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170th out of 199 books
—
138 voters
A Friend of the Family
by
Lisa Jewell
Brothers Tony, Sean, and Ned had the perfect upbringing, but now that they are grown up, real life is starting to get in the way. Tony’s dealing with divorce and a weight problem. Novelist Sean is up against a serious case of writer’s block and a shock announcement from his “perfect” new girlfriend. Their parents have a new lodger, Gervase—why is Bernie, their mother, so k...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
April 27th 2004
by Plume
(first published June 2nd 2003)
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Truly adored this book! massive 5 star rating yay yay yay!
This was exactly what the docter prescribed. I can just hope this author has more of this great contemporary fiction.
Loved the typical english bits, the flawed but loveable people with dreams and insecurities, a real life story so to speak.
this book offers you comfort, it shows you're not a freak when confronted with a list of everyday issues... like it's okay to doubt, to hesitate, fear for the worst, be silly with joy or stupidly giddy...more
This was exactly what the docter prescribed. I can just hope this author has more of this great contemporary fiction.
Loved the typical english bits, the flawed but loveable people with dreams and insecurities, a real life story so to speak.
this book offers you comfort, it shows you're not a freak when confronted with a list of everyday issues... like it's okay to doubt, to hesitate, fear for the worst, be silly with joy or stupidly giddy...more
After finishing my previous book, A Prayer for Owen Meany, which was very emotional and often heavy, I needed a quick, fun read and this fit the bill. I loved the previous book I read by Lisa Jewell and this did not disappoint. She is a great writer: very funny, clever, and often touching.
This story is about the London family (who also live in London) and their three grown sons, who are all going through various stages of crises in their lives--divorce, job troubles, etc, and the book follows t...more
This story is about the London family (who also live in London) and their three grown sons, who are all going through various stages of crises in their lives--divorce, job troubles, etc, and the book follows t...more
This book was a fantastic read! It was completely enjoyable from cover to cover. The author does a great job describing the characters, so that you get a good rounded sense of each one and even wish you were a "friend of [their] family." The quote on the back is a "great summer read." I wouldn't necessarily agree with that... It is a great anytime read, but if anything a "great busy person read," because the chapters are short. You can easily read a chapter before bed, standing in line, waiting...more
Bernie is married to Gerry; they have 3 grown up boys.
Tony- Runs his own Greetings Card Company he is divorced and keeps
daydreaming about someone he has met.
Ned- Has just returned from Australia he hasn’t been seen for 3 years
he is alone, and no idea of what to do with his life next.
Sean- Is Bernie’s favourite he is a bestselling Novelist with a new
Girlfriend, he has writers block.
They have a new lodger Gervase but does he become a friend of the
family?
I enjoyed this book, it was easy to foll...more
Tony- Runs his own Greetings Card Company he is divorced and keeps
daydreaming about someone he has met.
Ned- Has just returned from Australia he hasn’t been seen for 3 years
he is alone, and no idea of what to do with his life next.
Sean- Is Bernie’s favourite he is a bestselling Novelist with a new
Girlfriend, he has writers block.
They have a new lodger Gervase but does he become a friend of the
family?
I enjoyed this book, it was easy to foll...more
So far this has been my favourite book by Lisa Jewell. I love all her books, but perhaps it was the suggestion that magic can come from the unlikeliest of sources and change the lives of the people it touches. I always fall in love with this author's characters, I feel they are people I've known or will come to know someday, if I'm lucky enough to meet them.
Another cute one. I love the story... no huge plot or anything just following the lives of the London brothers and how they realize some things about themselves and what they want and how they are. They're not even that likeable but I enjoyed it. can't wait for the next Jewell to come in the mail.
The Littlest Hobo, in the form of a disreputable looking greaser, moves in with a London family and sorts out their various relationship issues. Touching, with elements of "yeah, I can understand that." Rated PG. Adult themes. Frequent coarse language. 3/5
Though it was a little slow in parts, it was actually a very good novel. There were times when I literally wanted to strangle each of the brothers, times when I laughed out loud, and times where I was so hooked that I couldn't set it down. Despite, like I said earlier, the occassional dragging on of parts, it was a good read.
This book was about 3 brothers. It concentrated on the lives of them all during the same period of time and the problems that they were all experiencing.
It was an easy to read book and did not require much concentration. This meant that it is an ideal book to pick up when you have a spare few minutes.
When reading this book I found that I was picking it up because it was easy to read and not because it was a plot that particularly interested me.
I found that this book had a lot of swearing in i...more
It was an easy to read book and did not require much concentration. This meant that it is an ideal book to pick up when you have a spare few minutes.
When reading this book I found that I was picking it up because it was easy to read and not because it was a plot that particularly interested me.
I found that this book had a lot of swearing in i...more
This wasn't revolutionary, nor was it anything hugely intriguing but it held up to provide an enjoyable, easy-to-read story. I thought Jewell wrote well and the characters were nicely developed, the only thing I would hesitate on was the one element which seemed to make it a little stranger than it needed to be - not strange enough, but not normal enough either... a slight imbalance I think.
I really liked this book. It was light& fun. I laughed out laugh often. I just saw another review that was the worst book by this author. I will have to check out the rest....
Great book. Jewell rarely goes wrong. Lovely story about three brothers that are going through some turbulent times in their pursuit of happiness.
A friend of the family is the story of a family of three brothers, and a strange man who moves into their parents' house as a lodger. It was a bit of a strange read. I thought that everything worked out a bit too perfectly in the end and maybe some of the characters deserved worse. I've really enjoyed books from this author before, so I was sure I would love this novel. I did still like it, but I have to say it was my least favourite from Lisa Jewell.
Good read, Lisa Jewell's writting gets better in every book she does :) Made me laugh a few times. Felt bad for Millie the most in this book.
Liked this one very much - it seemed kind of different, but in a way I could trust. Must re-read it as I can't remember any details about it!
A fun book to read. The story is light hearted with a "message". I read it while I had the flu so not too taxing!
Een mooi boek over familie, liefde en vriendschap. Meer kan ik er niet over zeggen, je moet hem gewoon lezen.
I really enjoyed this book Nice & light & easy to read
once again i love Lisa Jewell. she always manages to have me in happy tears at some point. not as good as "the truth about melody...." but still a fab easy read. x
Nice British chick lit.
Nice - just like a comfort blanket!
Interesting journey, and not where I thought it was going. Great descriptive characters in this book.
I picked this book because I had really enjoyed reading 31 Dream Street. But I found it really slow in places and started to skim read pages and the ending wasn't particularly spectacular either!
An easy read but nothing out of the ordinary.
I really enjoyed this book. I have read Lisa Jewell before (Thirtynothing) although it is not yet listed on my Goodreads shelves. I decided to start listing all my books from 2010 but obviously in years gone by I have read quite a few books. But anyway, like Thirtynothing, this was a good book - I enjoyed the different lives of the brothers and also Gervaise who seemed a quirky character.
A good read overall.
A good read overall.
Okay so this one took me a while to get through as it was slow in parts. I think a long coach journey helped me get on with this one. There were a few laugh out loud moments but overall the sort of book that doesn't take a lot of concentration.
Lisa Jewell books are always so readable (though a bit of a guilty pleasure) I always find myself thinking 'just one more chapter' before lights out.
I agree with previous readers that although the book's cover states it's funny it isn't particularly! But it was a good read, I enjoyed the story.
I agree with previous readers that although the book's cover states it's funny it isn't particularly! But it was a good read, I enjoyed the story.
Stunning and marvelous novel. Loved it so much. It is talking about a family whose members face some troubles in their lives. Luckily, a man happens be a friend of the family and helps them through their ups and downs and makes them happy again. It deserve reading it. It is so enjoyable.
first of all her books that brings dissappointment for me. Srugled with reading, didnt found it interesting...oh, yes, but idea of the friend of the family was nice...i def thought ges going to be a bad character:)
Abt brothers relationships..some acts seemed so true, as boys do...:))
Abt brothers relationships..some acts seemed so true, as boys do...:))
Mar 07, 2008
Kirsty (Blatant Biblioholic)
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
chick-lit
This was my least favourite of Lisa Jewell's books. It just wasn't as readable, and I found it slow in places. It was an OK read, but she's written better.
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Lisa Jewell (born 19th July 1968, Middlesex, London) is a popular British author of chick lit fiction. Her books include Ralph's Party, Thirtynothing and most recently 31 Dream Street. She lives in Swiss Cottage, London with her husband Jascha and daughters Amelie Mae (born 2003) and Evie Scarlett (born 2007).
Lisa's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/LisaJewelloff...
More about Lisa Jewell...
Lisa's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/LisaJewelloff...
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“[He] didn't view the less idyllic chapters of his life as the results of "mistakes." He didn't believe in mistakes. He believed in a preordained path, and so far every point on this path had felt right. Every bad relationship had felt right, every shitty job he'd done had felt right - because he'd chosen them.”
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