Other People’s Husbands by Elizabeth Noble, a NetGalley review. This books about a group of friends, a friendship group that started when there kids were small at the school gates and they’ve been through almost everything together. But then everything changed because of the affair. This for me was a big disappointment sadly and just didn’t hit the mark. I requested this book as I’ve read books by this author before and enjoyed them but the best way to describe how I felt about this book is blah! Some unenjoyable books I’ve read ignite an opinion either way but with this one I found I didn’t have much to say about it. Right from the beginning it felt blah, as soon as the affair happened it was predictable, easy to see where this story was going. One of the friend group has an affair, one marriage will survive and one won’t and the friendship group is irreversibly damaged. It felt like this story had been told in books and on tv again and again and there was no originality to make this version stand out. For me I felt there was small story lines that were added to the book, that felt pointless and purely there to fill pages and maybe an attempt to make it feel different. For example the relationship between Will and Mia, they had grown up together and then at one of the parties Will started to see Mia in a different light, there relationship develops quite rapidly but it doesn’t add anything to the story and seems somewhat pointless. Normally as a reader I get behind the story and make a connection with the characters but with this it all seemed lacking, take away the friendship group and at its most basic it’s about a man and a woman that had a affair and the effects and repercussions on there life, done in many books before and many tv series and soaps. Maybe it was just me as there are a lot of good reviews on Amazon and this sadly was probably the most boring and predictable story I’ve read this year. I found that the predictability was more of a bug bearer with this book, than maybe some I’ve read before by other authors as there was no substance to the actual story. I won’t be recommending this going forward ⭐️

What a deeply emotional and touching story this was. I started off thinking that this was going to give me all of the warm fuzzy feels throughout; a group of couples in the middle of their lives, the best of friends and their families entwined with one another. It very quickly turned into heartache, betrayal and the breaking of families and friendships.

There were lots of characters in this book and I worried I wouldn't be able to keep up with who was who, however I quickly got to know them all and on the whole; I liked them all. They came with many merits and some with flaws, but they were real and relatable. The female group of friends interested me the most and I admired their fierce loyalty to one another. Even when there was dislike within the group, they loved each other dearly.

I really really liked this book. the plot was overly complex, but the characters were rich and compelling. I was so invested in their lives and I felt their heartbreak along with them (the tears for Sylvia!). A heart breaking and heart warming book about family, relationships and friendships that was brutally honest and made me very reflective.

Other People’s Husbands centres around a group of friends who met through their children and have been a close nit gang for over 20 years. The book follows the fallout of an affair and the consequences on the group.
I found the pace too slow and the book overlong. When a list of the many characters is given at the start of a novel it feels slightly daunting and I didn’t feel a connection to any of them to fully commit names and relationships to memory.

This was such an interesting and incredible read, there was such depth and intrigue. I found myself completely entranced by the story.

A group of six couples in their 40s and 50s have been friends since their children were young, But when two of their members embark on an affair, the fallout is far-reaching, for marriages, for children and for their friendship, which surely cannot survive such betrayal.
This was such a good story. Very character-led. It opened at the school gates, and I expected one of those toxic friendship storylines, but all the characters are warm and empathetic - they're a group of people you'd like to be friends with yourself, and you feel their pain and distress at their betrayal by two of their members.
The plot is well-paced and very believable, and I loved the writing, too. Elizabeth Noble employs a lovely rhythm of prose which brings characters and settings to life on the page.
A strong, believable and life-affirming story of family and friendship with all its strengths and flaws.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
This author was new to me but I've signed up to follow her after this interesting novel. The friendship between the women is interesting, and the feelings of Dom and Natalie are described so well. The events and reactions are completely credible and I was absorbed from start to finish. I was completely invested in the feelings and emotions of each person, and it was difficult to side with any single individual's perception of the events. The ending seemed totally believable, and was satisfying, all loose ends were tied up. I thought the author took an event which could happen to anyone and explored it completely in such an engaging way, a truly great novel. Thank you!

This was a fantastic read based on friendship and fidelity. The cracks soon start to appear in the group of friends when certain members become more than friends. A compelling read that you won't be able to put down. The only thing I found difficult was trying to get to grips with all the characters at first.

The book starts with a lot of characters. They are all couples who met through their children attending the same school and they and their children have become friends. I initially found this off putting knowing that I struggle with names in real life let alone in a book!
Like groups of friends do in real life. this group has developed it's own set of traditions; one of which is the annual visit to the 'summer home' and previous much loved home of one of the friends
The children no longer children but now grown up and their parents have now entered the next stage in life and a time when things change. The latest holiday was the start of the change when the now mature Natalie wears a red bikini instead of a sedate one piece, she has the figure for it but everyone has noticed.
Without giving too much away, as the title suggests an affair ensues.
This book doesn't focus just on the affair rather than the fallout of the affair. The fallout out quite rightly affects each and every one of the them but the focus remains on a few of the characters which was a relief not loosing track with so many names.
The fallout is heart breaking, not only for the spouses that have been cheated on, but the children, general friendships, female friendships and if the group can ever be the same again.
I would recommend this book for those who enjoy general fiction, women's fiction and romance.

With thanks to #NetGalley, Michael Joseph and Penguin House for this preview read.
#OtherPeoplesHusbands

A wonderful book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Love this ladies books
Another great read
If you’ve not read any of this ladies books you must
Thanks NetGalley

I have been a fan of Elizabeth Noble over the years and this book was one of her best, I knew that when I once started it I would not be able to put it down. This is the story of six women who met at the school gate more than twenty years ago. Over the years the six women and their partners have become close friends sharing everything including holidays. When two of the group embark on an affair it allows cracks to open within the group. We witness emotions ranging from guilt, humility, anger, hurt and sadness felt by all the women. This is a painful and compelling read portraying outstandingly the emotions of friendship. I absolutely loved it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I enjoyed this book but I did find it a long book. It was also tricky to get into with so many characters and people to get to know. However the story of the action and consequences and ripple effects of actions on a group of friends is profound, relatable and interesting and hard to out down

I have to confess I had to wait until this came out in hardback rather than trying to read it on my Kindle, as I needed to keep referring back to the cast of characters at the beginning, who was married to who and who was the mother/ father of which child - and i couldn't work out how to do it without losing my place on the Kindle.
So Im later to this than I should have been- apologies to the publishers and author for that.

Oh but it was all worth waiting for, when I started I couldn't put it down - the story of an established group of middle-class middle-ageish families who have been friends for years, they holiday together regularly and their lives are as intertwined as any friendship group can be. Their children have grown up together, some are sharing flats as they move out of home, basically they are there for one another and always will be. Its a very comfortable and aspirational group to be in.

Until - we know from the beginning that there's going to be trouble in the group in the shape of an affair, so the question is who is going to be sneaking off with who? When the affair starts, tremors can be felt throughout the group, even though noone else knows what's happening= someone is behaving differently than normal and it shows. But the group keep moving on, meeting up for high days and holidays, whilst the affair is sizzling away, being kept separate from everyone else. As readers, we know what's coming and when the inevitable news is discovered by the wider group, how will they survive?

I enjoyed reading this, the story telling was brilliant and the story moved at a good speed, I was kept hooked to see what was going to happen for the group. It exposed a lot about how friendship groups like this work, and how they evolve over time, as well as the strength of female friendships.

This as much about what happens when the dynamic of your long term friendship group changes as much as it is about anything else. Immensely readable, relatable and enjoyable.

A book I didn’t want to put down!
The characters are believable and relatable. Six couples have known each other over 20 years, celebrating birthdays, holidays, and other life events. Until an affair happens between two of them and the whole group dynamic changes.
This book explores friendship, love, relationships, guilt and forgiveness - it has it all.
A painful story, powerful and thought provoking.
A highly recommended read from me , I really enjoyed it
Thank you to Netgalley, Michael Joseph and Elizabeth Noble for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

A friendship group was created at the nursery gates and they and their children have holidayed and celebrated milestones together for years. Now their children are old enough to be forming their own relationships and old attractions amongst the adults spark and catch fire. This is a very readable examination of the complexities of both longterm friendship and longterm coupledom.

Another fabulous,emotional gripping drama from Elizabeth Noble. Her books just grab at your heartstrings!
Unputtadownable (is that even a word?)

This was an excellent drama focusing on the aftermath of a sexual betrayal on a previously tight knit group of friends, and the way mutual history can be impacted by an irrational act.

I always eagerly look forward to the new novel from Elizabeth Noble and this didn't disappoint. Brilliantly written characters who come to life on the page in front of you. Highly recommend..

I am a great fan of this author, as Elizabeth Noble is brilliant at making characters totally human, encapsulating thoughts, fears and emotions so realistically that the reader feels as if they are part of the story. I find myself gulping with emotion at some point in all her books, eyes shiny with tears of emotion. And this book is no exception.

I was a little daunted by the list of characters at the start of the book, six couples and their children. I have to admit it took me a while to ‘know’ them all but it really was worth it. The human aspects and fallout from the ‘affair’ resounded so realistically. The pain, guilt, humiliation, hurt and emotional ripple effects upon everyone when the group was split open. How many of us nowadays do not know of these from our own families or circle of friends. Noble develops your empathy keenly and not always for the characters you would expect.

The narrator changes across the chapters from one character to the next, giving you insight into key scenes, from different perspectives.

Personally, I found the pace in the first part of the book quite slow (and it is a long book), as I found my way with the backgrounds, the characters and the families. However by the second part, the book flowed quite quickly and I was absorbed. The way life changes was profoundly illustrated and I found that, although the ending to me was tough, it concluded the story realistically and clearly showed the impact across all the families. Life is precious, value what you have!