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Eight years ago, when Hannah was a struggling single mum, Nick Steadman seemed like Mr Right and Prince Charming rolled into one. Kind, strong, reliable - and the perfect step-dad to Lottie - what did it matter if his taste in trousers was more M&S than D&G? OK, so their relationship's never been based on passion, but it has plenty of respect, friendship and trust.
Trouble is, after eight years together they're beginning to realise that friendship isn't enough. The solution? An amicable divorce. Which would be just fine if it wasn't so hard to explain to nine-year-old Lottie. And if Hannah didn't find herself a teeny bit annoyed at Nick's ability to move on so quickly. Not that she isn't happy for him and his new lover. Of course she is. After all, they agreed they'd be mature, grown-up and rational about their separation. They may be divorced but they can still be friends. Can't they?
Trouble is, after eight years together they're beginning to realise that friendship isn't enough. The solution? An amicable divorce. Which would be just fine if it wasn't so hard to explain to nine-year-old Lottie. And if Hannah didn't find herself a teeny bit annoyed at Nick's ability to move on so quickly. Not that she isn't happy for him and his new lover. Of course she is. After all, they agreed they'd be mature, grown-up and rational about their separation. They may be divorced but they can still be friends. Can't they?
432 pages, Hardcover
First published August 26, 2004
About the author
Zoë Barnes
41 books14 followersDid you know ...?
Zoë was born near Liverpool, but is a real mixed bag! Her mum is Manx and her dad is from Yorkshire. She now lives in Cheltenham, where her novels are set.
She is also a French translator, and translates novels by Christian Jacq (author of the Ramses series) under the pen-name of Sue Dyson.
She was named 'Secretary of the Year' in 1987, although she wasn't actually working as a secretary at the time!
When not writing or translating, she works as a singer.
At the moment she has three cats: Domino, Pizza and Jupiter. Unfortunately, Jupiter's favourite foods are Sellotape and glue, and he enjoys chewing the corners off library books.
The only animals she really doesn't like are cockroaches. And it's not their fault they're creepy.
She loves chocolate, but it makes her ill. Sadly, green vegetables are perfectly safe. There is no justice.
There is no such thing as a Javanese Yellow Skunk. But there ought to be.
Zoë died on October 30th 2009 after taking an overdose.
Zoë was born near Liverpool, but is a real mixed bag! Her mum is Manx and her dad is from Yorkshire. She now lives in Cheltenham, where her novels are set.
She is also a French translator, and translates novels by Christian Jacq (author of the Ramses series) under the pen-name of Sue Dyson.
She was named 'Secretary of the Year' in 1987, although she wasn't actually working as a secretary at the time!
When not writing or translating, she works as a singer.
At the moment she has three cats: Domino, Pizza and Jupiter. Unfortunately, Jupiter's favourite foods are Sellotape and glue, and he enjoys chewing the corners off library books.
The only animals she really doesn't like are cockroaches. And it's not their fault they're creepy.
She loves chocolate, but it makes her ill. Sadly, green vegetables are perfectly safe. There is no justice.
There is no such thing as a Javanese Yellow Skunk. But there ought to be.
Zoë died on October 30th 2009 after taking an overdose.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 21, 2018
Easy-to-read fluff. Not much substance and some of the storylines were completely unnecessary and didn't add anything to the plot.
Marriage counselling and therapy could have resolved the main issues at the very start of the book and we could have easily skipped the middle 200 pages.
If I had to describe this book in one word: meh.
Marriage counselling and therapy could have resolved the main issues at the very start of the book and we could have easily skipped the middle 200 pages.
If I had to describe this book in one word: meh.
February 21, 2022
Standard Chick Lit. Not bad, but not good either.Mildly interesting. Stretches credibility somewhat. Too many side stories. I probably would not read anything else by Zoe Barnes .... unless I was in isolation, or lockdown, or stuck on a desert island.
July 31, 2022
2.5⭐️ I would have probably DNFed, but I needed this one for a book bingo prompt I was trying to fill.
It just felt like a drawn out mid-life crisis with way too many characters and side stories to try to keep track of.
It just felt like a drawn out mid-life crisis with way too many characters and side stories to try to keep track of.
January 2, 2024
Got boring at some points but I think it made me want go get back into reading a bit
April 12, 2011
Eight years ago when Hananh was a struggling single mum, Nick Steadman seemed perfect. Kind, strong, reliable and the perfect step-dad to Lottie - what did it matter if his taste in trousers was more M & S than D & G?
Ok, so their relationship's never been based on passion, but it has plenty of respect, friendship and trust. But after eight year together they're beginning to realise that friendship isn't enough.
The solution? An amicable divorce. Which would be just fine it it wasn't so hard to explain to nine-year-old Lottie. And if Hananh didn't find herself a teeny bit annoyed at Nick's ability to move on so quickly.
Not that she isn't happy for him and his new lover. They may be divorced but they can still be friends... can't they?
Ok, so their relationship's never been based on passion, but it has plenty of respect, friendship and trust. But after eight year together they're beginning to realise that friendship isn't enough.
The solution? An amicable divorce. Which would be just fine it it wasn't so hard to explain to nine-year-old Lottie. And if Hananh didn't find herself a teeny bit annoyed at Nick's ability to move on so quickly.
Not that she isn't happy for him and his new lover. They may be divorced but they can still be friends... can't they?
September 19, 2014
Just a light, easy chic lit read. It was nice to read a novel NOT set in London or New York. And if you can believe, no one worked for a fashion mag! Woohoo! I found the last third of the book pretty predictable, but, it was a nice quick easy read.
May 10, 2016
Easy read perfect for when I'm not "in the mood" to read. Something for chic lit fans. I only gave it 2 stars because the story was unfolding very slowly. I actually gave up on it but went back after a few days. The ending was a little predictable.
October 23, 2007
Typical chick-lit. I remember enjoying this but preferred "Be My Baby" by the same author.
December 19, 2007
a light fluffy chick read with out all the graphics and sex. I'm starting to get a feel for british-chick-lit. entertaining, and I was actually rooting for a happy ending!
June 23, 2008
Funny! Loved it!
Read
July 23, 2008It was pretty mindless, but not bad. I enjoyed it. It made me laugh. I don't think I could read 2 Billerbeck books in a row, though. She's not that great of a writer.
December 3, 2015
An easy feel good read, a tad predictable but I still enjoyed it as needed a nice light happy read
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews