Customer Reviews

The Other Woman

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As an "other" woman herself, Jill Plumley should know only too well, the lies and excuses given by errant husbands to their wives and mistresses and taken heed of her mothers' warning that if a man cheats on one woman, he'll cheat on another. As a nationally famous tv journalist, Jill meets and is swept off her feet by an incredibly handsome lawyer who leaves his wife and children to marry her. Subjugating herself to his wishes, she gives up her formerly glamorous life to settle for teaching, falling in with her husbands' wishes that she devote herself to him and his career. As so often happens, once the glamour and novelty surrounding her has subsided into mere wifely duties, husband is lured by the latest model of feminine charm, and starts the old pattern over again. It takes the killing of her husbands' boss by his wife to give Jill the shake up she needs to put her back on track. It's an old story but one which is played out by even the smartest of women. It's a very quick read but an enjoyable one.

The main story, centering around Jill, was good, although bordering on dull. It starts out on a promising note: on the day of Jill and David Plumley's 4th anniversary, Jill is approached at her husband's company picnic by a beautiful 25-year-old intern at the law firm, Nicole Clark. Nicole simply states, "I'm going to marry your husband", to the shocked Jill, who thinks it's a joke at first. Then Jill starts to worry, knowing that David is capable of infidelity, as well as divorce (he left his first wife for Jill, the "other woman"). This would have been a great introduction to a buildup, but the buildup doesn't really come. A lot of filler plots and dialogue, which should enhance the plot and keep it moving along, only serve to distract and slow the story down. For instance, Nicole only gets a mention in every other chapter, and if she's lucky, an appearance in every third. She's such an unabashedly bold, brazen hussy type, it would have been fun to have more of her in the book. Instead, Fielding opts to have one of the secondary characters, Al, get killed, and his wife, Beth, accused of murdering him. All of this and the exhaustive "my-20-years-as-an-abused-wife" speech by Beth takes up more chapters than necessary, and in the process, takes a lot away from Jill's story. As if this wasn't enough, we get more subplots. One is about Jill's "boring" career as a journalism instructor at the local college, and how she really wants to get back into doing TV shows. Another involves Jill's anorexic stepdaughter. The unfortunate result is that the Jill-David-Nicole triangle can hardly be found in this jumble of plot devices. To give credit where credit is due, however, David is a good "villain" because he is much more subtly drawn than, say, Phillip in "Good Intentions". David appears to be supportive for Jill's revived career in TV when in fact, he is condescending. He also is a smooth liar and master manipulator--a necessity when doing a balanci! ng act between 2 or more women. The only interesting scenes in the entire book were between Jill & David and Jill & Nicole. Skip the rest (except for maybe Ricki & the "gals" from the exercise class, if you like a little bawdy humor).

Bright, independent Jill found the perfect catch in handsome, rich--and married--lawyer David Plumley. Four years after Jill gets him to the altar, she finds her own position in David's life threatened by a young law intern at his office. Of course, Jill knows firsthand that David is susceptible to the attentions of other women. He'd been cheating on his wife before she met him. But she'd always thought, "well, I'm the only one he left Elaine to marry. So I'm safe." But the adversary here is powerful. Jill has big decisions to make here--and not just about whether or not she still wants David badly enough to fight for him. This crisis forces her to look at everything she's believed, and to re-evaluate it all. Great reading. There's a murder in this book, but unlike other Fielding books, it's solved early on. Later events in the book are influenced by what happens there, however. Enjoy this earlier work by Joy Fielding, now reissued for your reading pleasure!

I just finished reading this book by Joy Fielding. It is definately not her best, but it was a nice quick book to read. I found that I was pretty interested in the story because unfortunately there are many incidences of infidelity in the world today. Basically we start out with Jill Plumley who is the second wife of David. She is approached at a company picnic by a younger pretty girl named Nicole who says that she is going to steal David away from Jill. Well, with that remark the tale begins. Jill had been a previously strong woman with a great career who fell in love with a married man and got him for her own. It tells about her insecurities to keep him and flashes back to their affair. And as in real life all too often, once a cheater, definately don't count him out to do it again. The only thing left is for Jill to decide what to do next.

This was an easily read book, but by far not her best.

This is a short book and although it's not as deep as some of Ms. Fielding's books, it's highly entertaining. I mean, not everything has to have deep meaning, right? If you want a great beach book this is it. You like the protaganist, Jill, from the first page. I have never found a Joy Fielding protaganist I did not like or identify with yet. The story grabs you right off as a woman walks up to Jill at a company picnic and tells her she plans on stealing her husband. It is very bold and different and you hate this young, sexy woman with a passion! You want Jill to beat the stuffing out of her! It is a witty, endearing book and since I have read it twice, like many of this author's books, I highly recommend it. It won't take long to read through and it is a great escape!

The back biting, clawing an scratching in this book is taken to a new level. The protagonist, Jill back bites, claws and scratches back when a young barracuda named Nicole tells her she's going to steal her husband. Nicole is a virtuoso in back biting, clawing and scratching. She is a truly hateful character. David's former wife is an old pro at back biting, clawing and scratching and hones her teeth and nails when she lashes out at Jill. This is understandable to an extent because prior to marrying David, Jill was half of an extramarital affair with David. Jill's friend Beth learnes to backbite, claw and scratch with the best of them when she kills her abusive barbarian of a husband who just happens to be David's law partner. Put on your suit of armor, folks -- the back biting, clawing and scratching just get worse. The ending is actually funny. I laughed out loud when Jill, tired of David's two timing, packs his things and moves him in with Nicole, the Barracuda. Those two back biting, clawing and scratching beasts deserved each other. Remember that old adage -- if s/he'll cheat WITH you, s/he'll cheat ON you. That is the only really constructive message this book has to offer.

This is a book I deeply regret ever buying. Please, don't make the same mistake! The author tries to follow a number of storylines at the same time and the result is shallow. Experiencing infidelity (as the wife or the 'other woman') is a shattering experience but this book failed miserably in conveying any of this. The only part where I really felt there was some emotion and not just words was when Beth told Jill about her marriage. I wish the author could have followed up on that part. I also liked the ending of the book but also there the author could have made a stronger impression. If you want to know how women feel, read 'Women's room' by Marilyn French. This is not much more than a romantic novel and not even a good one.

The Other Woman by Joy Fielding
married woman feels she is not up to what she used to be in her marriage as she
finds her husband paying attention to the new lawyer in his office. she is back in
the exercise class to get up to speed. a murder mystery.

She is a bit slow to realize the truth. As a man I could see it all the way. Sorry to read a good person pulling herself down. All parts are losers in this kind of story.

Typical Joy Fielding book only not one at the top of the "great" list. Worth your time if only to teach the lesson that what goes around eventually comes around. ( I keep waiting for one of her main male characters to be honorable and true to his wife! )

************Added after watching Lifetime Movie***************

The Lifetime movie directed by Jason Priestly and starring Josie Bisset was quite stylish and was actually better than the book.
In general, books seem to be better at telling the story, but in this case, the movie was a better choice. With a few exceptions the movie storyline stayed true but this was probably due to the fact that Joy Fielding herself produced the film.

Other reviewers have related the story so I will just say that if you have a chance, catch this on Lifetime rather than reading the book because it is much more enjoyable.