What do you think?
Rate this book
The Woman Who Fell in Love for a Week
A house-sitter gets her mojo back in this hilarious and touching love story Teacher Jenny loves her summer job house-sitting, and she's looking forward to a fortnight looking after The Old Rectory, a quintessentially English pile stuffed with glorious artwork and books. Owned by two celebrated writers, everything about it boasts of a successful family, reminding Jenny of her own happy home life before divorce. In a sizzling heatwave, as Jenny encounters the forceful personalities of the family dog and the eccentric neighbors, she soon starts to realize that the Lewis family may not be as enviably perfect as their big portrait above the fireplace suggests. And a new friendship may represent a surprise second chance in Jenny's life that paints a whole new picture.
456 pages, Paperback
First published January 8, 2015
23 people are currently reading
565 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
April 2, 2019
Oh my goodness, this was a stressful read! Trusting Jenny to look after a house inhabited by wealthy writers, the mistakes and accidents that happen made me feel stressed and not entertained in the slightest.
Walker goes into great detail about the characters and this was a definite positive feature of the story. Making it feel as if you really know the key characters, I think this added to my stress levels with all of the silly, avoidable mistakes that Jenny makes. The characterisation made me want to give Jenny a shake and tell her get a grip and not bother to continue with her house sitting hobby-come-business.
Being set in the summer was a really brilliant element of the plot. I love summery stories and Walker’s descriptions meant I often lost myself in the glorious weather. Happily escaping into the heatwave and the delightful outdoor swimming pool, this did distract me from the way Jenny lived in the borrowed house. For me, this meant this is a novel you could read all year around because of the escapism it provides.
Overall, I found the plot rather mundane. It was only the extraordinary characterisation that kept me going. There is a lot of talking, and I mean a lot, as Jenny goes into immense detail about the background to her failed marriage. This lack of action and the literal “sitting around” gave the plot a stagnant, claustrophobic feeling, heightened by the suffocating summer temperatures that soar literally and metaphorically in this novel. I found it difficult to picture Jenny opening up to Euan, and even harder to imagine his Scottish accent. For some reason, it just did not grab my imagination and consequently I could not properly fall in love with the two key characters.
There is an unfathomable obsession from Jenny about ensuring her bikini line is perfect during the story. It was just a little bit weird to be honest! Having a wee with her eyes shut to evolving to finally accepting herself, shows that this story is about not just falling in love, but also loving your own body. Jenny's encounter with Roger, after all of the build-up, was awkward - both for me and Jenny alike! Perhaps it was meant to be entertaining, but I was keen to read past this to see how the rest of the story would progress. All in all, I felt that Walker could have developed this plot from another angle and it was only the detailed characterisation that held it all together.
To an extent, I did enjoy this read, but wanted a bit more action. Jenny’s house sitting was poor and her awful attempts at recovering from her errors were most stressful for me. Whilst the characterisation was epic, I would have liked to see the plot progress with a quicker pace.
Walker goes into great detail about the characters and this was a definite positive feature of the story. Making it feel as if you really know the key characters, I think this added to my stress levels with all of the silly, avoidable mistakes that Jenny makes. The characterisation made me want to give Jenny a shake and tell her get a grip and not bother to continue with her house sitting hobby-come-business.
Being set in the summer was a really brilliant element of the plot. I love summery stories and Walker’s descriptions meant I often lost myself in the glorious weather. Happily escaping into the heatwave and the delightful outdoor swimming pool, this did distract me from the way Jenny lived in the borrowed house. For me, this meant this is a novel you could read all year around because of the escapism it provides.
Overall, I found the plot rather mundane. It was only the extraordinary characterisation that kept me going. There is a lot of talking, and I mean a lot, as Jenny goes into immense detail about the background to her failed marriage. This lack of action and the literal “sitting around” gave the plot a stagnant, claustrophobic feeling, heightened by the suffocating summer temperatures that soar literally and metaphorically in this novel. I found it difficult to picture Jenny opening up to Euan, and even harder to imagine his Scottish accent. For some reason, it just did not grab my imagination and consequently I could not properly fall in love with the two key characters.
There is an unfathomable obsession from Jenny about ensuring her bikini line is perfect during the story. It was just a little bit weird to be honest! Having a wee with her eyes shut to evolving to finally accepting herself, shows that this story is about not just falling in love, but also loving your own body. Jenny's encounter with Roger, after all of the build-up, was awkward - both for me and Jenny alike! Perhaps it was meant to be entertaining, but I was keen to read past this to see how the rest of the story would progress. All in all, I felt that Walker could have developed this plot from another angle and it was only the detailed characterisation that held it all together.
To an extent, I did enjoy this read, but wanted a bit more action. Jenny’s house sitting was poor and her awful attempts at recovering from her errors were most stressful for me. Whilst the characterisation was epic, I would have liked to see the plot progress with a quicker pace.
July 9, 2015
This is a story of a house sitter who has quite a pants life after her marriage broke up and her kids have gone to stay with their dad. What it actually is, is an hilarious account of the mishaps and crazy people who come into the life of Jenny when she babysits the and dog of a famous author.
I literally laughed all the way through this book and will never look at GÜ pudding in the same light, or without giggling. The whole book kept me gripped and didn't disappoint at all. BLOODY BRILLIANT.
I literally laughed all the way through this book and will never look at GÜ pudding in the same light, or without giggling. The whole book kept me gripped and didn't disappoint at all. BLOODY BRILLIANT.
abandoned
April 12, 2019I’m 104 pages in and this book is making me dread my weekend reading, so I’m abandoning it.
I’m irritated with protagonists who seem to do one wrong thing after another and the dog is not endearing to me, but very naughty.
The back cover made the title seem more exciting than it actually is, and I just don’t care enough about Jenny to continue reading.
I’m irritated with protagonists who seem to do one wrong thing after another and the dog is not endearing to me, but very naughty.
The back cover made the title seem more exciting than it actually is, and I just don’t care enough about Jenny to continue reading.
May 7, 2015
Jenny is a professional house-sitter - the person whom you hire via an agency to come and stay in your house and look after it and your pet(s) whilst you go away. We know nothing about Jenny at the beginning but her story unfolds along with details of her day to day life in the Lewis home. I'm not sure that I would have done what Jenny did in life, but this is an excellent read with lots going on. I loved 'to-do' list at the beginning of each chapter and how it changed according to events! A really good story line with excellent characterisation, plenty happening and some real twists and turns. With all that it was a great read but the addition of Gunther the gun-dog turned this into a terrific read. I laughed and cheered with Jenny at his antics - what a truly loveable animal!
A thoroughly enjoyable entertaining read which I would heartily recommend, and I fully intend to read more from Fiona Walker. Full five stars from me!
A thoroughly enjoyable entertaining read which I would heartily recommend, and I fully intend to read more from Fiona Walker. Full five stars from me!
April 1, 2016
Nothing less than 5 stars for Fiona yet again. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Fiona's writing style is such that she makes it very easy to immerse yourself into the story.
This book is very different from others that I've read by this author, but no less enjoyable.
Jenny, the teacher, house-sits to escape her own life, organised to a fault, she takes on her latest assignment with gusto. Very unfortunate and funny problems arise, mostly in conjunction with Gunter the disobedient dog. Mistaken identity gives way to a love affair with the gruff voiced painter Euan Henderson, who teaches her the most important lessons, to love herself and not to keep her emotions hidden away.
Brilliantly written, would recommend it to anyone.
This book is very different from others that I've read by this author, but no less enjoyable.
Jenny, the teacher, house-sits to escape her own life, organised to a fault, she takes on her latest assignment with gusto. Very unfortunate and funny problems arise, mostly in conjunction with Gunter the disobedient dog. Mistaken identity gives way to a love affair with the gruff voiced painter Euan Henderson, who teaches her the most important lessons, to love herself and not to keep her emotions hidden away.
Brilliantly written, would recommend it to anyone.
September 13, 2016
I liked the crazy dog and the setting and the twist.
October 10, 2020
“You can’t take on forever love, it’s like trying to hit on widowed Heathcliff. We all know Cathy’s dead, but he’ll never pin any other woman against a craggy outcrop for more than instant gratification while her ghosts still singing Kate Bush songs at his window.”
I have owned this book for many years and added it to my reading challenge in 2020 just to get it off my shelf (don’t be offended dear author I have about 200 books waiting patiently to be picked up too). When I read the title and saw the cover I just expected another rom-com type book about some gal down on her luck who finds a bad boy and makes him a good boy. I didn’t expect so much depth and feeling!
Jenny is a 40 something divorcee, who spent over 20 years of her life devoted to a man that never gave her the time of day. She sat at home being the good, perfect, loving wife whilst Robin screwed his way through his semesters students under his wife’s very nose. When Robin finally leaves, Jenny is lost and becomes a prudish, uptight woman who needs everything in neat and tidy order just to get by.
That is until a house-sitting job for two very famous writers changes her perspective on life and potentially love. With a sex- crazed, mischievous gun dog thrown into the mix, Jenny starts to grow and heal from the marriage that left her in tatters.
I thought this was going to be a hard book to get into; but instead ended up reading it in two sittings. It totally took me off guard and I felt like I needed to know more instantly as i finished each chapter. It was so much darker and naughty in places than I thought it would be, but so relatable if you come from any family that has suffered through a really messy divorce. When Jenny reveals all about her time stuck in her marriage with Robin it all feels so raw and honest, I couldn’t help but feel some of her heartache too. The comparisons between her ex-husband and the dog were a bit weird though!
This book wasn’t all doom, gloom and heartache though! There are literally spit-your-tea out laugh out loud moments throughout! Most notably involving date night with roger, dim sum and a chocolate gu pot!
Honestly one of the best novels in the “chick lit” genre I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
I have owned this book for many years and added it to my reading challenge in 2020 just to get it off my shelf (don’t be offended dear author I have about 200 books waiting patiently to be picked up too). When I read the title and saw the cover I just expected another rom-com type book about some gal down on her luck who finds a bad boy and makes him a good boy. I didn’t expect so much depth and feeling!
Jenny is a 40 something divorcee, who spent over 20 years of her life devoted to a man that never gave her the time of day. She sat at home being the good, perfect, loving wife whilst Robin screwed his way through his semesters students under his wife’s very nose. When Robin finally leaves, Jenny is lost and becomes a prudish, uptight woman who needs everything in neat and tidy order just to get by.
That is until a house-sitting job for two very famous writers changes her perspective on life and potentially love. With a sex- crazed, mischievous gun dog thrown into the mix, Jenny starts to grow and heal from the marriage that left her in tatters.
I thought this was going to be a hard book to get into; but instead ended up reading it in two sittings. It totally took me off guard and I felt like I needed to know more instantly as i finished each chapter. It was so much darker and naughty in places than I thought it would be, but so relatable if you come from any family that has suffered through a really messy divorce. When Jenny reveals all about her time stuck in her marriage with Robin it all feels so raw and honest, I couldn’t help but feel some of her heartache too. The comparisons between her ex-husband and the dog were a bit weird though!
This book wasn’t all doom, gloom and heartache though! There are literally spit-your-tea out laugh out loud moments throughout! Most notably involving date night with roger, dim sum and a chocolate gu pot!
Honestly one of the best novels in the “chick lit” genre I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
April 23, 2018
3.5 stars
Second book in the row where it was totally not what I expected (fluffy romance) based on the cover.
There was romance.
There was some comedy.
There was heart-break and a happy ending.
And there were some scenes where I wondered how in the world anyone would ever get a job as a house-sitter again if that happened in real life...
All that said, I found the characters well written and a little on the gritty side. There was more real emotion than in your usual fluff. There is a dog - a dog I am relieved is not my responsibility - but I like dogs.
Basic overview: Relatively recently divorced mother of twins who are about to start college, gets a two week job house-sitting a mansion (and Gunter the gun-dog) owned by a couple who are both authors while they go off on a romantic get-away. Things go wrong, there is a case of mistaken identity, one things leads to another, and at some point there is also a lot of crying. Through all this, Jenny learns to love herself again.
Second book in the row where it was totally not what I expected (fluffy romance) based on the cover.
There was romance.
There was some comedy.
There was heart-break and a happy ending.
And there were some scenes where I wondered how in the world anyone would ever get a job as a house-sitter again if that happened in real life...
All that said, I found the characters well written and a little on the gritty side. There was more real emotion than in your usual fluff. There is a dog - a dog I am relieved is not my responsibility - but I like dogs.
Basic overview: Relatively recently divorced mother of twins who are about to start college, gets a two week job house-sitting a mansion (and Gunter the gun-dog) owned by a couple who are both authors while they go off on a romantic get-away. Things go wrong, there is a case of mistaken identity, one things leads to another, and at some point there is also a lot of crying. Through all this, Jenny learns to love herself again.
February 1, 2020
This book is perfect for women who have divorced or thinking about it and for the rest of us who just like a really good read. Jen really loved her ex-husband Robin, even though he was a serial filanderer. Only a consuming love would make an intelligent woman put up with his nonsense for years and then mentally flog herself after he left her. Readers should not pity Jen, she has a good job and housesits during school breaks. She has also been dating and considering getting on with her sex life. The housesitting gig that provides background for the majority of the book proves to be quite entertaining, with laugh out loud moments (usually because of Gunter, the dog) and some really steamy moments because of Euan, the gardener/artist who is painting nudes for an exhibition. Jen is an incredibly familiar character with her negative body image and self deprecating manner, but the clever, manipulating Myrtle is a bit of delightful fun, injected sparingly. This is a good beach or anytime read for fans of strong female points of view.
August 10, 2019
I enjoyed the book. It was well written, as all her books are.
But I was annoyed that the main character was a woman who has no self worth, seems weak, messes up the house in so many stupid ways (all predictable) it just does not fit with the story of the hunky playboy who falls deeply in love with her.
In this day and age she should have been a woman who cares for herself, does not behave like a giant with two left feet in a dolls house and has self respect to own up to her mistakes and takes no nonsense from men.
I just could not relate to her at all, real shame.
But I was annoyed that the main character was a woman who has no self worth, seems weak, messes up the house in so many stupid ways (all predictable) it just does not fit with the story of the hunky playboy who falls deeply in love with her.
In this day and age she should have been a woman who cares for herself, does not behave like a giant with two left feet in a dolls house and has self respect to own up to her mistakes and takes no nonsense from men.
I just could not relate to her at all, real shame.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2017
2.5 Eh... It was okay... I get that there would be no story without things going wrong... But... Jenny's supposed to be a Super Housesitter, and just TOO much goes wrong. A few things (the manuscript) I could handle, but some things (the ripped painting) were too much.
January 9, 2019
This is a light hearted read and I enjoyed it. I wish the cover matched the character though. My book’s cover had a blond haired girl wearing a cowboy hat! For goodness sake, the main character is half Persian. Get it right publishers.
February 1, 2021
Update: It got better! After the half of the book I came around and could fully enjoy it. I even stayed up pretty late to finish it. So if you feel like me about the beginning it definitely gets better!
May 30, 2021
3.5 but more towards 4 than 3. Fun and lighthearted. A teacher who does housesitting in her summer holiday. She discovers there is more to the house and the people who life there... Funny. Romantic. Little bit of drama with house wrecking...
August 17, 2017
A good holiday read.
A little rushed and vaguer at the end but otherwise good.
A little rushed and vaguer at the end but otherwise good.
September 14, 2017
I'm such a sucker for a good Fiona.W book. Slow starter but a wonderful book and even a lovable GWP!
August 8, 2018
Very enjoyable.
Storyline lighthearted fun with a host of crazy characters.
I especially loved Gunter ;)
Storyline lighthearted fun with a host of crazy characters.
I especially loved Gunter ;)
October 13, 2018
I love Fiona Walker's style, but this heroine just annoyed me immensely!
April 6, 2019
Gave up after 100 pages, it was so dull and the protagonist was so miserable as well as being the world's worst house sitter
August 23, 2019
Very slow storyline, with characters that are very one dimensional.
January 6, 2020
Boring read about 10 pages and had enough
January 17, 2021
Took a while to get going, but around half way in it became one I didn’t want to put down! Fab!
July 17, 2022
Not a convincing plot and the characters are flat…
January 7, 2023
First half of the book was very slow going. Second half a lot more exciting!
August 24, 2024
Great summer read.
March 13, 2017
What a slow starter was this book. I just could not get into it and barely relate to the characters. But then, after page 144 or so, it started to grow on me. As Jenny, the main character, started to open up I became more interested and more importantly, it became a much easier read for me. Some of the struggle was gone. So overall, not a great one, but barely scraping by for me. I was doubting between 2,5 and 3 stars and decided to round it up to 3 stars, because the story kind of redeemed itself. Which is not an easy feat.
Read
March 4, 2016Visit my blog bit.ly/cozybookshelfgirl for more reviews
This is my first read for Fiona Walker. The cover picture for this post features my paperback copy of 464 pages. I have seen other covers of this book along with varying blurbs as well. It’s possible that I have, in the past walked past this book and not taken notice of it. This particular cover caught my eye immediately as well as the blurb. It is also a relatively new novel, having been published on the 15th September 2015 by Sphere.
Right, to begin with I struggled to connect with the protagonist Jenny Reese. A forty something year old divorcee, still patching her self esteem up years after the divorce. Perhaps this novel was slightly mature for me. Ideal for readers who can relate to Jenny in that way in my humble opinion. I also struggled to picture and relate to Euan the male romantic lead. If I am being honest at the age of 25 years old, it is hard for me to envision a forty something, broke, homeless, unclean, talented painter as sexy or the least bit attractive.
What attracted me to the book was the story line about Jenny house sitting a luxury mansion for three weeks. Who wouldn’t want this as a dream job? The modern feel to the characters, mentions of selfies, the Evoque Range Rover “dog car”, and modern technology described throughout the Old Rectory was entertaining. The humor was definitely side splitting. The introduction of Roger was one of the funniest parts of the entire book for me.
Then there was Gunther, the Lewis’s family pet. An enormous dog with a penchant for destroying anything he comes into contact with, but actually just a big friendly giant. I really became attached to Gunther. His constant presence in the book was reassuring, comical and comforting at the best of times. I loved how Jenny managed to “iron” herself out of every situation gone wrong and the elements of the house owners both being hugely successful writers. The first time I began to connect to Jenny’s character was when she gets plastered drunk with Euan and reveals the real Jenny, past, present and future. That was honest, raw and heartrendingly funny at the same time.
The twist in the story was definitely one I can say I didn’t see coming. I will remain hush on this, in case any of you decide to try this book out. I certainly couldn’t have guessed how it all tied up.
In summary, this wasn’t a book I couldn’t put down. I took my time, reading when I could. It was roughly around a week before I finished it. The characters were to mature for me. Which is no fault of the author Fiona Walker. I did enjoy the read though, loved the setting of the book and eventually I warmed to the characters. My opinion, if you are slightly more mature than me, have been through a divorce or love dogs, this book is for you.
All my love
Cozy
X x x
This is my first read for Fiona Walker. The cover picture for this post features my paperback copy of 464 pages. I have seen other covers of this book along with varying blurbs as well. It’s possible that I have, in the past walked past this book and not taken notice of it. This particular cover caught my eye immediately as well as the blurb. It is also a relatively new novel, having been published on the 15th September 2015 by Sphere.
Right, to begin with I struggled to connect with the protagonist Jenny Reese. A forty something year old divorcee, still patching her self esteem up years after the divorce. Perhaps this novel was slightly mature for me. Ideal for readers who can relate to Jenny in that way in my humble opinion. I also struggled to picture and relate to Euan the male romantic lead. If I am being honest at the age of 25 years old, it is hard for me to envision a forty something, broke, homeless, unclean, talented painter as sexy or the least bit attractive.
What attracted me to the book was the story line about Jenny house sitting a luxury mansion for three weeks. Who wouldn’t want this as a dream job? The modern feel to the characters, mentions of selfies, the Evoque Range Rover “dog car”, and modern technology described throughout the Old Rectory was entertaining. The humor was definitely side splitting. The introduction of Roger was one of the funniest parts of the entire book for me.
Then there was Gunther, the Lewis’s family pet. An enormous dog with a penchant for destroying anything he comes into contact with, but actually just a big friendly giant. I really became attached to Gunther. His constant presence in the book was reassuring, comical and comforting at the best of times. I loved how Jenny managed to “iron” herself out of every situation gone wrong and the elements of the house owners both being hugely successful writers. The first time I began to connect to Jenny’s character was when she gets plastered drunk with Euan and reveals the real Jenny, past, present and future. That was honest, raw and heartrendingly funny at the same time.
The twist in the story was definitely one I can say I didn’t see coming. I will remain hush on this, in case any of you decide to try this book out. I certainly couldn’t have guessed how it all tied up.
In summary, this wasn’t a book I couldn’t put down. I took my time, reading when I could. It was roughly around a week before I finished it. The characters were to mature for me. Which is no fault of the author Fiona Walker. I did enjoy the read though, loved the setting of the book and eventually I warmed to the characters. My opinion, if you are slightly more mature than me, have been through a divorce or love dogs, this book is for you.
All my love
Cozy
X x x
April 24, 2015
Book Review: ‘The Woman Who Fell In Love For A Week’
By Fiona Walker
Fab, fab, fab! I loved this book! It was modern, sassy, funny and romantic - absolutely spot on.
A fan of Fiona Walker for many years, I enjoyed many of her early books immensely, my first being 'Snap Happy' which I couldn't put down. However, I felt she wavered a little in some of her later Cotswold-based books and lost me for a while.
She returns with interest!
Jenny, a divorced teacher, spends her school holidays house-sitting for other people, on this occasion taking on a large house complete with madly neurotic dog, for writers who are heading to the Maldives in an attempt to patch up their shaky marriage. While there, we are entertained with numerous mishaps generally revolving around the untrained dog Gunter and his steady destruction of house and 'dog car'. The romantic element doesn't appear for some time while Fiona Walker skillfully creates her main female character. Sensitive, compassionate, hurt, full of self doubt - yet fighting back against the blows that life has dealt her with strength and determination, she is an entirely likeable character who I think most female readers will relate to.
Jenny is already in a chaste relationship with Roger, a predictable, safe and ‘nice’ man who it transpires, hides some secrets of his own with hilarious results!
Euan, the real romantic interest who appears on the scene later on the book, is a classic, yet modernised romantic lead, the complete opposite of Roger, passionate and brooding, a painter full of creativity, smoking and drinking his way through life, with a chequered past full of naked woman he has painted and slept with.
The unlikely pairing of Jenny and Euan gradually comes together through a series of misunderstandings over the course of a week, always nearly, but never quite consummating their growing lust and love, frustrated by emerging secrets and pasts revisited in the form of Euan’s ex-lover and Jenny’s ex-husband. To say any more would be to spoil the story for readers, other than to say they are in for a real treat of a read!
I highly recommend ‘The Woman Who Fell In Love For A Week’ and rate it five out of five stars.
By Fiona Walker
Fab, fab, fab! I loved this book! It was modern, sassy, funny and romantic - absolutely spot on.
A fan of Fiona Walker for many years, I enjoyed many of her early books immensely, my first being 'Snap Happy' which I couldn't put down. However, I felt she wavered a little in some of her later Cotswold-based books and lost me for a while.
She returns with interest!
Jenny, a divorced teacher, spends her school holidays house-sitting for other people, on this occasion taking on a large house complete with madly neurotic dog, for writers who are heading to the Maldives in an attempt to patch up their shaky marriage. While there, we are entertained with numerous mishaps generally revolving around the untrained dog Gunter and his steady destruction of house and 'dog car'. The romantic element doesn't appear for some time while Fiona Walker skillfully creates her main female character. Sensitive, compassionate, hurt, full of self doubt - yet fighting back against the blows that life has dealt her with strength and determination, she is an entirely likeable character who I think most female readers will relate to.
Jenny is already in a chaste relationship with Roger, a predictable, safe and ‘nice’ man who it transpires, hides some secrets of his own with hilarious results!
Euan, the real romantic interest who appears on the scene later on the book, is a classic, yet modernised romantic lead, the complete opposite of Roger, passionate and brooding, a painter full of creativity, smoking and drinking his way through life, with a chequered past full of naked woman he has painted and slept with.
The unlikely pairing of Jenny and Euan gradually comes together through a series of misunderstandings over the course of a week, always nearly, but never quite consummating their growing lust and love, frustrated by emerging secrets and pasts revisited in the form of Euan’s ex-lover and Jenny’s ex-husband. To say any more would be to spoil the story for readers, other than to say they are in for a real treat of a read!
I highly recommend ‘The Woman Who Fell In Love For A Week’ and rate it five out of five stars.
June 5, 2015
Thanks to Sphere and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I have been a big fan of Fiona Walker's novels for many years. Her novels are always hugely entertaining romps, full of humour, laughter and romance - a perfect combination for a successful rom-com. I was therefore hugely excited to read The Woman Who Fell in Love for a Week!
The book tells the story of Jenny, a middle-aged teacher, mother and divorcee, who spends school holidays house-sitting. The summer holidays arrive and she finds herself house-sitting for famous novelist, Geraldine Lewis, and her academic husband Richard. She also find herself in charge of their uncontrollable dog, Gunther.
Being used to easy and uneventful jobs, Jenny find herself somewhat out of her depth coping with the Gunther's antics, a mishap with a manuscript, troubles in the Lewis' marriage, the local busybody and hunky artist, Euan.
As the week progresses, under Euan's influence, we seen Jenny shed her layers of prudish disapproval and self protection, built up after her disastrous marriage, and start to re-find her self-belief and confidence. There are a number of hiccups along the way, some funny moments courtesy of Gunther but also some painful moments in relation to the love triangle between some of the main characters.
The story is realistic and you feel for Jenny as she is forced to leave her carefully crafted comfort zone and face up to her fears. The reader is also shown how love can not only cause great happiness but also intense hurt and pain. However, whilst having some deep and heartfelt moments, The Woman Who Fell in Love for a Week is also a brilliantly funny read, full of laugh-out-loud moments and shenanigans that keep me entertained until the very end.
I also liked that, unlike other rom-coms, I wasn't entirely sure how the story would pan out. I like being kept guessing until the end.
I have been a big fan of Fiona Walker's novels for many years. Her novels are always hugely entertaining romps, full of humour, laughter and romance - a perfect combination for a successful rom-com. I was therefore hugely excited to read The Woman Who Fell in Love for a Week!
The book tells the story of Jenny, a middle-aged teacher, mother and divorcee, who spends school holidays house-sitting. The summer holidays arrive and she finds herself house-sitting for famous novelist, Geraldine Lewis, and her academic husband Richard. She also find herself in charge of their uncontrollable dog, Gunther.
Being used to easy and uneventful jobs, Jenny find herself somewhat out of her depth coping with the Gunther's antics, a mishap with a manuscript, troubles in the Lewis' marriage, the local busybody and hunky artist, Euan.
As the week progresses, under Euan's influence, we seen Jenny shed her layers of prudish disapproval and self protection, built up after her disastrous marriage, and start to re-find her self-belief and confidence. There are a number of hiccups along the way, some funny moments courtesy of Gunther but also some painful moments in relation to the love triangle between some of the main characters.
The story is realistic and you feel for Jenny as she is forced to leave her carefully crafted comfort zone and face up to her fears. The reader is also shown how love can not only cause great happiness but also intense hurt and pain. However, whilst having some deep and heartfelt moments, The Woman Who Fell in Love for a Week is also a brilliantly funny read, full of laugh-out-loud moments and shenanigans that keep me entertained until the very end.
I also liked that, unlike other rom-coms, I wasn't entirely sure how the story would pan out. I like being kept guessing until the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews