hmmm, not bad - nice balance between the two women, so that you end up switching sympathies between the two. The ending seemed to come on rather quickly. ( )

I often flick through a book to get a feel for it from a point that isn't the first chapter. Unfortunatly with this book the next thing I knew I'd read too thirds of the book, sat in an uncomfortable position on the bedroom floor leant against the bookshelf, and I was too scared to go back and read the rest. I think this is the best written of the Philippa Gregory books I've read, but also the most uncomfortable.

Read it, but afterwards give yourself time to come to terms with it. ( )

Chick lit with.....a very unexpected denouement.
This was quite a compelling read; I followed (though never ENTIRELY believed in) successful radio presenter Ruth, seemingly utterly cowed in the presence of her unsympathetic husband's well-off and utterly perfect parents.
As parents and son conspire to buy the young couple a house just down road from their own home; as redundancy and unwanted pregnancy follow close after, Ruth finds herself swept along into massive depression after the birth. I think we're meant to have 100% sympathy for Ruth...and the M-I-L IS unendurably smug...but I still couldnt entirely write her off, given her efforts to help with the baby.
And then comes the unexpected ending...and I didn't buy it at all. Would Ruth ...so damaged by earlier issues in her life...be able to move on so blithely? Are we meant to accept it as a successsful conclusion?
Quite enhjoyable nonsense. ( )

This was my first phillipa gregory and I have loved all her books. Little house is one of the best psychological thrillers i have read in a while! ( )

Ruth's story starts with Sunday lunch at the in-laws and builds slowly, pulling you in relentlessly until you can't put the book down. It is deceptive in its simplicity, at various points in the story I found myself thinking 'but they couldn't do that' or 'that would never happen.' But it does and you believe it. The denouement is startling. This is very different from Gregory's historical novels but shares the same aspects of a pageturner: you simply want to know what happens next.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/ ( )