EXCERPT: Jane had decided before the service that whatever the whisperings were, or whatever the family thought of each other, she was going to bend over backwards to make every woman feel valued and supported. The mothers, the wives and the lovers. They would all be grieving. But she just couldn't place the middle one or remember her bloody name as she began her introduction, did the housekeeping stuff and welcomed everyone who had travelled near and far to get to Northill today.

Clair . . . Noemie . . .

As if the Lord himself were jogging her memory, she saw the sad eyes of a beautiful woman halfway back; staring at her, dimples in her cheeks even though she wasn't smiling. She wore a black blazer over a cream blouse and a wrap that had fallen off one shoulder.

Desiree, that's it.

ABOUT 'THE THREE LOVES OF SEBASTIAN COOPER': As friends and family gather for the funeral of charming and charismatic Seb Cooper, three women sit in the congregation, mourning his loss.

First there is Clair, Seb’s wife and partner of twenty years, and mother of his two children. Furious at Seb for dying and leaving their children without a father, Clair isn’t sure of her place, and has been left baffled and bemused by the conflicting stories of Seb’s last days.

Then there’s Desiree, the woman Seb left Clair for. Heartbroken, self-conscious, and wondering if she made a mistake coming today.

And the third and noisiest mourner of all is Noemie – Seb’s lover and the last woman to see him alive.

Three women who loved Seb in their own different ways.

Three women whose lives have now changed forever.

But only one woman knows what really happened at the end…and only one truly had his heart…

MY THOUGHTS: I did NOT like Noemie AT ALL. Now that I have that off my chest . . .

Overall, I didn't enjoy The Three Loves of Sebastian Cooper. I felt that the premise had so much unrealised potential. I failed to become invested in either the characters or the storyline.

The book begins with Sebastian's death. We don't know how he died, just that he did and that his two children were overseas with him and his third partner.

Then the timeline moves between the funeral and wake, and Sebastian's past life and loves. Now,I wish that I could say that this is a character rich novel, but it's not. I liked Clair and Desiree, detested Noemie, but never got to really 'know' them.

Okay, so it's not a character based novel. A mystery? Well, no. Okay, we don't find out until the very end of the book HOW Sebastian died. And really? - it's an anticlimax.

I debated abandoning this read regularly. I'd read a chapter or two then go clean the oven, clean the windows, wash the floors. You get the idea. My house hasn't sparkled like this for months . . . I persevered only because I thought that the manner of Sebastian's death was going to justify the whole journey, especially when certain aspersions are cast on the character of one of the three women. Although her mother repeatedly shouts, 'She had nothing to do with his death!' Which only made me more than suspicious.

Sorry, but the only part of the book I loved was the Epilogue. At that I teared up.

⭐⭐.25

#TheThreeLovesofSebastianCooper #NetGalley

I: @zoefolbigg @bookandtonic

T: @zoefolbigg @BoldwoodBooks

#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #mystery

THE AUTHOR: Formerly a magazine journalist and digital editor, Zoë started at Cosmopolitan and has written and edited for titles including Fabulous, CosmoGIRL!, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, i newspaper, Healthy, Top Santé, Mother & Baby, ELLE, Sunday Times Style, ASOS and Style.com. Zoë wrote a weekly column in Fabulous magazine documenting her year-long round-the-world trip with ‘Train Man’ – and now lives with him and their sons in Hertfordshire. (Amazon)

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Three Loves of Sebastian Cooper by Zoë Folbigg for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage

The book begins by smacking you between the eyes with content and then you’re off and running. It was definitely a compelling read and one I’d recommend

A well written novel that I was well and truly immersed in from start to finish. All the characters were well rounded and enjoyable. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.

When a book starts with a funeral, you know the story will impact you - and boy did this read do that!

From the beginning, I was immersed in this story and became invested in discovering who these three women were and how they all fit into Seb's (Sebastian) life.

The duel timeline of then and now definitely helped get Seb's point of view. Without it, the plot would not have been so tight and perhaps lacked the enjoyment it gave. This is, without a doubt, a character-driven storyline, so if this is your thing, don't delay picking it up!

The leading females are created well, making for an exciting and absorbing read; however, I loathed Noemie and became enraged by her vile attitude. Clair's and Desiree's part in this tale pulled hard on my heartstrings, and there are parts of this story that are incredibly moving and emotional.

This read is worth every part of my five-star rating, and I highly recommend this read.

One man, three women and a network of believable characters define Sebastian Cooper and the women he loves. The story begins at Sebastian's funeral, and through the viewpoints of the three women, Clair, Desiree and Noemie, his life unfolds. It's an emotional story full of poignant moments and regrets. Clair and Desiree draw your empathy, and Noemie is hard to like or understand. Sebastian is likeable, but many of his actions are not. The ending is dramatic and sad, with a sense of lost opportunities for love and fulfilment that resonates.

I like the characterisation, the lyrical writing and the twisty plot that ebbs and flows, taking the reader on an emotional journey.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Oh my goodness, I have to say, this book turned out to be one of the best reads so far this year. It begins with Sebastian’s funeral, where we get to meet quite an extensive cast of characters. Very quickly, all three women who played a part in his life are revealed. Clair, his wife, Desiree his mistress and Noemie who he met on a dating app.
The story moves between past and present, tracing Sebastian and Clair’s teenage lives in Jersey. Fast forward to Uni and then, eventually marriage and children.

When Sebastian lands a job at a prestigious architects’ practice, he is often away, and Clair becomes responsible for running the home and child care. With her own busy working life, this gradually begins to put more strain on the relationship. The arrival of Desiree, a young and gifted architect who begins working in Sebastian’s company becomes the catalyst for their eventual break up. After discovering his own father’s dishonesty many years ago, he is convinced history is repeating itself. Nevertheless, he settles with Desiree, remaining in a close relationship with his children. For a time he’s happy, but then, once more, he finds himself on his own. Meeting Noemie was supposed to be a fresh start, but it appears all he’s landed himself in is chaos.

The Three Loves of Sebastian Cooper has all the ingredients for a first class read. There's romance, betrayal, family secrets and sadness wrapped around the lives of Sebastian and the three women close to him. A worthy five star read.

I would like to thank Boldwood Books, Netgalley and Zoe Folbigg for an ARC of The Three Loves of Sebastian Cooper in exchange for an honest review.

As friends and family gather to mourn the loss of Seb, dual timelines and multiple perspectives reveal the story of all the years, events and relationships that led to Seb's untimely death.

What I enjoyed about this book:
- multifaceted characters that I really liked even though their actions were not always agreeable
- enjoyable side characters
- a well paced plot that moved along at a reasonable speed
- mulitple, complex relationships that were so true to life with all their messy complications
- dual timelines that were easy to follow

What I struggled with:
- That ending! I am not a reader who needs everything tied up in a neat little bow at the end. However, that being said I found this ending too abrupt and very unsatfing. It left me with no closure at all and I'm not even able to really draw any conclusions of my own as to what happened next.

Thank you NetGalley, Zoë Folbigg and Boldwood Books for the ARC of The Three Loves of Sebastian Cooper. This is my personal review.
I was intrigued by the cover and the title of this book.
With this thought provoking – mind twisting – emotional book I knew after the first three chapters my eyes were going to be set on this book until the very last word.
The story begins with friends and family gathering for the funeral of Sebastian Cooper, three women sit in the congregation, mourning their loss of him- Clair, Desiree and Noemie. Each woman has a different yet the same connection to Seb as the other.
As I read this book, I was not sure what made each woman love the same man. There were times I wanted to yell at each of them to help me understand their thoughts and explain their actions. The story was filled with so much emotion from the women.
Who did Seb really love and why? I thought I knew and then the next chapter had me wondering again why things happened the way they did.

Sebastian Cooper has loved three women in his life Claire the mother of his children, Desiree the woman he left Claire for and Naomi a real piece of work. Claire is angry at him Desiree is despondent and Naomi is making a spectacle of herself and she’s the one who was with him last. When I first started reading this book I thought I wouldn’t like him and then I did like him but then his son was at the door of his friends home and heard the little girl call for her daddy it was his daddy Sebastian and I thought that’s not so cool but enough ground is covered that you come back around till like Seb again. This book is truly engaging and so interesting I didn’t want to put it down but when I did all I did was think about the characters in the book and couldn’t wait to get back to it. This is the book I highly recommend but pay close attention because it’s not one you want the zone out on it quickly moves along and changes and it makes for a truly interesting read. I receive this book from Net Galley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily. Please forget any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I usually like Zoe’s books but, this one was far too sad and made me uncomfortable. The grief and sadness was to much throughout this book which spoilt it for me. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Four and a half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
The Three Loves of Sebastian Cooper by Zoë Folbigg is a family drama set around a man’s untimely death. All of Seb’s family and friends gather for his funeral, and we learn abuout his life, through the lens of his family and friends.

At Sebestian Cooper’s funeral, his family and friends gather to pay their respects to Sebastian Cooper who died suddenly. In the church at the funeral is Clair, Seb’s wife of twenty years and mother to his two children. Also there is Desiree, Seb’s second wife and the woman he left Clair for. And the third woman at the funeral is Naoemi, Seb’s most recent gilfriend and the last woman to see him alive.

All three women loved Sebastian Cooper, but only one held his heart. And only one knows what really happened to him on the day he died.

This story is messy, realistic and riveting, and I enjoyed ever second of reading.
It’s a character driven story, and I loved all these characters. Sebastian is such a character, he’s very outgoing and social and it’s hard not to like him, even if he did cheat on his first wife! And the women were all so different, and yet loved Sebastian in different ways. I just loved Claire and Desiree, they both deserved better than Sebastian, but I can understand their love for him as he’s such a charming man. Naeomee on the other hand was a bit much, but her character was also very vivid and realistic.

I also enjoyed the story about Claire and Sebastion’s parents, especially Seb’s parents. It helps me to understand Sebastion and why he made some of the decisions he made. He’s far from perfect, but at least he knows he’s not perfect.

I highly recommend The Three Loves of Sebastian Cooper to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It's a well written and entertaining story, I enjoyed it and liked the well written characters.
Sebastian is a well rounded and interesting character: a terrible lover and a good father.
An interesting story, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I’ve just finished this book, I seemed to race through it really quickly without realising! I enjoyed it although that feels strange to say as the main character, Seb had died young and left children behind. He becomes a total cad and it would be easy to dislike him because he leaves his wife but he is an excellent and loving father so that dilutes this feelings. I thought Noemie was a random character and not at all the sort of person I would expect him to fall in love with so she felt a bit disjointed. But it was a good read and I would recommend it. Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy to read

This is a very well written book that holds you immersed as it flows from past to present. My only negative comment is that sadness and grief are at its centre. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy of this beautifully written story.

This is a beautiful, raw and emotional book. Folbigg has split this into 3 parts; for me, parts 1 and 2 were a lot stronger than part 3. I particularly loved the characters, Folbigg has created some gorgeous characters and I enjoyed seeing how they interacted and how their relationships changed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was intrigued to begin the story of Seb Cooper-a likable guy who can’t help but repeat history as he falls in and out of love with three very different woman. It was well written but there were far too many characters to keep track of. I found it sad and I just wanted the characters to stop making foolish mistakes. I really wanted to like it but it was not for me.

The story
Sebastian Cooper has died. His ex-wife Clair and their two children are at the funeral. His parents and step-parents, his ex-girlfriend Desiree is there with her grandmother, his wailing girlfriend at the time of his death, French Noemie. His friends and colleagues. The funeral and wake afterwards stretch from start to the finish of the story, interspersed with stories from his childhood, adulthood, marriage to Clair, his relationships.

My thoughts
Reading this story felt like watching a heavy drama, a car crash in slow motion, unfold. I kept thinking of how the faults of his father before him happen with Sebastian himself. Not finding happiness in a relationship, the grass being greener on the other side, and then that grass not being that green after a while either. This is a really powerful and excellently written story. I struggled with reading a story with grief at its core, it feels sad and such a waste in the end. It feel like a case of “it’s not you, it’s me”. 💔

I was excited to read this as the précis looked great but sadly I was disappointed. For me it was predictable and pedestrian. I feel I already know this story. I felt no connection or sympathy for any of the characters, just found it all annoying and gave up reading third of the way in.
Probably just not for me.
I won’t be putting negative reviews out.
Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the early read, this was just not my cup of tea, writing characters and storyline.

This is my fourth book by this author and it was such a pleasure to read, it is the epitome of women's fiction. It is three different love stories, that are entwined and converge in the end with the death of the man these women loved. We also hear about his parents and children and how they are dealing with it all. I loved getting the backstories, especially when he met Clair as a teen. The book is basically Seb's life story from the time he meets Clair with back-and-forth chapters from his funeral as well.

It was really hard not to like Seb, I really wanted to hate him because he was such a cad. First of all, it was hard to hate a dead man, and second of all, he was a wonderful father and a good son. There was also an air of mystery surrounding Seb's death and it is kept secret until the end. I really admired Clare and Desiree, Noemie was a real piece of work though.

This is very much a character-driven story and Folbigg writes interesting and very real characters. They were well-rounded and true to life. And even though the story is dealing with a funeral and the sorrow felt by Seb's loved ones was visceral there were some very funny parts as well. This was a well-rounded story with a writing style and format that keeps the reader engaged. I flew through this four-hundred-page book in no time.

This was a very interesting read that is told in both the past and present time. It begins at the funeral of Sebastian Cooper where we meet three women who love him.

The first women is his first love and wife Clair, with whom he has 2 children. Their story consists of building a life together while figuring out how to be parents and all the trials and tribulations that brings. Next comes the unexpected Desiree. He didn’t expect to fall in love with her. Lastly we are introduced to Noemie who is both beautiful and volatile. The story unfolds in pieces but you don’t find out what happens to Sebastian until the very end. Great read!!