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Perfect Wives
When actress Jodi Ludlum returns home to Ireland to raise her young so in the leafy South Dublin village of Bakers Valley, she's determined to shield him from the media spotlight that has dogger her throughout her glittering career. Even if coming home means leaving her husband - and waking old ghosts.
Meanwhile, Francine Hennessy, queen of the coffee mornings, was born and raised in Bakers Valley. She takes pride in juggling her children, her beautiful home and her high-powered career. But behind closed doors, Francine's life is crumbling around her.
As Jodi struggles to keep her secrets to herself, and Francine comes to terms with some life-changing news, the two become unlikely friends. When they do, they quickly discover that there's no such thing as the perfect wife, or the perfect life - but sometimes it's better to be happy than to be perfect.
Meanwhile, Francine Hennessy, queen of the coffee mornings, was born and raised in Bakers Valley. She takes pride in juggling her children, her beautiful home and her high-powered career. But behind closed doors, Francine's life is crumbling around her.
As Jodi struggles to keep her secrets to herself, and Francine comes to terms with some life-changing news, the two become unlikely friends. When they do, they quickly discover that there's no such thing as the perfect wife, or the perfect life - but sometimes it's better to be happy than to be perfect.
- GenresContemporary
392 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2013
33 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Emma Hannigan
23 books164 followersEmma Hannigan was an Irish author and blogger, best known for writing about her experience of suffering from cancer.
With a family history of breast and ovarian cancer, Hannigan's mother and maternal aunt tested positive for the responsible gene, BRCA1. She also received a 'positive' result in August 2005, which carries an 85% risk of developing breast cancer and a 50% risk of ovarian cancer. In 2006, Hannigan underwent a bi-lateral mastectomy (or both breasts removed) and a bi-lateral oopherectomy (or both ovaries removed) to reduce the risk of cancer developing to 5%. However, breast cancer soon developed, "in the neck, shoulder and under my arm", in 2007. After repeated treatment, a tumor always reappeared. She died at age 45 after her tenth battle with cancer.
With a family history of breast and ovarian cancer, Hannigan's mother and maternal aunt tested positive for the responsible gene, BRCA1. She also received a 'positive' result in August 2005, which carries an 85% risk of developing breast cancer and a 50% risk of ovarian cancer. In 2006, Hannigan underwent a bi-lateral mastectomy (or both breasts removed) and a bi-lateral oopherectomy (or both ovaries removed) to reduce the risk of cancer developing to 5%. However, breast cancer soon developed, "in the neck, shoulder and under my arm", in 2007. After repeated treatment, a tumor always reappeared. She died at age 45 after her tenth battle with cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 8, 2014
I wasn't sure when first starting to read this book it would be a bit like 'holiday wives' all sort of LA Hollywood style.
I couldn't have been more wrong!
Jodi Ludlum is a well known actress married to a well known actor, and together they have a son named Saul.
Jodi, as a Mom wants to get Saul away from the limelight, all the lights, attraction and stage talk and let him lead a near to 'normal' life as possible so she decided to go back to Dublin where she grew up.
Now picture a beautiful cottage, country village surroundings. Beautiful, but she cannot escape her popularity and is recognised by many of the Mom's in the school playground when she enrolls her son at the school. Of course, typical to human nature most of the Moms are gasping for breathe and wanting to make a friend of her.
I won't tell you much more about the story as I want you to read it. Its a lovely story of how friendship grew between two Mom's, its also got a shocker at the end of the story.
I had a question mark all along in my head about her husband, well,when you read it, you will find out.
Its not a straight forward story at all, I think Emma Hannigan has weaved a brilliant piece of artwork there and keeps your slowly trailing along a path where clues are, but you just don't pick them up.
A valuable lesson in life is there also, I'll leave it to YOU the reader to find that out!
Thank you to Headline publishers via Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this lovely book. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
I couldn't have been more wrong!
Jodi Ludlum is a well known actress married to a well known actor, and together they have a son named Saul.
Jodi, as a Mom wants to get Saul away from the limelight, all the lights, attraction and stage talk and let him lead a near to 'normal' life as possible so she decided to go back to Dublin where she grew up.
Now picture a beautiful cottage, country village surroundings. Beautiful, but she cannot escape her popularity and is recognised by many of the Mom's in the school playground when she enrolls her son at the school. Of course, typical to human nature most of the Moms are gasping for breathe and wanting to make a friend of her.
I won't tell you much more about the story as I want you to read it. Its a lovely story of how friendship grew between two Mom's, its also got a shocker at the end of the story.
I had a question mark all along in my head about her husband, well,when you read it, you will find out.
Its not a straight forward story at all, I think Emma Hannigan has weaved a brilliant piece of artwork there and keeps your slowly trailing along a path where clues are, but you just don't pick them up.
A valuable lesson in life is there also, I'll leave it to YOU the reader to find that out!
Thank you to Headline publishers via Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this lovely book. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 29, 2021
4.5 stars rounded down.
I do like Emma Hannigan's writing style, it always flows well and easy to read, plus I thought she did brilliantly with fitting all of the different aspects into this storyline. I picked it up expecting something rather chick-litty with the issues surrounding Francine's family and Jodi's past, but it turned out to be so much more, and in a good way too. There were so many themes being explored, my favourite one being .
I didn't expect to take so well to Francine's chapters, though I found that I was drawn to them and there was a point in the middle of the book where I couldn't wait for the narration to switch back to her. She seemed properly at her wit's end, and I could hear her hopelessness at times through the pages, and despite I found her impossible not to root for and I really did hope that she would be able to sort her issues out. I was already in love with Jodi's character by this stage, and I thought . My favourite character in the whole book though, was Saul by a mile, I absolutely loved the little darling!
Would have been five stars, I was still going to give full score at the first couple of what I thought were glitches in the storyline, but eventually they built up and there were one too many.
I do like Emma Hannigan's writing style, it always flows well and easy to read, plus I thought she did brilliantly with fitting all of the different aspects into this storyline. I picked it up expecting something rather chick-litty with the issues surrounding Francine's family and Jodi's past, but it turned out to be so much more, and in a good way too. There were so many themes being explored, my favourite one being .
I didn't expect to take so well to Francine's chapters, though I found that I was drawn to them and there was a point in the middle of the book where I couldn't wait for the narration to switch back to her. She seemed properly at her wit's end, and I could hear her hopelessness at times through the pages, and despite I found her impossible not to root for and I really did hope that she would be able to sort her issues out. I was already in love with Jodi's character by this stage, and I thought . My favourite character in the whole book though, was Saul by a mile, I absolutely loved the little darling!
Would have been five stars, I was still going to give full score at the first couple of what I thought were glitches in the storyline, but eventually they built up and there were one too many.
July 22, 2020
Cheesy story with little substance. For Irish characters the writer chose very inauthentic names and wierd vocabulary for them (e.g. "dude"... noone in Ireland says that!"). Also as a preschool teacher I would say the writer didn't really handle the theme of ADHD very well. For a start, 4 years old is quite young to diagnose. As well as that the language and thought processes she used for the 4 yr old characters is far fetched and too advanced for the 4 yr olds I know anyway. Not a very realistic read.
June 30, 2016
Lovely book.
December 24, 2017
A nice reading. Reflects reality as almost all that is on the surface looks fine and dandy below it, it can be in pieces. Like the cover page too, mine is not as the one shown here. There is a hint of serenity on the cover page of which each of the characters in the story was looking for. But fail to find. Not near perfect but that is life.
May 4, 2023
Emma Hannigan is truly my favorite author. I love reading her books because it gives me a sense of peace and serenity. Her storyline and characters are interesting. This is a wonderful story. Of family, responsibility, friendship, love......the story just flows beautifully. And a happy ending.
January 21, 2018
Great book
March 21, 2020
Another great novel by Emma, I love her easy style of writing and you get sucked into the characters, I loved this book and great storyline,
November 16, 2020
OK not amazing found it a slow book that didn't grab my attention like others but in saying that enjoyed middle to end of the book. Nice read
September 6, 2021
An interesting story and an easy read
April 1, 2024
This is probably the 6th book I've read by Emma Hannigan and I loved it. I hope her family love that she's still touching people's lives in her wonderful story telling 🤗
March 21, 2017
Really enjoyed this book, is there a sequel?
May 17, 2013
Jodi Lodlum's life is far removed from the life she once new and even further removed from her troubled childhood. Her's is the perfect rags to riches Story. She grew up with an abusive alcoholic mother who utterly resented her own daughter. Jodi, determined not to end up like her, works hard to be noticed in the cut throat world of acting. Her talent and warm personality shoot her to fame and fortune. She meets and marry's the gorgeous Darius and when the two have a child together Jodi decides that she want's her son to spend time away from the limelight. This decision takes the two of them to an idyllic country cottage back in Ireland.
Francine can really only be described as a Stepford wife. She is a perfect machine who runs her life with military position. She has it all, great job, great kids, great husband and a great house. She is a pillar of the local community and looked up to by all the other mothers in the town. Francine is beside herself when she learns that a famous film star is coming to live in Bakers Valley. She is determined to befriend her and to be the first to introduce her to all the other mothers in town.
At the beginning of the story Francine comes across as shallow and one dimensional but we soon see that cracks are appearing in her perfect façade. When her son Cameron repeatedly bites, kicks an attacks other children Francine's friends start to turn away from her. Labelling Cameron as a demon child and laying the blame squarely at Francine's parenting skills.
We all know someone like Francine, someone who can never show their weaker side but when she eventually learns to confide in Jodi she learns what real friendship means. She realises there is more to life than coffee mornings and PTA meetings. That real friends don't turn their back on you when things get tough.
Jodi too has her own demons to deal with. Ghosts re-surface threatening to reveal her less than perfect past. With the help of the kind, down to earth farmer next door she realises that if someone is really worth admiring then their past won't matter. Its who you are now that counts.
The one character I didn't warm to was Saul. I know he's just a kid but his character was just too syrupy sweet and one dimensional for me.
I also wonder how happy these women will be when all their children leave home. Their whole lives seem to revolve around them from coffee meetings to school committee's. I can imagine the women in this village becoming very unhappy in ten years time. Or maybe at that stage they'll be delighted to be rid of them.
In all Perfect Wives turned out to be a perfect summer read.
Francine can really only be described as a Stepford wife. She is a perfect machine who runs her life with military position. She has it all, great job, great kids, great husband and a great house. She is a pillar of the local community and looked up to by all the other mothers in the town. Francine is beside herself when she learns that a famous film star is coming to live in Bakers Valley. She is determined to befriend her and to be the first to introduce her to all the other mothers in town.
At the beginning of the story Francine comes across as shallow and one dimensional but we soon see that cracks are appearing in her perfect façade. When her son Cameron repeatedly bites, kicks an attacks other children Francine's friends start to turn away from her. Labelling Cameron as a demon child and laying the blame squarely at Francine's parenting skills.
We all know someone like Francine, someone who can never show their weaker side but when she eventually learns to confide in Jodi she learns what real friendship means. She realises there is more to life than coffee mornings and PTA meetings. That real friends don't turn their back on you when things get tough.
Jodi too has her own demons to deal with. Ghosts re-surface threatening to reveal her less than perfect past. With the help of the kind, down to earth farmer next door she realises that if someone is really worth admiring then their past won't matter. Its who you are now that counts.
The one character I didn't warm to was Saul. I know he's just a kid but his character was just too syrupy sweet and one dimensional for me.
I also wonder how happy these women will be when all their children leave home. Their whole lives seem to revolve around them from coffee meetings to school committee's. I can imagine the women in this village becoming very unhappy in ten years time. Or maybe at that stage they'll be delighted to be rid of them.
In all Perfect Wives turned out to be a perfect summer read.
April 27, 2014
I read my first Emma Hannigan book at Christmas and I loved her style of writing so I couldn’t wait to start another one, and I was lucky enough to be sent her new release Perfect Wives to read in exchange for an honest review so I soon picked it up and got lost in her storytelling.
The book focuses on two very different wives, Jodi Ludlum who is a well-known actress who is returning to her roots in Ireland to bring up her adorable son Saul whilst movie star husband stays in LA for work. Then we have Francine Hennessy who has always lived in Ireland, she has created a picture perfect life and family, bringing up 4 children whilst still working and keeping a house as well as finding time to hold coffee mornings and such for the school mums.
What looks so perfect on the outside of both Jodi and Francine’s lives couldn’t be further than the truth, both of these women have secrets that they are keeping under wraps but as time moves on the trouble is rising to the surface, could these two ladies who couldn’t be further apart help each other out and realise the true meaning of friendship?
This book was such a delightful easy read. I found that I was actually quite judgmental at first as I assumed that with Jodi being a Hollywood actress, she would be the showy high all mighty type and that Francine would be the soft mummsy type and I was soon proved completely wrong both of the characters were not what I was expecting at all. I did find that I warmed more to Jodi but Francine’s story really hit a nerve for me and it was this that had me hooked all the way through. I don’t want to give anything away but the trouble with little Cameron really opened my eyes and even though I finished this book a few days ago now I am still finding that his situation is still on my mind so this is quite a thought provoking read.
Friendship is a big focus in this book alongside the Cameron issue as well as parenting issues and hidden pasts so there is a lot to keep you entertained. It is a thought provoking enjoyable read but this isn’t one that will have you laughing so if you are looking for a light breezy read then this one isn’t for you. My only one negative I can say with this book is that I did feel like the ending was a little rushed but in all honesty this could be because I was so wrapped up in the storyline and I didn’t want this to end.
Yet another great read from Emma Hannigan, I now cannot wait for her next book The Summer Guest to be released
The book focuses on two very different wives, Jodi Ludlum who is a well-known actress who is returning to her roots in Ireland to bring up her adorable son Saul whilst movie star husband stays in LA for work. Then we have Francine Hennessy who has always lived in Ireland, she has created a picture perfect life and family, bringing up 4 children whilst still working and keeping a house as well as finding time to hold coffee mornings and such for the school mums.
What looks so perfect on the outside of both Jodi and Francine’s lives couldn’t be further than the truth, both of these women have secrets that they are keeping under wraps but as time moves on the trouble is rising to the surface, could these two ladies who couldn’t be further apart help each other out and realise the true meaning of friendship?
This book was such a delightful easy read. I found that I was actually quite judgmental at first as I assumed that with Jodi being a Hollywood actress, she would be the showy high all mighty type and that Francine would be the soft mummsy type and I was soon proved completely wrong both of the characters were not what I was expecting at all. I did find that I warmed more to Jodi but Francine’s story really hit a nerve for me and it was this that had me hooked all the way through. I don’t want to give anything away but the trouble with little Cameron really opened my eyes and even though I finished this book a few days ago now I am still finding that his situation is still on my mind so this is quite a thought provoking read.
Friendship is a big focus in this book alongside the Cameron issue as well as parenting issues and hidden pasts so there is a lot to keep you entertained. It is a thought provoking enjoyable read but this isn’t one that will have you laughing so if you are looking for a light breezy read then this one isn’t for you. My only one negative I can say with this book is that I did feel like the ending was a little rushed but in all honesty this could be because I was so wrapped up in the storyline and I didn’t want this to end.
Yet another great read from Emma Hannigan, I now cannot wait for her next book The Summer Guest to be released
April 20, 2014
I thought that this was a nice easy read with identifiable characters with mostly believable pasts, the kind of book you could take and enjoy on holiday as it was easy to follow and not heavy. It revolves around Jodi Ludlum an actress who returns to her roots in Ireland in a sleepy village called Bakers Valley to raise her son away from the glare of the media circus in LA. It does mean that she has to leave her husband who is also in the movie business and who travels a lot on location but we later learn theirs is not a conventional marriage in the true sense of the word.
While Jodi comes to terms with returning to her mother country and facing her own demons we meet Francine who having been born in Bakers Valley appears to have the perfect life and leads the life of a perfect wife. Scratch a little below the surface and we see that her life is crumbling around her and how she struggles to keep up the facade of the perfect life while her world unravels.
An unlikely friendship builds between the two women and both discover the importance of true friendship and what truly matters in life; Francine learns that there are all kinds of perfection and Jodi learns to confront her past. Their journey makes them face their fears and come out the other side stronger and better for their experiences.
I did think that while the pace was built well through the book it was somewhat spoiled with a hurried (and to me) unfinished ending, that said it has been left open for a sequel should Emma Hannigan want to continue a series about Jodi and Francine in the future. I also felt that Jodi's secret involving the character Mac was a bit lame and out of the two main characters Francine was more believable even though she was the secondary character.
It was an easy read and did have that feel good factor of building lasting friendships but I felt it lacked something, it didn't make me see it as a great read, no unusual twists, no unexpected curve balls which was a shame.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending me this in exchange for a honest review.
While Jodi comes to terms with returning to her mother country and facing her own demons we meet Francine who having been born in Bakers Valley appears to have the perfect life and leads the life of a perfect wife. Scratch a little below the surface and we see that her life is crumbling around her and how she struggles to keep up the facade of the perfect life while her world unravels.
An unlikely friendship builds between the two women and both discover the importance of true friendship and what truly matters in life; Francine learns that there are all kinds of perfection and Jodi learns to confront her past. Their journey makes them face their fears and come out the other side stronger and better for their experiences.
I did think that while the pace was built well through the book it was somewhat spoiled with a hurried (and to me) unfinished ending, that said it has been left open for a sequel should Emma Hannigan want to continue a series about Jodi and Francine in the future. I also felt that Jodi's secret involving the character Mac was a bit lame and out of the two main characters Francine was more believable even though she was the secondary character.
It was an easy read and did have that feel good factor of building lasting friendships but I felt it lacked something, it didn't make me see it as a great read, no unusual twists, no unexpected curve balls which was a shame.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending me this in exchange for a honest review.
July 19, 2014
This book is a nice enjoyable read with a really heart-warming story, not wanting to give too much of the plot away, this story follows the lives of a famous Hollywood actress Jodi Ludlam who has come back to her roots to live in the Dublin Village of Bakers Valley in Ireland and raise her young son, Saul, and where she also has to face some ghosts from her past & also the life of one of the villagers Francine Hennessy, who goes from been a work-a-holic to been a full-time mum and how she copes with all the difficulties thrown at her along the way. However these two women cross paths & form an unlikely friendship. Now picture a beautiful cottage with country village surroundings. Beautiful, but she cannot escape her popularity and is recognised by many of the Mum's in the school playground when she enrolls her son at the school. Of course, typical to human nature most of them are gasping for breath and wanting to make friends with her. There is also a valuable lesson in life there also but I'll leave that to the reader to find that out.
Although Emma Hannigan has had 6 bestselling novels in the last number of years, this was my first time to read a book by this author. I was quite intrigued by the beautiful cover & couldn't wait to get started on it. The chapters flowed really well, the characters were well developed & believable. It's not a straight forward story at all, I think Emma Hannigan has weaved a brilliant piece of artwork there and keeps your slowly trailing along a path where clues are, but you just don't pick them up. It's a real easy read & the pages just kept on turning. I will definitely read a few of her other novels now as I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Although Emma Hannigan has had 6 bestselling novels in the last number of years, this was my first time to read a book by this author. I was quite intrigued by the beautiful cover & couldn't wait to get started on it. The chapters flowed really well, the characters were well developed & believable. It's not a straight forward story at all, I think Emma Hannigan has weaved a brilliant piece of artwork there and keeps your slowly trailing along a path where clues are, but you just don't pick them up. It's a real easy read & the pages just kept on turning. I will definitely read a few of her other novels now as I thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 3, 2014
This is a really sweet, heart-warming story about the lengths women will go to just to appear perfect in public – and finding out whether it’s worth it.
The peace of a small Irish village is rocked when gorgeous A-list movie star Jodi Ludlum moves into a cottage with her young son, while her devoted husband stays on set.
Francine prides herself on being the envy of all other women in the village – the perfect mother, wife, career woman and master baker.
But for both women not all is as it seems; the cracks are starting to show and surely it’s only a matter of time before their carefully hidden secrets come tumbling out of the closet. Turning to one another for help they learn the importance of true friendship and not caring what others think.
This is a gorgeously homely book. It looks honestly at motherhood and what an unrewarding struggle it can be at times but also at the all beautiful and encompassing love a mum can have for her kids. Women who judge one another without compassion learn the lesson of what being a real friend is all about and those afraid of facing their demons will find the support to do just that. Hannigan perfectly depicts rural life in a way which is both horrendously back-stabbing and perfectly idyllic.
Review by Nikki Mason on behalf of BestChickLit.com
March 3, 2015
Hollywood star Jodi Ludlum, returns to Ireland to try to give her young son a normal and settled upbringing away from the glitz, glamour and paparazzi of Los Angeles. Jodi buys a property in the village of Bakers Valley near Dublin where Jodi grew up although the village is a million miles from the deprived area of Dublin she grew up in. Coming back to Ireland means not only leaving her husband filming his latest film in America but the journey across the Atlantic also stirs up things from the past that Jodi thought were buried.
Long time Bakers Valley resident Francine Hennessey is used to being the perfect wife. Effortlessly juggling work, family, childcare, school social events and fundraisers to the amazement of the other mums. However, as the new school term starts, things start to gradually fall into disarray and soon Francine finds that she is no longer the perfect life.
Although this book was an easy read, the plot was weak and just seemed to ramble on and when I got to the end I didn’t feel that the story had gone anywhere. The book just seemed to stop without any resolution to the storylines. I was disappointed with this novel as her previous books that I had read were very good, well written and enjoyable.
Long time Bakers Valley resident Francine Hennessey is used to being the perfect wife. Effortlessly juggling work, family, childcare, school social events and fundraisers to the amazement of the other mums. However, as the new school term starts, things start to gradually fall into disarray and soon Francine finds that she is no longer the perfect life.
Although this book was an easy read, the plot was weak and just seemed to ramble on and when I got to the end I didn’t feel that the story had gone anywhere. The book just seemed to stop without any resolution to the storylines. I was disappointed with this novel as her previous books that I had read were very good, well written and enjoyable.
April 10, 2013
A nice enjoyable read, not wanting to give to much away but it follows the life's of a famous actress who has come back to her roots to live in a village in Ireland and raise her young son & also the life of one of the villagers who goes from been a work-a-holic to been a full time mum and how she copes with all the difficulties thrown at her along the way.. However these two women cross paths and it's a bumpy road... I found this book was one when I left it down, I couldn't wait to get back to it again. Read it you won't be disappointed x
July 24, 2016
Very glad to recently discover this Irish author, as I really miss Maeve Binchy's books. I learned a lot about childhood behaviour problems, as well as those of adults. I loved to read some of the Irish expressions like 'amn't I? When you think about it, this is more correct than our English version of 'aren't I', because you don't say 'I are' do you? Anyway, loved this story and would like to read more by this author. 5 stars.
July 25, 2020
One sentence in this book irked me. Can't remember what it was word for word but as Cameron's mother is thinking to herself about his anger issues she says "Does this not only happen to children from underprivileged backgrounds?" God forbid if she's perceived to be anything less than upper middle class! The plot line of the entire book reads like a 12 year old girl writing fan fiction... To put it simply, it was shite and unrealistic. The easy read of this wasn't really my thing.
April 6, 2014
I felt that the ending was a little fluffy and shirked real elaboration, possibly because it wanted to avoid being one of those 'cliche' books. Had the ending been a bit more juicy rather than just a half hearted sign off, the whole book would have had quite a good vibe to it.
August 29, 2013
Enjoyed it but not one of Emma's best. Well worth a read though
October 5, 2013
Easy read didn't love it it was grand!
February 20, 2014
A nice enjoyable easy read.
June 14, 2014
Light reading, shame about the ending, it finished all of a sudden. Not one of Emma Hannigan's best.
April 25, 2015
Nicely written story, easy to read I will read more of her books
June 15, 2016
Not a literary masterpiece, but a sweet story about friendships, being real and not judging others!
July 21, 2016
Another fab read by Emma Hannigan
June 9, 2020
This was a nice, easy read, but it dealt with some serious issues very sensitively and delicately.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews