Bad Girls, Good Women

by Rosie Thomas

In London, on the brink of the Sixties, two runaways plunge into the whirl of Soho nightlife.
Mattie faces the hard slog of repertory companies and a sleazy strip-club in search of fame as an actress. But, when it comes, stardom is not enough, and the love that Mattie desires seems to elude her.
Julia choose marriage and Ladyhill, a beautiful Dorset manor house. Then, after the tragedy, she realises that to achieve true independence she will have to risk her marriage and her child.
Though each has to make her own choices, their friendship - despite the guilt and betrayal - endures over three turbulent decades.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Modern

Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Janey King, née Morris was born on 1947 in Denbigh, Wales, and also grew up in North Wales. She read English at Oxford, and after a spell in journalism and publishing began writing fiction after the birth of her first child. Published since 1982 as Rosie Thomas, she has written fourteen best-selling novels, deal with the common themes of love and loss. She is one of only a few authors to have won twice the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association, in 1985 with Sunrise, and in 2007 with Iris and Ruby.

Janey is an adventurer and once she was established as a writer and her children were grown, she discovered a love of travelling and mountaineering. She has climbed in the Alps and the Himalayas, competed in the Peking to Paris car rally, spent time on a tiny Bulgarian research station in Antarctica and travelled the silk road through Asia. She currently lives in London.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...

To be honest, I thought this book was a bit of an “ugly duckling” and really disliked the cover. Printed in 1988, it is dated and, now I have finished the story, I don’t think it does the plot any justice. As such, I was a bit nervous approaching this 600-page story, convinced it would be a chore to complete.

[Jayne Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt like a good story over-padded. Good in the early stages when the girls arrive in London with very little money. Not too bad leading up to the incident with the Christmas tree which is foreshadowed in the book's introductory chapter. After that it loses its way a bit, and there is a tedious section on gardening in Italy, a subsection whose eventual result was so obvious from an early stage that I skimmed most of it. Once back in the UK the story is OK if a bit slow

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

1950's London and the story of two, sixteen year old best friends who run away from home to London and their trials and tribulations over the next 30 years. The author did an excellent job of telling the story of what it takes to be a best friend and the enrichment to your life in having had one.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. I love this book. Although I have read it before I still enjoyed re-reading it. It takes you from 1955 through to the 1970’s and it brings alive the fads and fashions of those eras. One I will probably read again in a few years time.

[Juliana Lopes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it about 4 times. First book i loved.

[A.J. Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosie Thomas is very underrated as an author. I believe she deserves far greater status. Her writing is true to life.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is far and away the best of RT's novels. It captures the atmosphere of London in the 60's, and makes you care about the characters. have read it several times over the years.

[Julia Fivash-henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this when I was 18, 21 years on I still love it.

[Bella Auchenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have so much to say about this book, but ultimately, I loved it. The plot line is beautiful, but so tragic. It was hard for me connect to the story in a way because it was so drastically different than anything I’ve experienced in real life. The story takes place over the course of multiple decades as it follows the lives of Maddie and Julia in 20th century Britain from their grade school years into their 40s. It’s beautiful and deserves way more recognition.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not Rosie Thomas' fault I gave up on this book - anything would struggle to match up to the book I've just finished.

[Sonulik Slonikova · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nicely written, readable book of fiction. I especially liked the first part about the girls´ troubles getting from a smaller town to London on their own and fighting for their independence; the second one was way too long and some partial stories remained untold. Overall, I enjoyed reading it more than I had originally thought. A good one if you just want to relax and get away from it all.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I loved Ms. Thomas "White Dove," I had high hopes for this book. I was disappointed. It didn't grab me and draw me in as "White Dove" did, but it was still a pleasant read.

[Dryden · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book sucks you in, I love it

[Lyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A definite saga but enjoyable to read and put down then pick up again!

[Michelle Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt every emotion possible! I cried! I laughed, I felt scared, and sad. This is a truly great book about growing up and friendship.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book 3 times already and think of it often. I bought two hard back copies, so whenever I feel a desire to read a good book, I always have one available!

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosie Thomas always fails to disappoint. But it's not her best book by a long way, as the plot becomes rather contrived towards the end.

[Sandra Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read

superb story telling, the characters are very life like, you really care what happens to them , very well researched ,

[Sarah Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story and I became attached to the main characters. Shame about all the typing errors!

[Rachelle Seymore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago and found it again at a bookstore a while ago.

Rosie Thomas is one of my favourite authors and I read her books when I just want to relax and immerse myself in her stories. I didn't have this one on my bookshelf, so can add it now with a smile.

It is a book so true to life for those of us who didn's always stick to the mold. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

A good read!

[Kat Ashworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

As one of Rosie Thomas lower rated books I was unsure what to expect. I can truly say this story is epic and rich with wisdom, history and complex colourful friendships. Incredibly emotional journey of a friendship between two women and their journey to define who they are in an incredibly complex and changing time within western culture. I found their strength, vitality and courage inspiring.

[Jane Carling]

This story started well and very evocative of the time, was fast paced and interesting but sadly I think it became too padded out with description. I liked Julia in the beginning but towards the end she became quite irritating. Too much about gardens etc. Overall I gave 3 star and was disappointed.

[Amanda Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, meandering life story

I loved this book - you will too if you like long stories of life and love, nothing too brutal, no swearing, no gory murders. Especially if you adore the 60s & 70s, there are lots of opportunities for comfortable reminiscence. Truly delightful

[Mrs Barbara A Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Friendship and love

I enjoyed this saga set in the 1960s and 70s about the two friends Julia and Mattie. The story featured more about Julia’s story than Mattie’s. I found the Italian section a little too long but overall it was an interesting Recreation of London at that time.

[linda lipinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mattie and Julia ran away to the bright lights of soho

Set in the 50’s, 60s Snd 70’s. The story follows mattie and Julia and their lives

A good book and nice easy read ... Shame about the spelling mistakes

4*

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely more of a womans read than a mans. But This didn't stop me wanting to finish it albit though with a rather predictable end. This Author can can certainly hold your attention too.

[Terrie Ware · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather lengthy with little movement of the story

[Suzanne Estrella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I read this on vacation and couldn’t put it down. This is the story of Mattie and Julia and teenagers to adults. They meet Felix and Jesse and other characters.

[Kate Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable book but 1 confusing scene and several glaring editorial errors in the online version I borrowed.