Smother-in-law (The Other Woman - Jane Green)

Member Name: kirstymack80

Product:	The Other Woman - Jane Green
Date:	03/10/05 (173 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: quick and easy read

Disadvantages: fluffy, lightweight

Dan is everything that Ellie has ever wanted, even though they're complete opposites. They have a whirlwind romance and soon it's time to 'meet the parents'. Ellie's not had an easy childhood. Her mother, an alcoholic, died when she was young and with only her father at hand, she rebelled. Now she's in her thirties, she's going to become part of the Cooper clan and have a real family at last. Something she has always dreamed of.

Only there's a problem. Dan's mum, the chic Linda. At first she's loving and generous, plying Ellie with gifts. But once the wedding plans start to take shape, she becomes the mother in law from hell ...

* What I liked *

Well this is another page turner from Jane Green. I couldn't wait to buy this, having read all of her other books. This one did not disappoint. OK so it's not going to win any literary prizes, but it's still a number one bestseller and the characters are definitely part of why her books are so popular.

Told from Ellie's point of view we see how her insecurities start to lead to constant rows with Dan as her problems with Linda's interfering arise. Dan is caught in the middle of his two favourite women, and as he has two siblings, sides are quickly taken.

Linda is portrayed as an overbearing type, a pushy woman that turns up on Ellie's doorstep unannounced and not always at opportune moments. She seems to push all the wrong buttons with Ellie and at other times seems so attentive that Ellie feels smothered.

The reader also steps in to Ellie's household. We see how her loyalties to her friends change from when she's single to when she's married, and she meets other couples with children. Lisa is the single mother, a yummy mummy with blonde hair and fake boobies clad head to toe in designer gear (naturellement so is her daughter). Trish is the more 'mumsy' type with the very spoiled baby Oscar and husband Gregory. Dan and Ellie's problems are swept aside briefly as Linda and Michael offer them a villa in the South of France. The couple are excited and invite their friends along for a holiday - but then the in-laws' yacht has an accident and Linda and Michael end up staying at the villa too ... that's when the * real * problems start.

* Bad points *

There was perhaps a bit *too* much babytalk and babies in general for my liking. Green's been there, done that with 'Babyville' and almost lost me as a fan with that book! However as this book progresses, the 'mummies' are an important part of the storyline so I am not going to take any stars off my rating for that!

* Storyline *

I think the plot is very simple but it's also going to be pretty close to a few people out there who have difficult families! So it's easy to relate to.

I liked the characters, the diversity of them all and how another man is brought in when the cracks are starting to show in Ellie's very early married life. Charlie's attractive, a womaniser, and charming, and Ellie's very vulnerable. There are all sorts of decisions she has to make and the reader can definitely sympathise with her.

There's also a surprise affair and a new arrival. So the book flows very easily and with the change of location to France, this all made for a happy Mack's reading!

Ahem. I read this in two days.

* Verdict *

This has all the right ingredients. A wedding, family, friends, lovers, disagreements, gossip, secrets, tears and an accident. It's all put together in such a way that will keep you reading. Yes it's chick lit, yes it's lightweight and yes it's perfect for a holiday read.

My copy was £3.73 from that wondrous supermarket, Tesco as I bought it when it first came out in paperback. It's always worth checking Ebay or Amazon for cheaper copies.

At times funny, other times touched with heartache, this gives new meaning to 'there were three of us in this marriage'!

Five stars again. Fans of Jane Green won't be disappointed. Go forth and buy it!

* Other info *

ISBN 0-140-29595-X
RRP £6.99
Play.com £5.49 (free delivery)
Published by Penguin Books Ltd (UK)
Year 2005
439 pages

Also contains exclusive additional material about Green's other books and an interview with the author.

There is an extract from the book at www.janegreen.co.uk if you care for a taster before you make that all important purchase.

* Other books by Jane Green *

Straight Talking
Jemima J
Mr Maybe
Bookends
Babyville
Spellbound

Thanks for reading.

Summary: Monster-in-law