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The Model Wife
How to be A Model Wife Your Husband’s happiness is your happiness. Should you be His second wife, make friends with His first wife otherwise she’ll destroy you. Never ask Him when He’ll be home. Never ask Him where He’s been. PAH! Twentysomething Poppy became a cliché when an accidental pregnancy presented her with a forty-nine year-old husband. But Luke Norton isn’t any old husband – he’s the anchorman for television’s Seven O’Clock News and his ruggedly handsome face is beloved by the nation. Life isn’t coming up roses thanks to the first Mrs Norton’s popular column, My Husband, The Bimbo and Me. Luke’s having a midlife crisis and going AWOL, his former lovers are circling like sharks and Poppy’s left holding the baby, her once glitzy modeling career a horribly dim memory. It’s time for her to fight back and show the world exactly what she’s made of …
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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278 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 31, 2023
*Lessons to Learn*
**3.5 Stars**
Poppy is a young naive 20 something model who has not hit the big time. In order to make ends meet she works in a coffee shop. In walks Luke Norton a handsome 49 year old successful married Anchorman on the 7 O’clock news. Poppy has no idea who he is but enjoys talking to him when he comes in.
Poppy has no real education and was bought up by a disillusioned mother who has a jaded idea of men as she was left holding the baby and poppy has always had the dream that all would be rosy when she met the man of her dreams…..
When Poppy gets pregnant we see what happens when a woman is scorned, one of Luke’s conquests sends a message to his wife that backfires and the scales fall away from Poppy’s eyes as Luke is not the man she thought he was.
At the end of the day what lessons would have been learned?…
**3.5 Stars**
Poppy is a young naive 20 something model who has not hit the big time. In order to make ends meet she works in a coffee shop. In walks Luke Norton a handsome 49 year old successful married Anchorman on the 7 O’clock news. Poppy has no idea who he is but enjoys talking to him when he comes in.
Poppy has no real education and was bought up by a disillusioned mother who has a jaded idea of men as she was left holding the baby and poppy has always had the dream that all would be rosy when she met the man of her dreams…..
When Poppy gets pregnant we see what happens when a woman is scorned, one of Luke’s conquests sends a message to his wife that backfires and the scales fall away from Poppy’s eyes as Luke is not the man she thought he was.
At the end of the day what lessons would have been learned?…
January 29, 2012
This is a nice story that drives the fact that good may not necessarily beget good, and bad may sometimes lead to good. It's a matter of perspective, and I believe the most important thing is the lesson one takes and lives from the results of one's action.
It all started with an innocent chat over a cup of coffee. Put in a dose of a distorted view of marriage gleamed from growing up with an absent mother and an unknown father. Mix this with a bored married life, and a lot of complexities will surely ensue. Of course, it can only get worse with a bitter wife, a love-blinded woman, and a host of other characters all just looking after their own.
It may be classified as chick-lit, and lover of this genre as I am, I'll say it is a serious one. Its humorous moments are not really funny if you think about it, or it would have been if not for the serious mess the characters found themselves in.
Recommended to those who want something more out of their chick-lit reads.
It all started with an innocent chat over a cup of coffee. Put in a dose of a distorted view of marriage gleamed from growing up with an absent mother and an unknown father. Mix this with a bored married life, and a lot of complexities will surely ensue. Of course, it can only get worse with a bitter wife, a love-blinded woman, and a host of other characters all just looking after their own.
It may be classified as chick-lit, and lover of this genre as I am, I'll say it is a serious one. Its humorous moments are not really funny if you think about it, or it would have been if not for the serious mess the characters found themselves in.
Recommended to those who want something more out of their chick-lit reads.
August 11, 2018
Not my usual genre but I do love to throw a chick lit into the mix now and again as a bit of light reading. Have a pile of physical books given to me of which this is one.
I liked the setting being based around a news programme which set some of the scenes up very nicely. The way the author toyed with age differences was interesting. I liked the way that Poppy’s character developed but I didn’t like the way her child came across as a complete spoilt brat from start to finish.
I thought overall the story was just ‘nice’. It wasn’t a page turner for me and at one point I didn’t even pick it up for a while. But I’m not one to give up on a book and had no problem reading it to the end, I actually enjoyed the second half much more than the first and was not disappointed by the ending.
I liked the setting being based around a news programme which set some of the scenes up very nicely. The way the author toyed with age differences was interesting. I liked the way that Poppy’s character developed but I didn’t like the way her child came across as a complete spoilt brat from start to finish.
I thought overall the story was just ‘nice’. It wasn’t a page turner for me and at one point I didn’t even pick it up for a while. But I’m not one to give up on a book and had no problem reading it to the end, I actually enjoyed the second half much more than the first and was not disappointed by the ending.
May 20, 2014
While I appreciate the message this book tries to convey, I found it okay at best. I disliked most of the characters, even shy, sweet Poppy; underneath all that sweetness is an unappealingly naïve and selfish core. Not a fan. Thea is somewhat redeemable, but there's no hope for Luke, I'm afraid. As for Hannah, she's appallingly vicious and catty. I felt very little sympathy for any of these characters, and while this book did grab me in places, I was quite relieved to be finished with it. I don't recommend this, unless you're good at getting past horrible characterization. It does have a decent message if you're willing to slog through everything else.
June 22, 2017
Okay, I need to qualify this rating by saying I give it 4 stars -for a chick lit novel-
Not trying to be mean, I REALLY enjoyed this, the plot and the characters especially but The Model Wife is firmly in the chick lit genre and is not going to make a convert out of a hater.
I just flew through this book after reading some heavier stuff and it was so fun. The premise is unusual enough that I didn't see where it was all going and I liked the characters, even the ones who are nothing like me (all of them, lol).
Not trying to be mean, I REALLY enjoyed this, the plot and the characters especially but The Model Wife is firmly in the chick lit genre and is not going to make a convert out of a hater.
I just flew through this book after reading some heavier stuff and it was so fun. The premise is unusual enough that I didn't see where it was all going and I liked the characters, even the ones who are nothing like me (all of them, lol).
April 16, 2024
Poppy is a naive 20-year-old girl who was raised by a mum who was left by her baby daddy. She then decided to focus on men instead of looking after her child.
Poppy and Meena’s relationship is nice but briefly mentioned only at the start so when Meena is introduced again at the end I didn’t feel like I really knew her so there relationship didn’t matter much to me.
Luke is awful and I don’t feel bad for him whatsoever and the ENDING, I have never felt more annoyed in my LIFE.
Hannah is very cruel and doesn’t care about her children after she sends them to boarding school so at the end when she gets back with Luke, I was fuming….. !!!!!
Thea is lovely but again didn’t get much from her character and her relationship with Jake is ok?
The whole almost kissing her dad thing is also just awful!
Clara is very spoilt the whole time.
With a few tweaks this book could have been unreal but sadly it’s just meh..
Start is ok, middle is good, ending is awful.
Poppy and Meena’s relationship is nice but briefly mentioned only at the start so when Meena is introduced again at the end I didn’t feel like I really knew her so there relationship didn’t matter much to me.
Luke is awful and I don’t feel bad for him whatsoever and the ENDING, I have never felt more annoyed in my LIFE.
Hannah is very cruel and doesn’t care about her children after she sends them to boarding school so at the end when she gets back with Luke, I was fuming….. !!!!!
Thea is lovely but again didn’t get much from her character and her relationship with Jake is ok?
The whole almost kissing her dad thing is also just awful!
Clara is very spoilt the whole time.
With a few tweaks this book could have been unreal but sadly it’s just meh..
Start is ok, middle is good, ending is awful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2024
En este libro nos encontramos con una novela del género chick lit, una lectura entretenida, de esas con las que no tienes que pensar y de las puedes leer casi en cualquier momento. A pesar de que no esperaba gran cosa, me ha entretenido y tenía ganas de conocer el desenlace.
La temática no es muy amplia, pues trata sobre todo de historias de amor y desamor, y de las diferentes importancias que se les dan a las edades de mujeres y hombres.
No puedo decir que haya empatizado especialmente con ningún personaje, pero no me ha disgustado la protagonista, Poppy, una modelo que ve cómo cambia su vida cuando se queda embarazada de un hombre que tiene prácticamente treinta años más que ella. Hombre que está casado y que tiene hijos fruto de esa relación.
En definitiva, una lectura entretenida, sin más.
La temática no es muy amplia, pues trata sobre todo de historias de amor y desamor, y de las diferentes importancias que se les dan a las edades de mujeres y hombres.
No puedo decir que haya empatizado especialmente con ningún personaje, pero no me ha disgustado la protagonista, Poppy, una modelo que ve cómo cambia su vida cuando se queda embarazada de un hombre que tiene prácticamente treinta años más que ella. Hombre que está casado y que tiene hijos fruto de esa relación.
En definitiva, una lectura entretenida, sin más.
October 8, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was hooked and needed to know what happened next for Poppy and Thea.
The story flicks between both characters and I enjoyed the drama that unfolded.
I found myself relating to how Poppy felt as a stay at home mum. Isolated and lonely, but I enjoyed Thea's character more.
Great read. 4.5 stars overall.
The story flicks between both characters and I enjoyed the drama that unfolded.
I found myself relating to how Poppy felt as a stay at home mum. Isolated and lonely, but I enjoyed Thea's character more.
Great read. 4.5 stars overall.
September 22, 2022
Very nearly shelved this several times. Should have.
Thought it was going to get better - it never did.
Luke Norton is a popular 49 year old host of a tv news programme and a serial womaniser. He meets Poppy, a model, in her 20's. She gets pregnant and Luke leaves his wife and children to be with her.
Thought it was going to get better - it never did.
Luke Norton is a popular 49 year old host of a tv news programme and a serial womaniser. He meets Poppy, a model, in her 20's. She gets pregnant and Luke leaves his wife and children to be with her.
February 3, 2018
I don’t usually read fiction, but I loved this book. It made me laugh so much and even cry at the end. It was a brilliant, enjoyable easy read with predictable twists which were a delight to read when revealed to the characters. Throughly entertaining!
December 2, 2017
Nice and funny, I love how Poppy started to find herself and go out more!
February 21, 2020
Holiday read but with no substance!
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
December 13, 2020
Great fun, great chick lit. Could not put it down.
November 17, 2022
If I could give this book 0 stars I would have. I found it painful and couldn’t finish it
September 7, 2024
A very easy going read.
May 4, 2025
Bought in Panama, was just a light easy ready but quite a long book!
February 12, 2017
Not really my kind of book .This was not my kind of reading , but enjoyable
May 11, 2010
I'm not the sort who would slough through chic reads, but this was was slightly different. For one, it had a decent storyline, and it didn't completely bore me to tears. Secondly, I could really relate to the characters and even if i didn't, it was nice to read stuff from a fresh angle.
Albeit a rather nice read, there were some disappointments too. For one, the author writes as many different personifications, and I have a rather deep respect for authors who can distinct and differentiate their characters, especially in the character's thoughts and emotions. But unfortunately, this wasn't the case, and I found too many similarities in the characters swagger of feel and thoughts.
Oh, plus there was a pool of spelling errors which put me off one time or another. But the book's almost 500 pages long, so I suppose people can't be that meticulous.
Overall, I thought it was a rather lovely book, a good vacation read, yknow? But after reading it once, I wouldn't think of reading it again.
Albeit a rather nice read, there were some disappointments too. For one, the author writes as many different personifications, and I have a rather deep respect for authors who can distinct and differentiate their characters, especially in the character's thoughts and emotions. But unfortunately, this wasn't the case, and I found too many similarities in the characters swagger of feel and thoughts.
Oh, plus there was a pool of spelling errors which put me off one time or another. But the book's almost 500 pages long, so I suppose people can't be that meticulous.
Overall, I thought it was a rather lovely book, a good vacation read, yknow? But after reading it once, I wouldn't think of reading it again.
August 3, 2011
I loved this. Loved how it twisted the cliches, loved how it knew exactly what to give and take from its characters. A plot twist with Poppy at the end was excellent.
I have been bored with chick lit of late. It seemed to force its female protags into stupidity for convenience. I liked how Poppy was genuinely naive here, and how the author wasn't afraid to make her a bit selfish and mean. I didn't "like" her, but as a mother, I certainly sympathised with her, and her ending was so unexpected for the genre that it was satisfying food for thought.
The "other woman" concept is handled so well. All the women in this book are "the other woman," to an extent, and eacxh has real flaws and motivations. You can see how a woman you know could fall into what is usually a reviled and pitied position.
For me, there was a powerful punch beneath the wit and charade on display here. Best book I read last year (the one I remember most clearly, certainly).
I have been bored with chick lit of late. It seemed to force its female protags into stupidity for convenience. I liked how Poppy was genuinely naive here, and how the author wasn't afraid to make her a bit selfish and mean. I didn't "like" her, but as a mother, I certainly sympathised with her, and her ending was so unexpected for the genre that it was satisfying food for thought.
The "other woman" concept is handled so well. All the women in this book are "the other woman," to an extent, and eacxh has real flaws and motivations. You can see how a woman you know could fall into what is usually a reviled and pitied position.
For me, there was a powerful punch beneath the wit and charade on display here. Best book I read last year (the one I remember most clearly, certainly).
June 24, 2014
2 * seems unfair because the story was okay but I couldn't say I liked it enough to say "I like it" and give it a 3 *....sorry Ms Llewellyn.....Just because it wasn't my cup of tea though, don't let it put you off trying it. You might like it more than me.
I hadn't been sure if I had read the book when I picked it up out the long ago boxed up to move books. The spine was pristine, the blurb didn't ring bells. I soon remembered I had read it and even though I knew I had finished it before, I finished it again. It clearly didn't gel with me the first time either hence why I didn't initially recall whether I had read it. But being an authors dream reader once again,(as I was recently described by an author friend) I did the right thing and kept going to the end!
I hadn't been sure if I had read the book when I picked it up out the long ago boxed up to move books. The spine was pristine, the blurb didn't ring bells. I soon remembered I had read it and even though I knew I had finished it before, I finished it again. It clearly didn't gel with me the first time either hence why I didn't initially recall whether I had read it. But being an authors dream reader once again,(as I was recently described by an author friend) I did the right thing and kept going to the end!
August 1, 2009
This book came from the swap shelf in a Brussels hotel and absolutely was the perfect book for an 8 hour plane ride. The model of the title is a young waitress/model who ends up marrying a married newscaster after she becomes pregnant. How original is that?? However it is the surrounding cast of characters (the wife, his other girlfriend/s, her friends, etc.) as well as the young mother/trendy London/news industry looking for younger folks scenes that elevate this...somewhat. It was fun.
December 22, 2013
This was a bit of a departure from my usual type of choice and it made a nice change. The story is compelling and I found myself reading on because I wanted to know how it turned out. None of the principal characters are particularly endearing, being as they are flawed and perhaps rather self absorbed but that made them more true to life although I'm not sure they were redeemed in any way by the end of the story.
October 25, 2016
Wasn't sure about this book up until halfway through, it was an OK read but in parts did find it confusing when it kept flicking backwards and forwards through characters. However, towards the second half it became a better read and seemed to flow a lot better. I did enjoy this book in the end and it went from a four star to a five star book in my mind as I finished it. Glad I didn't give up on it.
September 1, 2013
Bought August 10, 2013 in charity shop in Pimlico. Perfect read while taking 10 year old boys to London and Paris. It deserves a five star rating for mentioning Thorpe Park where I spent the day. The boys loved it. The model wife in the tile refers to Poppy
December 17, 2014
This book was not really a page turner for me, but I did feel I wanted to finish it, but was happy to read a little before going to bed each night. The characters were sad in their own ways, but at least the ending was feasible.
January 1, 2016
Also quite a long while since I read it - before my goodreads time obviously ;)
I really liked this story, but at some points the characters changed a bit too suddenly too feel completely "realistic", and therefore it felt a bit wooden.
But 90% were a great, funny and entertaining read!
I really liked this story, but at some points the characters changed a bit too suddenly too feel completely "realistic", and therefore it felt a bit wooden.
But 90% were a great, funny and entertaining read!
August 17, 2011
Easy holiday read.
March 26, 2012
Great book for just dipping into ,a nice easy read!
March 18, 2012
This was an easy read, just right for one who is suffering from flu (which I was). Enough originality.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews