The Other Woman by Jane Green

The title The Other Woman automatically makes you think there will be an affair involved, and there is.... just not who you expect, and the other woman referred to by the title is not referring to the affair.  It's actually referring to the mother-in-law, Linda.


I have not read anything by Jane Green previously.  However, Jane Green has published at least eighteen novels.  I may be hunting more out after reading this book.  You can read about Jane Green here.


This is the front and back covers and the blurb from inside:

As you read this book you can easily see that many of Linda's behaviours may appear helpful.... from her point of view.... but to Ellie, they are not.  To Ellie they are a threat to her identity as Dan's wife and Tom's mother.  Ellie has tried to be forgiving, has tried to be honest in what she wants, has tried bowing to Linda's whims and wishes... but no matter which tactic Ellie takes, Linda just barrels on through with her agenda.

When Ellie and Dan move to a new home and have their son Tom, Ellie and Dan make a new set of friends who they invite to go on holiday with them when Linda and Michael offer them a holiday home in France for a week while they go sailing with friends.  Things are already tense between Ellie and Linda, but this holiday accellerates the tension, especially when an accident occurs due to Linda's continual meddling, an affair is ignited, a friendship crashes and burns and events lead to Dan and Ellie's marriage reaching breaking point.

The theme of this book is something many young married couples could apply to their own marriages when it comes to mother-in-laws, or even father-in-laws.  Therefore most people reading this book will understand the points of views of Ellie and Dan, and even Linda and Michael.  I enjoyed the book and it kept me reading until I finished it... which took about two days on holiday I think.....