Plan B

by Emily Barr

The perfect couple. The perfect French farmhouse. Plan A is the perfect life. But then there's Plan B...

Critically acclaimed author Emily Barr transports readers to the South of France for an emotional story of isolation and betrayal. Plan B will enthral fans of Adele Parks and Lisa Jewell.

' Plan B is well written, with enough emotional ups and downs and plot twists to keep you reading until the not-so-bitter end' - Observer

Emma adores living in Brighton, but she loves Matt more. When he suggests they buy the perfect farmhouse in the South of France, she reluctantly agrees, even though he continues commuting to London while she looks after their daughter and the builders. But France is not the idyll he promised, and when she discovers the true reason he spends half his time in London the foundations on which she's built her life start to crumble...

What readers are saying about Plan B :

' Barr tells the story with her usual eye for detail which is what I love about the way she writes'

'The most moving of all her books with characters I loved so much I didn't want it to end '

'Fantastic book - couldn't put it down !'

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Mystery, Contemporary

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 6, 2006

About the author

Emily Barr worked as a journalist in London, but always hankered after a quiet room and a book to write. She went travelling for a year, writing a column in the Guardian about it as she went, and it was there that she had an idea for a novel set in the world of backpackers in Asia. This became Backpack, which won the WH Smith New Talent Award. She has since written eleven more adult novels published in the UK and around the world, and a novella, Blackout, for the Quick Reads series. Her twelfth novel, The Sleeper, is a psychological thriller set on the London to Cornwall sleeper train.
In 2013 she went to Svalbard with the idea of setting a thriller in the Arctic. The book that came out of it was The One Memory of Flora Banks, a thriller for young adults, which attracted universal interest from publishers before being bought pre-emptively by Penguin earlier this year. It will be published globally in January 2017.
She lives in Cornwall with her partner and their children.

Reviews

[Helen Fairfield · Rating 2 out of 5]

All chick lit books have the same plot, which is this: middle-class 30ish woman has baby with smarmy wally, he cheats/leaves, she sinks into self-loathing and general dishevelment while other female characters swan around making her feel inadequate in their "crisply ironed shirts" and "deliciously expensive perfume". Mother/sister character occasionally makes barbed albeit well-meaning comments. Finally friends/family rally round to make her wash her hair and get out of her horrible old jumper. She buys some new clothes and realises to her delight that her misery has made her look "positively anorexic" (yay). Her rediscovered hip bones and general shininess enable her to snare a new man and feel worthwhile as a human once again. This book was this plot but in France. Bof.

[Sarah Goode · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you haven’t read any Emily Barr books I’d suggest reading them. I’m not generally a fan of chick lit, but these are great. I haven’t read one of her books without enjoying it yet.

Generally chick lit but with a storyline, and a bit of a travelogue dimension they are definitely worth looking for.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

The storyline is good with lots of twists and a few surprises… but believe me when I say that it dragged on longer than was necessary complete with extended descriptions composed of vivid details that soon became so tedious and B-O-R-I-N-G. These included just about everything from the neighbor visits to shopping trips, to the dust on the furniture…adding absolutely nothing to the story line. By the book cover’s description you believe that you know what is happening and most of us will start to feel very sorry for Emma…the main character and will begin planning anatomy rearrangement for Matt. The only reason you will finish it is to see what Matt is up to…but you can skip pages by the dozens and not miss is a single, solitary thing.

[Marina Sofia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well I tead it quickly, so the author must be doing something right, but that money worry was tagged on almost as an afterthought and resolved offstage swiftly. Let me tell you, that is not the case, you think about money constantly after a breakup, especially when you are renovating a house in France. Wish fulfillment reading.

[Fleeno · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read Plan B when it was released in 2006, but when I saw it in a 2nd hand store I was reminded how I used to enjoy Barr's books and how long it had been since I had read any.
Plan B focuses on Emma, a young woman living in Brighton with her partner Matt and her daughter, Alice. Emma loves their life however Matt has decided the family should move to France, dreaming of living an idyllic life in the South of France. Emma is reluctant to make the change, but she adores Matt, who has promised to marry her once they move, and will do anything to keep him happy (aka she is a doormat). So the family make the move and commit to Emma and Alice living in France full time with Matt living and commuting in London half the week. Pretty soon it becomes obvious Matt has not thought through the plan, the house is falling down, there's not beating or electricity, and Matt soon burgers off back to London to leave Emma to do most of the work. We soon learn the reason for Matt's big commute and the families move is not because he wanted a tree change but because he is actually Hugh and Hugh is married with a child and has been lying to his wife Jo and Emma for years.

Matt/Hugh is an absolute tosser. Not only is he a cheater and liar he is pathetic. He thinks this situation just happened to him and he got in too deep and couldn't get outs he didn't want to hurt anyone, he loves them both, that's why he had to keep lying. The character was awful and 100% believable. I know others who have been in similar situations and there must be a douche handbook cos they all seem to sing the same song, even the fictional ones. Emma and Jo manage the fallout of the revelation in different ways and as Emma states, you never know how you will react until it happens. I found their reactions believable and heartfelt. Emma at times annoyed me in a way I didn't recall from the first reading (20 years ago). She is so codependant on Matt and so eager to please and make him happy so she can create a perfect family life.
The background characters are also well rounded and add depth to the story  I enjoyed this book more and on a deeper level than I remembered. I wont leave it 20 more years to pick up another one of Barr's books.

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best thing about this book: It's a page turner! Yes, the kind of book that you can read in under two hours and feel refreshed to tackle any other mind boggling task.
Story: Emma loves Matt. He's suggested they move to France, so she sold her home in Brighton and will move to France because she doesn't like a confrontation. They have a daughter, Alice. Emma hates France. FYI: Matt a.k.a Hugh also has another woman, a wife in fact, she's called Jo. They have a son, Olly- and well, he loves his two families not until Jo makes the trip to France and tells him he's a sucker. He leaves Emma to be with Jo,who does not want him and the rest is all about Emma making the most of her new single life.
I liked: the fact that it is an easy read. The dialogues are easy to follow and the story just gets you reading.
I did not like: that three quarters of the story is all about Emma's and Matt's pretend life- and just a few pages about how she is building up, because she seemed like a strong character that deserved some more focus.
Award: 2 stars
Reason: flow, and simplicity of language- makes this book quite a much needed breather.
I would recommend it: Yes, because it is simple, fun in a way, and you cannot help but wonder how easy it was for Matt a.k.a Hugh to fool people.

[Cláudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Barr has a way of writing that keeps you grabbing the book until the end. The stories have nothing really extraordinary, as they show portraits of what seem real persons in real life and not a fantasy idea of how everything should be. And this is not chick lit, as we don't have a "and they lived happily ever after" at the end.
In this book, Emma seems to have the almost perfect life. Her dream partner, a beautiful daughter, it's just a pity that Matt doesn't ask her to marry him and that we wishes to move to a big house in the middle of nowhere in France. But Emma accepts it all, until we find out (before Emma), that Matt is also called Hugh, and already has a wife and son living in London - and so his needs to go ever weekend from one country to the other. How will Emma's, Jo's, the kids, and Matt's/Hugh's lifes be affected when all is out in the open?

[Veerle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started this 400-page book yesterday morning and finished it yesterday evening, so it is safe to say it's written well enough to keep you reading. Apart from the easy reading style, I was a bit disappointed in the story build up. The first 300 pages are summarised at the back cover in 10 lines, and it's only in the last 100 pages that the story actually evolves from that point. I thought it was a missed opportunity to actually focus the story on the evolutions after the secret came out: how does one cope with secrets and lies like that? That is why in the end I only score it two stars, but if you would have asked me to rate it at page 250 I would have rated it higher. Easy reading though, nice setting (France), too bad about the unused opportunity to dig in deeper into the psychology after drama's like that.

[Olga Taratuta · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is told mostly through the eyes of a very depressing, not confident woman, Emma, who finds out that her husband has a secret double life. I liked the beginning of the story, as it was a slowly unravelling mystery, but once the mystery was revealed, the book lost steam, and I was only halfway through. The second part of the book is just Emma grovelling, complaining how she's not pretty like the other women, that she's fat, that she's stupid, etc. It becomes very tiresome and boring. Overall, a light, enjoyable read, but a bit too much complaining for my liking.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not good.

I was looking for some fun chick lit when I picked this one, but this book is thoroughly depressing and I struggled to get through it. 75% of the book is just ramblings that have nothing to do with the plot. I do like Emily Barr’s other books, so I’m going to overlook this one but I’d certainly never recommend it to anyone.

[Daisy White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Emily Barr, and her writing is always evocative and pacy. I did enjoy this, but probably not as much as others by the same author. It was a familiar plot with a good twist, and I was rooting for Emma to stay in France on her own and kick some butt. Good character development and perfect poolside reading.

[Ilana Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this - one of my favourite Barr books. I especially liked how she portrayed the character of Matt/Hugo. He's a complete shit, but he's not a stereotypical bastard, there's shades of niceness to him, which makes him much more realistic than I could have imagined.

[Katiejane · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the first book I've ready by Emily Barr I've only just put it down and I'm already searching for another of hers to read! I couldn't put it down an felt very much attached to all the characters it left me wanting more!

[Marisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea, I can't say I enjoyed the characters, not one oh I take that back I liked Alice the three year child of Emma and Matt's. She was the most likeable throughout the book. It was all about stockers and philanderers. Absolute crap.

[Franny Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. Just as the numerous love rat real life stories in those real life magazines. Plan B is a real joy.

Emma is encouraged by her partner Matt to sell up her cottage in Brighton in a sense of urgency. Emma, Matt and their daughter Alice move to the south of France where they buy a run down farm house.

Matt soon leaves Emma for his busy job and promises to see her from Friday to Sunday.

Meanwhile Hugh leaves behind his family in France to be with his real family in England. He has a beautiful alpha wife called Jo, an adorable two year old son Oliver. He also has a bumbling brother Peter.

Yet Hugh and Matt share a secret.

I really enjoyed this story, I was rooting for Emma.

[Tim Bull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enthralling readfrom Emily B.

This is my third consecutive and unputdownable book full of EB's marvellous imagination and skill in creating a great sense of both place and characters. I'm going to choose another one now, and would love to see this and the others as TV drama series.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. An honest portrayal of woman who is betrayed.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Good chick lit.

[N Bratby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable easy read

[Bisera Knezevic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining. I finished the book in 6 hours, on the way to Dubai from Belgrade airport. A perfect book for the beach.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, light, interesting reading.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not going to win any literary awards but I enjoyed it, nice easy read.

[jacqueline Bellew · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book

Good book with interesting storyline and good characterisation.
Would read again ! The writer has a good way of getting inside the characters.

[Brian Mimpress · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could have easily taken up just one single page of Take A Break magazine….

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is terrible. I debated a 1 but I did manage to get through it. Wow. Random rambling boring filler. Don’t waste your time like I did.

[Beth Bonini · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

A friend shared this with me because it mostly takes place in Gascony. I have been renovating a house in this region of France, as does the main character in the book. However, there weren’t enough references to French culture to make this book worthwhile. It’s really not a house makeover book and it’s only partly a life makeover book.

I found the plot tiresome. From the beginning the reader knows what the the main character doesn’t: that her partner is married to another woman and is attempting to have two families. It’s a potentially interesting conflict but it wasn’t interesting enough in this rather shallow book. I finished it only because I was in the middle of moving house and had little energy for reading. Meh

[Mummy Loves Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a rip-roaring start, as we follow Emma and her partner Matt and their small daughter Alice as they leave Brighton to begin a new life in the South of France the writer draws us quickly into the family and their adventure as they arrive at their somewhat delapadated farmhouse with grand plans to renovate together and begin a quieter life, even if Matt is the driving force and Emma's heart isn't quite in it.

The twist in the book comes suddenly and unexpectedly and had me re-reading the start of one chapter as I thought I'd seriously missed something as important as the introduction of a major character but I soon realised where the author was going and it became clear the deception within the book was one of magnific proportions. Until the point where the deception is discovered this is a cracking book.

I found however the the unraveling of our main female character lacked some substance, it began to almost feel like a different book altogether for a couple of chapters as I found myself lacking sympathy for the main character and longing her to sprout a backbone. The book managed to recover itself admirably in the last few chapters and concluded nicely if it was a little rushed.

As good as Emily Barr's other novels - not really but still worth reading.

[penelopewanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Baggage and set out to find other books by this author. Months on the TBR pile, but it's already very promising...

Yet another story about recreating an identity. This time it is not in the case of the heroine as in Baggage, but rather here the main character discovers that her partner, and the father of her child, has invented a false identity for their four year relationship.
Barr writes well and her characters are credible and moving. Although I find it difficult to relate to the idea of the reality show type documentation of one's life, it is true that Emma, the main character, is so devastated that it seems plausible that she really doesn't care at all at that point.
Excellent read, now I'll have to try to track down some other books by this author.

[Patricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Het is vlot geschreven en gelukkig zijn er ook nog een paar wendingen. Maar ik zou het waarschijnlijk niet opnieuw kopen. Ik ben niet zo wild van het hele dubbelleven-idee, om allerlei redenen. Misschien is het omdat er ook die nieuwe soap is op tv, of omdat ik het als kind meegemaakt heb, of omdat ik ook zelf wel de situatie heb meegemaakt aan de andere kant of,... Soit, het lijkt me niet meteen een aanrader als je net uit een relatie komt, alle mannen zijn klootzakken of als je wat onzeker bent dat het jou ook zou overkomen want zie eens hoe gemakkelijk het is.

[Claire (Book Blog Bird) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an okay read, but it wasn't one of my favourite Emily Barr books. It tells the story of a woman, Emma, who is convinced to move from Brighton to France by her partner, Matt.

When they get there, Matt ends up spending most of his time back in England 'working', leaving Emma to navigate life in France alone.

The plot was quite good, and the descriptions of life in France were interesting, but Emma was incredibly naive and when the reason for Matt spending so much time in London is revealed, I pretty much wanted to say, 'Well, what did you THINK he was doing, love?'