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The Confusion of Karen Carpenter
'Having the same name as a 70s pop star was just the start of her troubles . . .'
Hello. There are two things you should know about me:
1) My name is Karen Carpenter.
2) Just before Christmas my boyfriend left me.
I’m not THE Karen Carpenter. I just have the most embarrassing name in Christendom. Particularly as I’m no skinny minny and don’t play the drums.
I can’t even sing. I’m tone deaf. I work in a school in the East End. (Where I came third in a ‘Teacher we’d most like to sleep with’ competition amongst the Year 11 boys)
My Mum’s driving me mad. She’s come to stay and is obsessed with Scandi crime shows and Zumba.
Oh yeah. The boyfriend. After eleven ‘happy’ years he left me. No explanation just a post it on the kettle when I got in from work. I think I’m handling it really well. I don’t think I’m confused at all. What was my name again?
Hello. There are two things you should know about me:
1) My name is Karen Carpenter.
2) Just before Christmas my boyfriend left me.
I’m not THE Karen Carpenter. I just have the most embarrassing name in Christendom. Particularly as I’m no skinny minny and don’t play the drums.
I can’t even sing. I’m tone deaf. I work in a school in the East End. (Where I came third in a ‘Teacher we’d most like to sleep with’ competition amongst the Year 11 boys)
My Mum’s driving me mad. She’s come to stay and is obsessed with Scandi crime shows and Zumba.
Oh yeah. The boyfriend. After eleven ‘happy’ years he left me. No explanation just a post it on the kettle when I got in from work. I think I’m handling it really well. I don’t think I’m confused at all. What was my name again?
400 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2013
21 people are currently reading
409 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Harvey
79 books78 followersHarvey was born in Liverpool in 1968. He has a brother, Timothy Harvey who is a music teacher in Chester. His first serious attempt as a playwright was in 1987. Fuelled by the attraction of a £1,000 first prize to young writers from the Liverpool Playhouse, the result was The Cherry Blossom Tree, a garish blend of suicide, murder and nuns. This effort won him the National Girobank Young Writer of the Year Award.
Feeling very encouraged, he went on to write Mohair (1988), Wildfire (1992) and Babies (1993), the latter winning him the 'George Devine Award' for that year and The Evening Standard's 'Most Promising Playwright Award' for 1994. In 1993, Harvey, premiered Beautiful Thing, a gay-themed play-turned-movie for which he won the prestigious 'John Whiting Award' the following year.
1995 saw the premiere of Boom Bang-a-Bang, at the Bush Theatre, London, originally directed by Kathy Burke. Harvey cites it as "my most comic play ever, but with some dark bits". Centred on a group of friends gathering to watch the Eurovision Song Contest, the play was a sell-out. That same year, he also premiered Rupert Street Lonely Hearts Club. Guiding Star (1998), is a portrayal of one man's struggle to come to terms with the Hillsborough FA Cup Semi-Final disaster, while Hushabye Mountain (1999) deals with a world that has learned to live with HIV/AIDS. Television and film works include: West End Girls (Carlton); Love Junkie (BBC); Beautiful Thing (Channel Four/Island World Productions); the 1999-2001 hit/cult comedy series starring Kathy Burke and James Dreyfus, Gimme Gimme Gimme (Tiger Aspect); Murder Most Horrid (BBC); and Coronation Street (ITV).
He also wrote the book for Closer to Heaven, a stage musical with songs and music written by Pet Shop Boys. Closer to Heaven ran for nine months at the Arts Theatre in London during 2001 and in Australia in 2005. In 2003 Harvey heard the singer-actress Abi Roberts perform and was so enchanted he offered to write a solo show especially for her. Taking Charlie was the outcome, staged at the 2004 Edinburgh Festival with Roberts starring, under the direction of Susan Tully. The piece was darkly comic and focused on the destructive nature of an insecure, 30-year-old addict.
Harvey is a patron of London-based HIV charity The Food Chain and a patron of the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music. His first novel All She Wants was published in 2012 by Pan Books
Feeling very encouraged, he went on to write Mohair (1988), Wildfire (1992) and Babies (1993), the latter winning him the 'George Devine Award' for that year and The Evening Standard's 'Most Promising Playwright Award' for 1994. In 1993, Harvey, premiered Beautiful Thing, a gay-themed play-turned-movie for which he won the prestigious 'John Whiting Award' the following year.
1995 saw the premiere of Boom Bang-a-Bang, at the Bush Theatre, London, originally directed by Kathy Burke. Harvey cites it as "my most comic play ever, but with some dark bits". Centred on a group of friends gathering to watch the Eurovision Song Contest, the play was a sell-out. That same year, he also premiered Rupert Street Lonely Hearts Club. Guiding Star (1998), is a portrayal of one man's struggle to come to terms with the Hillsborough FA Cup Semi-Final disaster, while Hushabye Mountain (1999) deals with a world that has learned to live with HIV/AIDS. Television and film works include: West End Girls (Carlton); Love Junkie (BBC); Beautiful Thing (Channel Four/Island World Productions); the 1999-2001 hit/cult comedy series starring Kathy Burke and James Dreyfus, Gimme Gimme Gimme (Tiger Aspect); Murder Most Horrid (BBC); and Coronation Street (ITV).
He also wrote the book for Closer to Heaven, a stage musical with songs and music written by Pet Shop Boys. Closer to Heaven ran for nine months at the Arts Theatre in London during 2001 and in Australia in 2005. In 2003 Harvey heard the singer-actress Abi Roberts perform and was so enchanted he offered to write a solo show especially for her. Taking Charlie was the outcome, staged at the 2004 Edinburgh Festival with Roberts starring, under the direction of Susan Tully. The piece was darkly comic and focused on the destructive nature of an insecure, 30-year-old addict.
Harvey is a patron of London-based HIV charity The Food Chain and a patron of the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music. His first novel All She Wants was published in 2012 by Pan Books
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
April 23, 2024
Really enjoyed this book. The twist was very interesting.
August 13, 2013
This is Jonathan Harvey's second book (All She Wants being the first one) and is just as sharp and witty as the first. Karen Carpenter is in her late 30s and has been saddled with not only the name of a famous but dead pop star from the 70s but also with a mother who seems to be having a midlife crisis. Karen is also coping with the sudden departure of her husband, who left a note on the kettle and walked out of her life. Between that, and grieving the loss of a baby several years before that, she's not coping well.
Karen's a teacher. She meets the father of one of her students at his wife's funeral. Is he an unfeeling ladies' man or has she got the wrong end of the stick? She's got a lesbian friend at school and is sure the friend fancies her. Or has she got the wrong end of the stick? It really all falls apart when her husband comes back into her life and we discover why he left in the first place.
The dialogue is fun, witty and sometimes very poignant. The situations are in turn hysterically funny (a Brazilian waxing from hell) and heartbreaking and everything in between as Karen works her way through the tunnel and finds some hope. It's all you would expect from one of Coronation Street's best writers. (I haven't seen any of his plays, which by all accounts are just as wonderfully written!) I look forward to more from this talented writer.
Karen's a teacher. She meets the father of one of her students at his wife's funeral. Is he an unfeeling ladies' man or has she got the wrong end of the stick? She's got a lesbian friend at school and is sure the friend fancies her. Or has she got the wrong end of the stick? It really all falls apart when her husband comes back into her life and we discover why he left in the first place.
The dialogue is fun, witty and sometimes very poignant. The situations are in turn hysterically funny (a Brazilian waxing from hell) and heartbreaking and everything in between as Karen works her way through the tunnel and finds some hope. It's all you would expect from one of Coronation Street's best writers. (I haven't seen any of his plays, which by all accounts are just as wonderfully written!) I look forward to more from this talented writer.
March 2, 2015
4.5 stars
I wasn't sure where this was all leading, it seemed very fluffy new-bloke-misunderstandings-will-they-won't-they, until over halfway through when the bombshell of the truth was dropped and it became something much more poignant and moving. Nicely done.
I spent a lot of the book also wondering why was there a need to call the protagonist 'Karen Carpenter'... okay, she's got the name of a famous singer. Besides the obvious comment she'll get, it didn't seem to have any relevance to the story. I'm not sure why she couldn't have had an anonymous name. But hey, maybe that's just me.
Karen is a special needs teacher. Her partner of 20 years has just left her. She is devastated, confused and lonely. Her mum comes to stay with her. A pupil's dad lets her know that the son's mum has died of cancer, and she ends up attending the funeral. And finding herself attracted to her pupil's father. Why did her boyfriend leave her? Can she allow herself to feel attraction for another man? Why is everyone so concerned about her?
What could have been light and insignificant turns into something darker and thoughtful, as a huge twist changes everything you thought you understood about the plot. Karen is sympathetic, though occasionally making the usual chick-lit error (listening to idle gossip, for instance), and a narrator you feel could be you, given the right circumstances.
There are scenes of great emotional resonance, for Karen, for Kevin (her pupil's father), as their acquaintance, started over grief, becomes an honest-feeling portrayal of platonic friendship. That strains at the bit to become something more.
I did wonder early on if this was for me, but I'm very glad I kept going with the story, as it did capture my interest when my perceptions altered. I audio-read this, and enjoyed the narrator's clear and warm reading.
Moving, clever and warm story of love and loss.
I wasn't sure where this was all leading, it seemed very fluffy new-bloke-misunderstandings-will-they-won't-they, until over halfway through when the bombshell of the truth was dropped and it became something much more poignant and moving. Nicely done.
I spent a lot of the book also wondering why was there a need to call the protagonist 'Karen Carpenter'... okay, she's got the name of a famous singer. Besides the obvious comment she'll get, it didn't seem to have any relevance to the story. I'm not sure why she couldn't have had an anonymous name. But hey, maybe that's just me.
Karen is a special needs teacher. Her partner of 20 years has just left her. She is devastated, confused and lonely. Her mum comes to stay with her. A pupil's dad lets her know that the son's mum has died of cancer, and she ends up attending the funeral. And finding herself attracted to her pupil's father. Why did her boyfriend leave her? Can she allow herself to feel attraction for another man? Why is everyone so concerned about her?
What could have been light and insignificant turns into something darker and thoughtful, as a huge twist changes everything you thought you understood about the plot. Karen is sympathetic, though occasionally making the usual chick-lit error (listening to idle gossip, for instance), and a narrator you feel could be you, given the right circumstances.
There are scenes of great emotional resonance, for Karen, for Kevin (her pupil's father), as their acquaintance, started over grief, becomes an honest-feeling portrayal of platonic friendship. That strains at the bit to become something more.
I did wonder early on if this was for me, but I'm very glad I kept going with the story, as it did capture my interest when my perceptions altered. I audio-read this, and enjoyed the narrator's clear and warm reading.
Moving, clever and warm story of love and loss.
August 24, 2024
Picked this book off my shelf thinking “I don’t remember buying this, this doesn’t look like the kind of book I’d buy” but figured I’d give it a go and probably pass it on to someone else.
Well, what a surprise. I laughed out loud more times than I can count and was in bits by the end.
What a perfect example of “never judge a book by its cover”
Well, what a surprise. I laughed out loud more times than I can count and was in bits by the end.
What a perfect example of “never judge a book by its cover”
September 19, 2016
This was an interesting and surprising book. I loved the character of Karen and found her really convincing, as if I could easily know her in real life. Her internal dialogue and also her funny conversations with friends and colleagues all felt convincing and made the book very engaging. The darker turn that the book takes half way through is very cleverly done as even though the subject matter is serious, Karen's character remains consistent which makes everything more realistic. Some of the situations that Karen finds herself in have been described as far fetched by other reviewers but to be honest, I don't think they are! I genuinely know someone who was hospitalised after a bikini wax - though for a slightly less vengeful reason than Karen Carpenter! Switching between hilarious and touching, this is certainly not the typical chick lit that the front cover would suggest (not that there is anything wrong with chick lit as that's often used as a derogatory term) but is instead a great read about some important issues all done with a humorous touch. Definitely 3.5 stars.
October 13, 2022
I giggled - it really was funny (some parts).
I dived into this book without knowing it’s context and thought what stated on the cover of the book of Karen Carpenter having the same name as a 70s pop star was what the book will be about. And I guess I was wrong?! That was only 2% of the book and the rest was about Karen and the boyfriend who left her.
Overall it was amusing and fresh, and loved the double gasp the author gave throughout the book - surprising!
Lowkey Karen’s monologue gave me Emma Chamberlain vibe 😛
I dived into this book without knowing it’s context and thought what stated on the cover of the book of Karen Carpenter having the same name as a 70s pop star was what the book will be about. And I guess I was wrong?! That was only 2% of the book and the rest was about Karen and the boyfriend who left her.
Overall it was amusing and fresh, and loved the double gasp the author gave throughout the book - surprising!
Lowkey Karen’s monologue gave me Emma Chamberlain vibe 😛
May 13, 2017
When I started this book I thought it was dreadful then boom! Massive twist. Cried buckets at the end. A surprising read.
December 25, 2022
I've never laughed so hard because of a book. This one made me. ♥️
April 2, 2024
Oh, where to start with “The Confusion of Karen Carpenter” by Jonathan Harvey? If you’re after a read that’s as heartwarming as it is gut-wrenchingly poignant, then you’ve hit the jackpot with this one. Harvey, with his signature wit and empathetic touch, crafts a story that's as multifaceted and complicated as real life itself.
The novel’s protagonist, named—yep, you guessed it—Karen Carpenter (no relation to the singer, which becomes a running joke), is one of those characters who feels like she could be a friend. Harvey has this knack for creating characters that are deeply flawed yet immensely lovable, making you root for them through their ups and downs. And boy, does Karen have her share of those.
The plot zigzags through Karen’s life, tackling everything from the complexities of love, the search for identity, and the profound confusion that often accompanies adulthood. What’s particularly delightful is Harvey’s use of his trademark humour. Despite the heavy themes, the book has a lightness to it, peppered with laugh-out-loud moments that feel like a necessary breath of fresh air.
The supporting cast deserves a shoutout too. From Karen’s eccentric family to her larger-than-life friends, Harvey captures the essence of each character with precision and care, ensuring they contribute meaningfully to Karen’s story rather than just filling space.
Why not five stars, you ask? Well, if I’m nitpicking, there were moments when the pacing felt a bit off, with some parts dragging and others racing by. And while the emotional journey was mostly satisfying, there were a couple of plot twists that felt a tad forced, as if they were added for shock value rather than serving the story.
But let’s not get bogged down by the minutiae. Overall, “The Confusion of Karen Carpenter” is a compelling read that balances humour and heartache with a deft hand. It’s a book that’ll make you laugh, possibly cry, and definitely reflect on your own confusions and complexities. Jonathan Harvey has delivered a novel that’s not only entertaining but also deeply human.
The novel’s protagonist, named—yep, you guessed it—Karen Carpenter (no relation to the singer, which becomes a running joke), is one of those characters who feels like she could be a friend. Harvey has this knack for creating characters that are deeply flawed yet immensely lovable, making you root for them through their ups and downs. And boy, does Karen have her share of those.
The plot zigzags through Karen’s life, tackling everything from the complexities of love, the search for identity, and the profound confusion that often accompanies adulthood. What’s particularly delightful is Harvey’s use of his trademark humour. Despite the heavy themes, the book has a lightness to it, peppered with laugh-out-loud moments that feel like a necessary breath of fresh air.
The supporting cast deserves a shoutout too. From Karen’s eccentric family to her larger-than-life friends, Harvey captures the essence of each character with precision and care, ensuring they contribute meaningfully to Karen’s story rather than just filling space.
Why not five stars, you ask? Well, if I’m nitpicking, there were moments when the pacing felt a bit off, with some parts dragging and others racing by. And while the emotional journey was mostly satisfying, there were a couple of plot twists that felt a tad forced, as if they were added for shock value rather than serving the story.
But let’s not get bogged down by the minutiae. Overall, “The Confusion of Karen Carpenter” is a compelling read that balances humour and heartache with a deft hand. It’s a book that’ll make you laugh, possibly cry, and definitely reflect on your own confusions and complexities. Jonathan Harvey has delivered a novel that’s not only entertaining but also deeply human.
October 19, 2025
I finished it and I predicted abit of the ending. I gave 2 stars because i found it quite boring and i almost dnf it but i perservered with it. I could work out bits that were going to be said before they were. However the best bit was actually quite a moving ending. I was disappointed 😞 because I've read all she wants and thought it was amazing. I had good hopes for this Because my mum is called Karen carpenter and my partner is Michael so that was abit strange for me lol.
So basically karen lies to everyone saying that her partner michael left her but he didn't he suffered from depression after they had a still born daughter evie and he hung himself after leaving her a note. Then she starts seeing him and thinks he's coming back but later she realised he was a ghost after an intervention from her parents. The ending was sad because she goes with him for his final journey and their little girl was there at the age she would be that day. She watches them both disappear into the trees together. She's a teacher and ends up dating a students dad who recently lost his wife.
I worked out he was a ghost and he'd hung himself from the small bit of information given about a mark on Michael's neck that he won't explain to her what it is and keeps it hidden. I also predicted she would end up with Kevin which im happy about hopefully the 2 grieving will be happy together.
So basically karen lies to everyone saying that her partner michael left her but he didn't he suffered from depression after they had a still born daughter evie and he hung himself after leaving her a note. Then she starts seeing him and thinks he's coming back but later she realised he was a ghost after an intervention from her parents. The ending was sad because she goes with him for his final journey and their little girl was there at the age she would be that day. She watches them both disappear into the trees together. She's a teacher and ends up dating a students dad who recently lost his wife.
I worked out he was a ghost and he'd hung himself from the small bit of information given about a mark on Michael's neck that he won't explain to her what it is and keeps it hidden. I also predicted she would end up with Kevin which im happy about hopefully the 2 grieving will be happy together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2023
I thought this was going to be a funny book because:
a) it has a whimsical title
b) it's written by a Liverpudlian comedy writer
While there are parts of it that were funny such as Karen's nicknames for people (Custard Claire), parts of it were very very sad. Trigger warnings for depressions, still-birth and suicide. I enjoyed Karen's monologue and being inside her head made everything understandable and believable - I just felt terrible that one person had to go through all that trauma. I'm not sure we needed Mungo/ Fionnula as weird friends/ colleagues and I wanted her best friend to be more available. She really needed her and she was off with her latest boyfriend. Karen was so understanding of everyone else and I just wanted someone to look after her for once.
a) it has a whimsical title
b) it's written by a Liverpudlian comedy writer
While there are parts of it that were funny such as Karen's nicknames for people (Custard Claire), parts of it were very very sad. Trigger warnings for depressions, still-birth and suicide. I enjoyed Karen's monologue and being inside her head made everything understandable and believable - I just felt terrible that one person had to go through all that trauma. I'm not sure we needed Mungo/ Fionnula as weird friends/ colleagues and I wanted her best friend to be more available. She really needed her and she was off with her latest boyfriend. Karen was so understanding of everyone else and I just wanted someone to look after her for once.
April 23, 2025
3,5 :)
sharp, cleverly witty, emotional and also fun!
a very good combination of true emotional suffering and light-hearted humor. A little sass and attitude, and a refreshingly straight talking narrator who's not self sensoring and #woke-ing.
A story that starts out with a break up, and turns into something so much more complicated.
my only "issue" with the book is that the "funny" scenes sometimes went on a bit too long, like adding five more sentences would make it five times as fun as just keeping it to one or two. The funny bits felt a bit too much at times, like the narrator was trying a bit too hard to get us to LOL and as a result she lost a bit of her "I don't care" attitude. at times it also felt too repetitive, like I get it, it was funny. until you repeated it.. again
sharp, cleverly witty, emotional and also fun!
a very good combination of true emotional suffering and light-hearted humor. A little sass and attitude, and a refreshingly straight talking narrator who's not self sensoring and #woke-ing.
A story that starts out with a break up, and turns into something so much more complicated.
my only "issue" with the book is that the "funny" scenes sometimes went on a bit too long, like adding five more sentences would make it five times as fun as just keeping it to one or two. The funny bits felt a bit too much at times, like the narrator was trying a bit too hard to get us to LOL and as a result she lost a bit of her "I don't care" attitude. at times it also felt too repetitive, like I get it, it was funny. until you repeated it.. again
March 3, 2019
How we can squirrel away information and not bring it out to cause pain, and how we can feel a hundred kinds of vulnerable just by remembering, with sudden clarity, how we once felt. - Pg. 61
Denial is a comfortably numb place to be. - Pg. 61
Life has a habit of coming along and slapping you round the face when you thought you were only trying to do something good, something right. - Pg. 136
Life has a way of not working out the way you expect it. - Pg. 351
Brilliantly written! It’s funny yet not funny, because it’s heart wrenching. The story echoes truthfully how every one of us may go through in similar or the same situation.
Denial is a comfortably numb place to be. - Pg. 61
Life has a habit of coming along and slapping you round the face when you thought you were only trying to do something good, something right. - Pg. 136
Life has a way of not working out the way you expect it. - Pg. 351
Brilliantly written! It’s funny yet not funny, because it’s heart wrenching. The story echoes truthfully how every one of us may go through in similar or the same situation.
December 3, 2017
I bought this book in a cosy secondhand bookshop in London without any clue What the story would be about. It took a while to get into the story but once I got through the first few chapters the story got to me and i couldn't stop reading. It was Nothing like i expected but That's a good thing. The story has a surprising twitch that I didn't saw coming.
If I liked it so much why do I only give it 3 stars and not 4 or 5? Well, because it took a while to keep my interest and i've read other books i like more but it was not a bad book at all and i've finished it faster than expected.
If I liked it so much why do I only give it 3 stars and not 4 or 5? Well, because it took a while to keep my interest and i've read other books i like more but it was not a bad book at all and i've finished it faster than expected.
April 24, 2022
The story was good, the twist was good. But the continuous “lebian, lesbianisms” and clichés around lesbians were, well, cliché. I was surprised that there weren’t any other reviews from other people saying the same thing (yet). I appreciate it is supposed to be from (two (!)) characters’ almost homophobic and narrow minded points of view. But it got incredibly cringey, predictable and tiring. Meredith will be good around the house because you guessed it … she’s a lesbian?
Other than that, the book was good and would have been a 3.5/5
Other than that, the book was good and would have been a 3.5/5
August 13, 2022
Karen Carpenter is a high school teacher whose boyfriend of 11 years suddenly leaves her with just a note. Her friends and her mother decides to stay with her without paying rent of course, doing more harm than good. They are interesting and play good roles and are funny at times but they do not compete for the main role. What I love about the book is that we’re really with Karen in this. With the turmoil that’s happening in her brain, she find herself in places she doesn’t want to be in but can’t leave for the sake of politeness.
July 30, 2025
Started and finished date - 27.07.25 to 29.07.25.
My rating - Three Stars.
This book was okay read but I didn't love it and I think people who like starting from square two by Caren Lissner or the only girl in town by Ally Condie may like is book. The cover of book was okay but noting special. The writing was okay but it took some time to got used to also the ending of book was fine. The mystery was okay but bit boring and the atmosphere was okay. The paced of plot was well structured and steady paced. The characters were okay and they needed to be flash out bit more.
My rating - Three Stars.
This book was okay read but I didn't love it and I think people who like starting from square two by Caren Lissner or the only girl in town by Ally Condie may like is book. The cover of book was okay but noting special. The writing was okay but it took some time to got used to also the ending of book was fine. The mystery was okay but bit boring and the atmosphere was okay. The paced of plot was well structured and steady paced. The characters were okay and they needed to be flash out bit more.
April 28, 2020
I have to admit about 50 pages into this book I did wonder if it was worth going on with. That’s not a complaint about the novel it’s just where everything is right now. Began to think Karen is a complete nutcase, or at the very least slightly offbeat but you know what, it’s worth sticking with it. No spoilers but I did “get it” about 100 or so pages in and have really enjoyed reading this. Thoughtful escapism about sums it up.
June 20, 2021
4/10 14% written by an acclaimed comedy writer I had high hopes for this book, but despite almost every sentence being an attempt at unnecessary humour (in a novel), I only LOL about once every 25 pages, which wasn’t good enough. However, the second half dropped some of this forced humour in favour of a half decent novel, which finished with a very moving and well written ending, lifting the initial review from 2/10
August 28, 2025
I loved the fact that, from the cover, you wouldn’t expect what is about to happen. I loved the fact that the overview doesn’t explain ANYTHING and although when I was reading it I thought there was a lot of unnecessary information, I have to admit that it made me laugh and wanted to cry in few occasions.
The fact that gently touched important matters in live caught me off guard.
4/5 because all the unnecessary information.
The fact that gently touched important matters in live caught me off guard.
4/5 because all the unnecessary information.
September 16, 2025
This was so dull
And just about nothing.
I found Karen so incredibly annoying - yes she’s had a horrible awful time, but the whole bit about the mother having an affair with a young get man, the dad being a wet lettuce about it, the teacher colleagues who had a weird sex life - just why???
What was the point of any of it.
I found it obvious her ‘ex’ was dead and it wasn’t a twist at all.
I just disliked this book and wouldn’t recommend it
And just about nothing.
I found Karen so incredibly annoying - yes she’s had a horrible awful time, but the whole bit about the mother having an affair with a young get man, the dad being a wet lettuce about it, the teacher colleagues who had a weird sex life - just why???
What was the point of any of it.
I found it obvious her ‘ex’ was dead and it wasn’t a twist at all.
I just disliked this book and wouldn’t recommend it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2020
This book was soooo depressing and, once it started getting emotionally down it just continued piling on the upsetting circumstances. It was just one bad thing after another - and this is not obvious from the blurb. Had I known the way the path the author chose for Karen, I would never have started it.
January 4, 2024
The “plot twist” was quite predictable and I was not a fan of the protagonists comments about her gay ‘friend’ which were at the best of times poor cliches and at the worst just homophobic
Disappointed that I bought this in a queer bookshop of all places 🤡
Disappointed that I bought this in a queer bookshop of all places 🤡
January 25, 2024
It is entertaining. I enjoyed reading this. I love how the author unfold the mystery behind the confusion. Instead of just a comedy it actually has a message. I guess every each of us deal with grief differently.
May 3, 2025
Absolutely nobody will be prepared for what this book has to offer... I would absolutely recommend this book. Poor my love, Karen... Sending you lots and lots of hugs, Karen xx The ending really got to me though...
March 26, 2017
A feel good book. :)
July 14, 2017
Brilliant
Loved it from beginning to end . Read all of Harvey's books and I was never disappointed. Cant wait for the next ones
Loved it from beginning to end . Read all of Harvey's books and I was never disappointed. Cant wait for the next ones
March 3, 2019
The way she has written is funny and really incredible. But the story is sad. So mix of emotions. Could turn into a good Hollywood movie
February 25, 2020
I love Karen Carpenter. Harvey did a great job of making her relatable and likeable with her hilarious internal monologue.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews