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Whatever It Takes
by
Adele Parks
Eloise Hamilton is a Londoner born and bred, so it is a momentous day when she reluctantly agrees to uproot to Dartmouth, leaving behind her perfect world so her husband can finally live in his. There are compensations, however. Her mother-in-law Margaret will welcome her with open arms, and besides, she can still rely on best friend Sara to be her lifeline to London.
Yet,...more
Yet,...more
Hardcover, 407 pages
Published
June 21st 2012
by Headline Review
(first published June 1st 2012)
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Eloise loves London, and she also loves her husband, Mark. She puts her own needs to one side when she agrees to move with him and their three young daughters to Dartmouth, where he can take over the family firm and be close to his ageing parents, Margaret and Ray. Eloise leaves behind her best friend, Sara, whose problems conceiving a baby overwhelm her whole life and threaten her marriage to Charlie. So Eloise hatches a selfless plan to help her friend. The revelation of this plan dramatically...more
I used to love Adele Parks. She writes a really involved story with complex characters, and that's still true here. However, her last three or four books have been about mums, or women who are desperate to be mums, and I'm really getting bored crapless by this.
This is the first of Adele's books that I haven't purchased, and I'm glad I didn't. I borrowed it from the library instead.
First of all, Sara. Really didn't like her. I have little patience in general with women who think their whole lif...more
This is the first of Adele's books that I haven't purchased, and I'm glad I didn't. I borrowed it from the library instead.
First of all, Sara. Really didn't like her. I have little patience in general with women who think their whole lif...more
I've read all Adele Parks's books and I didn't find this one quite as good as some of the others. It still had good pace and interesting characters but the ending was a bit predictable. I particularly like her books as she has evolved over the years from single women characters via starting (and maintaining) a family into the problems of caring for older relatives, eater than getting stuck in a rut of 'can't get a boyfriend' books like some authors. Another problem I had with the book was a deep...more
I've read all her books but I was less keen on this one. It felt as though the book didn't really get going until half way through. Nothing happened - except for cementing in our minds the great friendship between the two women. They could NOT have been closer. A fact that kept coming into my mind as I read those last few pages. It did not work for me. There were a lot of little things that didn't work for me either plotwise. But Ms Parks does a good job at delving into people's characters and m...more
I love the books by this Author she is one of my favourites, I have read most of her books and this one does not disappoint.
Eloise is married to Mark they have 3 children, Mark is a Solicitor and when he has news his Father is retiring and wants him to take over he is thrilled as for the last 15 years he has been trying to get Eloise to move out of London to Dartmouth, where his parents live. Eventually she agrees although she will miss her friends especially Sara they have been friends for 4 ye...more
Eloise is married to Mark they have 3 children, Mark is a Solicitor and when he has news his Father is retiring and wants him to take over he is thrilled as for the last 15 years he has been trying to get Eloise to move out of London to Dartmouth, where his parents live. Eventually she agrees although she will miss her friends especially Sara they have been friends for 4 ye...more
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This book didnt really do it for me.
I liked Eloise always trying to please other people, fix things that she knew she couldn't fix, until one day she offers to fix something that would involve her family and secrets come tumbling out, which change everything. I'm not sure I would offer to be a surrogate for Sara - What a HORRID character! I can appreciate that it must be really hard not been able to have kids etc but she's just so horrible about it. What I'm confused about is the fact that Sara...more
I liked Eloise always trying to please other people, fix things that she knew she couldn't fix, until one day she offers to fix something that would involve her family and secrets come tumbling out, which change everything. I'm not sure I would offer to be a surrogate for Sara - What a HORRID character! I can appreciate that it must be really hard not been able to have kids etc but she's just so horrible about it. What I'm confused about is the fact that Sara...more
A very mature reading. It talks about the conflicts and issues married women faces when it comes to satisfying each and every person that means alot to you. Eloise, the main character, has her husband to compromise with, a bestfriend who's going through a hard time to get pregnant and a mother-in-law who's losing her mind.
'Whatever It Takes' has a significant theme on sacrifices. It gets a bit serious at some parts and it doesn't promote much joy to reading (Eloise's bestfriend, Sara, is a big p...more
'Whatever It Takes' has a significant theme on sacrifices. It gets a bit serious at some parts and it doesn't promote much joy to reading (Eloise's bestfriend, Sara, is a big p...more
I have only previously read two books by Adele Parks so I still feel like a beginner! Both of the books I have read I enjoyed and so I really wanted to try another of her books so I have just finished her new novel Whatever It Takes.
Eloise is a Londoner through and through. She has a wide group of friends and usually finds herself entertaining for them, she really is living her dream but her husband has lived Eloise’s dream for a long time now and Eloise agrees it is time for them to start livin...more
Eloise is a Londoner through and through. She has a wide group of friends and usually finds herself entertaining for them, she really is living her dream but her husband has lived Eloise’s dream for a long time now and Eloise agrees it is time for them to start livin...more
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I got this from the library after reading the other reviews on Amazon. Not having read an Adele Parks before, I didn't know what to expect.
Having read it, I have to say that I found the character of Eloise a bit of a caricature, and it seemed that the author was having fun at her expense. I do know people who are obsessed with brands, and party canapes, and doing the right thing, but I guess I don't don't really want to read about them, because they drive me nuts. And yet... Eloise is a good per...more
Having read it, I have to say that I found the character of Eloise a bit of a caricature, and it seemed that the author was having fun at her expense. I do know people who are obsessed with brands, and party canapes, and doing the right thing, but I guess I don't don't really want to read about them, because they drive me nuts. And yet... Eloise is a good per...more
This was a really light and easy read about the essence of family and all that means.
The story focuses on the 'perfect' Eloise who is often guilty of putting everything and everyone before herself and at times the need of her family.
I really enjoyed the fact that this book is set in Dartmouth so that the local features of the area were really brought to life, and that I was able to place the characters easily in their surroundings.
Some bits of the book were a bit far fetched I felt but on the wh...more
The story focuses on the 'perfect' Eloise who is often guilty of putting everything and everyone before herself and at times the need of her family.
I really enjoyed the fact that this book is set in Dartmouth so that the local features of the area were really brought to life, and that I was able to place the characters easily in their surroundings.
Some bits of the book were a bit far fetched I felt but on the wh...more
Only just 3 stars.... not much to say except what a horrible person the character Sara is - why on earth do the others (Eloise, Charlie) put up with her for so long? Truly vile, but not in a way that enhances the book. Most of the other character are so-so with few redeeming qualities. The (only) positively nice one has Alzheimers...
Surely real people aren't this bad - or am I just fortunate having relatively well-balanced friends?
Surely real people aren't this bad - or am I just fortunate having relatively well-balanced friends?
Really enjoyed this book, in particular the portrayal of Margaret and her dementia onset and the progression together with the impact on her family.
Also like that the book was not predictable at all, and the twist at the end. A little fanciful and unbelievable in places, however I did connect with the characters on the whole.
Well worth a read, I am going to try more Adele Parks books too.
Also like that the book was not predictable at all, and the twist at the end. A little fanciful and unbelievable in places, however I did connect with the characters on the whole.
Well worth a read, I am going to try more Adele Parks books too.
I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this book when I started it, as I found all the characters utterly unlikeable, however once I got to the second half, it kept me turning the pages, and it's ended up being one of my favourite of Adele's novels - particularly loved the twist at the end, which I didn't see coming at all.
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Unfortunately, the title seems to be more the aim of the book. Move to the country. A demanding mother in law. A friend who is trying to give birth. Yup. It ticks all the boxes. Are there people ( not including those who gets free ARCs) who would pay good money to read this drivel again and again?
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as I think the last Adele Parks book I tried reading I gave up on. But although I didn't particularly warm to any of the major characters I did enjoy the storyline and the odd twist and turn along the way. I do love a good family take and Margaret made it very poignant.
This is the first Adele Parks I have read. I enjoyed most of the book but faded in parts. The stories were good but the characters were a little far fetched although the granny's story was well written. All in all I would say its an excellent holiday read.
Just loved this book especially "Granny". It brought back so many memories of my mother. Beautifully written and made me laugh and cry. What more can you ask.
This was light and easy to read. I identified with most characters on some level and equally got irritated with them on some level too. Worth a read though.
Love Adele Parks and this was no different. Dealing with a difficult subject matter it was gripping and at times emotional. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Especially the ending.
Dec 01, 2012
Amy
added it
i have always loved adele parks. I think she is a great writer and this book didnt dissappoint! I didnt see ther twist coming and it made it even better as I normally see twists coming
Fairly enjoyable, but I HATED one of the characters SO much that I've had to give this two stars. Handled dementia pretty well.
Chick lit, don't bother, this is what happens when I grab a book from WH smith....
This was a great read, and I'll definitely be getting a few more of Adele Parks books!
Absolutely brilliant, couldn't put it down right up to the last word.
Quick easy read to pass the time, not her best though.
Good but not long enough, I felt cheated!
I found it addictive to read, but a bit depressing and parts of it quite uncomfortable!
Compulsive bedtime reading
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Adele Parks was born in Teesside, NE England. She studied English Language and Literature, at Leicester University. She published her first novel, Playing Away, in 2000; that year the Evening Standard identified Adele as one of London’s ‘Twenty Faces to Watch.’ Indeed Playing Away was the debut bestseller of 2000.
Prolific, Adele has published nine novels in nine years, including Game Over, Tell Me...more
More about Adele Parks...
Prolific, Adele has published nine novels in nine years, including Game Over, Tell Me...more
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