. Laura rents a small apartment in an annex of a big house until she can find somewhere to buy for her and her daughter Daisy.
All the houses in the street are worth millions and filled with woman who's daily lives involve Botox and looking gorgeous.

Laura doesn't fit in and when the "Queen Bee's" husband Al makes out that Laura fancies him then Stella makes sure all of the street knows about it.
This makes home life awkward for Laura especially when she brings her young daughter to stay and Laura has to find a way to put a stop to it.

Another great read by Jane Fallon. I couldn't put it down as Laura is pulled into a web of secrets and lies. She leaves herself and her cleaning business in a vulnerable position but can't stop until she finds out the truth about Al.
What will she do when she finds out something that his wife Stella should know? Will she tell her or ignore her the way Stella has the whole street ignoring Laura?

I thought the moments between Laura and Stella quiet funny as Stella is clueless about how normal people live.
Laura is bravely starting her life over and trying to find a place to live near her daughter's school within her budget. Lots of good characters in this book.

A great read from an author you can always count upon to write a fun book.
Love books written by Fallon and would recommend this to others.

4 stars,

Really enjoyed this book. Jane fallon is fast becoming a favourite of mine. Well written & thought out story with amazing characters. Funny & heart warming & all ties together nicely at the end.

I have enjoyed books by Jane Fallon in the past and this is no exception although I did wonder initially as I just couldn't relate to some of the characters. As the book progressed I became hooked, firstly with Laura, although she annoyed me at times then Stella and all along Gail. There are some hilarious bits mostly driven by how ridiculous many of the very rich view themselves and the lengths they go to to try and outdo everyone else. As the book points out, money does not buy taste but so fun to take a peak! As with Jane's previous books, revenge is at the forefront but with plenty of twists, turns and secrets right up to the very end. A light and a thoroughly entertaining read ideal to relax with and enjoy.

Still reeling from an unexpected divorce, Laura finds herself renting a flat in a very posh area, while she tries to find somewhere to live for herself and 5yr old daughter Betsy, all this while running her own cleaning business. The arrival of a single woman in The Close is bad news for the trophy wives who live in this exclusive estate, and Laura falls foul of Stella, the queen bee of the title. Unwittingly Laura gets dragged into the goings on in The Close, feeling sorry for Stella while still being ostracised by the women living there, other than Gail, her lovely landlady.

This book took me quite some time to get into, and begin to like the characters, the majority of who I just wanted to shake and tell them to get a life. A few of them were instantly lovable - Betsy, Angie, Gail, and by association her husband Ben. Laura initially irritated me, but i grew to like her and even Stella by the end. This is definitely one of those books that I was glad I persevered with, although at times I did think that there were too many twists. However, it all came to a very satisfactory ending, and I’ll definitely look for other books by this author.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review

Queen Bee 4.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5⭐️.
This is the latest from Jane Fallon and doesn’t disappoint at all, I have read all of her books and this sits amongst the top ones, although I think they are all good!!
Laura has split up from her husband and has had to rent a flat above the garage of a house that sits in “The Close”, where houses are around the 10 million pounds mark. Laura has a seven year old daughter who is living with her father temporarily until Laura finds them a place of their own. All the neighbours are minted and are false boobed and botoxed up to the hilt and I loved the dark humour that emerged from these observations. Stella is THE Queen Bee she does nothing apart from go to the gym and spa days so Laura is shocked when Stella thinks she is making moves on her husband Al when all she wants to do is keep him hiring her cleaning company for his offices. Stella turns the neighbourhood women against Laura, that is until Laura finds some information out about someone in the neighbourhood and the tables begin to turn.
I really enjoyed this book that was hilarious at times, it took me a day to finish this as I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen, to who and how.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin UK, Michael Joseph for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

42 year old reluctantly newly single mother Laura has moved into a studio above the garage in a grand close. She has an unfortunate encounter with Stella, the close's Queen Bee. Husband Al credits Laura with giving him a book with an inscription in French....Stella has Laura black balled by the other close wives. Laura is determined to find out the truth about Al's love life....

I loved the acerbic humour of Jane Fallon's last novel, Tell Me a Secret, and read it in a single sitting. It took me a little while to get into this one, and while I liked the dry humour it seemed to lack the zing of the other. The 'Real Housewives' subject matter didn't really appeal! A reasonable escapist read though.

Wow! For the first couple of chapters I wasn’t convinced - however I soon became absorbed into the characters, the dry wit and the storyline. Relatable whilst being completely unrelatable, this is an absolutely fantastic story that had me reading late into the night. Fallon’s done it again!

I like Jane Fallon a lot - she writes great books full of twists and turns about bitchiness and betrayal and plotting and also friendship and support. This, Queen Bee, takes that usual Fallon joy and transplants it into a world of uber-rich trophy wives.
Our main character, Laura, is staying temporarily in the servants' quarters of one of these houses of the uber-rich, in The Close, an exclusive development of mansions. Drawn into the intrigues and plots of the lives of those around her, the book centres around her relationship with Stella, the undisputed Queen Bee of The Close, and the fulcrum around which the social life of The Close pivots.
The arrival of a single woman on The Close upsets Stella, and events are exacerbated by the actions of her fiancé, Al, creating a toxic environment of jealousy and manipulation. Desperate to clear her name (and protect her daughter), Laura launches an investigation, but what she discovers flips her opinion on bitchy Stella, and the two begin to plot to undermine Al's nasty plans.
I did thoroughly enjoy this book, and there were lots of twists and turns, but I think it was let down by just too many back and forths between Stella and Laura. Their flip-flopping gave me whiplash as I tried to keep up with whether we were on Stella's side or not. Which was a pity, actually, because I think with one or maybe two fewer twists thrown in, I would have thoroughly enjoyed this book. I just got twist fatigue.
Still though, it was filled with Fallon's usually funny and accurate assessments of female friendships and the way currents of power shift. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Another great holiday read. Witty and engaging with a very relatable lead character and plenty of twists and turns.
I’ve enjoyed all Jane Fallon’s books but To me, this was the best yet.
Highly recommended

Thanks to the author, publisher and netgalley for providing me with this advance digital copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.