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The Woman Next Door
A poignant novel of deception, betrayal, love, and faith follows three couples whose lives are thrown into turmoil when their beautiful and much younger neighbor, who has been widowed for a year, announces that she is pregnant, forcing each of the wives to reevaluate their marriages and relationships. Reprint.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
Barbara Delinsky
310 books4,178 followersI was born and raised in suburban Boston. My mother’s death, when I was eight, was the defining event of a childhood that was otherwise ordinary. I took piano lessons and flute lessons. I took ballroom dancing lessons. I went to summer camp through my fifteenth year (in Maine, which explains the setting of so many of my stories), then spent my sixteenth summer learning to type and to drive (two skills that have served me better than all of my other high school courses combined). I earned a B.A. in Psychology at Tufts University and an M.A. in Sociology at Boston College. The motivation behind the M.A. was sheer greed. My husband was just starting law school. We needed the money.
Following graduate school, I worked as a researcher with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and as a photographer and reporter for the Belmont Herald. I did the newspaper work after my first son was born. Since I was heavily into taking pictures of him, I worked for the paper to support that habit. Initially, I wrote only in a secondary capacity, to provide copy for the pictures I took. In time, I realized that I was better at writing than photography. I used both skills doing volunteer work for hospital groups, and have served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and on the MGH’s Women’s Cancer Advisory Board.
I became an actual writer by fluke. My twins were four when, by chance, I happened on a newspaper article profiling three female writers. Intrigued, I spent three months researching, plotting, and writing my own book - and it sold.
My niche? I write about the emotional crises that we face in our lives. Readers identify with my characters. They know them. They are them. I'm an everyday woman writing about everyday people facing not-so-everyday challenges.
My novels are character-driven studies of marriage, parenthood, sibling rivalry, and friendship, and I’ve been blessed in having readers who buy them eagerly enough to put them on the major bestseller lists. One of my latest, Sweet Salt Air, came out in 2013. Blueprints, my second novel with St. Martin’s Press, became my 22nd New York Times bestselling novel soon after its release in June 2015. Making Up, my work in progress, will be published in 2018.
2018? Yikes. I didn’t think I’d live that long. I thought I’d die of breast cancer back in the 1900's, like my mom. But I didn’t. I was diagnosed nearly twenty years ago, had surgery and treatment, and here I am, stronger than ever and loving having authored yet another book, this one the non-fiction Uplift: Secrets From the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors. First published in 2001, Uplift is a handbook of practical tips and upbeat anecdotes that I compiled with the help of 350 breast cancer survivors, their families and friends. These survivors just ... blew me away! They gave me the book that I wish I’d had way back when I was diagnosed. There is no medical information here, nothing frightening, simply practical advice from friends who’ve had breast cancer. The 10th Anniversary Volume of Uplift is now in print. And the money I’ve made on the book? Every cent has gone to my charitable foundation, which funds an ongoing research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Connect with me on Facebook: facebook.com/bdelinsky
Look for my photos on Instagram: instagram.com/barbaradelinsky
Following graduate school, I worked as a researcher with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and as a photographer and reporter for the Belmont Herald. I did the newspaper work after my first son was born. Since I was heavily into taking pictures of him, I worked for the paper to support that habit. Initially, I wrote only in a secondary capacity, to provide copy for the pictures I took. In time, I realized that I was better at writing than photography. I used both skills doing volunteer work for hospital groups, and have served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and on the MGH’s Women’s Cancer Advisory Board.
I became an actual writer by fluke. My twins were four when, by chance, I happened on a newspaper article profiling three female writers. Intrigued, I spent three months researching, plotting, and writing my own book - and it sold.
My niche? I write about the emotional crises that we face in our lives. Readers identify with my characters. They know them. They are them. I'm an everyday woman writing about everyday people facing not-so-everyday challenges.
My novels are character-driven studies of marriage, parenthood, sibling rivalry, and friendship, and I’ve been blessed in having readers who buy them eagerly enough to put them on the major bestseller lists. One of my latest, Sweet Salt Air, came out in 2013. Blueprints, my second novel with St. Martin’s Press, became my 22nd New York Times bestselling novel soon after its release in June 2015. Making Up, my work in progress, will be published in 2018.
2018? Yikes. I didn’t think I’d live that long. I thought I’d die of breast cancer back in the 1900's, like my mom. But I didn’t. I was diagnosed nearly twenty years ago, had surgery and treatment, and here I am, stronger than ever and loving having authored yet another book, this one the non-fiction Uplift: Secrets From the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors. First published in 2001, Uplift is a handbook of practical tips and upbeat anecdotes that I compiled with the help of 350 breast cancer survivors, their families and friends. These survivors just ... blew me away! They gave me the book that I wish I’d had way back when I was diagnosed. There is no medical information here, nothing frightening, simply practical advice from friends who’ve had breast cancer. The 10th Anniversary Volume of Uplift is now in print. And the money I’ve made on the book? Every cent has gone to my charitable foundation, which funds an ongoing research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Connect with me on Facebook: facebook.com/bdelinsky
Look for my photos on Instagram: instagram.com/barbaradelinsky
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews
December 22, 2016
I plucked this audio out of the bag I keep in my car. It’s been in there a while but I figured now was as good a time as any to finally give it a listen. I’ve been on a horror binge lately and needed a bit of a breather from all of the bloodshed.
At the midway point, I have to admit, I was hoping for some bloodshed that would put an end to one, two or perhaps all, of these insufferably miserable people. It didn’t happen but I hung in there and things did improve a little. Not a lot but enough to keep me from DNFing the thing.
This is the story of what happens when three well-to-do married couples spend too much time navel gazing and poking into each other’s business but mostly it’s about what happens to a marriage when three unhappy wives fear their spouse has impregnated the pretty widow across the way. They’ve shunned the woman (even before the pregnancy) and she won’t reveal who the daddy is when they finally spare her a few moments of conversation only so they can get all nosey. Hahaha, serves you right you cliquey witches!
I have to admit that some dark part of me thoroughly enjoyed watching these women work themselves up into a jealous tizzy when Gretchen evades their questions. And it says much about this book that the most sympathetic character, for the majority of the story, turns out to be the young, widowed trophy wife. I felt terribly sorry for her and her loneliness and grief and feelings of exclusion were written very well. About a third of the way in, one of the wives, who is having a helluva time conceiving (and we get a first row seat to every tedious detail and moment of angst), turns a corner and I ended up enjoying her story but she took a little too long to get there.
The audio was capably read by Laura Hicks. She does a good job with the narrative and the voices (even the males) with the noted exception of one of the wives named Karen. She made her sound like a nasty, bitter hag but perhaps that was intentional?
If you like reading about marital woes and real life troubles, you may adore this book. I think I need to go back to fantasyland because this was too “real” for my liking.
Important Disclaimer:
I figured it was time to come clean. This is the guy who ghost writes my reviews. Don't let his goofy looks deceive you, he is slightly smarter than he appears but his taste in books is questionable and he DNF's all the time because he's kind of full of himself and thinks he has better things to do than read lousy books. If you don't like something he writes, I don't recommend sneaking up on him unawares to give him a talking-to because he may eat your face off. He's a little nutzo. You can, however, try bribing him with treats to put him in a better mood. It's likely he'll only eat the treats and leave you with a slobbery hand. In that case, be thankful you still have the hand and slowly back away.
At the midway point, I have to admit, I was hoping for some bloodshed that would put an end to one, two or perhaps all, of these insufferably miserable people. It didn’t happen but I hung in there and things did improve a little. Not a lot but enough to keep me from DNFing the thing.
This is the story of what happens when three well-to-do married couples spend too much time navel gazing and poking into each other’s business but mostly it’s about what happens to a marriage when three unhappy wives fear their spouse has impregnated the pretty widow across the way. They’ve shunned the woman (even before the pregnancy) and she won’t reveal who the daddy is when they finally spare her a few moments of conversation only so they can get all nosey. Hahaha, serves you right you cliquey witches!
I have to admit that some dark part of me thoroughly enjoyed watching these women work themselves up into a jealous tizzy when Gretchen evades their questions. And it says much about this book that the most sympathetic character, for the majority of the story, turns out to be the young, widowed trophy wife. I felt terribly sorry for her and her loneliness and grief and feelings of exclusion were written very well. About a third of the way in, one of the wives, who is having a helluva time conceiving (and we get a first row seat to every tedious detail and moment of angst), turns a corner and I ended up enjoying her story but she took a little too long to get there.
The audio was capably read by Laura Hicks. She does a good job with the narrative and the voices (even the males) with the noted exception of one of the wives named Karen. She made her sound like a nasty, bitter hag but perhaps that was intentional?
If you like reading about marital woes and real life troubles, you may adore this book. I think I need to go back to fantasyland because this was too “real” for my liking.
Important Disclaimer:
I figured it was time to come clean. This is the guy who ghost writes my reviews. Don't let his goofy looks deceive you, he is slightly smarter than he appears but his taste in books is questionable and he DNF's all the time because he's kind of full of himself and thinks he has better things to do than read lousy books. If you don't like something he writes, I don't recommend sneaking up on him unawares to give him a talking-to because he may eat your face off. He's a little nutzo. You can, however, try bribing him with treats to put him in a better mood. It's likely he'll only eat the treats and leave you with a slobbery hand. In that case, be thankful you still have the hand and slowly back away.
February 16, 2023
DNF at 20%.
This sluggishly paced novel about a cul-de-sac full of annoying people and their boring problems failed to engage me.
To be fair, it probably suffered in comparison to the true crime novel I just finished about a woman who chopped up her neighbor with an axe - now THAT's a story. It didn't seem like this one was heading in that direction, but it would have livened things up at least.
This sluggishly paced novel about a cul-de-sac full of annoying people and their boring problems failed to engage me.
To be fair, it probably suffered in comparison to the true crime novel I just finished about a woman who chopped up her neighbor with an axe - now THAT's a story. It didn't seem like this one was heading in that direction, but it would have livened things up at least.
February 17, 2013
The Woman Next Door reminds me of the saying "all that glitters is not gold", meaning everything is not really as it appears to be. The story opens up with the O'Learys, a newlywed couple who is struggling with infertility issues, year after year sfter year. There's pressure coming from all sides, especially Graham 'Gray' O'Leary's family,who have had no trouble procreating through the generations, and whose mother Dorothy never misses an opportunity to remind her daughter-in-law Amanda of that fact.
Then there's Karen and Lee, who have been having marital problems for years, the main one being infidelity on Lee's part. And then there's Georgia and Russel; Georgia is the workaholic while Russ is the househusband, and Georgia's having second thoughts about being on the road and away from home so much...this is where the woman next door, Gretchen, comes into play.
Gretchen's much older husband died only a year before, but when Amanda discovers that she's pregnant, she and her two friends, Karen and Georgia, are determined to find out who the father is. Considering each of the issues they're facing with their husbands, it's easy to point fingers and make allegations.Personally, I didn't think it was any of their business who her unborn child's father was, to me that was pushing the envelope a bit, especially considering that they barely knew Gretchen. Gretchen picks up on their suspicions, however, but does not confirm nor deny anything to them, which aggravates each situation even more.
It turns out that Gretchen, the woman next door, was never the source of their problems, of course, but rather a reminder of what could be. For one, she was pregnant, something which Amanda was jealous of since she'd been trying to conceive for so long. Two, she was younger and prettier, something which intimidated Karen because of her husband's philandering ways and three, she was alone and very available, something which bothered Georgia because she was almost never home.
I don't want to give away the ending but it was rather sweet....I especially enjoyed Amamnda and Graham's story because it was touching and there was so much chemistry between them, which eventually served in their favour...!
Then there's Karen and Lee, who have been having marital problems for years, the main one being infidelity on Lee's part. And then there's Georgia and Russel; Georgia is the workaholic while Russ is the househusband, and Georgia's having second thoughts about being on the road and away from home so much...this is where the woman next door, Gretchen, comes into play.
Gretchen's much older husband died only a year before, but when Amanda discovers that she's pregnant, she and her two friends, Karen and Georgia, are determined to find out who the father is. Considering each of the issues they're facing with their husbands, it's easy to point fingers and make allegations.Personally, I didn't think it was any of their business who her unborn child's father was, to me that was pushing the envelope a bit, especially considering that they barely knew Gretchen. Gretchen picks up on their suspicions, however, but does not confirm nor deny anything to them, which aggravates each situation even more.
It turns out that Gretchen, the woman next door, was never the source of their problems, of course, but rather a reminder of what could be. For one, she was pregnant, something which Amanda was jealous of since she'd been trying to conceive for so long. Two, she was younger and prettier, something which intimidated Karen because of her husband's philandering ways and three, she was alone and very available, something which bothered Georgia because she was almost never home.
I don't want to give away the ending but it was rather sweet....I especially enjoyed Amamnda and Graham's story because it was touching and there was so much chemistry between them, which eventually served in their favour...!
February 2, 2017
This was really cute, but almost felt like a short story because it was such a quick read. The book is the story of 4 women living in a neighborhood. Amanda is a school counselor and she and her husband, Graham, are struggling with infertility and not letting it drive them apart. Karen is another one and her husband, Lee, is notorious for cheating. Georgia is the breadwinner for her family and her husband, Russ, is a house husband. Finally, there's Gretchen. She's a widow who keeps to herself and then the other women see she's pregnant. A lot of the book is trying to figure out who the father of the baby is. The women all suspect their own husbands at some point, but it turns out it was the lawyer that worked with Gretchen when her husband died. Also in the book was the suicide of Quinn, a teenage boy who comes to baseball practice drunk and then commits suicide. The even ties Amanda, Karen and Georgia together because Amanda is his counselor and Karen and Georgia have kids his age. Overall, this was a good book but could've used a little more development in character and plot. However, I was really in the mood for an easy breezy read, so I enjoyed it a lot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2016
" To you both. May your lives be filled with sweet secrets, hearty laughter, and great sex."
Amanda is relatable by page 2 when you find out she put her search of a man on hold and put her effort into work. Lucky for her though fate handed her a man. She just wanted a man she could trust and love.
By third page you learn about Graham and Amada have had bad luck getting pregnant for two years, then you find out another year later they still can't. This part was an emotional section. I can see why both Graham and Amand get jealous of others who can have children.
The woman next door could b pregnant everyone in town is talking about who the father is.
Georgia is probably my favorite in the book. She is the most level-headed. I find Karen annoying. Everyone in these four families is paranoid there husband got Gretchen pregnant. Don't they have other things to worry about? The only one I could see lightly having doubt would be the career because her husband has cheated in the past and their relationship is rocky.
I lost interest but id finishes it. It started to jump from one perspective to the next. There were the way too many perspectives and sometimes I couldn't tell who was speaking. They also all had similar voices.
Amanda is relatable by page 2 when you find out she put her search of a man on hold and put her effort into work. Lucky for her though fate handed her a man. She just wanted a man she could trust and love.
By third page you learn about Graham and Amada have had bad luck getting pregnant for two years, then you find out another year later they still can't. This part was an emotional section. I can see why both Graham and Amand get jealous of others who can have children.
The woman next door could b pregnant everyone in town is talking about who the father is.
Georgia is probably my favorite in the book. She is the most level-headed. I find Karen annoying. Everyone in these four families is paranoid there husband got Gretchen pregnant. Don't they have other things to worry about? The only one I could see lightly having doubt would be the career because her husband has cheated in the past and their relationship is rocky.
I lost interest but id finishes it. It started to jump from one perspective to the next. There were the way too many perspectives and sometimes I couldn't tell who was speaking. They also all had similar voices.
December 9, 2013
This is one of Delinsky's older books, written in 2001. Wow ... it has been sitting on my shelf for some time. I'm glad I pulled it down though, as I really enjoyed it. It is a story of trust, jealousy and a struggle to keep love alive. It takes place on an affluent cul-de-sac in Connecticut, where three close-knit couples actually get too close. Another neighbor, a widow is pregnant ... Who is the father ... finding out is almost their undoing. The book is filled with suspense and surprises. Delinsky really brings the characters to life. I would recommend it.
January 12, 2019
I loved this book!! There were 4 couples living in a cul de sac and were very close. The wife of one of the couples dies and in time here husband remarries a younger woman. There is no relationship between the new wife and the other 3 wives in the neighborhood. Then the widow becomes pregnant and the 3 wives wonder of the baby belongs to one of their husbands, who were all at the house at separate times during the right time. So, Who is the father? Great story with twists and turns!
June 2, 2020
Gostei muito deste livro, embora a história fosse um bocadinho previsível, sem grandes surpresas. Um romance com algum drama, entre três casais vizinhos e uma mulher sozinha que aparece grávida sme ninguém saber quem é o pai. Um livro bom para ler entre outros mais pesados. Uma leitura leve e agradável, sem dúvida.
November 28, 2007
The premise of "The Woman Next Door" is relatively simple. A lovely widow turns out to be pregnant. Only problem is, her husband has been dead at least a year. She lives in a cul de sac with three other couples. The three couples are all experiencing some manner of strain in their marriages. Once the pregnancy of the widow becomes apparent, each of the wives silently wonder if her husband is the father.
The main couple of the story, Amanda and Graham, is the most intriguing. They are struggling with infertility. Married for five years they both desperately want a child but are turned off and wearied by years of fertility procedures. The interesting issue that Delinsky explores with this couple how the idea of conception can begin to overpower everything else in a marriage. Even a very strong and healthy love.
The second couple, Karen and Lee Cotter are much more volatile. Lee has had infidelity issues in the past. They aren't as much a focus as Amanda and Graham but they do provide a stark contrast to Amanda and Graham. Karen and Lee have 4 children and many more problems.
The third couple Georgia and Russ seem almost an afterthought. Georgia is the driven executive who travels four days out of five. Russ is the stay at home husband who watches the kids and writes freelance articles. It is a reversal of traditional gender roles. Comparatively speaking, Georgia and Russ have few problems except her absence.
Delinsky gives each man a plausible motive for possibly having slept with the widow. And she even manages to throw suspicion on each one of them in various parts of the book. Although the identity of the father adds a nice little bit of suspense, the more engrossing part of the book is the makeup of each of the three marriages and the reasons why these women can find it so easy to suspect their husbands of infidelity.
The main couple of the story, Amanda and Graham, is the most intriguing. They are struggling with infertility. Married for five years they both desperately want a child but are turned off and wearied by years of fertility procedures. The interesting issue that Delinsky explores with this couple how the idea of conception can begin to overpower everything else in a marriage. Even a very strong and healthy love.
The second couple, Karen and Lee Cotter are much more volatile. Lee has had infidelity issues in the past. They aren't as much a focus as Amanda and Graham but they do provide a stark contrast to Amanda and Graham. Karen and Lee have 4 children and many more problems.
The third couple Georgia and Russ seem almost an afterthought. Georgia is the driven executive who travels four days out of five. Russ is the stay at home husband who watches the kids and writes freelance articles. It is a reversal of traditional gender roles. Comparatively speaking, Georgia and Russ have few problems except her absence.
Delinsky gives each man a plausible motive for possibly having slept with the widow. And she even manages to throw suspicion on each one of them in various parts of the book. Although the identity of the father adds a nice little bit of suspense, the more engrossing part of the book is the makeup of each of the three marriages and the reasons why these women can find it so easy to suspect their husbands of infidelity.
September 9, 2017
This was, in general, a good book. A story of mistrust, of the tests a marriage goes through, blended in issues like infertility, family, betrayal, suspicion...
That said, this was the seventh book I read by Barbara Delinsky, and although I like her work a lot, this book wasn´t great. I was "OK". The three women in this story are quite petty when it comes to the father of Gretchen´s baby, each accusing their husbands... Karen clearly had a reason, and she was the character I liked the least. Amanda was the one I liked best.
I would advise this book to someone who has read "Looking for Peyton Place",or "The Summer I Dared" or "Flirting with Pete". Personaly, I prefer her current books.
"The Woman Next Door" was a good story, and that said, I might read it again. The ending was good.
That said, this was the seventh book I read by Barbara Delinsky, and although I like her work a lot, this book wasn´t great. I was "OK". The three women in this story are quite petty when it comes to the father of Gretchen´s baby, each accusing their husbands... Karen clearly had a reason, and she was the character I liked the least. Amanda was the one I liked best.
I would advise this book to someone who has read "Looking for Peyton Place",or "The Summer I Dared" or "Flirting with Pete". Personaly, I prefer her current books.
"The Woman Next Door" was a good story, and that said, I might read it again. The ending was good.
January 1, 2018
2017 has been a very challenging year ... but I still managed for read about 20 books,
The Woman Next Door was my best surprise.
In a suburban cul de sac, three families are unable to respect the privacy of a young, pregnant widow.
This fictional depiction of how far women .. even men will go to root out the details of someone private life ... was astounding.
The foundation of marriage became rocky.
One adolescent suicide ... and another attempt.
The moral of the story for me: Suspicion can be deadly.
Kudos to Ms Delinsky!
The Woman Next Door was my best surprise.
In a suburban cul de sac, three families are unable to respect the privacy of a young, pregnant widow.
This fictional depiction of how far women .. even men will go to root out the details of someone private life ... was astounding.
The foundation of marriage became rocky.
One adolescent suicide ... and another attempt.
The moral of the story for me: Suspicion can be deadly.
Kudos to Ms Delinsky!
June 5, 2017
It was boring at the beginning when I was reading into the first few chapters of the book. But along the way, after days of putting the novel on hold, it has gotten so good and thrilling that I've finished this in just one sitting.
July 13, 2018
I identified closely with the main character in this story - the heartbreak of infertility. Delinsky captured the essence of the effects this has on the couple and the individual. The drama revolves around a group of neighbors and a single woman who causes controversy among the three couples.
July 29, 2012
I thought it was good...not great. But I would still recommend it.
August 29, 2016
The Woman Next Door by Barbara Delinsky points out the dangers of gossip, the importance of love and trust combined, and the impact of one person's first step. Good story if somewhat predictable.
May 9, 2019
Интересна книга, държи в напрежение и интригува.
December 27, 2018
Yep, that's right, I read this book. I finished my 'real' book and didn't have another so picked up this one from Grandma's shelf. It was fun. That's all I'll say. Missing my days of watching Guiding Light after school...
April 24, 2009
I really enjoyed this book - it was a refreshing read. The subject wasn't too hard-going, the characters were all "real people" but there were enough twists and sub-plots in the story to make me want to sit and read this all in one go!
I didn't enjoy this quite as much as I did 'The Family Tree,' and I think maybe this is because 'The Woman Next Door' was published at least five years prior to 'The Family Tree,' so Delinsky's writing had matured. I was completely gripped by this story, but I felt that a lot of the issues could have been resolved if the couples in the story just communicated with each other. Like Amanda feeling intimidated by Graham's family, particularly his mother. That's the kind of thing you discuss when you're planning to get married, not six years into your marriage. Amanda should have reminded Graham long ago that she was his new family, and although his mother is important to him, his wife comes first. This is just one example of something which I think shouldn't have been such a big issue as it was in this book.
I'll definitely be reading more of Delinsky's books, but I hope that not all of her characters have communication problems in their marriages.
Oh, and one last thing - this book wasn't as much about Gretchen, the woman next door, as it was about Amanda, who was trying to conceive a child with her husband. Gretchen was more of a catalyst for issues between Amanda and Graham. So the title is a little misleading! 8/10
I didn't enjoy this quite as much as I did 'The Family Tree,' and I think maybe this is because 'The Woman Next Door' was published at least five years prior to 'The Family Tree,' so Delinsky's writing had matured. I was completely gripped by this story, but I felt that a lot of the issues could have been resolved if the couples in the story just communicated with each other. Like Amanda feeling intimidated by Graham's family, particularly his mother. That's the kind of thing you discuss when you're planning to get married, not six years into your marriage. Amanda should have reminded Graham long ago that she was his new family, and although his mother is important to him, his wife comes first. This is just one example of something which I think shouldn't have been such a big issue as it was in this book.
I'll definitely be reading more of Delinsky's books, but I hope that not all of her characters have communication problems in their marriages.
Oh, and one last thing - this book wasn't as much about Gretchen, the woman next door, as it was about Amanda, who was trying to conceive a child with her husband. Gretchen was more of a catalyst for issues between Amanda and Graham. So the title is a little misleading! 8/10
July 4, 2015
Read the first 4 chapters (up to page 94) and couldn't be bothered going any further. The story of 4 well-to-do families living in a cul-de-sac, the main couple's relationship straining under the stress of being unable to fall pregnant. But the other story going on is all about the young attractive second wife, now widow, of a long term resident. Because all the other wives were friends with wife No.1 , they basically have snubbed No.2, and when it gets noticed that she is now pregnant - a year after hubby passed - everyone suddenly starts thinking the worst - that maybe one of the 3 remaining hubbies are responsible! I'm sorry, wouldn't the first thing that enters your mind be that just maybe she and her husband froze his sperm before his death???? Or that she has a new boyfriend??? NOOOOOOOOO.....let's all jump to the conclusion that every husband has been cheating. And yes, let's all suddenly pop over with cookies to try and get the goss from the woman herself. This storyline sounds like it should be a comedy, in fact it probably would make a good comedy farce, but it's not. Wife/widow should have told the other women to f-off and mind their own business, just like I'm going to do because I don't care who the father is......
February 6, 2012
Another excellent book by Barbara Delinsky. She told the story of a very close group of neighbors - three married couples. They suddenly notice a young, very attractive widow is pregnant and since her late husband has been gone for a year - he cannot be the father. The other women then begin to take a closer look at their marriages, while each wondering if their husband is the father of the baby. Of course each couple has their own problems. Amanda and Graham have been married about 5 years and are struggling with trying to get pregnant. Karen and Lee have 4 children, she's a stay at home mom, and he works to support the family - and has been cheating on her for years. Georgia and Russ have 3 kids, and he works from home, while she travels for her own, very successful business. At points I was torn between wanting to know what happened next, and not wanting to know. Great book.
April 10, 2009
I've come to really enjoy Delinsky as an author and I'm purchasing more and more of her books.
"Along with their husbands, Amanda, Karen, and Georgia are a close-knit circle of friends enjoying seemingly ideal lives in an upscale neighborhood. But when they learn that their lovely younger neighbor, widowed for a year and presumably still unattached, is pregnant, the strains and imperfections of their lives come into full focus. As they ponder who the father might be, each of the women harbors suspicions about her own husband-and each is forced to a crisis point that will strengthen or shatter their marriage."
"Along with their husbands, Amanda, Karen, and Georgia are a close-knit circle of friends enjoying seemingly ideal lives in an upscale neighborhood. But when they learn that their lovely younger neighbor, widowed for a year and presumably still unattached, is pregnant, the strains and imperfections of their lives come into full focus. As they ponder who the father might be, each of the women harbors suspicions about her own husband-and each is forced to a crisis point that will strengthen or shatter their marriage."
March 27, 2017
I really enjoyed this 2001 book by Barbara Delinsky. Somehow I missed this book by an author I like. The book was a quick read and had an ending that I never expected. The character development was wonderful.
August 3, 2017
This book reminds me of the tv show "desperate housewives".
Its packed with gossip, infidelity and lies. Its a good summer read,
I like the portrayal of the women's different problems and how they
look so perfect from the outside, but their lives are such mess behind
closed doors.
Its packed with gossip, infidelity and lies. Its a good summer read,
I like the portrayal of the women's different problems and how they
look so perfect from the outside, but their lives are such mess behind
closed doors.
October 20, 2014
This book is terrible.
September 16, 2014
Engaging read--infertility, woman on culdesac becomes pregnant and everyone suspects their husband.
June 6, 2017
Didn't even finish it.... The storyline took forever to get started and was confusing. Just not interesting to me.
April 13, 2018
rdc iT WAS A GOOD READ. iT ALL ABOUT COMMUNICATION AND TRUST IN A MARRIAGE
August 13, 2018
Good character building. Widow next door is pregnant. Three lady neighbors are wondering if their husband's could be the father. Widow refuses to tell who father is. Causes a lot of mistrust!
April 10, 2024
Suffering from chronic pain, some days the only thing I can do is read, so I need an easy story to lose myself in, and this book fit the bill. It had an interesting premise that kept me reading to find out who the father of the widow’s baby was - bouncing from neighbor to neighbor as the women all worried if it was their husband. We get to know all the characters on the cul-de-sac including the husbands and kids. The main characters were a couple struggling with trying to get pregnant. The character development was good enough to feel as if you personally know everyone.
Here is what you need to know before reading this book though-there is a teenage suicide that happens- so if you’ve had a suicide trauma in your life be forewarned!!!
And that is my only criticism of the story. At one point the school counselor tells another teen that the teen who committed suicide was a coward for it. Personal rant:
I disagree & I don’t know that is the best counseling advice but I’m sure that’s debatable. But actually committing suicide isn’t cowardly, it takes a strong determination to go through with something so final, and a terribly troubled mind & heart. Rant over.
The rest of story read as expected with a satisfying ending.
Here is what you need to know before reading this book though-there is a teenage suicide that happens- so if you’ve had a suicide trauma in your life be forewarned!!!
And that is my only criticism of the story. At one point the school counselor tells another teen that the teen who committed suicide was a coward for it. Personal rant:
I disagree & I don’t know that is the best counseling advice but I’m sure that’s debatable. But actually committing suicide isn’t cowardly, it takes a strong determination to go through with something so final, and a terribly troubled mind & heart. Rant over.
The rest of story read as expected with a satisfying ending.
Read
December 30, 2017Graham O'Leary had grown up with plenty of brothers and sisters. He had been best friends with his next-door-neighbor, Megan. She was accepted as part of the family and they married after high-school. Things weren't going well and Megan finally told him that she was gay. She wanted out of the marriage and their marriage was annulled.
When he was 36, he married Amanda. They both wanted children but after 4 doctors and nearly 5 years, she still wasn't pregnant. Dorothy, Graham's mother, and the rest of his family hadn't really accepted Amanda as part of the family either. The children all adored her, it was the adults that were the problem. Graham didn't want to address it and it caused Amanda to be upset occasionally.
Things all came to light as spring was arriving and the invitro didn't take. Amanda was once again not pregnant. Graham wanted to try again but Amanda was tired of the toll the temperature taking, the drugs and the scheduled sex. She asked Graham for a month off of everything so her body and mind could have a break. Graham wasn't happy about it but didn't really have a choice and accepted Amanda's decision.
Amanda was a school counselor and was trying to get one of the athletic stars, Quinn Davis, to come in for counseling. She could tell he was struggling with something and his grades were slipping. He showed up at baseball practice one afternoon and was suspended from sports for the season. There was a big write up in the town's newspaper about what he had done and he ended up slitting his wrists in the school gym and died. That really upset most of the townsfolk. Amanda helped with the counseling and the funeral arrangements. She felt awful for not pressing more to get him to talk to her but knew that ultimately there was nothing she could have done. She had tried talking to his parents and they refused to admit there was a problem and refused her offer to try and help him.
She had been driving home after knowing that she was not pregnant again and noticed that the widow in their culture-de-sac was pregnant. Gretchen Tannenwald's husband Ben had been dead for a year now. Ben's first wife had died of cancer. June had been friends with the women in the cul-de-sac but Gretchen had remained an outsider to the group of women. Amanda mentioned the pregnancy to her other neighbors and for different reasons they all suspected their husbands might be the father.
Graham had been working on her landscaping during October when she had conceived. Amanda couldn't get pregnant and that was taking a toll on their relationship. Russ and Georgia Lange were separated a lot. Russ was a stay-at-home father and writer. Georgia was CEO of her own company and traveled a lot as a result. Lee and Karen often fought because Lee was known for cheating on his wife. Karen had also noticed charges on his credit card to an obstetrician. Lee worked while Karen stayed at home. She was on the board of several charities and helped a lot at the school. Lee didn't allow Karen to pay the bills and such. She had a feeling that something was going on with Lee again because of his attitude and had done some snooping. Karen knew that Lee was cheating on her once again.
Their son, Jordie Cotter, was feeling guilty after Quinn's suicide. Jordie wasn't popular but had given Quinn the alcohol that caused him to come to practice drunk. Jordie was taking the death hard and blaming himself for Quinn's death. Amanda tried to get Karen to get Jordie into counseling but she also refused to admit there was a problem until he went missing one afternoon. Amanda and Graham took a walk into the woods and found him on top of a wall of collapsing stone. Graham went to get help and Amanda climbed onto the wall to sit with Jordie. Jordie had a gun. The neighbor's all returned with help and a ladder. Jordie was on the ladder when some of the stone's collapsed and he fell and broke his leg. Amanda was bruised but fine. Graham took her home and they finally made love after all the arguing they had done. Amanda had accused Graham of being father to Gretchen's baby even though she knew it wasn't true. She was just upset over everything that was going on both with her not getting pregnant and with the teenagers that she counseled.
Gretchen's house had been broken into and some of her artwork had been slashed. Jordie admitted to doing the damage while on the wall. He also suspected his father of sleeping with Gretchen. After the incident, Jordie was finally getting the counseling he needed and Karen kicked Lee out. The family was stabilizing finally.
Georgia sold her business and had chosen to remain closer to home for her children. She missed them and her husband too much to stay on the road any longer. Her children were growing up without her and she didn't want that.
Gretchen went into labor. It was too early and she called Amanda's house for help. Graham answered the phone and for a second Amanda was jealous. She quickly got over it because during that month, she had gotten to know Gretchen and knew that she just called the house and not Graham. She needed help. They both took her to the hospital and Gretchen's son was born and he was about 6 weeks early, but he was healthy. Amanda and the other neighbors all pitched in to help Gretchen recover and they were thrilled about the baby. Amanda and Graham were over at the house one evening when Gretchen's lawyer showed up. They quickly determined that he was the father to Gretchen's son.
Gretchen admitted that it was true and she hadn't told anyone because after sleeping with her attorney once, he had never called her again. Neither he or Gretchen were good at relationships and were both afraid to reach out to the other. They began talking again and it seemed like they were going to go slow and see if a relationship between them would work.
With everything going on, Amanda hadn't realized that her period was late. She finally did and went and bought 3 pregnancy tests. She took them at home and called Graham. He came home and she showed him the results. Amanda was finally pregnant.
When he was 36, he married Amanda. They both wanted children but after 4 doctors and nearly 5 years, she still wasn't pregnant. Dorothy, Graham's mother, and the rest of his family hadn't really accepted Amanda as part of the family either. The children all adored her, it was the adults that were the problem. Graham didn't want to address it and it caused Amanda to be upset occasionally.
Things all came to light as spring was arriving and the invitro didn't take. Amanda was once again not pregnant. Graham wanted to try again but Amanda was tired of the toll the temperature taking, the drugs and the scheduled sex. She asked Graham for a month off of everything so her body and mind could have a break. Graham wasn't happy about it but didn't really have a choice and accepted Amanda's decision.
Amanda was a school counselor and was trying to get one of the athletic stars, Quinn Davis, to come in for counseling. She could tell he was struggling with something and his grades were slipping. He showed up at baseball practice one afternoon and was suspended from sports for the season. There was a big write up in the town's newspaper about what he had done and he ended up slitting his wrists in the school gym and died. That really upset most of the townsfolk. Amanda helped with the counseling and the funeral arrangements. She felt awful for not pressing more to get him to talk to her but knew that ultimately there was nothing she could have done. She had tried talking to his parents and they refused to admit there was a problem and refused her offer to try and help him.
She had been driving home after knowing that she was not pregnant again and noticed that the widow in their culture-de-sac was pregnant. Gretchen Tannenwald's husband Ben had been dead for a year now. Ben's first wife had died of cancer. June had been friends with the women in the cul-de-sac but Gretchen had remained an outsider to the group of women. Amanda mentioned the pregnancy to her other neighbors and for different reasons they all suspected their husbands might be the father.
Graham had been working on her landscaping during October when she had conceived. Amanda couldn't get pregnant and that was taking a toll on their relationship. Russ and Georgia Lange were separated a lot. Russ was a stay-at-home father and writer. Georgia was CEO of her own company and traveled a lot as a result. Lee and Karen often fought because Lee was known for cheating on his wife. Karen had also noticed charges on his credit card to an obstetrician. Lee worked while Karen stayed at home. She was on the board of several charities and helped a lot at the school. Lee didn't allow Karen to pay the bills and such. She had a feeling that something was going on with Lee again because of his attitude and had done some snooping. Karen knew that Lee was cheating on her once again.
Their son, Jordie Cotter, was feeling guilty after Quinn's suicide. Jordie wasn't popular but had given Quinn the alcohol that caused him to come to practice drunk. Jordie was taking the death hard and blaming himself for Quinn's death. Amanda tried to get Karen to get Jordie into counseling but she also refused to admit there was a problem until he went missing one afternoon. Amanda and Graham took a walk into the woods and found him on top of a wall of collapsing stone. Graham went to get help and Amanda climbed onto the wall to sit with Jordie. Jordie had a gun. The neighbor's all returned with help and a ladder. Jordie was on the ladder when some of the stone's collapsed and he fell and broke his leg. Amanda was bruised but fine. Graham took her home and they finally made love after all the arguing they had done. Amanda had accused Graham of being father to Gretchen's baby even though she knew it wasn't true. She was just upset over everything that was going on both with her not getting pregnant and with the teenagers that she counseled.
Gretchen's house had been broken into and some of her artwork had been slashed. Jordie admitted to doing the damage while on the wall. He also suspected his father of sleeping with Gretchen. After the incident, Jordie was finally getting the counseling he needed and Karen kicked Lee out. The family was stabilizing finally.
Georgia sold her business and had chosen to remain closer to home for her children. She missed them and her husband too much to stay on the road any longer. Her children were growing up without her and she didn't want that.
Gretchen went into labor. It was too early and she called Amanda's house for help. Graham answered the phone and for a second Amanda was jealous. She quickly got over it because during that month, she had gotten to know Gretchen and knew that she just called the house and not Graham. She needed help. They both took her to the hospital and Gretchen's son was born and he was about 6 weeks early, but he was healthy. Amanda and the other neighbors all pitched in to help Gretchen recover and they were thrilled about the baby. Amanda and Graham were over at the house one evening when Gretchen's lawyer showed up. They quickly determined that he was the father to Gretchen's son.
Gretchen admitted that it was true and she hadn't told anyone because after sleeping with her attorney once, he had never called her again. Neither he or Gretchen were good at relationships and were both afraid to reach out to the other. They began talking again and it seemed like they were going to go slow and see if a relationship between them would work.
With everything going on, Amanda hadn't realized that her period was late. She finally did and went and bought 3 pregnancy tests. She took them at home and called Graham. He came home and she showed him the results. Amanda was finally pregnant.
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