Fourplay: A Novel [Paperback]

Jane Moore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 23, 2002

At age thirty-three, Josephine Miles is forced to come up with a brand-new life when her husband leaves her for "the cliche"--his very young, very pretty secretary. Suddenly she's single and back in the dating game with the added complication of children in tow. But Jo's no wallflower, and she soon finds herself with not one but four eligible bachelors vying for her time and affections. Add her two kids and her now booming interior design business to the mix, and she winds up with a nightmarish schedule but a dreamy love life.

So who are the contestants? There's Sean, the sexy foreign affairs correspondent who sweeps Jo off her feet and proves to be masterful in bed; Martin, the music industry mogul who offers luxury, stability, and a glamorous lifestyle; and Conor, Jo's trusted confidant, who knows just what to say to make her smile (why hadn't she noticed his irresistible smile until now?). Then there's Jeff, her ex-husband: she wouldn't consider hooking up with him again, would she? It could happen--especially when Jeff's romance with the sweet young thing sours and he launches a full-scale campaign to win Jo back.

Sophisticated, spirited, and as compulsive as a box of bonbons, Fourplay offers a new take on the single-girl life perfect for the thirty-something audience. Fourplay--what a position to be in...

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Jo Miles has a nice London home, a lawyer husband, two lovely children, and a thriving part-time career as an interior decorator. In the world of contemporary women's fiction, she's clearly due for some kind of disaster. In Fourplay, disaster comes as divorce. Jo's husband leaves her for a creature Jo comes to refer to as "the Cliché," a 23-year-old blond secretary. After hubby's departure, Fourplay becomes an extended bout of frog-kissing as Jo, clearly much too saucy and adorable for a lifetime of singleness, entertains four different suitors. Sean is an irresistible cameraman, about whose sexual proclivities we hear far too much; Martin is a millionaire record exec; Conor is a steadfast old friend; and Jeff, her ex, of course comes crawling back. Throughout, Jo is supported and nurtured by her chubby, hilarious, less adorable best friend Rosie. On the whole, the book is ridden with clichés, but here's the funny thing: those very stereotypes make Fourplay a pleasant--even a compulsive--read. We know all will be right for Jo; we know Rosie will never let her down, yet never be prettier than her, either; we know true love will descend on all like a wet, inevitable London fog. Jane Moore's writing is just funny enough, just edgy enough, and just true enough to make us revel in these clichés rather than resist them. --Claire Dederer

From Booklist

When Jo's husband, Jeff, decides that he "can't imagine life without" Candy, he's not referring to sugary confections. So he trots off with his 23-year-old secretary, with whom he had been having an affair for six months. Jo is appropriately devastated at the break-down of her 10-year marriage, but, despite her self-proclaimed status as a "nightmare date"--thirtysomething with children--suitors are clawing their way to her door. Her younger brother's best friend confesses a longtime crush, a traffic accident yields a date with the bad driver, and her multimillionaire client (Jo is an interior designer) tries to woo her through her children by taking them all to a Britney Spears concert. But British journalist and television host Moore's debut novel is titled Four play, and rounding out the quartet of suitors is Jeff, who sees the error of his ways and begs to be forgiven. British GQ called the book a "modern-day Jane Austen romp," which might make Austen turn in her grave, but it is a perfectly readable, fast-paced, humorous tale, ideal for summer-reading fun. Beth Leistensnider
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 371 pages
• Publisher: Broadway (July 23, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767913000
• ISBN-13: 978-0767913003
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #477,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Was this book British or American?????, March 12, 2003

By 

B. Gardner "bookwoman1" (Peabody, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fourplay: A Novel (Paperback)

While I enjoyed the story and thought it was a fun, frothy, quick read, great for the beach, the editing of the American version of the book left a lot to be desired. I was completely confused (not to mention flabbergasted) when, almost at the end of the story, I suddenly realized that these London-based characters are using American dollars and cents instead of British pounds and pence as their form of currency (see page 220). I actually stopped and went back to the beginning to make sure that they really lived in London, after all! I mean, COME ON! Do these people who "dumb down" British books for those of us forced to buy them in the United States REALLY believe that we are so stupid that the wording has to be changed--what, we might not be able to read British??? And who is proofreading this stuff?? I feel sorry for the author that such a travesty was made of her book. But a word of advice for her ---proofread EVERYTHING because you never know what idiot is going to be changing things in YOUR WORK. It reflects back on you, not them--your name is the one on the cover!

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best novel of this summer., August 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Fourplay: A Novel (Paperback)

I have seven words for this book:
hilarious, raunchy, heartwarming,
thoughtful, indulging, sarcastic,
and engaging. Once I picked up the book,
I couldn't stop reading till it was 5am.
Of course, I think no other straight
man would be able to tolerate this book
or let alone enjoy as I did. But if you are
a reading woman, don't miss this jem.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great escapist fiction!, September 24, 2002

By 

R. A. Taylor "avid reader" (FL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fourplay: A Novel (Paperback)

I read this kind of book purely to be entertained. And Fourplay did that! I found the characters enjoyable and well drawn out. As a matter of fact I think Jo's mother and my mother may be the same person. While the situation of having four men panting after you right after a divorce may not be very realistic, it was definitely fun to read about.