Well thanks to this book I now find myself really locked in a book slump. I hope to break that slump soon.

I have loved Phillipa Gregory's other works and I mean loved. I was very excited to delve into something that seemed a little different but since it was Gregory would be good. Sadly I was to be disappointed. While the writing is still in the usual reader friendly style that makes the book easy to read and a fast read, the story is just bad. There is not a single likeable character in the whole of the book. I wanted to like Alice at first being dumped by her Husband, a free spirit. That like did not last very long at all.

Once again that seems to be all I can say about this book. I have issues with saying negative things about books, but safe to say I did not enjoy this one much at all. ( )

A very odd book! It's about a manipulative woman who is also oppressed by her husband which I suppose would also cover a lot of Gregory's historical novels. This one is present day and features the wife of a University professor taking up with a student in his Aunt's old house.
Some of her ideas are hilarious (garden-aerobics - make women pay to do your gardening...) and others take a snipe at modern life such as women feeling forced to carry their babies 24/7 because African women do. The dolphins were a little far fetched I felt but I won't say any more.... ( )

I'm not naturally someone who reads funny books - but I read this in one 'lay-in' through the night, in hysterical giggles for the most part! ( )

aka Mrs Hartley and the Growth Centre

Loved this book ! Philippa has such a talent for humour ! ( )