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The Ugly Sister
Jane Fallon, bestselling author of Getting Rid of Matthew, returns with The Ugly Sister.
When it comes to genes life's a lottery . . .
As Abi would the first to know. She has spent her life in the shadow of her stunningly beautiful, glamorous older sister Cleo.
Headhunted as model when she was sixteen, Cleo has been all but lost to Abi for the last twenty years, with only a fleeting visit or brief email to connect them. So when Abi is invited to spend the summer in Cleo's large London home with her sister's perfect family, she can't bring herself to say no. Despite serious misgivings. Maybe Cleo is finally as keen as Abi to regain the closeness they shared in their youth?
But Abi is in for a shock. Soon she is left caring for her two young, bored and very spoilt nieces and handsome, unhappy brother-in-law - while Cleo plainly has other things on her mind. As Abi moves into her sister's life, a cuckoo in the nest, she wrestles with uncomfortable feelings.
Could having beauty, wealth and fame lead to more unhappiness than not having them? Who in the family really is the ugly sister?
The bestselling author of R&J selection Getting Rid of Matthew returns with a tale of two sisters
Praise for Jane Fallon:
'Intelligent, edgy and witty' Glamour
'Smart, sassy and dark' Heat
Jane Fallon is the multi-award-winning television producer behind shows such as This Life, Teachers and 20 Things to Do before You're 30. Her previous novels are Getting Rid of Matthew, Foursome and Got You Back.
When it comes to genes life's a lottery . . .
As Abi would the first to know. She has spent her life in the shadow of her stunningly beautiful, glamorous older sister Cleo.
Headhunted as model when she was sixteen, Cleo has been all but lost to Abi for the last twenty years, with only a fleeting visit or brief email to connect them. So when Abi is invited to spend the summer in Cleo's large London home with her sister's perfect family, she can't bring herself to say no. Despite serious misgivings. Maybe Cleo is finally as keen as Abi to regain the closeness they shared in their youth?
But Abi is in for a shock. Soon she is left caring for her two young, bored and very spoilt nieces and handsome, unhappy brother-in-law - while Cleo plainly has other things on her mind. As Abi moves into her sister's life, a cuckoo in the nest, she wrestles with uncomfortable feelings.
Could having beauty, wealth and fame lead to more unhappiness than not having them? Who in the family really is the ugly sister?
The bestselling author of R&J selection Getting Rid of Matthew returns with a tale of two sisters
Praise for Jane Fallon:
'Intelligent, edgy and witty' Glamour
'Smart, sassy and dark' Heat
Jane Fallon is the multi-award-winning television producer behind shows such as This Life, Teachers and 20 Things to Do before You're 30. Her previous novels are Getting Rid of Matthew, Foursome and Got You Back.
439 pages, Paperback
First published September 29, 2011
195 people are currently reading
1311 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
November 25, 2021
Easy sunbed read which needs no concentration. Does exactly what it says on the tin kind of book.
Three stars.
Three stars.
October 7, 2021
I have three "pretty" things to say about "The Ugly Sister".
1) PRETTY AWESOME, PRETTY ENTERTAINING.
The first part of "The Ugly Sister" was pretty awesome and entertaining.
Jane Fallon always has the best lines about the "haves" and the "have-nots".
I lost track of how many times I LOL.
Nobody does humor and snark like Jane Fallon. She is truly in a league of her own.
2) PRETTY UNDERWHELMING.
The middle of the book was muddled and repetitive.
Also, I was very uncomfortable with the romantic link between the protagonist and her sister's husband and wish that was not part of the storyline.
3) PRETTY DISAPPOINTING.
The ugliest thing about "The Ugly Sister" was its abrupt, random ending.
To say the book ended abruptly was an understatement. It was like author Jane Fallon pulled a "DNF" on her own book.
Did Jane Fallon fall asleep at the wheel? Or did Fallon's editor mistakenly delete the entire last chapter of this book? (Mistakes do happen!)
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was superb.
I am rounding up this rating because of the many laughs from the book's "pretty awesome and entertaining" beginning.
3 stars rounded up.
1) PRETTY AWESOME, PRETTY ENTERTAINING.
The first part of "The Ugly Sister" was pretty awesome and entertaining.
Jane Fallon always has the best lines about the "haves" and the "have-nots".
I lost track of how many times I LOL.
Nobody does humor and snark like Jane Fallon. She is truly in a league of her own.
2) PRETTY UNDERWHELMING.
The middle of the book was muddled and repetitive.
Also, I was very uncomfortable with the romantic link between the protagonist and her sister's husband and wish that was not part of the storyline.
3) PRETTY DISAPPOINTING.
The ugliest thing about "The Ugly Sister" was its abrupt, random ending.
To say the book ended abruptly was an understatement. It was like author Jane Fallon pulled a "DNF" on her own book.
Did Jane Fallon fall asleep at the wheel? Or did Fallon's editor mistakenly delete the entire last chapter of this book? (Mistakes do happen!)
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was superb.
I am rounding up this rating because of the many laughs from the book's "pretty awesome and entertaining" beginning.
3 stars rounded up.
October 5, 2011
The Ugly Sister by Jane Fallon is an examination on how and to what extent a person's looks can affect them and those around them. I appreciated the message contained within the pages (that beauty is only skin deep and true beauty comes from within), but felt that Fallon rather over-emphasised the matter over the course of the novel.
Due to the message she was conveying, it was hard to like a number of the characters within the pages. I'm used to more character growth in my chick lit novels, whereas The Ugly Sister showcased some incredibly one-dimensional people. Cleo, one of the sisters, is the main culprit. I actually dreaded reading more about her complete self-obsession, and I wondered why on earth Abi would be so hellbent on trying to work on a reconciliation. Cut your losses, girl! (that's certainly what I would be saying to a friend if she was in the same situation as Abi...)
In addition to this, I felt deeply uncomfortable with one of the romantic frissons that takes place in The Ugly Sister. For me, it was immoral in many ways. Fallon tried to deal with it as well as possible, but I just felt that it was an unnecessary part of the story. All of the rest of the story could have been just as effective (maybe more so?) if that romance had been excluded.
I did like the children, and their journey through The Ugly Sister. It was delightful watching them regain a sense of childlike joy, and become as children really should be. I did like the idea of the elder, Tara, deciding not to follow in her mother's footsteps by becoming a model - but I think it might have been more empowering had she decided to become a model, but remain grounded about the realities of what beauty actually means for a person.
One aspect that I thought Fallon dealt with well was the idea of a single mother who has concentrated so much on the bringing up and development of her child that she has neglected her own development, and has no real idea how to fill her life when that child leaves. For me, this was incredibly realistic, and I enjoyed reading Abi's thoughts on how to deal with it, and the dangers of becoming stuck in a job that ultimately didn't fulfil.
This, however, was a small part of a novel that I found to be littered with flaws. I didn't like the characters. I didn't enjoy the breaking of the fourth wall during narrative. I didn't like the central romance. And I didn't like being bludgeoned by the message that beauty is only skin-deep (seriously, I've seen Disney being subtler on the same matter). So, for me, The Ugly Sister is a pass. It was only briefly entertaining and not really worth the price of entry.
Due to the message she was conveying, it was hard to like a number of the characters within the pages. I'm used to more character growth in my chick lit novels, whereas The Ugly Sister showcased some incredibly one-dimensional people. Cleo, one of the sisters, is the main culprit. I actually dreaded reading more about her complete self-obsession, and I wondered why on earth Abi would be so hellbent on trying to work on a reconciliation. Cut your losses, girl! (that's certainly what I would be saying to a friend if she was in the same situation as Abi...)
In addition to this, I felt deeply uncomfortable with one of the romantic frissons that takes place in The Ugly Sister. For me, it was immoral in many ways. Fallon tried to deal with it as well as possible, but I just felt that it was an unnecessary part of the story. All of the rest of the story could have been just as effective (maybe more so?) if that romance had been excluded.
I did like the children, and their journey through The Ugly Sister. It was delightful watching them regain a sense of childlike joy, and become as children really should be. I did like the idea of the elder, Tara, deciding not to follow in her mother's footsteps by becoming a model - but I think it might have been more empowering had she decided to become a model, but remain grounded about the realities of what beauty actually means for a person.
One aspect that I thought Fallon dealt with well was the idea of a single mother who has concentrated so much on the bringing up and development of her child that she has neglected her own development, and has no real idea how to fill her life when that child leaves. For me, this was incredibly realistic, and I enjoyed reading Abi's thoughts on how to deal with it, and the dangers of becoming stuck in a job that ultimately didn't fulfil.
This, however, was a small part of a novel that I found to be littered with flaws. I didn't like the characters. I didn't enjoy the breaking of the fourth wall during narrative. I didn't like the central romance. And I didn't like being bludgeoned by the message that beauty is only skin-deep (seriously, I've seen Disney being subtler on the same matter). So, for me, The Ugly Sister is a pass. It was only briefly entertaining and not really worth the price of entry.
January 16, 2012
Having liked Fallon's other books, I assumed that this one would be no different, even though the blurb on the back didn't inspire me greatly.
But in fact, I found it a chore to read and almost gave up twice. The only thing that kept me going was the big pay off at the end which was sure to happen; where the self absorbed older sister got her come-uppance. Except that it never happened. By the end of the book, nothing had changed. The younger, spineless sister was still so. So ultimately, this is a book where none of the characters are likeable, and nothing changed after countless pages of frustrating prose.
But in fact, I found it a chore to read and almost gave up twice. The only thing that kept me going was the big pay off at the end which was sure to happen; where the self absorbed older sister got her come-uppance. Except that it never happened. By the end of the book, nothing had changed. The younger, spineless sister was still so. So ultimately, this is a book where none of the characters are likeable, and nothing changed after countless pages of frustrating prose.
September 13, 2018
3.5 stars, round up.
Really enjoyed this one!
Quite predictable set up of two sisters, Abi and Cleo... Cleo is the successful one. Pretty and rich, former model, she lives in a state of art home with her husband Jon, and their two daughters.
Abi comes to visit Cleo and her family for the summer, she is full of hopes that this long due reunion will give them back the connection and clotheness the two sisters once shared.
Abi is a single mother of a grown up daughter, her live is quite and dull. No bright lights, no big events. Though she does not long for those. She is more excited about the perspective of spending time with her sister.
Good willed plans never go well, do they.
Quite quickly Abi realized that little had changed. She is the ugly sister, the boring one, the one who made nothing of her life. And Cleo doesn't miss any chance she gets to remind Abi about that.
So, is there really no chance for the two sisters to be best friends again?
Loved how simple yet entertaining this book was.
Loved the characters! Often not the best in terms of their personalities, they are portrayed very vividly.
Really enjoyed this one!
Quite predictable set up of two sisters, Abi and Cleo... Cleo is the successful one. Pretty and rich, former model, she lives in a state of art home with her husband Jon, and their two daughters.
Abi comes to visit Cleo and her family for the summer, she is full of hopes that this long due reunion will give them back the connection and clotheness the two sisters once shared.
Abi is a single mother of a grown up daughter, her live is quite and dull. No bright lights, no big events. Though she does not long for those. She is more excited about the perspective of spending time with her sister.
Good willed plans never go well, do they.
Quite quickly Abi realized that little had changed. She is the ugly sister, the boring one, the one who made nothing of her life. And Cleo doesn't miss any chance she gets to remind Abi about that.
So, is there really no chance for the two sisters to be best friends again?
Loved how simple yet entertaining this book was.
Loved the characters! Often not the best in terms of their personalities, they are portrayed very vividly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2012
Jane Fallon is an author I’ve enjoyed before. I remember picking up Getting Rid of Matthew a few years back now and I really enjoyed the fresh take on affairs, how Helen was trying to get rid of Matthew, the man she was having an affair with rather than trying to take him from his wife. I then read Got You Back which was even better, I really loved that one. I somehow skipped Foursome, though I have it on my shelf, and so when I got a proof copy of The Ugly Sister I dove right in, hoping for something in a similar vein to her first two novels.
The Ugly Sister is interesting. I’ll give Fallon that. I like books about sibling rivalry and done right it can be a brilliant read however for the entire time I was reading The Ugly Sister, it felt off-kilter somehow. The writing style was off with a mix of third-person present and past tense and it’s as if Fallon couldn’t decide which worked better (for the record, if you’re writing in third-person, past is always best), the characters were awful people (awful people!!!) and the plot was contrived at best. I don’t know what I was expecting, but what I got wasn’t it. There was barely any sisterly bonding of any kind, which I suspect is expected, really since Abi and Cleo are as far apart as the North and South pole, but when there’s a novel about sisters you expect some forward-movement, some break to happen in their relationship, some acknowledgement they were/are sisters and there was none. They never even really had it out because Abi was miles too meek to actually say anything, ever.
What really got my goat was Abi herself. Cleo is billed as being a cow. That’s a given. But, boy, Abi is a nightmare herself. She’s hardly an angel and her cop-out that the only reason she never “did” anything with her life was because she could never, ever top Cleo’s achievements was petty. I understand that sisters compare themselves to each other to some extent but to blame your sister because you couldn’t get off your lazy bum to get a better job or make a better life for yourself is ridiculous. I’m surprised it wasn’t Cleo’s fault Abi got pregnant. I mean the novel just read like two thirteen-year-old teenage girls slugging it out over who could prove their life was better/more fulfilled. At times, I couldn’t comprehend how Abby could be the mother of a fully-grown daughter because she acted as if she herself was the daughter at times.
The Ugly Sister just didn’t work for me at all. I got bored of Abi, bored of Cleo, bored of the so-called rivalry. Bored of Abi “wanting to say” all of these things, but never getting the courage to actually say them for God’s sake. I liked the way Fallon portrayed her affairs in previous novels but Abi hankering after her brother-in-law was borderline gross. We’re hearing how she’s blushing/stuttering/making a fool of herself while Jon was still oblivious. All Abi was missing was a peep hole, to make her the ultimate stalker. Neither sister was better than the other and none of the characters – bar the kids – were characters I cared about or wanted to know more about. They were all terrible people, and the whole novel just left a bad taste in my mouth. Coupled with the amateurish writing (Fallon can write so much better; either that or my memories of her first two novels are wrong) it was a recipe for disaster for me. Never mind the ugly sisters, this book was somewhat ugly. (Despite it’s rather attractive cover, I will admit.) Here’s hoping Fallon does better with her next effort. I hope she gets back to her days of Got You Back and Getting Rid of Matthew.
The Ugly Sister is interesting. I’ll give Fallon that. I like books about sibling rivalry and done right it can be a brilliant read however for the entire time I was reading The Ugly Sister, it felt off-kilter somehow. The writing style was off with a mix of third-person present and past tense and it’s as if Fallon couldn’t decide which worked better (for the record, if you’re writing in third-person, past is always best), the characters were awful people (awful people!!!) and the plot was contrived at best. I don’t know what I was expecting, but what I got wasn’t it. There was barely any sisterly bonding of any kind, which I suspect is expected, really since Abi and Cleo are as far apart as the North and South pole, but when there’s a novel about sisters you expect some forward-movement, some break to happen in their relationship, some acknowledgement they were/are sisters and there was none. They never even really had it out because Abi was miles too meek to actually say anything, ever.
What really got my goat was Abi herself. Cleo is billed as being a cow. That’s a given. But, boy, Abi is a nightmare herself. She’s hardly an angel and her cop-out that the only reason she never “did” anything with her life was because she could never, ever top Cleo’s achievements was petty. I understand that sisters compare themselves to each other to some extent but to blame your sister because you couldn’t get off your lazy bum to get a better job or make a better life for yourself is ridiculous. I’m surprised it wasn’t Cleo’s fault Abi got pregnant. I mean the novel just read like two thirteen-year-old teenage girls slugging it out over who could prove their life was better/more fulfilled. At times, I couldn’t comprehend how Abby could be the mother of a fully-grown daughter because she acted as if she herself was the daughter at times.
The Ugly Sister just didn’t work for me at all. I got bored of Abi, bored of Cleo, bored of the so-called rivalry. Bored of Abi “wanting to say” all of these things, but never getting the courage to actually say them for God’s sake. I liked the way Fallon portrayed her affairs in previous novels but Abi hankering after her brother-in-law was borderline gross. We’re hearing how she’s blushing/stuttering/making a fool of herself while Jon was still oblivious. All Abi was missing was a peep hole, to make her the ultimate stalker. Neither sister was better than the other and none of the characters – bar the kids – were characters I cared about or wanted to know more about. They were all terrible people, and the whole novel just left a bad taste in my mouth. Coupled with the amateurish writing (Fallon can write so much better; either that or my memories of her first two novels are wrong) it was a recipe for disaster for me. Never mind the ugly sisters, this book was somewhat ugly. (Despite it’s rather attractive cover, I will admit.) Here’s hoping Fallon does better with her next effort. I hope she gets back to her days of Got You Back and Getting Rid of Matthew.
July 21, 2016
If I had to sum up this book in one word - it would be 'frustrating.'
The author has shown her ability to create complex characters and believable scenarios throughout her earlier work. However, this novel came across as slapdash and failed to offer the reader anything new.
The characters are frustratingly cliched and rather predictable in their actions, thoughts and even down to what they say. Abi is living in her older sisters shadow (who hasn't lived in someone elses shadow at some point in their life?) and completely and utterly living in the past. Her sister Cleo is the embodiment of the glamorous, beautiful, successful woman with the perfect family. What could possibly go wrong when Abi is invited to spend a summer with her older sister? I felt the author was at times, unsure of which direction her characters were going to go. Their reasoning did not hold much significance. Unforunately, Cleo's character is as shallow as you are lead to think. I would have liked to discover a deeper, more sensitive side to her. Fallon fell into the trap of associating beauty and power with a negative, grotesque personality. This is abundant in all her writing.
Overall, I would advise newer readers of Fallon to avoid this book like the plague. Her first novel is far superior, should you wish to take a chance on her after my unfavourable review!
The author has shown her ability to create complex characters and believable scenarios throughout her earlier work. However, this novel came across as slapdash and failed to offer the reader anything new.
The characters are frustratingly cliched and rather predictable in their actions, thoughts and even down to what they say. Abi is living in her older sisters shadow (who hasn't lived in someone elses shadow at some point in their life?) and completely and utterly living in the past. Her sister Cleo is the embodiment of the glamorous, beautiful, successful woman with the perfect family. What could possibly go wrong when Abi is invited to spend a summer with her older sister? I felt the author was at times, unsure of which direction her characters were going to go. Their reasoning did not hold much significance. Unforunately, Cleo's character is as shallow as you are lead to think. I would have liked to discover a deeper, more sensitive side to her. Fallon fell into the trap of associating beauty and power with a negative, grotesque personality. This is abundant in all her writing.
Overall, I would advise newer readers of Fallon to avoid this book like the plague. Her first novel is far superior, should you wish to take a chance on her after my unfavourable review!
January 3, 2015
I absolutely hated this book. I only kept reading it because I've enjoyed other books by Fallon in the past. I wish I had stopped reading halfway through, when it was apparent to me where things were going. I just...ugh, I can't even really think of anything nice to say about it so I just won't say anything more. This book was a waste of time, and I wanted to punch the main character in the face repeatedly.
Ok, I will say this. I'm all for cutting toxic people out of your life. And I know from personal experience how difficult that is. So I suppose I can drum up some respect for a book going down that road, when the easier and more expected option would be to have them all make up in the end. However, I don't think Fallon did nearly a good enough job setting up Cleo/Caroline as this type of toxic figure. Sure, she seemed annoying, but honestly she doesn't come across as THAT bad until much later in the book - and that honestly comes across as very manipulative on the part of the author - so I think a more interesting direction would have been for Abi to come to see that she has her own giant blind spot when it comes to her sister, and that at times she was just as much at fault as Cleo was. Cleo calls her "judgmental" at one point, and the truth is she is - and not just in that instance where she has the right to be, but about a whole bunch of other things that are none of her business. I would have preferred, not so much that they make up and develop a closer relationship, but that Abi could at least come to see her own faults, rather than to just push off all her failures on her sister and leave her holding the blame for EVERYTHING. Which is both lame and unrealistic.
Ok, I will say this. I'm all for cutting toxic people out of your life. And I know from personal experience how difficult that is. So I suppose I can drum up some respect for a book going down that road, when the easier and more expected option would be to have them all make up in the end. However, I don't think Fallon did nearly a good enough job setting up Cleo/Caroline as this type of toxic figure. Sure, she seemed annoying, but honestly she doesn't come across as THAT bad until much later in the book - and that honestly comes across as very manipulative on the part of the author - so I think a more interesting direction would have been for Abi to come to see that she has her own giant blind spot when it comes to her sister, and that at times she was just as much at fault as Cleo was. Cleo calls her "judgmental" at one point, and the truth is she is - and not just in that instance where she has the right to be, but about a whole bunch of other things that are none of her business. I would have preferred, not so much that they make up and develop a closer relationship, but that Abi could at least come to see her own faults, rather than to just push off all her failures on her sister and leave her holding the blame for EVERYTHING. Which is both lame and unrealistic.
June 16, 2012
This book and I had a bit of a history before I actually started reading it. I noticed the cover in Asda and read the blurb, found it interesting but not enough for me to buy it. I noticed it again, several times, in Waterstones, on the internet, here and there until finally I thought I'm going to put my curiosity and peace and read it. I was rewarded.
I never put myself down as a person who would enjoy such contemporary fiction and women's fiction, but the characters are so wonderfully fulfilling and vivid, I had that feeling everytime I looked up from a book like I'd just been time-travelling.
As a writer, I always here a character must evolve throughout the story, after reading this book I've realised that all the characters in the story have evolved and it was a wonderful journey.
Jane Fallon has a unique writing style, third person omniscient both in past and present tense where necessary that almost seems like it was in the first person - it was wonderfully engrossing.
It's the first time I've read one of Fallon's books and I intend to read the previous three.
Loved it.
~ JLT
I never put myself down as a person who would enjoy such contemporary fiction and women's fiction, but the characters are so wonderfully fulfilling and vivid, I had that feeling everytime I looked up from a book like I'd just been time-travelling.
As a writer, I always here a character must evolve throughout the story, after reading this book I've realised that all the characters in the story have evolved and it was a wonderful journey.
Jane Fallon has a unique writing style, third person omniscient both in past and present tense where necessary that almost seems like it was in the first person - it was wonderfully engrossing.
It's the first time I've read one of Fallon's books and I intend to read the previous three.
Loved it.
~ JLT
May 28, 2012
This is the whiniest book I've ever tried to read. I hate everyone in it, the main character most of all.
The plot is so silly, with her being in love with her sisters husband, ooooh SO WRONG, WHAT TO DO! And the male friend that she of course has no interest in at all, but I am betting my cat that she will fall for him in the end.
The perspective is all strange. You don't feel close to Abi at all, she is just this whiny, boring woman, not a chick lit heroine in any way.
Am not sure I will finish this book.
The plot is so silly, with her being in love with her sisters husband, ooooh SO WRONG, WHAT TO DO! And the male friend that she of course has no interest in at all, but I am betting my cat that she will fall for him in the end.
The perspective is all strange. You don't feel close to Abi at all, she is just this whiny, boring woman, not a chick lit heroine in any way.
Am not sure I will finish this book.
April 28, 2018
I have always greatly enjoyed Jane Fallon's books and this one was no different. Well written, sweet and funny, I found it difficult to put down and desperately wanted to know how it would end. This leads me to why I only gave it 3 stars - the ambiguous ending! I find these really irritating and like the author has just given up and can't decide how to end the story. Such a shame as I really loved the rest of the book but this just totally let it down.
July 31, 2020
3.5 stars
The Ugly Sister has been on my TBR list for many years and finally, spying the audiobook by chance in the BorrowBox library, I can cross it off my ridiculously long TBR list. I can’t tell you how thrilling that was, lol.
The story not so thrilling, there was a bit too much whining and too much lusting after the sisters husband despite that I still liked Abi and still enjoyed the tale.
The story follows two sisters one is kind but a plain Jane while the other is beautiful yet a selfish b*tch, could’ve smacked the cr*p out of her and perhaps kicked plain Jane (Abi) for allowing her sister to walk all over her.
Having read a few reviews before I started this book I was debating whether it was worth listening to as many reviewers complained about the abrupt ending or how it just suddenly stops, which had me slightly worried, I’m so glad I decided to go ahead because The Ugly Sister was a decent read, I don’t know what book they read as everything came together nicely and the story wrapped up satisfactorily. Kudos to Joanna Bobin for doing a great job narrating The Ugly Sister.
The Ugly Sister has been on my TBR list for many years and finally, spying the audiobook by chance in the BorrowBox library, I can cross it off my ridiculously long TBR list. I can’t tell you how thrilling that was, lol.
The story not so thrilling, there was a bit too much whining and too much lusting after the sisters husband despite that I still liked Abi and still enjoyed the tale.
The story follows two sisters one is kind but a plain Jane while the other is beautiful yet a selfish b*tch, could’ve smacked the cr*p out of her and perhaps kicked plain Jane (Abi) for allowing her sister to walk all over her.
Having read a few reviews before I started this book I was debating whether it was worth listening to as many reviewers complained about the abrupt ending or how it just suddenly stops, which had me slightly worried, I’m so glad I decided to go ahead because The Ugly Sister was a decent read, I don’t know what book they read as everything came together nicely and the story wrapped up satisfactorily. Kudos to Joanna Bobin for doing a great job narrating The Ugly Sister.
January 28, 2023
It was an okay book. Sibling rivalry, characters that you would expect - A shallow, pretty sister and a kind, average looking sister. I thought there would be more of a story. An easy read.
April 15, 2012
When part time librarian, single mother of one, "I've never felt attractive", Abi, finds herself homeless due to conflicting settlement dates (oops!), she is invited to spend the summer with her elder sister, Cleo (formerly Caroline before her supermodel career). Abi is anxious about spending the time with her sister, who she naturally hasn't gotten along with her since Cleo's big break, but eager to try to reconnect. She comes to discover Cleo is exactly as self involved as she remembers, Cleo's husband Jonty is not the conceited asshole she expected and Cleo's daughters have succumb to varying degrees of their mother's influence.
It's ironic that the back of the novel features a quote from the Daily Mail that calls The Ugly Sister "a great, intelligent read" because I honestly struggled with Fallon's prose. Perhaps it is Fallon's time working in television that has taught her to write in such disjointed third person that jumps between past and present tense with complete disregard for the flow. Fallon also tries to weave technology into the novel, shooting off texts and emails and playing video games on the Wii and Nintendo DS, with varying degrees of success. Mostly it just serves to make the novel all the more uncomfortable.
Even if you can get past the writing style, a story that could have been beautiful is stunted and disappointing. The first half of the book is borderline boring as Abi struggles to tell her sister (and everybody else) what she truly thinks of them. When the action finally does pick up, it was so brief that I raced through the rest of the novel looking for more only to be disappointed. What little character development exists (and most of it is squandered on Cleo's children) is completely overturned when Abi, after a moment that should have seen her finally growing a backbone, decides Cleo probably needs her sister and sends her love and support afterall. I was furthermore disappointed by the apparent 'open ending', not just for Abi but for most of the supporting cast (many of which are stronger characters than Abi in the first place) who seemingly disappear into obscurity: this isn't my novel Ms Fallon, perhaps you should finish it.
I came to The Ugly Sister having not read any of Fallon's other work and unless she manages to write a less desperate to be relatable character and actually construct full sentences, I won't be starting soon.
It's ironic that the back of the novel features a quote from the Daily Mail that calls The Ugly Sister "a great, intelligent read" because I honestly struggled with Fallon's prose. Perhaps it is Fallon's time working in television that has taught her to write in such disjointed third person that jumps between past and present tense with complete disregard for the flow. Fallon also tries to weave technology into the novel, shooting off texts and emails and playing video games on the Wii and Nintendo DS, with varying degrees of success. Mostly it just serves to make the novel all the more uncomfortable.
Even if you can get past the writing style, a story that could have been beautiful is stunted and disappointing. The first half of the book is borderline boring as Abi struggles to tell her sister (and everybody else) what she truly thinks of them. When the action finally does pick up, it was so brief that I raced through the rest of the novel looking for more only to be disappointed. What little character development exists (and most of it is squandered on Cleo's children) is completely overturned when Abi, after a moment that should have seen her finally growing a backbone, decides Cleo probably needs her sister and sends her love and support afterall. I was furthermore disappointed by the apparent 'open ending', not just for Abi but for most of the supporting cast (many of which are stronger characters than Abi in the first place) who seemingly disappear into obscurity: this isn't my novel Ms Fallon, perhaps you should finish it.
I came to The Ugly Sister having not read any of Fallon's other work and unless she manages to write a less desperate to be relatable character and actually construct full sentences, I won't be starting soon.
September 5, 2017
Disappointed in this book because it was a long book with an impossible romance of immoral substance and the main character, Abi is very boring. I was disappointed in her not speaking up and over thinking. For being suppositly the smart sister she couldn't over think the manipulating narcissistic sister. Several times I looked away in disgust on why I would continue reading. Even the end....eh?? still boring.
March 10, 2018
This was an emergency book club read...what we are going to discuss is somewhat of a joke! The Guardian describes it as Chick Lit with an edge! and irresistibly dark! It couldn`t have been more light if you had floodlit it! and I don`t know where the edge went. I thought the Guardian was more reliable than that. In a word it was alright. A predictable story written very simplistically. Amusing at times.
February 26, 2020
DNF, which is very rare for me, especially with an author whose books I often like very much. But not this one. Boring, predictable and too black and white re the characters.
August 16, 2023
Heel slecht, maar heel amusant
October 29, 2024
End with no ending is a disappointment 😐
February 16, 2021
Sisters
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Having a sister myself, I identified with some of their feelings towards each other. Would for sure recommend.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Having a sister myself, I identified with some of their feelings towards each other. Would for sure recommend.
September 17, 2021
Absolutely loved it!
I wanted a break from thrillers and had always wanted to read one of Jane Fallon's novels.
All I knew was that she is Ricky Gervais' partner so thought that it was bound to be at the very least, witty!
I was not disappointed, what a great page-turner for what would be considered as chick-lit. If work, family life and household chores had not got in the way, I would have devoured it in one sitting!
Two sisters, one a model and one a run of the mill girl next door. One self-obsessed by her image, the other all about family life and little comforts. They used to be the closest of sisters until Caroline (Cleo) became a model at age 16. Abi is desperate to try and reconnect with her sister many years later but can they bridge the gap?
So cleverly written, I can't wait to discover her other novels.
I wanted a break from thrillers and had always wanted to read one of Jane Fallon's novels.
All I knew was that she is Ricky Gervais' partner so thought that it was bound to be at the very least, witty!
I was not disappointed, what a great page-turner for what would be considered as chick-lit. If work, family life and household chores had not got in the way, I would have devoured it in one sitting!
Two sisters, one a model and one a run of the mill girl next door. One self-obsessed by her image, the other all about family life and little comforts. They used to be the closest of sisters until Caroline (Cleo) became a model at age 16. Abi is desperate to try and reconnect with her sister many years later but can they bridge the gap?
So cleverly written, I can't wait to discover her other novels.
September 16, 2021
An easy and often skimmed read, though not my favourite Jane Fallon book. Essentially beauty is as beauty does. Much blame was heaped on the beautiful, manipulative and selfish Caroline/Cleo, but in retrospect she just got on with her life. The younger Abi, intelligent and pretty but clearly lacking in self-esteem, chose to lurk in the shadows of first her older sister's life, and then her daughter's. Her call entirely until she couldn't do that any longer. Perhaps there were two ugly sisters - from the other's perspective.
August 14, 2020
Jane Fallon is one of my new favorite authors. I discovered her because I have a bit of a crush on her husband, Ricky Gervais. After watching his After Life Netflix show, I checked out if he was married. I'm glad I did, because even though Ms. Fallon's books are not perfect, they're fun. This is the second book of hers I've read, and what I love most is that I never know what's going to happen. The plot is so unpredictable, you can never guess the end. I can't wait to read all her books.
The only issue I had with this book was that I didn't quite buy how shallow the pretty sister (Cleo) was. I have a similar experience with a gorgeous sister, and it was a bit painful to read about their hurtful/masochistic relationship. Ms. Fallon does a decent job of showing that none of the sisters are perfect, and that Abi's envy of her beautiful sisters causes her to overreact at times. Still, in the end Abi is portrayed as the "goody two shoes" and Cleo as the callous and cold one. This caused me to detract a star and give it only 4 stars.
The only issue I had with this book was that I didn't quite buy how shallow the pretty sister (Cleo) was. I have a similar experience with a gorgeous sister, and it was a bit painful to read about their hurtful/masochistic relationship. Ms. Fallon does a decent job of showing that none of the sisters are perfect, and that Abi's envy of her beautiful sisters causes her to overreact at times. Still, in the end Abi is portrayed as the "goody two shoes" and Cleo as the callous and cold one. This caused me to detract a star and give it only 4 stars.
April 16, 2014
This is a simple tale of sibling rivalry. Take two sisters: Caroline, tall, skinny and beautiful becomes supermodel Cleo at 16, and the younger Abigail, plain, slightly dumpy but clever, constantly over-shadowed by Cleo, goes off to university, and becomes a single mum working part time in a library.
Move the action forward 20 years and Cleo invites Abi to spend the summer with her and her family, apparently in order to rekindle their sisterly relationship. Cleo lives in posh Primrose Hill with perfect husband, Jonty, and their two children: Tara (aged 10), tall skinny, beautiful and obsessed with the idea of becoming a supermodel, and Megan (aged 7), pretty but slightly dumpy, dominated by Tara. Abi quickly realises she has been invited simply to act as unpaid nanny for her two nieces whilst Cleo, whose star has faded over the years, tries a comeback. It also becomes obvious that Cleo is still the self-centred witch she was 20 years earlier, and has no interest in renewing the sisterly bond. Abi, however, finds herself smitten with extremely attractive brother-in-law Jon(ty) and fantasising about a life together, whilst at the same time becoming genuinely fond of Tara and Megan; Abi is also attracted to the owner of a bookshop where she eventually lands a part time job. It all sounds quite complicated, but it isn't really, just a little farcical, and quite predictable.
None of the characters is particularly likeable, in fact Cleo is perfectly horrendous, and I began to feel intensely irritated with Abi's spineless behaviour. In fact I had to keep reminding myself that this was a 38-year old woman, not a love-struck teenager. Jon is, of course, handsome and perfectly-mannered; Tara and Megan, won over by Auntie Abi, eventually change from being horrid spoilt brats into adorable children, and Cleo remains the self-centred witch. There is absolutely nothing demanding about this novel; the opening line should really be:"Once upon a time........" as it reads like a fairy story, and why the Guardian describes it as "Irresistibly dark...." is beyond me, as there's nothing dark about it. It's deckchair reading in it's simplest form, and is the first Jane Fallon book I've read; I doubt I'll rush out to read any more.
Move the action forward 20 years and Cleo invites Abi to spend the summer with her and her family, apparently in order to rekindle their sisterly relationship. Cleo lives in posh Primrose Hill with perfect husband, Jonty, and their two children: Tara (aged 10), tall skinny, beautiful and obsessed with the idea of becoming a supermodel, and Megan (aged 7), pretty but slightly dumpy, dominated by Tara. Abi quickly realises she has been invited simply to act as unpaid nanny for her two nieces whilst Cleo, whose star has faded over the years, tries a comeback. It also becomes obvious that Cleo is still the self-centred witch she was 20 years earlier, and has no interest in renewing the sisterly bond. Abi, however, finds herself smitten with extremely attractive brother-in-law Jon(ty) and fantasising about a life together, whilst at the same time becoming genuinely fond of Tara and Megan; Abi is also attracted to the owner of a bookshop where she eventually lands a part time job. It all sounds quite complicated, but it isn't really, just a little farcical, and quite predictable.
None of the characters is particularly likeable, in fact Cleo is perfectly horrendous, and I began to feel intensely irritated with Abi's spineless behaviour. In fact I had to keep reminding myself that this was a 38-year old woman, not a love-struck teenager. Jon is, of course, handsome and perfectly-mannered; Tara and Megan, won over by Auntie Abi, eventually change from being horrid spoilt brats into adorable children, and Cleo remains the self-centred witch. There is absolutely nothing demanding about this novel; the opening line should really be:"Once upon a time........" as it reads like a fairy story, and why the Guardian describes it as "Irresistibly dark...." is beyond me, as there's nothing dark about it. It's deckchair reading in it's simplest form, and is the first Jane Fallon book I've read; I doubt I'll rush out to read any more.
June 17, 2015
Meh. I feel quite harsh giving this book two stars, because it is not so bad...but then there's nothing great about it either. There were hints of a cute (yet totally off-the-cards) romance, which I hoped would blossom at the end, but was really poorly handled, in my opinion! I obviously hated Cleo, as I'm sure you're meant to, but I didn't really bond with Abi either, so I found myself in a state of not really caring what happened next! I loved Jon and wanted to see him happy, but it just felt like all the hopeful loose ends got completely ignored in the last pages. There was no resolution for him, and no talk of Richard, which seemed strange to me!
Overall it was quite a pleasant read, but because of the poor ending, it has been bumped down to two stars.
Overall it was quite a pleasant read, but because of the poor ending, it has been bumped down to two stars.
August 4, 2021
Actual rating 2.5. I liked the set up for this book, but as soon as the story begins everything starts to feel like a foregone conclusion. Cleo seems like a nightmare, turns out she is. Cleo's husband and kids seem surprisingly nice and normal, and so they are. Abi's new bookshop boss seems like a flirty idiot, and turns out to be just that. There are no real surprises, so the plot trundles along exactly how one would imagine it would. By the end, everyone is pretty much the same; Cleo a self-absorbed bitch, Abi finds some direction but is never bold enough to actually cut Cleo out of her life despite acknowledging her sister's complete disregard for her.
April 18, 2021
I liked the book but I wasn't a big fan of the older sister cause she would act nice one minute and then change to her self shallow self but I prefer the friendly and kind sister trying to keep things together even if she is a single mum with a teenage daughter and I liked the two nieces they were spoiled at first and then they learn what's it like to do things themselves and the brother in law I liked you think he would be arrogant or cold but he was friendly and loving and cooking for his family instead of having a chef but I did like the book all together
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2022
3,5 sterren.
October 11, 2011
This is the kind of book that gives chick-lit a bad name. The usual drippy protagonist who has no self-confidence. The narration was weird, sometimes the reader is addressed directly, and sometimes the tense changes, making it confusing and a little bit disjointing. The ending was also odd, seeming to cut off in the middle of a scene.
I had been looking forward to reading Fallon's other novels but after this, I don't think I can bring myself to pick another one up.
I had been looking forward to reading Fallon's other novels but after this, I don't think I can bring myself to pick another one up.
January 23, 2012
Gobbling up paper books lately, especially since my e-reader app has mysteriously broken. Need to get to the library.
This was darker-than-normal chick-lit fluff. Enjoyable, easy to read, middle of the road. My biggest problem was that I couldn't identify fully with the protagonist, nor understand her decisions or whinging. Also had difficulty with the unresolved, too-sudden ending.
Ready to get back to the 19th century I think.
This was darker-than-normal chick-lit fluff. Enjoyable, easy to read, middle of the road. My biggest problem was that I couldn't identify fully with the protagonist, nor understand her decisions or whinging. Also had difficulty with the unresolved, too-sudden ending.
Ready to get back to the 19th century I think.
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