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4th out of 20 books
—
7 voters
The First Wife
by
Emily Barr
His first wife was everything you're not. But was she everything she seemed?
Lily, a young woman left alone in the world on the death of her grandparents, finds purpose when she befriends Harry Summers, a grieving widower, whose wife Sarah recently took her own life in Barcelona. The pair fall in love and Lily finally finds the security she has never had. But Lily's life ta...more
Lily, a young woman left alone in the world on the death of her grandparents, finds purpose when she befriends Harry Summers, a grieving widower, whose wife Sarah recently took her own life in Barcelona. The pair fall in love and Lily finally finds the security she has never had. But Lily's life ta...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
March 1st 2011
by Headline Review
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Lily Button was abandoned by her feckless parents when she was very young. Her grandparents took her in, and gave her a stable, traditional upbringing in the Cornish countryside. But as Lily grew up her grandparents became increasingly frail, and the balance shifted. Lily had to look after them.
When her grandparents died Lily found herself alone in the world. And she found herself homeless. The family home was heavily mortgaged, there were debts to pay, and Lily was left with nothing.
She was dev...more
When her grandparents died Lily found herself alone in the world. And she found herself homeless. The family home was heavily mortgaged, there were debts to pay, and Lily was left with nothing.
She was dev...more
Lily Button has lost both her Grandparents, she has no friends, family, or money she was abandoned at 8 years old and has lived with her Grandparents since. She is feeling empty and is grieving for them both. Lily manages to find a room in a family home where she gets reduced rates for babysitting. Lily finds a job cleaning for Harry and Sarah Summer, Harry is a local celebrity she is really happy they have a gorgeous home; she also manages to get another 2 cleaning jobs she has never worked in...more
Kept me up latish at night reading this, and delayed me getting to work one morning as I kept having to read one more chapter! Had initially got a bit annoyed with the main narrator for her little bit over the top innocence and naivety (too many sentences in the style of "I'd never done X before, but it looks like I could pretend to everyone else that I could do it.") but about half way through the pace sped up and the plot turns more frequent. A sub-story involving New Zealand always began to m...more
Started well and although it seemed rather implausible, I liked the early years of the main character's life. Some quirks of up-bringing in an isolated life with ailing grandparents in Cornwall. The love-story second half fell very hard into the chic-lit genre which I had thought from reading the back, that this was not going to be. It was gushy and teen in its nonsense. I finished it but was not riveted nor could I believe in it. The 'surprise' twist was trite and on the predictable side.
Shame...more
Shame...more
First things first – Emily Barr is one of my favourite authors. I discovered her work nearly five years ago whereupon I hungrily read through all her then-available books, and ever since I’ve always looked forward to her next offering. This wasn’t my favourite book of hers (that accolade is shared between Out Of My Depth, Baggage and Backpack, through I’ve not disliked a single novel she’s written) but nevertheless it was very enjoyable. Sometimes I see Emily Barr’s work filed under “chick lit”...more
Another brilliant, un-putdownable novel from Emily Barr. This one tells the stoy of Lily Button, 20 years old and all alone after the deaths of her grandparents whom she has looked after for years. Lily has no family and no friends and no idea how to get on in the world. Acting on the advise of the CAB she finds a room, her first ever friends and work as a cleaner. Amongst her clients are Harry and Sarah Summer, a glamorous couple that she meets briefly before the shocking death of Sarah. Lily c...more
Sep 05, 2011
Leah
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
for-review,
books-read-2011
I’m a huge Emily Barr fan, I wasn’t able to get into her earlier work, but since The Sisterhood came out I’ve been hooked. I eagerly read The Sisterhood, followed by The Life You Want and The Perfect Lie. Emily is undoubtedly the Queen of suspense with her novels having brilliantly spooky plots with many twists and turns so I was thrilled when I received a proof copy of her new novel The First Wife. It’s billed as a modern-day Rebecca, but having not read Rebecca I have no idea how accurate that...more
I really enjoyed this book. It was given to me by a friend who definitely knows the kinds of books I enjoy! The main character, Lily, you get to know very well. Although naive, she found an inner strength when she needed it, which I really liked. There was a suspense to the book that made me want to keep reading it but I did feel I knew where it was heading. Intertwining stories were all settled by the end, so you knew where all the characters lives were.
I'm a big fan of Emily Barr, though she's hard to find in the states, a good combo of travel and chick lit. This wasn't as interesting as her early works (I think Cuba/Cuban Heels was best), it's still a fun read with a nice bit of mystery. The pacing was a bit weird, with all the action happening very quickly at the end, but really enjoyed the first half and glad I hadn't read the cover before starting.
Readable, with cliched but well described characters and almost too much plot - too many neat coincidences for my taste, and I saw most of the "surprises" coming. However, I did quite like the heroine (only book I can think of where the female love interest wears clothes chosen by her dead granny, for one thing), and it was gripping enough for holiday-type reading.
This was my first intorduction to this author and due to the comparisons to Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca, I had high hopes for this book. It's a tamer read however, lacking any real suspense and the villain came across as more petty than sinister. An average read.
A nice story that suffered from its predictability and the fact that it is not as raw and ready as Backpack was. I can hardly fault the book but I want Barr to write more edgy characters again.
I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked from beginning to end. Just when I thought I had it worked out, the author took me along another path. I couldn't put it down without wondering what would happen next. Happy to recommend.
I have reviewed this book here: http://mygoodbookshelf.wordpress.com/...
I was actually pretty gripped with this book - although the main element to the storyline was a bit fuzzy. But it was well written, with meaning and emotion similar to Jodi Picoult or Diane Chamberlain. I'm definitely going to have to add more of Barr's books to my wishlist!
didn't enjoy this book but did manage to finish it (just).
Always enjoy books by Emily Barr. Have just started this so it is too early on to tell what it will be like - although the blurb drew me in!
I am a fan of Emily Barr, in each book I read. This is another one, page turning, hard to let go, a quick and satisfying read.
We always find nasty and horrible persons in her books, and the endings are not always as happy as we would like, but isn't that life?
I loved following Lily's growth, and even though we see from the start what she can't see herself about Harry, we are one her side, and we are surprised with the conclusions.
Great day when I found about Emily Barr, in September 2009 at a f...more
We always find nasty and horrible persons in her books, and the endings are not always as happy as we would like, but isn't that life?
I loved following Lily's growth, and even though we see from the start what she can't see herself about Harry, we are one her side, and we are surprised with the conclusions.
Great day when I found about Emily Barr, in September 2009 at a f...more
1 like · like · see review
I loved this book I am always intrigued by Emily Barrs stories and I am always pleasantly surprised. Lily (the main character) reminded me so much of myself - innocent and niave. Nobody could accuse Emily Barrs books of been dull.
I do like Emily Barr, and this one did not disappoint!!
I picked this book up with trepdition for I have never read Barr before. But she writes well and keeps you interested throughout. Although the book is compared to rebecca, I wouldnt say the same, but yes the underlying theme is similar to the du maurier novel but far more contemporary and less complex.
An enjoyable read. Would recommend.
An enjoyable read. Would recommend.
This is the first book I have read by Emily Barr, and sorry to say, I was rather disappointed. I thought it was quite slow going, until towards the end of the novel, which seemed all a bit too late to grab my interest.
Some interesting twists but a little drawn out in places.
Brilliant book!!
May 19, 2013
Jj
marked it as to-read
May 17, 2013
Aakriti Rathore
marked it as to-read
May 13, 2013
Laura Harrington
added it
May 11, 2013
Jasmine Jallow
is currently reading it
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Emily Barr has been writing columns and travel pieces for the Observer and the Guardian for several years, and her first novel Backpack, was critically acclaimed. She lives in France with her husband and sons.
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Thank you for your review, it is clear what sort of book it is and when you might feel li...more
21 de Mar 06:53