The Second Wives Club: A Novel [Hardcover]

Jane Moore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 6, 2006

It’s Alison’s wedding and she and her groom, Luca, have just exchanged vows and are preparing to cap off their perfect day at the reception. But before the champagne even hits the crystal stemware, Luca’s first wife storms in and snatches back her children in front of the horrified guests. When the fuss has died down, Alison finds an ally in Fiona, who confides that a few women she knows have recently started something called the Second Wives Club—a group of female friends who get together to bitch and gossip about the drama that inevitably unfolds when you marry someone else’s husband.

The club’s founding members include Julia, a stunning self-proclaimed trophy wife whose husband insists on remaining uncomfortably close to his former spouse; Susan, whose live-in boyfriend is the classic widower who can’t let go of his beloved ex’s memory; and, of course, Fiona, whose cross to bear is the teenage stepson from hell and an ex who’s bent on sabotaging her relationship. Fortunately, the Club gives them a place to vent, and together they contend with malicious rumors, scheming divorce lawyers, and ex-wives intent on revenge—until they decide that it’s time to stop settling for second best . . . and then the fun really begins.

Told with Moore’s signature wit, wisdom, and sass, The Second Wives Club proves that second wives can be every bit as winning as the girl next door—and offers a dishy, unputdownable look at the modern marital love triangle.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The Second Wives Club is made up of four women--Fiona, Alison, Julia and Susan--who are grappling with the specters of their predecessors. Fiona has to contend with a surly stepson whose mother is trying to turn him against her. Sofia, the ex-wife of Alison's new husband, Luca, is using their two children as weapons in order to manipulate Luca. Beautiful Julia is floored by her husband's insistence on maintaining a friendship with his first wife. Though not married to Nick, Susan lives with him and is raising his daughter, living in the shadow of her predecessor, the perfect Caitlin, who died tragically young. The women come together to support each other and help each other through their problems. Together they come up with ways to tackle their problems: Alison and Julia decide to confront the first wives, Fiona tries to befriend her stepson, and Susan makes a move to get Nick to appreciate her. Readers will eat up this fun, frothy novel to learn how the wives fare in their attempts. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

High praise for Jane Moore:

“Hilarious cynicism about relationships that will appeal to anyone who has ever lost in love. As therapeutic for heartbreak as a voodoo doll.” —Glamour

“Spot-on when it comes to tuning in to the female zeitgeist.” —Elle

“A chick-lit bonbon.” —Entertainment Weekly

“Fun and fresh, with an underlying sophistication.” —People

“Every bit as satisfying as a gloriously gossipy night out with the girls.” —Daily Mail (London)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Broadway; 1ST edition (June 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767916921
• ISBN-13: 978-0767916929
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,295,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Waste of time, September 20, 2006

By 

Chicagophile "Chicagophile" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Second Wives Club: A Novel (Hardcover)

What a vapid collection of women. With the exception of Susan, none of the women are sympathetic. If there is one thing to take away from the novel it is this: don't go out with ANY man who claims his marriage is far from over. Wait until it actually is over. If a man can be "stolen" or if he wants to be "stolen" then he isn't worth your time and the legacy of frustration that will follow you for the rest of your life. And the women just sit back and talk about how the first wives need to get on with their life - as if having one's life thrown upside down is something that is as easily recovered from as having a cold. One of the characters spent two years stalking her then-married boss and is surprised when the first wife doesn't just rollover and be satisfied with the new changes to her life. What do you expect? And for the record, I am not a first or second wife, but I hated this book nonetheless. If I want to read about selfish, vapid people attempting to control the world around them and then being unable to cope when the world bites back, I'll pick up a newspaper.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Let the fun begin, June 12, 2006

By 

Annie "bookwishes4" (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Second Wives Club: A Novel (Hardcover)

As The Second Wives club opens we meet Alison on her wedding day where everything was going along just fine until her husband Lucas overbearing first wife Sofia walked into the middle of the reception, caused a scene, and stormed off with their two kids. Alison needing a moment to compose herself, snuck off the to ladies room where she meets up with Fiona. The two women start talking about how hard it is to be the second wife and Fiona invites Alison to a support club meeting for other women in her situation.
At the first meeting of the Second Wives Club we meet the other two women in the club and learn a bit about each one of them and their situations.

Julia, is the trophy wife. She is perfect in looks, the kitchen, at business functions, and bed. Her problem is the fact that her husbands ex-wife seems to be his best friend. They are always in contact with each other and it drives Julia crazy.
Fiona, has a 16 year old stepson from hell. With the help of Jakes mom whispering in his ear, he is not willing to give Fiona the time of day and is causing constant problems between her and her husband David.
Susan, whose situation is a bit different from the other womens. Her boyfriends ex-wife was the perfect mother and wife but unfortunately it is hard to compete with a women who died. Susan always feels as though she is not loved as much and Nick does not show her enough how much he really cares.

Over the course of a couple of years, we watch these 4 women battle it out with the ex-wives and husbands all in the hopes of seeing better days. Some make it, others don't.

Even though I found myself routing for the ex-wives from time to time, and did not like every one of the second wives, this was still a fun easy to read book. If you have read other books by Jane Moore including Fourplay and the The Ex Files, you will want to pick up The Second Wives Club as well.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Long on Theme, Short on Depth, July 24, 2006

By 

Boston Bride - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Second Wives Club: A Novel (Hardcover)

I read this book because suddenly I am a second wife and experiencing questions and challenges that no one I know has ever felt. I read it to relate, and to determine whether I am alone and/or insane. Having read the book, I only have an answer to the first question, and that's good enough for me from a summer read. I'm not.

These characters are worse. But it's not their fault; it's mostly the fault of the author, who isn't too interested in developing them with any depth. Don't read this book to listen in on conversations the way people really talk. But the fictional women's questions are eerily familiar, and worth thinking about when you know they are based on real people's experiences:

Will my new in-laws ever take down the pictures of my husband and his former wife? How do I have a natural relationship with my stepchild? Will my husband always put the kids before our relationship? If we have kids, will he be around enough, or off with his other kids? Will his guilt over leaving his marriage ever subside? Will mine? Do I deserve every problem I have?

I liked how many different themes and scenarios come up through the four characters. Everyone will relate to at least a few of the situations, and I bet more than half, while not recommending the book for its literary merits, will go online looking for a second wives support group of some kind or other. Just to see. Meanwhile, you can start with the book.