I get given a lot of books, this was one of them.This is the kind of book that gives women a bad reputation for reading nonsense. I'm not judgemental by nature but this book is written by an idiot, for idiots.I know there is a point in the life of a reader (especially female readers) when you have babies and toddlers and you still want to read. But your mommy brain is not really up to anything. I totally get that. I read Mills and Boon and dumb-dumb thrillers for around five years because my post-baby brain and schedule could not handle anything more taxing. Even my beloved Stephen King was beyond me at certain points...So, I was expecting this to be in the area of a nice easy going romance/ brain-candy /grown-up chick-lit / whatever. Maybe I'm missing the point, I just don't see why people enjoy stories about a bunch of vapid, unpleasant and unbelievable characters who glamorise adultery, selfishness and acting like an absolute bitch or martyr...This was 500+ pages of mind-numbing drivel, each chapter is a day from the (first-person grrrrr) perspective of one of the vile bunch of cliches that make up the central characters. So, either the big problem of the chapter was wrapped up and tucked up unnaturally swiftly or it was left hanging and dragged out again several chapters later. Rose - the super PTA single mummy, bitter and slightly overweight, judgemental , wonders why nobody loves her and so dull it made me want to scream. YawnLucy - stole Rose's 'happy-ever-after'. Beautiful, Blonde career Mummy. Kid has a stupid pretentious name. Yawn.John - Horrible, self- obsessed bloke, friends with the headmaster and once had a thing for another Mummy and selfishly decides to try and urge back into bed, despite her being happily married. Boorish, but of course, sees the light and becomes a sensitive chap by the end. YawnCraig - glasses wearing headmaster ( I know, but that was the impression the author was dying to put across - I know! glasses on a romantic interest?! who'da thunk it -!!!- and, even though he wears glasses he still suddenly becomes desirable. Yawn.Plus assorted equally cliched work mates /friends/ relatives/ children. Many of whom have no actual part in the story but seem to be there anyway. Yawn.
I've just finished reading this book, and I struggled to finish it. It took me a while, and I literally needed breaks in-between chapters because of how frustrated I would get with the characters.I really did not like any of the characters. I hated John, I hated Lucy, I hated Peter, I hated Connie, and I had huge moments of dislike for Rose.I would have to say though that the only plot that actually kept me interested long enough to finish the book was Rose and Craig's storyline. It just drove me insane how each of the characters were absolute jerks! Especially Lucy and John. Yeah yeah, I'll probably get the whole "but they redeemed themselves at the end". Well, it was a little too late for me. 50 chapters, and I had to wait till chapter 46 for me to feel the least bit of sympathy and understanding for either of them?And I don't understand why Connie was made to seem like a central role at the back of the book, when John was the one given his own chapters. We don't even hear of John until his name pops up in Chapter 3. That's just me being picky I suppose, but I did wonder about it and so I'm mentioning itI gave this book 3 stars for two reasons. 1. As much as I did not enjoy this book, I have to give it to Adele Parks. She writes impeccably. She is an extremely skilled writer, and her characterisation, flow of dialogue and thoughts, structure, and all of that was absolutely flawless. Sure, I did not like neither the book nor the storyline, but I appreciated her writing skills.And 2. It is not her fault I did not enjoy this story. She is a great writer, but I am simply the wrong target audience for this book. I am neither a wife, nor a mother, and this book seems to be targeted at both, and probably a wider bunch of females. I am not one of them, I did not relate to the situations, and I did not connect to the characters the way I'm sure others have. I am simply put, not the targeted audience for this book.For that, I admit that it is completely on me for buying this book and reading it in the first place, because it was made clear on the back what the book would be about. I guess I was just curious because it received such great reviews.I'm sure there are many who would love this book. I was just not one of them.
What do You think about Young Wives' Tales (2015)?
Akhirnya kelar juga baca buku ini. Perasaan lamaaaaa banget. Dan emang lama sih karena aku bukan fast reader. Anyway, ceritanya cukup menghibur dan cukup lucu. Tapi kalo dibandingkan dengan blurbnya, ada sedikit rasa kecewa yang menyeruak dari dalam hatiku. Hiks. Tadinya aku berharap konflik dan persaingan antara Lucy dan Rose akan lebih diekspos. Juga keserbasalahan Connie sebagai sahabat mereka berdua. Tapi ternyata enggak seperti yang kuharapkan. Malah tahu-tahu di awal cerita diceritakan kalau Peter udah menikah dengan Lucy dan tentunya sudah bercerai dari Rose. Padahal kan lebih bagus kalo itu diceritain lebih detail, gimana kisah persahabatan ketiga istri muda ini dari sebelum Lucy menrebut Peter dari Rose sampe akhirnya Rose dan Peter bercerai. Nggak sekedar narasi belaka. Biar lebih greget gitu. Dan kisah Connie dan John pun sama kurang gregetnya sih menurutku (hei, bukan berarti aku mengharapkan perselingkuhan diantara mereka berdua. Aku cuma berharap ada kesalahpahaman di antara Connie dan Luke, suaminya.Kehidupan Lucy diceritakan cukup adil di sini. Meski dia memiliki body yang seksi, karir yang cemerlang, suami idaman dan putri yang cantik, tetap masih ada yang kurang. Dari tokoh Lucy, aku seperti belajar kembali apa itu kebahagaian. Dan aku puas dengan kisah cinta Rose dan Craig. I hope they live happily ever after. Novel ini juga memberikan gambaran gimana kehidupan para ibu muda di London sana, yang ternyata juga penuh persaingan (meski itu nggak diceritakan secara detail). Dari mulai jadi ibu paling cerdas dalam mengurus anak-anaknya sampe kegiatan mereka yang suka ngegosip juga. Cuman bedanya di sana mereka gak nungguin anak-anak seharian di sekolah meski anak mereka baru tahun pertama sekolah. Selain itu aku juga seneng waktu tahu Rose ikutan kelas montir demi mengisi waktu luangnya (dan masih banyak jenis kelas khusus lainnya, loh. Mmm, di Indonesia pun mungkin ada, tapi kayaknya gak sampe kayak di London keberagamannya. Asik deh kayaknya kalo bisa ikutan hihihi.
—Herlyanti
I was given this book a few months ago and have been reading it while sitting in the hospital waiting room. Young Wives Tales is a very easy to read chic lit which I feel would be ideal for a holiday read. I did enjoy the story as there was lots going on so it kept me occupied while waiting for my appointments. I must add, I found it a little predictable in places but I tend to find that with books of this genre. I have already recommended it to a couple of friends who I know will really enjoy it.
—Tracy
