Another Woman

I read six books by Penny Vincenzi last year - and mostly enjoyed them, though there were always aspects that I found dissatisfying. But they all drew me in and wouldn't let me go.

And that was the same for Another Woman, which turned up at the free book exchange at our local station, so I couldn't resist.

Compulsive is probably the best word. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it and wishing I was reading it - and I got through the whole 550-page book in about three days.

So many characters (and there was James, Josh, Julia, Janine, Jackie, Johno, Jemima and Janet - I mean, really???), so many POVs, so many scandalous reveals - it was like a bad soap opera I just couldn't look away from.

And there were definitely issues - a lot of the male characters were truly appalling (and even the half-decent ones had their moments of terrible attitudes or behaviour), there was a huge amount of privilege, snobbery, misogyny, fatphobia and very bad choices.

But I was still going to give it four stars for being just so incredibly entertaining - until the last couple of pages, when one of the only fairly sympathetic characters ended up in a situation I just couldn't countenance - and I think I was supposed to find it romantic. But no. Just no.

Which leaves me extremely conflicted about this book I spent the last three days absolutely devouring in every free minute... Sigh...

But if I spot another Penny Vincenzi at the station book exchange, or even for £2.00 at a local charity shop - will I pick it up? Yes, yes I will...