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The Wife Who Ran Away
Can she ever truly escape the ties that bind?Kate Forrest is invisible … Ned, the husband she adores, doesn’t seem to know she’s alive, and her two charming children have grown into stroppy adolescents. Her boss is suddenly shunting her towards career Siberia, and her demanding mother is never off the phone. With her fortieth birthday fast approaching, all Kate wants to do is run away from the lot of them. And so she does. On impulse, Kate walks out of her job, her family and her life, and gets on a plane to Italy. With no ties and no responsibilities, she soon finds herself deliriously caught up in La Dolce Vita – and the arms of a man barely half her age. But when the unthinkable threatens her family, Kate is brutally forced to choose between her past and the future.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2011
31 people are currently reading
503 people want to read
About the author
Tess Stimson
18 books648 followersTess Stimson is the author of fifteen novels - including international bestseller The New House - which have been translated into dozens of languages, plus two non-fiction books. Her new book, The Perfect Accident, will be published in April 2026.
A former British journalist and reporter, Stimson was appointed Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Florida in 2002 and moved to the US. In addition to writing fiction, she continues to work as a journalist and teaches reporting for media and creative writing at a university in the Northeastern US. She now lives in Vermont with her husband, and is visited intermittently by her three grown-up children whenever they need their laundry done.
For more information, visit Tess's website or follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
A former British journalist and reporter, Stimson was appointed Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Florida in 2002 and moved to the US. In addition to writing fiction, she continues to work as a journalist and teaches reporting for media and creative writing at a university in the Northeastern US. She now lives in Vermont with her husband, and is visited intermittently by her three grown-up children whenever they need their laundry done.
For more information, visit Tess's website or follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
September 18, 2023
This story managed to hook me pretty fast. It was easy to relate with Kate (39), understand her frustration and stressful life. Being a wife, mother and career woman isn't easy, especially when your family do not help or appreciate you. Is your stressful life and big salary worth all the trouble when the people you care about are unhappy?
This story was told from the viewpoints of different characters. So you got to see how Kate's husband, daughter, stepson and her mother reacted to her sudden dissapearance. At first it was interesting to see how differently people saw things but at some point it got tiresome to read e.g. the husband's pov because I already knew what Kate was up to and many things felt like boring filler and got repetitive.
I have to say that I didn't much like Kate's mother nor her husband Ned.
This story was told from the viewpoints of different characters. So you got to see how Kate's husband, daughter, stepson and her mother reacted to her sudden dissapearance. At first it was interesting to see how differently people saw things but at some point it got tiresome to read e.g. the husband's pov because I already knew what Kate was up to and many things felt like boring filler and got repetitive.
I have to say that I didn't much like Kate's mother nor her husband Ned.
January 23, 2012
Not being a big reader of womens fiction I wasn't sure what to expect with this book or even if I'd like it but it turned out I had nothing to worry about! Not only did I really enjoy it but I related to the character of Kate a whole lot. Right from the first pages I could feel her frustration and understand what it is that drives her to that airport and run away. I have three children myself, and like Kate try to do it all and some days it drives me crazy, I could never imagine throwing a full time job into the mix as well!
I loved the way the author told this story from everyones point by having mulitple narratives between Kate, her husband and their two kids, it really gave me an insight into all the dimentions of the story and what everyone was thinking.
I enjoyed all the sub-plots and the gasp-out-loud shocking moments, that all rounded together in the end to make for a clean finish, and the descriptions of Rome and the landmarks Kate visits really made me feel like I was there.
I have to say I really didn't know what would happen at the end of this book until I was actually reading the end, though I did have my fingers crossed for a particular ending.
It was well written and I found I read the book much quicker than I thought that I would, racing to get to the end to see what life Kate would choose.
The wife who ran away is an emotional, well written journey of a woman just trying to figure out who she is and what she wants and I loved making that journey with her.
Favourite quotes
'This is a mistake. I shouldn't have come. Once Julia sees me, it'll all be real. I need to go back home to my children, to Ned.... 'Kate,' Julia calls across the moonlit lawn. 'I've been expecting you.'
'I never stopped loving Ned. I just lost sight of it for a while.'
I loved the way the author told this story from everyones point by having mulitple narratives between Kate, her husband and their two kids, it really gave me an insight into all the dimentions of the story and what everyone was thinking.
I enjoyed all the sub-plots and the gasp-out-loud shocking moments, that all rounded together in the end to make for a clean finish, and the descriptions of Rome and the landmarks Kate visits really made me feel like I was there.
I have to say I really didn't know what would happen at the end of this book until I was actually reading the end, though I did have my fingers crossed for a particular ending.
It was well written and I found I read the book much quicker than I thought that I would, racing to get to the end to see what life Kate would choose.
The wife who ran away is an emotional, well written journey of a woman just trying to figure out who she is and what she wants and I loved making that journey with her.
Favourite quotes
'This is a mistake. I shouldn't have come. Once Julia sees me, it'll all be real. I need to go back home to my children, to Ned.... 'Kate,' Julia calls across the moonlit lawn. 'I've been expecting you.'
'I never stopped loving Ned. I just lost sight of it for a while.'
February 12, 2012
Am loving this book. Don't blame her for running away, I would too!!"
November 9, 2012
Kate has family stresses, work stresses and every other kind of stress you can imagine. She feels that she's single-handedly trying to hold the whole world together and failing. When her husband forgets their wedding anniversary for the third year running, and with her 40th birthday approaching she walks away from everything and gets on a plane to Rome. Will putting distance between her and her problems help or make matters worse?
I found this an enjoyable read, though I did get exasperated with Kate from time time as she was being such a martyr and putting everyone else in her life above herself. I realise that many (if not most) women do this, but here it seemed to happen to an unbelievable degree.
Kate's family were well drawn and very realistic. The sub-plot about her son was compelling and I think her teenage daughter was also drawn accurately.
The only thing that really niggled me about the book was that the ending seemed to tie all the ends together a little too neatly - chicklit doesn't always have to have a happy ending.
It's not pink and fluffy chicklit, so steer clear if that's what you're after, but it's chicklit for the older reader and has a harder edge. Definitely worth a read if you're looking for something on the serious side and which has a lot to say about how women see themselves balancing the various aspects of their lives.
I found this an enjoyable read, though I did get exasperated with Kate from time time as she was being such a martyr and putting everyone else in her life above herself. I realise that many (if not most) women do this, but here it seemed to happen to an unbelievable degree.
Kate's family were well drawn and very realistic. The sub-plot about her son was compelling and I think her teenage daughter was also drawn accurately.
The only thing that really niggled me about the book was that the ending seemed to tie all the ends together a little too neatly - chicklit doesn't always have to have a happy ending.
It's not pink and fluffy chicklit, so steer clear if that's what you're after, but it's chicklit for the older reader and has a harder edge. Definitely worth a read if you're looking for something on the serious side and which has a lot to say about how women see themselves balancing the various aspects of their lives.
December 7, 2023
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK or decent reads
=======================
A woman reaching her limit overwhelmed with household chores, work, children and a useless husband.
I was very disappointed with the ending and I doubt very much that the husband will not return to his usual behavior.
=======================
A woman reaching her limit overwhelmed with household chores, work, children and a useless husband.
I was very disappointed with the ending and I doubt very much that the husband will not return to his usual behavior.
February 19, 2018
I originally added this title to My Kindle as an Italophile as this is where it is partially set. That was back in 2012 so I have waited a long time to read, finally got round to doing so, on a long flight. Perfect for passing the time as it was a delightful easy read that I quickly immersed myself in. The Wife Who Ran Away is a story of the ups and downs of family life that is narrated by various members of the family. This made it interesting as we get the different perspectives on what happens when Kate Forrest the protagonist runs away!
I have not read a novel by Tess Stimson for rather a long time, but I certainly will not hesitate to add more of her writing to my Kindle for future journeys.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
I have not read a novel by Tess Stimson for rather a long time, but I certainly will not hesitate to add more of her writing to my Kindle for future journeys.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
June 4, 2013
Jen chvíli nemuset nic řešit. Jen jednou nemuset rozhodovat za všechny. Jen jedinkrát udělat něco jen pro sebe. Najít odvahu a vykročit z kolotoče, který se nezadržitelně točí do bodu, který nevydrží nikdo. Ani Kate, ani její rodina. A v tu chvíli to udělá. Ona, spořádaná matka a manželka, se bezmyšlenkovitě vydá na londýnské letiště a jednoduše odletí od všeho do Říma.
Kate bude zanedlouho čtyřicet, ale cítí se neskutečně vyčerpaná. Manžel Ned s ničím nepomáhá, nedá se na něho spolehnout a opět zapomněl na jejich výročí svatby. Čtrnáctiletá dcera Agness vzdoru a je v zásadě proti všemu co matka dělá, řekne, nebo po ní chce a významně dává najevo, že má raději otce. Sedmnáctiletý vyvdaný syn Guy prožívá jakési depresivní období, nicméně s Kate ještě vychází dobře. Posledním hřebíčkem do pomyslné rakve Katina života je její matka, která se zasekla v době před třiceti lety, kdy pro ženu jejího postavení každý udělal cokoliv. A Kate bezmocně sleduje, jak se její život utápí ve víru pochybností, nepochopení a nástupu mladších a schopnějších v její práci. A tak prostě uteče.
recenze na Books in Ashes
Kate bude zanedlouho čtyřicet, ale cítí se neskutečně vyčerpaná. Manžel Ned s ničím nepomáhá, nedá se na něho spolehnout a opět zapomněl na jejich výročí svatby. Čtrnáctiletá dcera Agness vzdoru a je v zásadě proti všemu co matka dělá, řekne, nebo po ní chce a významně dává najevo, že má raději otce. Sedmnáctiletý vyvdaný syn Guy prožívá jakési depresivní období, nicméně s Kate ještě vychází dobře. Posledním hřebíčkem do pomyslné rakve Katina života je její matka, která se zasekla v době před třiceti lety, kdy pro ženu jejího postavení každý udělal cokoliv. A Kate bezmocně sleduje, jak se její život utápí ve víru pochybností, nepochopení a nástupu mladších a schopnějších v její práci. A tak prostě uteče.
recenze na Books in Ashes
November 18, 2014
WAIT?! ...THIS WAS 4/5 STAR AND ITS CHICK LIT!!!
I secretly love to hate cheesy and predictable chick lit yet enjoy the relaxing ritual of reading it anyway. You see i've been hoping one day, a chick lit book will surprise me and take me of guard, it will say "hay! we chick lit books can have brains! we can be articulate, we are not going to fabricate an over used format which always ends the same way!"
well, thankyou for teaching me that Mr this book.
the wife that ran away. you were the chick lit book i was searching for.
I secretly love to hate cheesy and predictable chick lit yet enjoy the relaxing ritual of reading it anyway. You see i've been hoping one day, a chick lit book will surprise me and take me of guard, it will say "hay! we chick lit books can have brains! we can be articulate, we are not going to fabricate an over used format which always ends the same way!"
well, thankyou for teaching me that Mr this book.
the wife that ran away. you were the chick lit book i was searching for.
February 5, 2014
Příběh, který se může stát kterékoliv rodině a poučení, že tam, kde není komunikace, nemůže nic fungovat. Skvěle se čte.
December 12, 2017
Brilliant book, but then anything by this author usually is. Was gripped from start to finish. Loved it.
April 23, 2018
A woman approaching her 40th birthday is fed up with playing a role in her family she no longer wants and that is not appreciated by anyone around her. So she takes a plane to Rome to visit an old friend from her college days. The chapters are written from different viewpoints - hers, her husband, her mother, her daughter and her son - so the characters are fleshed out and it manages to be more than just a superficial story. I thought it would be very lightweight when I picked it up but it developed and kept me interested to the end to find out what happened.
February 20, 2018
The most amazing thing about this book is that the author has made sure that the reader understands the perspective of all charecters and yet acknowledge the flaws they have, and the adjustments they make for each other. It also in a strange way teaches us that mistakes do bring the best in most scenarios and end up teaching us great life lessons. I liked the flow of the book and how the author made sure that the language was easy to understand.
Read
April 7, 2020Although I don't like fiction books, but I somehow read this one after a friend's recommendation.
I must say that I quite like the story and really loved all characters depicted in the story. Like any other fictional work, it's quite dramatic and full of suspense, which is a good thing.
The best part about this book is that it tells you the story from every character's perspective.
This book is nice for a one time read.
Cheers!
I must say that I quite like the story and really loved all characters depicted in the story. Like any other fictional work, it's quite dramatic and full of suspense, which is a good thing.
The best part about this book is that it tells you the story from every character's perspective.
This book is nice for a one time read.
Cheers!
December 31, 2020
This book was emotions and some more emotions for me!
I was pissed 90% of the time.
I related to Kate's situation so much I can't even explain it... But Kate went through the most and in the end she got more than she'd hoped for.
Then Guy, I'm scared for my children honestly, I don't know what I'd do if my children went through half of what Guy went through😢.
Overall, I loved the book and I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did!
I was pissed 90% of the time.
I related to Kate's situation so much I can't even explain it... But Kate went through the most and in the end she got more than she'd hoped for.
Then Guy, I'm scared for my children honestly, I don't know what I'd do if my children went through half of what Guy went through😢.
Overall, I loved the book and I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2018
I loved this, easy to read but much more depth than a chick lit novel. A selfish husband, 2 ungrateful teenagers, a needy, cold mother and a boss about to ignore your 70 hours a week working and 15 years loyalty in preference to a young whipper snapper. Kate, on the edge of a nervous breakdown suddenly diverts her taxi home to the airport and gets on a plane to Italy. A great read.
September 24, 2024
I bought this in Italy in a very old bookshop, it appealed to me as it was set in Italy. The story is very good with lovely characters and the feel of Italy coming through the story. The last few chapters are very emotional with surprises along the way but it is so well written that the story just flows. Great book.
August 6, 2018
Not sure how to feel about this book... started a bit on the slow side but as soon as it gained momentum and was getting really intriguing, it finished and everything was solved within the last page and a half... but overall it was a good , light, well written read :)
November 13, 2021
I was surprised that I quite enjoyed it overall. I'd never have picked it myself (came in a mystery book box) but I felt the ending was a cop out. I found it a bit tedious how the main character kept going on about her old age (when only 40) and how people 10 years younger were half her age etc.
January 28, 2022
It was so good so I’ll give this 5/5. The story, the characters, how the author writes it, and how mischievous it is. Also, it tackles how women were being pressured for the things that they didn’t know what the word “rest” is, so kudos to all mothers out there, this one is all for you!!
March 18, 2024
A nice treat to listen to a well narrated audio with each character well defined in their own experiences throughout this enjoyable drama, within a typical family. TS is an exceptional writer, able to draw you in from the get go..
January 8, 2018
Very boring and indigestible story..
January 31, 2021
i loved how the book shared almost every characters pov it made the book so much more interesting.
read it in less then two days 10\10
read it in less then two days 10\10
April 14, 2023
Loved this book... I think all mums have felt like running away for a bit of me time!
June 24, 2023
I quite enjoyed the book but it was kind of confusing to me.
February 1, 2012
Kate Forrest is invisible… Ned, the husband she adores, doesn’t seem to know she’s alive, and her two charming children have grown into stroppy adolescents. Her boss is suddenly shunting her towards career Siberia, and her demanding mother is never off the phone. With her fortieth birthday fast approaching, all Kate wants to do is run away from the lot of them. And so she does. On impulse, Kate walks out of her job, her family and her life, and gets on a plane to Italy. With no ties and no responsibilities, she soon finds herself deliriously caught up in La Dolce Vita – and the arms of a man barely half her age. But when the unthinkable threatens her family, Kate is brutally forced to choose between her past and the future."
Rating: 5/5
The thing I love about Tess Stimson's books is the controversial stories she always manages to cover - you never quite know what you're going to get when you begin one of Tess' books and how it's all going to end up for the characters involved too. Therefore, when I received a copy of Tess' new book The Wife Who Ran Away, I was really excited as it sounded like a good concept for a book, and I was curious about whether I'd hate the main character for actually running away, and doing what is socially very unacceptable to most people. I quite like the cover, I really like the blue highlights against a more sepia toned background, and think it's quite pretty. So why did I love this book so much?
The book begins with Kate, a self-confessed workaholic who literally works to pay the bills and provide for her family. She made the choice with husband Ned for him to be the stay-at-home parent and take care of their 2 children while she progressed in her career and made a good salary to look after the family. However, when their marriage starts to fall apart, and her career is on shaky ground, Kate has had enough and runs off to her friend's house in Italy, at first only intending an overnight stay. But it quickly snowballs and before she knows it, it looks like Kate's run out on her life, her marriage and her children, leaving them wondering where Kate has gone to. As I was reading, I was almost egging Kate on to respond to her feelings of guilt and return back home, and as she made decisions not to go, I was cringing and wondering how as a mother she could leave her children in the lurch like that.
Kate is a controversial character, but I think it is this fact that makes the book such compulsive reading. As a woman and a mum, I couldn't quite believe Kate actually did run away, not only that but she didn't tell anyone she was leaving or where was going, something I found quite shocking. I'm sure all mum's out there have feelings of wanting to escape and run away from the day to day drudgery that can be our lives, but I'm sure most of us would never act on it, yet Kate chooses to do this. The book portrays Kate's marriage as falling apart, and I found that I couldn't have much sympathy for her husband because of his attitude, and I felt as a house-husband he was actually a bit crap and needed a kick up the bum! However, there are issues here that we don't initially know about and as the book progresses, these become clear to the reader and things start to make a bit more sense. Kate's actions in Italy are still quite shocking as well, and I was surprised at the things she got up to myself, but it just serves to create Kate as a person, rather than just a mother and wife although I didn't agree with what she was doing.
As well as the main story of Kate's running away, there is the minor sub-plot of their son Guy and the terrible time he is having at school at the hands of bullies. This is quite a shocking story-line, and some of the things that occur did make me gasp, and it might be a bit hard to read for some. However, it's clear that Stimson has done her research and the story does take some surprising twists and turns along the way, almost eclipsing the main storylines in part, and I found myself really engrossed in this story. I found all the characters in the book were well written, from the young daughter to the adults all in awkward situations themselves. Each of them really does bring something to the book, and I enjoyed how Stimson chose to write it in alternating narratives, so we hear not only from Kate but also from her husband and son's points of view as well. It's a gripping book that will have you glued until the last page, and wondering exactly where life is going to go for Kate and her family now. I loved it!
Rating: 5/5
The thing I love about Tess Stimson's books is the controversial stories she always manages to cover - you never quite know what you're going to get when you begin one of Tess' books and how it's all going to end up for the characters involved too. Therefore, when I received a copy of Tess' new book The Wife Who Ran Away, I was really excited as it sounded like a good concept for a book, and I was curious about whether I'd hate the main character for actually running away, and doing what is socially very unacceptable to most people. I quite like the cover, I really like the blue highlights against a more sepia toned background, and think it's quite pretty. So why did I love this book so much?
The book begins with Kate, a self-confessed workaholic who literally works to pay the bills and provide for her family. She made the choice with husband Ned for him to be the stay-at-home parent and take care of their 2 children while she progressed in her career and made a good salary to look after the family. However, when their marriage starts to fall apart, and her career is on shaky ground, Kate has had enough and runs off to her friend's house in Italy, at first only intending an overnight stay. But it quickly snowballs and before she knows it, it looks like Kate's run out on her life, her marriage and her children, leaving them wondering where Kate has gone to. As I was reading, I was almost egging Kate on to respond to her feelings of guilt and return back home, and as she made decisions not to go, I was cringing and wondering how as a mother she could leave her children in the lurch like that.
Kate is a controversial character, but I think it is this fact that makes the book such compulsive reading. As a woman and a mum, I couldn't quite believe Kate actually did run away, not only that but she didn't tell anyone she was leaving or where was going, something I found quite shocking. I'm sure all mum's out there have feelings of wanting to escape and run away from the day to day drudgery that can be our lives, but I'm sure most of us would never act on it, yet Kate chooses to do this. The book portrays Kate's marriage as falling apart, and I found that I couldn't have much sympathy for her husband because of his attitude, and I felt as a house-husband he was actually a bit crap and needed a kick up the bum! However, there are issues here that we don't initially know about and as the book progresses, these become clear to the reader and things start to make a bit more sense. Kate's actions in Italy are still quite shocking as well, and I was surprised at the things she got up to myself, but it just serves to create Kate as a person, rather than just a mother and wife although I didn't agree with what she was doing.
As well as the main story of Kate's running away, there is the minor sub-plot of their son Guy and the terrible time he is having at school at the hands of bullies. This is quite a shocking story-line, and some of the things that occur did make me gasp, and it might be a bit hard to read for some. However, it's clear that Stimson has done her research and the story does take some surprising twists and turns along the way, almost eclipsing the main storylines in part, and I found myself really engrossed in this story. I found all the characters in the book were well written, from the young daughter to the adults all in awkward situations themselves. Each of them really does bring something to the book, and I enjoyed how Stimson chose to write it in alternating narratives, so we hear not only from Kate but also from her husband and son's points of view as well. It's a gripping book that will have you glued until the last page, and wondering exactly where life is going to go for Kate and her family now. I loved it!
May 21, 2012
I saw this book on the library's shelf of "New Books." And I sort of liked the cover. And I sort of liked the titled. So I took it home. And found it was a nice, light read. I like that there are multiples POV ... I think the reader gets a lot more of the story that way. At the beginning of the book, you can't help but think of Eleanor as too dependent, Ned as a pig, Agness a nasty brat, Guy mostly invisible and understated and Kate, under appreciated. As the story unfolds, however, the characters stretch their limits and drive the plot into some interesting directions. And we come to see each character in a different light ~ Kate, a control freak, who has somewhat emasculated her husband, Ned by controlling everything and leaving little room for him to grow and/or prove himself. Agness surprised me, with the way she swooped in after her Mum's absence and did her best to fill the gap. With all the chaos that surrounds the Forrest family, Guy's crisis goes largely unnoticed until toward the book's end.
I love the characters, they were frustrating, loveable, and people I could definitely care about. Which is the primary reason I kept on reading ~ because I wanted to find out what happens. This is book about marriage, and relationships in general. It's about the fact that, wherever you go, there you are. I though that Stimson wraps things up a little too neatly at the end of the book, but it doesn't surprise me. I give this one 5 stars simply because of its ability to hold the reader straight until its end.
Some of my favourite lines:
Her eyes rake me with contempt.
I'll have to tap Eleanor for more cash just to fill up, which'll mean eating another shit sandwich.
I want to cry, but the emotions are so tightly knotted in my throat that nothing breaks free.
I love this line, when Kate silently reminisces about her mother ~ She was like a celestial being, goddess to me. She must know everything I remember thinking.
I love the characters, they were frustrating, loveable, and people I could definitely care about. Which is the primary reason I kept on reading ~ because I wanted to find out what happens. This is book about marriage, and relationships in general. It's about the fact that, wherever you go, there you are. I though that Stimson wraps things up a little too neatly at the end of the book, but it doesn't surprise me. I give this one 5 stars simply because of its ability to hold the reader straight until its end.
Some of my favourite lines:
Her eyes rake me with contempt.
I'll have to tap Eleanor for more cash just to fill up, which'll mean eating another shit sandwich.
I want to cry, but the emotions are so tightly knotted in my throat that nothing breaks free.
I love this line, when Kate silently reminisces about her mother ~ She was like a celestial being, goddess to me. She must know everything I remember thinking.
January 29, 2012
Kate's life is far from easy. She earns a lot more than her husband Ned, and works long hours... but her boss seems to be trying to edge her out. She pays for their mortgage, and her mother's too, and school fees for their teenage children Guy and Agness.
Kate also runs the home single-handedly, with little support from Ned. Guy is being bullied at school, and is uncommunicative. Agness is going through an angry hormonal stage, fighting for more freedom... and Kate's mother has a string of constant demands.
Finally - actually in the first chapter - in a surprisingly low-key way, Kate comes to the end of her tether. She gets in a taxi to return to her office... and goes, instead, to the airport.
This novel is told in the present tense, which works well. It's also told from multiple viewpoints, which becomes necessary when Kate takes off. And it makes an interesting read: would Kate ever return to her demanding family? Why has she let them get away with it for so long? How would her family get along without her....?
Unfortunately, Guy's accounts are peppered with bad language, and Ned's, at the beginning, are even worse. I was most unimpressed with his first chapter, which describes in crass and juvenile detail what he does, in about five minutes, to Kate in the bedroom. Still, the main part of the story reads well, and it's quite a page-turner towards the end. However the ending is rather too neat, with some inconsistencies that simply didn't work.
All right as a light read, if you don't object to 18-rated language in places, but nothing special.
Kate also runs the home single-handedly, with little support from Ned. Guy is being bullied at school, and is uncommunicative. Agness is going through an angry hormonal stage, fighting for more freedom... and Kate's mother has a string of constant demands.
Finally - actually in the first chapter - in a surprisingly low-key way, Kate comes to the end of her tether. She gets in a taxi to return to her office... and goes, instead, to the airport.
This novel is told in the present tense, which works well. It's also told from multiple viewpoints, which becomes necessary when Kate takes off. And it makes an interesting read: would Kate ever return to her demanding family? Why has she let them get away with it for so long? How would her family get along without her....?
Unfortunately, Guy's accounts are peppered with bad language, and Ned's, at the beginning, are even worse. I was most unimpressed with his first chapter, which describes in crass and juvenile detail what he does, in about five minutes, to Kate in the bedroom. Still, the main part of the story reads well, and it's quite a page-turner towards the end. However the ending is rather too neat, with some inconsistencies that simply didn't work.
All right as a light read, if you don't object to 18-rated language in places, but nothing special.
May 16, 2012
Initially i have my doubt whether i would be able to enjoy reading this book after reading the plot but given the good review by other readers, i decided to give it a try and i am so glad i did so. The author have written brilliantly about the book. Given the title of the book and the synopsis, one would automatically think that the selfishness that Kate have in leaving her family behind but reading thru the book, one would understand why Kate did it.
Kate is a strong character in the book, being shouldered the burden of a family who rely on her and with the breakdown rooming over her, she decided to walk out of her family and search again for herself. This scenario i believe happened everywhere and to have that courage, not many will do such as Kate did. I like the way the author written the book; each of the characters; Kate, Ned, Eleanor, Agness and Guy have their say and thoughts in different chapters which provided a two way insight as to what really happened and their feeling towards each others. It is fascinating to see such a different perspective emerged from two different thoughts on the same thing and it tells us the damage miscommunication is if problems is to be leave as it is without being dealt with.
Overall, this book is well written, with good plot and characters. I enjoyed reading this book ;)
Kate is a strong character in the book, being shouldered the burden of a family who rely on her and with the breakdown rooming over her, she decided to walk out of her family and search again for herself. This scenario i believe happened everywhere and to have that courage, not many will do such as Kate did. I like the way the author written the book; each of the characters; Kate, Ned, Eleanor, Agness and Guy have their say and thoughts in different chapters which provided a two way insight as to what really happened and their feeling towards each others. It is fascinating to see such a different perspective emerged from two different thoughts on the same thing and it tells us the damage miscommunication is if problems is to be leave as it is without being dealt with.
Overall, this book is well written, with good plot and characters. I enjoyed reading this book ;)
May 13, 2013
What a good story, this book was given to me by a work colleague who had really enjoyed it and I in turn have given it another work colleague as I truly enjoyed it too.
The last straw for Kate was when her mother phoned to say not to buy the gloves she has asked for as Agness has already bought them for her. This call came just as Kate was paying for the said gloves after rushing out in her lunch hour, something she had not wanted to do as she was in a fight for her job against a new member of staff. Without really thinking about what she is doing instead of going back to work to an important meeting Kate catches a plane to Italy and goes to stay with her friend, Julia from Uni, who she has lost contact with in the last couple of years. Julia says that she expected her at some time.
Kate has been juggling a very busy job, a husband who does not pull his weight (maybe because he is not game enough to) and 2 children who are at crises in their lives. Plus she has her mother to deal with. While in Italy she has an affair and falls in love with a younger man and reconnects with her friend. Meanwhile her family back home rally around to pull their weight there too, that is after their daughter Agness gets her father moving.
It had a good ending, for me there were some tears as a final decision was made. A good read.
The last straw for Kate was when her mother phoned to say not to buy the gloves she has asked for as Agness has already bought them for her. This call came just as Kate was paying for the said gloves after rushing out in her lunch hour, something she had not wanted to do as she was in a fight for her job against a new member of staff. Without really thinking about what she is doing instead of going back to work to an important meeting Kate catches a plane to Italy and goes to stay with her friend, Julia from Uni, who she has lost contact with in the last couple of years. Julia says that she expected her at some time.
Kate has been juggling a very busy job, a husband who does not pull his weight (maybe because he is not game enough to) and 2 children who are at crises in their lives. Plus she has her mother to deal with. While in Italy she has an affair and falls in love with a younger man and reconnects with her friend. Meanwhile her family back home rally around to pull their weight there too, that is after their daughter Agness gets her father moving.
It had a good ending, for me there were some tears as a final decision was made. A good read.
August 7, 2014
Kat is in a rut, her husband Ned is next to useless, despite being a free lance journalist he spends more time dossing around the house, forgets anniversaries and in general may as well be a third child in their family. Guy and Agness are the two real children in the relationship, Guy, a sweet teenage boy who is struggling with bullying at school but won't tell and Agness, a stroppy 14 year old. Kat's job is demanding, sure it pays well but it seems lately they want blood for that salary and there is always someone nipping at her heels for her job.
Acting impulsively one day , Kat gets on a plane and heads to an old friend in Italy telling no one and secretly hopes that Ned will drop all and come woo her back home. Only it doesn't quite happen as she had hoped and when things go really wrong at home forcing her return Kat has to question what she really wants in life.
The story is told through the eyes of the key characters and I really enjoyed seeing the dilemmas faced from their perspective. The only character I can say I truly liked was Guy, my heart broke for him and what he was going through, the rest I just wanted to shake. Nevertheless it may as well have been a true tale as I am sure many relationships pose the problems that Kat and Ned go through. An average read for me but reasonably enjoyable.
Acting impulsively one day , Kat gets on a plane and heads to an old friend in Italy telling no one and secretly hopes that Ned will drop all and come woo her back home. Only it doesn't quite happen as she had hoped and when things go really wrong at home forcing her return Kat has to question what she really wants in life.
The story is told through the eyes of the key characters and I really enjoyed seeing the dilemmas faced from their perspective. The only character I can say I truly liked was Guy, my heart broke for him and what he was going through, the rest I just wanted to shake. Nevertheless it may as well have been a true tale as I am sure many relationships pose the problems that Kat and Ned go through. An average read for me but reasonably enjoyable.
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