Wives and Lovers [Hardcover]

Jane Elizabeth Varley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2003

Victoria Stratford's birthday party for her husband David shows off their beautiful Wimbledon house, their wonderful children, and their perfect lives. But while Victoria welcomes her guests, the only person missing is David himself. Victoria's sister Clara and her husband Tom are at the party. Unworldly and idealistic, Tom scorns David's quest for wealth. While Clara is content with her job as a university lecturer, she yearns for a change in her life. In the garden, the youngest sister Annie talks to her husband Hugo. Very happy together, the only blight on their lives is Hugo's mother, whose jealousy and possessiveness have turned into a poisonous hatred of Annie. So begins a train of events that will lead each sister down a different path—towards love, sex, grief, betrayal, and happiness.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Three sisters and their marriages are the focus for this novel of contemporary manners. Varley cuts to the quick of modern relationships as the sisters confront the consequences of death, infidelity and estrangement. An absorbing story and vivid characters keep the pages turning until a satisfying conclusion.' WOMAN & HOME 'A great page-turner that brings to mind the landscape associated with Joanna Trollope.' DAILY EXPRESS

About the Author

Jane Elizabeth Varley studied at Oxford and went on to qualify as a barrister. She became a law lecturer and taught at Kingston University before going to live in France and write full time. She now divides her time between Surrey and Normandy. She has one son.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Orion Publishing (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752852779
• ISBN-13: 978-0752852775
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,427,040 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Sassy, Sexy & Smart, October 24, 2010

By 

Sarah Graham (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wives and Lovers (Paperback)

Jane Elizabeth Varley's first book is a total joy to read. It is bold, naughty, and incredibly funny. Her characters are well-observed and their pleasures and problems are all too familiar.
The plotting is meticulous and tightly constructed (you can tell she's a barrister). It's the author's emotional honesty that is really refreshing and marks her out as someone new to read. Early on in the book there is a sex scene that took my breath away- not because it was sexy but because it says so much about the slow, painful demise of a once-happy marriage.
The sex isn't all bad and difficult to read, in fact there's plenty of very hot, dirty and enjoyable action. As the titles "Lovers" get to know each other, in various glamourous locations; and- in one tightly written scene- on a desk in the office.
Jane Elizabeth Varley seems to know a lot about the inner workings of the Tory party (especially its powerful Ladies that Lunch) and the mindset of bitchy gay male fashion stylists, not two groups you'd naturally put together? The foibles and fancies of the wealthy, the struggles of ethnic minority youth in the Inner City, academia and the unequal, snobby class system in the UK all form the modern fast-moving world that her sisters are living and loving in. For most new writer's this would be a daunting prospect. But Wives and Lovers pulls it off brilliantly and the ending is deeply satisfying. So good, I was left wanting more. Especially of Jane Elizabeth Varley's obvious love of life- with all its complexities and pressures- and her completely wicked sense of humour.

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant debut novel by rising star of women's fiction, October 21, 2010

By 

Justin G - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wives and Lovers (Paperback)

I like Jane Varley's first book Wives and Lovers because it is a great, fast paced story that also has something valuable to say about human nature. The three sisters in the book all make mistakes but the author shows us why they acted as they did and what led them into the middle of some disaster. All the sisters are human and believable and I found the dialogue very true to life. The author's writing style and the alternating points-of-view allow us to care about all the characters. The suspense builds as the complexities of the plot come to a head. The conclusion is satisfying but not too neat. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait to read more by this author, October 20, 2010

By 

cookiedoughmonster - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wives and Lovers (Paperback)

I was given this book by a friend who highly recommended it. It's a cut above most 'popular' women's fiction: well-written and acutely observed. I could identify with the three sisters who are the subject of the story, even though they each had very unique personalities and were at differing stages of their lives. The book deals with love, loss, intrigue, jealousy and betrayal with a couple of neat plot twists thrown in for good measure. I will be reading other books by this author - it would be interesting to know more about her.