The Two Mrs Robinsons

by Donna Hay

Anna lives with Oliver Robinson and their 3-year-old son, Charlie. They met when she worked as a waitress at his restaurant; he had recently separated and she was a shoulder to cry on, and friendship soon turned to love. Now she juggles motherhood with part-time work and couldn't be happier. But Oliver never divorced his first wife, Eve, who insists on making herself part of their lives. Anna understands that Oliver needs to support his two teenage children, but why should they keep Eve, too? The situation looks set to grumble on indefinitely unless someone or something shakes it up. And something does: Oliver is killed in a car crash, leaving both women shattered. How will they react to this appalling tragedy? Will it drive them further apart, or force them to cut their losses and pull together for the sake of their children and their futures?

Genres: Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2007

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.


Donna Hay's first novel, Waiting in the Wings, won her the RNA New Writers' Award, and since then she has attracted praise from critics for Kiss & Tell and Such a Perfect Sister. She writes regularly for TV Times and What's On TV, and has a weekly soaps page in Chat magazine. She lives in York, England, with her husband and daughter.

Reviews

[Ugnė Butkutė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy book for rainy days. It’s a little bit unbelievable in some parts, but all together a good read!

[Kay Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read, nice book

[Nancy Valentino]

I've taken study week as an opportunity to do some reading. It's possibly not a smart decision in terms of getting all my study/homework done. But it's quite relaxing so I think it's a good mental health decision.

This novel possibly was not the best choice though. It's not that great. I mean, it's passable. I've read worse. But I wouldn't go so far as to recommend it to anyone.

I thought I would try to list some good & bad things about it, as an exercise in positivity and constructive criticism. But alas, I can't think of anything that really stood out as a good thing about this novel. Sorry!

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this book but it slid into stereotypes a little too often for me, and the happy endings were all a little too neat - particularly within barely a year.
I did think Hay handled Eve's daughter, Georgia, reactions particularly well, in fact the reactions to grief in general from all of the characters. Ultimately though Eve's character was a bit messy and I couldn't sympathise a lot with Anna either. I think the set up of both Eve and Anna's characters before the death of Oliver weren't really overcome in the way the author perhaps intended.

[Saje · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the juxtaposition of Anna and Eve. They both thought they were so very different from each other and yet they had the same fears. Learning to work with one's perceived enemy is a life skill. This book makes me look at my own life. It was absorbing, funny, and a very enjoyable read!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light and easy read.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow in parts but picked up towards the end. Good overall book, not quite chic lit and very emotional

[Felicity · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very predictable, easy read. Sometimes that's all you want.

[Karen Mace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice and easy read. well written characters keep you engaged in the story throughout

[Pat Osment · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly easy read but very predictable and forgettable