For Better, for Worse

by Carole Matthews

When it comes to love and marriage, Josie Flynn knows what’s right…

For everyone but herself…

After her marriage to Damien ended in disaster, Londoner Josie Flynn – thirtysomething and single again – is flying across the ocean to her American cousin’s ‘big mistake’ wedding. In her present ‘love stinks’ frame of mind, the last person she expects to be seated next to on the flight is someone like Matt Jarvis. A recently divorced rock journalist, Matt is sensitive, good-looking and remarkably attentive – and before their plane touches down, Josie’s smitten. So how can she hope to convince her cousin to cut and run when Josie is all ready to leap into love again – with a stranger, no less, who might be just another Mr Totally Wrong in Mr Seductively Right’s clothing?

The point is rendered moot, of course, once they land in New York and she and Matt go their separate ways. After all Josie’s got prenuptial confabs to worry about and that dreaded lilac chiffon bridesmaid’s dress to wear. But Dante himself couldn’t have dreamed up the hell this wedding is proving to be – and when her dream hunk reappears and throws himself into the mix, Josie finds herself wondering how she – or any unattached modern woman – can hope to survive the new romantic rules of the twenty-first century.

A bestseller in the UK, Carole Matthews ‘For Better, For Worse’ is a deliriously droll, dead-on tale of marriage, sex, monogamy and modern love…

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy, Humor

344 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Carole Matthews is an international bestselling author of hugely successful romantic comedy novels. Her unique sense of humour has won her legions of fans and critical acclaim all over the world.

A Minor Indiscretion and A Compromising Position both reached the Top 5 in the Sunday Times bestseller chart in the UK. You Drive Me Crazy reached number 8 in the original fiction charts. The novel Welcome To The Real World was shortlisted for RNA romantic novel of the year 2007.

In 2006 Carole co-edited - with writer Sarah Mlynowski - two new editions of the hugely popular Girls' Night In charity series called Girls' Night Out - one for the USA and one for Canada. All proceeds go to War Child.

Carole has presented on television and is a regular radio guest. When she’s not writing novels, television or film scripts she manages to find time to trek in the Himalayas, rollerblade in Central Park, take tea in China and snooze in her garden shed in Milton Keynes which is near London, England.

Reviews

[Kerith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out promising and was a whole lot of fun to read for the most part. Somewhere after the middle of it things began to get a little ridiculous with the whole comedy of errors and by the time Damian ran off to the airport with the duck I was over it. The premise is cute -- Josie, a divorced Londoner, heads across the pond to her cousin's wedding on Long Island. She meets a young man (also divorced) called Matt on the plane, they hit it off, promise to meet later, he forgets due to too much booze and spends the rest of the book trying to find her. I had a tough time with his character -- he was supposed to be such a catch, you could tell, but was SUCH an IDIOT. Meanwhile, Josie's ex-husband Damian decides he is jealous and also joins in the hunt for Josie in New York.
It was fun, decently-written, but just got far too silly. A good one to read on the plane and then leave behind.

[Barbara Elsborg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, silly, laugh out loud ridiculous, touching, sweet and sappy. It's everything. Don't look for depth of character or huge amounts of angst. This book is pure fun. There's a proper plot - ridiculous as it is at times though that doesn't matter. For a light hearted fun read, it's worth a try.
Josie's finally said good bye to her cheater of a husband and she's off to her cousin's wedding in America. Enter Matt. Then Matt messes up and the book is about his attempts to find Josie again.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was okay... was pretty good until you get to the Duck part and then it seems the writer goes a little out of her head--that part doesn't match anything else in the book. It's too bad that it's so close to the ending as well--because it kinda ruins it. And hello--what man would really let his wife who slept with another man on their wedding day, come back with no questions asked.... the guy seems like a pretty big loser to me and the situation does not seem realistic at all. I would definitely deduct two stars for these reasons, but it was entertaining..... so it gets a three overall. Word to the wise--well word is the right thing to say... watch out for a lot of swearing in this book! :)

[Kezza22 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hmmm this book is the worse Carole Matthews book I have read :(

What a shame because I love the author but the story line got so stupid towards the end I just lost total interest half way through!

Jodie is getting divorced and she flys off to new York to be a bridesmaid at her cousin marthas wedding.

She meets matt on the flight over they get on well meet up in ny but then he stand her up when they arrange to meet for dinner.

She has no clue that he's trying to track her down in new York... The story gets sillier and sillier with her ex hubby going over to new York to propose again and the long scenes with the duck omg?!?

Wouldn't recommend this book to anyone but would recommend Carole Matthews as the rest of her books have been very good!

[Nicola Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carole Matthews never let's you down her books are always well written and great characters and this one was just that brilliant and made you laugh and was heartwarming and shows romance and why we say I do and also full of life.
Josie has just split from her lover and heads out to New York for the wedding of her cousin Martha. She really isn't in the wedding mood with having a messy divorce herself and she isn't sure Martha is marrying the right person. Josie meets Matt and appears to fall herself for the wrong man so will this wedding be what she expected especially when her ex returns to could all get messy or funny and will everyone end up with the right man.
Brilliant book worth a good read.

[Maya · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was light, fluffy and funny..well, at least up to the middle of the book. After that, the story was getting not quite up to my taste. From the middle of the book, the center character was not only Josie alone but now also her cousin, Matt, and Damien. The story was now not only focused on Josie and her problematic life, but developed to describe about the problem around Matt and Holy, Martha and Jack, Martha and Glen, even Damien too. The worse part was on the climax of the story, when Damien was fighting with Matt and the duck and Martha left Glenn, Josie was describe sleeping in the hotel!!

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lame. The characters lack any real depth and everything seems forced. The book doesn't read very smoothly.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It looked like a fun beach read, but was actually pretty lame...the main guy was a complete idiot and I wasn't so sure that he was a great prize to be chasing.

[Vanessa-Ann Dowsett · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amusing book with more twists and turns than a spiral staircase. Personally I think that the duck steals the show!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josie Flynn is going through a divorce from her cheating husband who can’t seem to leave her alone. She flies to New York for her cousin Martha’s wedding. While on the plane she meets Matt Jarvis. They enjoy the day together and then he stands Josie up. She tries not to let her bother her and instead focuses on her cousins wedding. Matt didn’t stand Josie up, he was late and ended up missing her. He’s on a mission to find her and let her know how he really feels. Damien, Josie’s ex husband decides to follow Josie to New York and try and win her back. Only madness ensues with him. So much drama and ridiculousness that you can’t help but laugh at times.

[Jenny T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a romantic comedy of mad-cap proportions. Soon to be divorced Josie Flynn travels from England to NYC to attend her cousin's wedding and meets fellow Brit Matt Jarvis on the plane ride. After sight-seeing the State of Liberty together, a serious of mistimed events fills the rest of these pages. Meanwhile cousin Martha's wedding is full of surprises as well. A light-hearted read that will leave one shaking their head at times.

[Brigitte · Rating 1 out of 5]

nachdem Fünftenmal „der Kater, Ehemals Bekannt Als Prince“ im gefühlt fünfseitigen Kapitel, wusste ich schon, dass ich meine Erwartungen niedrig ansetzen muss.
Jedoch so tief hatte ich dann doch nicht gerechnet. Nicht einmal zum Einschlafen gut genug

[Ioanna Xristodoyloy · Rating 4 out of 5]

για το ειδος του ειναι αρκετα καλο..

[Tetty Marlinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

#199 - 2022
Genre: Chick Lit

[Sahne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Novela muy llana, predecible. La verdad es que está bien para leer y no pensar, pero no aporta nada a tu vida el haberla leído o no.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

i really didn’t like this book. matt is basically obsessed with josie and it was kind of creepy

[AHR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story.

[~♥~ Sil · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟

una historia divertida, llena de encuentros y desencuentros, con unos personajes únicos.

Es un libro que, a pesar de sus páginas, es muy ligero y entretenido, la historia es fluida y esperas con ansias un, por desgracia, decepcionante y abrupto final.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shows no two relationships can be the same and what some people would never forgive others would. Martha's wedding was the main part of the plot when i started getting really into the story from this part i couldn't wait to find out what came next. I found the funniest part of the story being Damien and the duck particularly at airport security. There's no way he was going to get a live duck through there but him thinking he could made it so funny. I also like how Josie's cat is called the cat formerly known as Prince.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a weird read! I've loved all Carole Matthews books so far, but this was just... where is this going. The main character stayed a little distant the whole way. Then there were suddenly so many new main characters. And a duck! And the main guy, who we were supposed to be rooting for I think, was just so hopeless and it just all went downhill for him so bad, and he kept making really bad decisions, I didn't really even like him in the end. I don't know what to think. It was, um, interesting.

[Juliana Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another humorous book from Carole Matthews, a complicated series of 'will they/won't they' and missed opportunities leads the reader through a (slightly farcical) romantic adventure. Ultimately a bit predictable and some of the situations were completely infeasible but that's where some of the humour comes from. Definitely not inspirational or thought provoking in any way but entertaining enough!

[Kerri Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate to say it , but this was a total let down from this author 😔
I usually love her books, but this one just did nothing for me.

The storyline is quite slow, and borders on silly, I can understand people could find it quite comical, but I just didn’t enjoy the humour.

If this is your first Carole Mathews Read, please don’t let it put you off as the majority of her books are wonderful.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good summer fluff read that was light enough and not overly romantic or 'cutesy.' Didn't like it as well as other Carole Matthews' novels (I think "With or Without You" was a better story), but still held my attention. Pacing is pretty uneven, though.

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars--Two Brits, recently/soon to be divorced, meet on a plane to NYC. Keep missing each other, she goes to cousin's wedding, they meet in the end. Book was all over the place, chaotic, kind of like a Hallmark or Lifetime movie.

[Lorraine Vella · Rating 2 out of 5]

i liked the story how it started but then half way through it got ridiculous! Who in his right mind would forgive his wife who has betrayed him with his best friend and on their wedding day?! ... And the duck scene it was too far fetched .... ?!?!!?!!

[Library Angel · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. Hey, at least it had a happy ending, right? I like the Beatles, so I enjoyed the John Lennon reference. Actually, the John Lennon reference was the best book of this book.

[Lizbeth Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I realized at the end of this book that id read it before still a feel good book enjoy

[Elena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audiolibro. Lectura ligera y quizá demasiado simple para mi gusto. Entretenida sin más y un poco surrealista. Con un final precipitado.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This rollercoaster ride of a book starts with separated (nearly divorced), school teacher Josie Flynn who is seated on a plane next to divorced, music journalist Matthew Jarvis, en route to New York. Josie is attending her cousin, Martha's wedding and Matt is booked to interview an upcoming music group called Headstrong.

They have a lot in common and casually decide to hang out together for a few hours in New York before they have to go their separate ways. But somehow, during the time they spend with each other, their emotions become engaged quickly and they both fall in love.

However, their path to true love is long, convoluted and very trying. Matt dashes around New York hunting for the elusive Josie whilst she juggles her cousin, Martha's relationship complications and her bothersome, soon to be ex-husband, Damien's suddenly change of heart.

This book was honestly all over the place with so many different characters and their point of views/issues. Reading it was like walking through a minefield. It definitely was not a relaxing book to read, especially trying to keep up with all the various characters. The book had many amusing scenes and I did enjoy most of them. The protagonists were likeable but Matt was a bit weak, Damien was a totally jerk, Josie was the nicest and most grounded character in this book and I thought Holly was too kind and accommodating.

I felt really sorry for Jack though I did not like him initially, however his character was developed nicely towards the end of the book. I felt that there was not enough relationship development between Josie and Matt, as most of the book was about them "missing" each other at all the different venues.

There was some swearing and a few sexual comments, and scenes but those were not in detail. I rate this book 3.75*.

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 3 out of 5]

For Better, For Worse by Carole Matthews

Blurb

When it comes to love and marriage, Josie Flynn knows what’s right…

For everyone but herself…

After her marriage to Damien ended in disaster, Londoner Josie Flynn – thirtysomething and single again – is flying across the ocean to her American cousin’s ‘big mistake’ wedding. In her present ‘love stinks’ frame of mind, the last person she expects to be seated next to on the flight is someone like Matt Jarvis. A recently divorced rock journalist, Matt is sensitive, good-looking and remarkably attentive – and before their plane touches down, Josie’s smitten. So how can she hope to convince her cousin to cut and run when Josie is all ready to leap into love again – with a stranger, no less, who might be just another Mr Totally Wrong in Mr Seductively Right’s clothing?

The point is rendered moot, of course, once they land in New York and she and Matt go their separate ways. After all Josie’s got prenuptial confabs to worry about and that dreaded lilac chiffon bridesmaid’s dress to wear. But Dante himself couldn’t have dreamed up the hell this wedding is proving to be – and when her dream hunk reappears and throws himself into the mix, Josie finds herself wondering how she – or any unattached modern woman – can hope to survive the new romantic rules of the twenty-first century.

My Opinion

This was a book that I had been handed to read and pass on. The book started out promising and I quickly found that I was struggling. This is my first book by Carole Matthews and whilst I was disappointed I will be back for more in the future as I have heard great things.

Rating 3/5