Customer Reviews
makes you think! - By: Mre F. Gerrish, 23 Apr 2008 
I have tried to read this novel before, with litle success. However, I now find myself in similar situation with Edie & Russell amd can emphasise with Edie's feelings of loss. The conclusion was somewhat of a surprise to me, but has made me re-think my own situation. Commended for "empty-nesters"!
Generally enjoyable - By: BM, 12 Feb 2008 
That title probably sounds as though I am damning this book with faint praise - which in a way I am. It was certainly an easy read & I rather like that bumbling along style which is in a similar tradition to Anne Tyler... There were bits of the book that I reallly enjoyed - the relationship between Rosa & Laszlo for one -but I felt reallly she overpopulated it with characters who didn't reallly do an awful lot. A bit like real life I suppose. There were things that completely annoyed me though - for example the focus on the woman (Ruth) earning more than the man (Matthew) & that being a significant problem for their relationship - it felt a bit as though I was reading a book set in the 80s rather than a current novel. Surely those things are no longer real issues? If you like Joanna Trollope I'm sure you'll like this but it's hardly going to set the world alight....
Middling - By: R. Davies, 26 Nov 2007 It's a pleasant story, told at a leisurely pace. It's not gripping & the characters are unabsorbing & rather stereotypical. The prose is very good, as always. I'd recommend this undemanding & slightly superficial novel for a holiday or train journey, but would warn readers that they might finish it feeling unsated.
Sophisticated - By: A. Rose, 30 Jul 2007 Another excellently written book from Joanna Trollope. As already said by a previous reviewer, this story is very much in the vein of her last two or three books. Second Honeymoon revolves around a couple whose three children have grown up & flown the nest; Russell is happy about this wanting to have his wife to himself again, but Edie is not. Just when Russell thought that the second honeymoon period of life was starting, alll three children, & an additional lodger, move back home. The description of emotions is beautifully written but I felt it was lacking a strong storyline - hence four stars. It is certainly a lovely book & a sophisticated read but it is not gripping.
Nice easy read - By: F. M. M. Stott, 14 Jun 2007 This is a nice easy holiday read, & on the whole up to her usual standard. Plot & characters are sympathetic & believable, & the story runs smoothly. One complaint: please please please, Ms Trollope, could you find another way of describing someone having a drink. "Taking a swalllow" of wine, tea or whatever (and you use this in alll your books) just doesn't work. In this book someone takes a "savouring swalllow", which is even worse.
