Sleeping Arrangements (Hardcover)

by Madeleine Wickham (Author)
Key Phrases: National Southern, San Luis, Hugh Stratton (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Wickham (The Gatecrasher; also, the Shopaholic series as Sophie Kinsella) spins a delightful story of British families forced to spend their vacation together after a mutual friend promises them the same week in his Spanish villa. Chloe Harding hopes that a holiday will soothe the strain between her and longtime partner Philip Murray, who is worried that a recent takeover of his company may cost him his job. Their hopes are dashed when they arrive and find another family already settled at the villa. To Chloe's disappointment, she'll be sharing the space with Hugh Stratton, the beau who broke her heart 15 years ago. Now married to high-maintenance Amanda and with two children, Hugh apologizes, and though Chloe initially expresses nothing but hurt and disdain (all the while keeping their past a secret from Philip), she eventually considers beginning life anew with Hugh. Wickham does a bangup job of creating believable characters—even Amanda is less vapid than she at first seems. Surprises abound as the plot unfolds, and the families begin to wonder whether their mutual friend made an innocent mistake in getting them together. (July)
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From Booklist
Wickham, who writes the popular Shopaholic series as Sophie Kinsella, explores what happens when two couples struggling with their relationships end up at the same Spanish vacation villa, owned by their mutual friend Gerard, an arrogant wine critic. Free-spirited Chloe and her longtime partner, the tightly wound Philip, are looking to escape their worries over the fate of his job. Workaholic Hugh can’t seem to connect to his uptight wife, Amanda, or their two daughters. Neither family is pleased to find Gerard has double-booked the villa, but unbeknownst to Philip and Amanda, Chloe and Hugh knew each other years ago, when they had a passionate love affair that ended abruptly when Hugh learned Chloe had a young son. Now together again 15 years later, they find their passion for each other is reignited. With its slightly older characters and more adult problems, Wickham’s novel has a different tone than do her Shopaholic tales, but it’s an equally engaging yarn, sure to please her many fans and gain her new ones. --Kristine Huntley

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (July 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312383428
• ISBN-13: 978-0312383428
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,495 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very funny, July 29, 2008

By	D. Alvarez (Naples, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was surprised a bit by this book, in that I was expecting a very Shopaholic type of story since this is the same author for those books as well (though she writes under a different name, Sophie Kinsella). Instead, I got a story that was a lot more family and relationship oriented, which is not a bad thing at all. Just different. Despite this surprise, I really enjoyed what I read, and the story is a very funny romp about a summer vacation gone awry. It is a great summer beach book and will make you chuckle quite a bit. Just don't expect to get a Shopaholic like story from it! I would recommend it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A one-sitting piece of fluff, December 30, 2008

By	Smeddley - See all my reviews

I can see how this book might have been pretty interesting as a character study, unfortunately, I didn't like any of the characters. They seemed just a little off and a bit phony - not quite two-dimensional, but flat in some respects. And a lot unbelievable in others, especially in ways that screamed convenience, plot-wise. Speaking of plot... it was a bit thin, as well. Sure, the main premise was understandable enough, the old ploy of throwing enemies in together and seeing what happens. But the problem is that nothing really extraordinary or interesting does happen. It's all very predictable and clichéd, and the ending is a complete disappointment.

On the up side, the writing was very easy to read and I sped through the book in one sitting.

I wouldn't particularly recommend this book to anyone, but the writing this author has done under the name 'Sophie Kinsella' is far, far better and I suggest you check out those before you pick up this one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Madeleine Wickham does it again!, September 5, 2008

By	K. Sarantakes "foto girl" (Austin, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Each new release by Madeleine Wickham (or Sophie Kinsella, for that matter) excites me to no end. I have read nearly all of her novels and have never been disappointed. Although this one ends differently than I anticipated, I still had a hard time putting it down, just like all the others. Can't wait for the next one!