The Next Best Thing

by Sarah Long

At thirty-five, Jane realises something rather disturbing. She thought she had her life perfectly balanced: working from home as a a freelance translator allows her to keep her financial independence, spend time with her daughter and escape office politics. But somehow, instead of combining a rewarding career with a satisfying mother-daughter relationship, she's become an all-purpose dogsbody, rushing from crisis to crisis and combining missing deadlines with repairing the dishwasher.

Rupert is also leading the life he planned: a job in the city, glamorous girlfriend, plenty of money. But he's beginning to have doubts about the dull-but-sensible route he's chosen - and to realise it's just possible he wants more out of life. So when he and Jane meet, each escaping their day-to-day life with a stolen afternoon in the peace of the cinema, they both start to wonder whether it's really enough to settle for the next best thing ...

Genres: Chick Lit, Audiobook, Fiction, Romance

384 pages, Paperback

First published March 22, 2005

About the author

Sarah Long worked in publishing before giving it all up to move to Paris with her husband and three children. She is the author of And What Do You Do? and The Next Best Thing. Following several years of the Parisian experience, she now lives in London.

Reviews

[Elizabeth Emily Browne]

This book took a while to get started, it wasn't till about a third of the way through that it got interesting. I love the relationship between Jane and Rupert and little Liberty. By the end it felt like a good easy read. I really despised Will but that was the a Authors intention so I'd say she did a pretty good job.

[Kathryn]

Jane's dithering drove me nuts as did her relationship with Will.

[Aglaea]

Confusing novel. Written in chicklit language but the level of seriousness of topics covered would have been more suitable in a drama format. The first twenty or so percent of the book were slower than snail pace and I almost gave up on it. Sparks should have been flying much sooner. Will is a self-absorbed, pompous ass and I felt like smacking him numerous times. Jane is acting very plain indeed from time to time. Lydia is just annoying and I can't comprehend why Jane as adult accepts the doormat style still. Rupert I would love to see in faded jeans, he sounds solid and yummy. The story itself was so predictable, too, but if you want lighter entertainment than real drama, this is it.

[Donna]

Took too long to get going and so I lost interest. Did not finish.

[Cathrine Myers]

Very predictable as the title suggests .However knowing this and staying with the book,it picks up pace and I found it a quick enjoyable read. Even though you guess the end, it doesn't stop you being drawn in to the complex relationships and just how the end is going to come about.
I've read the reviews and it's a mixed bag of reviews for this book, but I'm in the 'enjoyed it camp'

[Chivon]

Fun summer read. Some reviews here have reviewed the wrong book if you check closely, they are moaning about another book that Sarah Long did not write with a similar title.

[Katie]

To many typos in the ebook I gave up halfway through.

[Aoife]

2.5/5

[Elena]

(Spoilers)
With it's pretty slow and boring start, I did not expect this book to build up on characters and the plot the way it did. From the second half of the book I really started anjoying it. The plot is interesting, and the main character, even though she's annoying and pathetic, is also strangely likeable and realistic. Her wannabe husband, Will, though - I imagined punching in the face everyime I read a line featuring him or his dialogue. While I recently reviewed a book about a wife leaving her husband to go "find herself" and bashed on this whole idea as selfish, in THIS book the author made you pray to God that Jane leaves Will finally, since he was ridiculous.

[Sini]

A bit depressing, considering I expected a light chick flick, but still pretty good and very real in a way of getting into people's heads. Even though it should be pointed out that all the characters can be divided into two cathegories; depressed or full of themselves. Also, what annoyed me a bit, was the amoint of typos. It was quite tiresome.

[Janine]

Fun read about people trapped in their lives and what happens when illicit connections are made. The partners of the main characters are pretty one dimensional but this suits this book and is not too jarring.

[Lori Ware]

Funny book about a fat girl going on a weight loss reality show so that she can be skinny before she meets her internet boyfriend. Very humourous and mindless! Good read to pass time.

[Amanda Henninger]

Vacation/Beach Reading

[Umme]

So far, this is such a boring book. I am only forcing myself through it because I bought it for 25 cents.

[Sue]

Generally boring, the main character, Jane, was so pathetic and hard to sympathize with. The book had a few good lines and ended well.

[June Sadlick]

Pretty good

[Kiwileese]

Listening to this as an audio book read by Jilly Bond.
An enjoyable read

[Serap]

How true?