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Buffy #1
The Ex-Wives
Discover this funny and warm novel for anyone who has ever been curious about their partner's past f rom the bestselling author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Meet Buffy.
With three ex-wives, a failing career and only his dog George for company, Buffy's bachelorhood is looking worryingly confirmed.
Until he meets Celeste.
Dazzled by love, Buffy has no idea that Celeste is systematically researching his ex-wives, children and step-children, and unearthing secrets that will change all their lives...
'Wonderfully funny' Daily Mail
'Marries comedy and canniness into a novel that's warm, tolerant, shrewd and exuberant' Sunday Times
Meet Buffy.
With three ex-wives, a failing career and only his dog George for company, Buffy's bachelorhood is looking worryingly confirmed.
Until he meets Celeste.
Dazzled by love, Buffy has no idea that Celeste is systematically researching his ex-wives, children and step-children, and unearthing secrets that will change all their lives...
'Wonderfully funny' Daily Mail
'Marries comedy and canniness into a novel that's warm, tolerant, shrewd and exuberant' Sunday Times
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1993
57 people are currently reading
414 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Moggach
50 books571 followersDeborah Moggach is a British writer, born Deborah Hough on 28 June 1948. She has written fifteen novels to date, including The Ex-Wives, Tulip Fever, and, most recently, These Foolish Things. She has adapted many of her novels as TV dramas and has also written several film scripts, including the BAFTA-nominated screenplay for Pride & Prejudice. She has also written two collections of short stories and a stage play. In February 2005, Moggach was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by her Alma Mater, the University of Bristol . She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, a former Chair of the Society of Authors, and is on the executive committee of PEN.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
May 3, 2017
I don't think I'll get married again. I'll just find a woman I don't like and give her a house. ~Lewis Grizzard
Celeste (from the Latin caelestis, meaning from heaven, amazingly beautiful, angel-like) is the protagonist in this immensely difficult cross-word puzzle of life.
She finds a letter in her deceased mother's drawer addressed to her, which leads to Buffy, the noble monument, the vandalized and corroded sixty-one year old has-been actor who has fallen to his own ruin.
Instead of taking a simple route to her future, which is actually her past, she chooses the long one instead, and land up in a maze of decadence, blended and botched families, and romantic mishaps in which the children are old and adults are infantile...
However, Celeste, the heavenly angel, pulls the strings together, finally, and sprays her celestial-magic on them all.
I enjoyed this typical British satire for what it was: messy, confusing, and filled with humorous shots at the absurdity of everyday life.
ON BRITISH HUMOUR(note: not HUMOR)
Stephen Fry once in an interview described the difference between American and British comedy. He theorized that the American comedy was a string of brilliant, wise-crack, killer one-liners aimed at an audience who are not allowed to think bad of themselves, and always believe in improving one's behavior/position/personality/lovemaking/whatever. Life is 'refinable', improvable. The British, on the other hand, celebrate and glorify failure in their comedies. All the British comedies are based on "comic heroes on whom life craps from a terrible height and who's sense of dignity is constantly compromised by a world letting them down. The American comic hero is the guy with the biggest knob in the room; the British counterpart forgot his at home, or doesn't even have one."
If the reader can grasp the irony and heavy sarcasm as the bedrock of British deadpan humour, this will be a great read. It is not always possible to distinguish between harmless banter or a serious conversation with the Brits at their ultimate best. Ambiguity rules.
...subjects of humour typically involve mockery of failure, both yours and theirs but mostly yours. It might seem insensitive and if you were anywhere outside Britain, you would probably be right. But joking about your dead grandfather or your cousin’s dyslexia is completely acceptable in the country of tea and scones, so long as it is done in jest. Why else would you have an extra ‘u’ in humour if not for the fact that the joke is most often on you? ( Source )
This book reflects this notion to not take yourself too seriously. Self-deprecation is totally okay. In that sense the book deserves five stars. I'm not sure how many readers outside Britain understand, or appreciate, this kind of humor. It is evident from other reviews, that this concept of British humor is totally misunderstood.
I am not a fan of Mr. Bean at all. But I enjoy this kind of family, situational comedy, and movies such as 'Four Weddings and a Funeral', 'Bridget Jones's Diary', et al.
I'll go for four stars, since the book dragged a bit. A little too much word-dumping. But otherwise it was a great satirical drama.
The movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, based on the same book by Deborah Moggachach, was a blockbuster movie and a thrill to watch. Apparently it differs from the the book. However, it was a great way of being introduced to the author's work.
The Ex-Wives was my second book of Deborah Moggach. Tulip Fever was the first, and what a contrast to this one!
Celeste (from the Latin caelestis, meaning from heaven, amazingly beautiful, angel-like) is the protagonist in this immensely difficult cross-word puzzle of life.
She finds a letter in her deceased mother's drawer addressed to her, which leads to Buffy, the noble monument, the vandalized and corroded sixty-one year old has-been actor who has fallen to his own ruin.
Instead of taking a simple route to her future, which is actually her past, she chooses the long one instead, and land up in a maze of decadence, blended and botched families, and romantic mishaps in which the children are old and adults are infantile...
However, Celeste, the heavenly angel, pulls the strings together, finally, and sprays her celestial-magic on them all.
I enjoyed this typical British satire for what it was: messy, confusing, and filled with humorous shots at the absurdity of everyday life.
ON BRITISH HUMOUR(note: not HUMOR)
Stephen Fry once in an interview described the difference between American and British comedy. He theorized that the American comedy was a string of brilliant, wise-crack, killer one-liners aimed at an audience who are not allowed to think bad of themselves, and always believe in improving one's behavior/position/personality/lovemaking/whatever. Life is 'refinable', improvable. The British, on the other hand, celebrate and glorify failure in their comedies. All the British comedies are based on "comic heroes on whom life craps from a terrible height and who's sense of dignity is constantly compromised by a world letting them down. The American comic hero is the guy with the biggest knob in the room; the British counterpart forgot his at home, or doesn't even have one."
If the reader can grasp the irony and heavy sarcasm as the bedrock of British deadpan humour, this will be a great read. It is not always possible to distinguish between harmless banter or a serious conversation with the Brits at their ultimate best. Ambiguity rules.
...subjects of humour typically involve mockery of failure, both yours and theirs but mostly yours. It might seem insensitive and if you were anywhere outside Britain, you would probably be right. But joking about your dead grandfather or your cousin’s dyslexia is completely acceptable in the country of tea and scones, so long as it is done in jest. Why else would you have an extra ‘u’ in humour if not for the fact that the joke is most often on you? ( Source )
This book reflects this notion to not take yourself too seriously. Self-deprecation is totally okay. In that sense the book deserves five stars. I'm not sure how many readers outside Britain understand, or appreciate, this kind of humor. It is evident from other reviews, that this concept of British humor is totally misunderstood.
I am not a fan of Mr. Bean at all. But I enjoy this kind of family, situational comedy, and movies such as 'Four Weddings and a Funeral', 'Bridget Jones's Diary', et al.
I'll go for four stars, since the book dragged a bit. A little too much word-dumping. But otherwise it was a great satirical drama.
The movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, based on the same book by Deborah Moggachach, was a blockbuster movie and a thrill to watch. Apparently it differs from the the book. However, it was a great way of being introduced to the author's work.
The Ex-Wives was my second book of Deborah Moggach. Tulip Fever was the first, and what a contrast to this one!
May 22, 2021
UPDATE
This was great fun, especially as the loveable rogue Buffy has a great similarity to my own husband.
Now reading for the second time - and finding it just as enjoyable. What a wonderful skill Deborah Moggach displays in such realistic characterisation, that we can see recognise them in real life!
This was great fun, especially as the loveable rogue Buffy has a great similarity to my own husband.
Now reading for the second time - and finding it just as enjoyable. What a wonderful skill Deborah Moggach displays in such realistic characterisation, that we can see recognise them in real life!
August 10, 2019
I found all the characters annoying but a quick easy read.
July 29, 2011
Not one of Deborah Moggach's best stories - I figured out what was going on, and what was going to happen quite early. One to read for the excellent characterisation and humour. The man who thought his wife liked camping, and then discovered she had actually said something quite different, was my fave bit.
August 1, 2018
Sorry got to chapter 4 and hated it........
October 12, 2025
The Ex-Wives by Deborah Moggach and narrated by John Hopkins
When I saw that The Ex-Wives was written by Deborah Moggach -- the author of the bestselling book and movie, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel -- I requested it immediately. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was funny and warm in a gentle way, and I liked it very much.
The Ex-Wives revolves around Russell 'Buffy' Buffery, an ageing actor with a colourful history of ex-wives and a weird little dog, George. Buffy meets Celeste, a young woman who's newly arrived in London and works at his local pharmacy. Buffy is completely dazzled by love, but he has no idea that Celeste is systematically researching his ex-wives, children and stepchildren. The multi-perspective storytelling enabled us to enter the minds of various characters, which added depth to the overall experience. However, the sheer number of characters could be confusing.
Moggach's writing is rich in observational humour, which I appreciated. However, at times, some phrases seemed dated, but during the closing credits, I learned this book was first released in 1993, which made a lot of sense. I found the first half to be slow.
This audiobook is narrated by John Hopkins, and his voice was perfect (especially for 'ageing actor' Buffy). He did an excellent job bringing the characters to life.
I give it a very mild #thumbsup👍;
Go read a book!
Body count: 0.
#TheExWives @Bolindaaudio #Bolindaaudio @netgalley #NetGalley
#booksdeevaareads #2025bookshelf #deevaasbookshelf #booknerd #CreativeLife #goreadabook #allthebooks #DesignInspiration #Designer #GraphicDesign #DesignNerd #designdeevaa #Bookish #Chicklit #Romcom #BookRecommendation #Bookstagram #TBRList
When I saw that The Ex-Wives was written by Deborah Moggach -- the author of the bestselling book and movie, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel -- I requested it immediately. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was funny and warm in a gentle way, and I liked it very much.
The Ex-Wives revolves around Russell 'Buffy' Buffery, an ageing actor with a colourful history of ex-wives and a weird little dog, George. Buffy meets Celeste, a young woman who's newly arrived in London and works at his local pharmacy. Buffy is completely dazzled by love, but he has no idea that Celeste is systematically researching his ex-wives, children and stepchildren. The multi-perspective storytelling enabled us to enter the minds of various characters, which added depth to the overall experience. However, the sheer number of characters could be confusing.
Moggach's writing is rich in observational humour, which I appreciated. However, at times, some phrases seemed dated, but during the closing credits, I learned this book was first released in 1993, which made a lot of sense. I found the first half to be slow.
This audiobook is narrated by John Hopkins, and his voice was perfect (especially for 'ageing actor' Buffy). He did an excellent job bringing the characters to life.
I give it a very mild #thumbsup👍;
Go read a book!
Body count: 0.
#TheExWives @Bolindaaudio #Bolindaaudio @netgalley #NetGalley
#booksdeevaareads #2025bookshelf #deevaasbookshelf #booknerd #CreativeLife #goreadabook #allthebooks #DesignInspiration #Designer #GraphicDesign #DesignNerd #designdeevaa #Bookish #Chicklit #Romcom #BookRecommendation #Bookstagram #TBRList
March 1, 2021
So many characters, not just Buffy's ex-wives and their children but ex lovers and their children, husbands of ex-wives and their children (so not actually his relatives) even sons and daughters in law, or are they already in the previous group? Who cares, Deborah Moggach keeps it brilliantly simple, the complications of the relationships are well realised and always amusing.
For instance, there is one great piece about Jacquetta (Buffy's second wife?) who is such an awful person, where she considers her own personality and her situation with new husband Leon. All written in the third person. "Sometimes she did something that was just a cry for attention". "The trouble was (not working at her desk) she had too many ideas".
There is so much poignant stuff crammed into the writing, A great piece about Buffy's previous Christmases that mostly ended in rows. Mostly all Buffy's fault. "His various Christmases had come in all permutations, most of them uncomfortable and some so disastrous that he would have preferred to have spent the day in a Salvation Army hostel".
Later there are very short pieces dodging between many of the characters that is very entertaining. The very final part is pretty much contrived, but how can you object to it's heart. I found this book to superior to the sequel "Heartbreak Hotel" that we read for book club.
For instance, there is one great piece about Jacquetta (Buffy's second wife?) who is such an awful person, where she considers her own personality and her situation with new husband Leon. All written in the third person. "Sometimes she did something that was just a cry for attention". "The trouble was (not working at her desk) she had too many ideas".
There is so much poignant stuff crammed into the writing, A great piece about Buffy's previous Christmases that mostly ended in rows. Mostly all Buffy's fault. "His various Christmases had come in all permutations, most of them uncomfortable and some so disastrous that he would have preferred to have spent the day in a Salvation Army hostel".
Later there are very short pieces dodging between many of the characters that is very entertaining. The very final part is pretty much contrived, but how can you object to it's heart. I found this book to superior to the sequel "Heartbreak Hotel" that we read for book club.
January 4, 2020
What an odd little book: some parts of this were quite wonderful, and then other parts were rather awful, and the ending was just slightly too neatly tied up and everyone friends for my liking.
The reveal? Well, I saw part of it coming - which made me a bit uncomfortable about the relationship between Celeste and Buffy (actually, even without the very obvious plot there, that was a bit bleurgh (61 and 25?!)), but I didn't guess the other part, so that was a pleasant surprise.
The glimpses into B's various ex's lives was what I liked best - DM does screwed up families like nobody else - and I very much enjoyed the minor characters and side players (Quentin - can we have a book about him please? India too. And I found Miles and Brenda brilliant).
But I found I didn't really like Buffy all that much - he sounded like he'd been much more fun and interesting before and we didn't get any of that here.
He makes another appearance in her latest book, The Carer, in a new role with a new woman; clearly there's life in the old dog yet.
The reveal? Well, I saw part of it coming - which made me a bit uncomfortable about the relationship between Celeste and Buffy (actually, even without the very obvious plot there, that was a bit bleurgh (61 and 25?!)), but I didn't guess the other part, so that was a pleasant surprise.
The glimpses into B's various ex's lives was what I liked best - DM does screwed up families like nobody else - and I very much enjoyed the minor characters and side players (Quentin - can we have a book about him please? India too. And I found Miles and Brenda brilliant).
But I found I didn't really like Buffy all that much - he sounded like he'd been much more fun and interesting before and we didn't get any of that here.
He makes another appearance in her latest book, The Carer, in a new role with a new woman; clearly there's life in the old dog yet.
September 19, 2025
I was given an audio copy of The Ex-Wives by Deborah Moggach and narrated by John Hopkins from Bolinda Audio and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hmm, a tricky read. Moggach's book suit a certain type of reader. I've read a few of her books, including the sequel to this (which I can't remember reading) and find that her writing is observational but not always very illuminating in terms of plot development.
The idea is quite good here. Celeste is our timid character entering the big smoke, in some degree of 'love' with our lead protagonist, an ageing actor. She has an ulterior motive, however, inadvertently meeting a motley of ex-wives. The style seems quite dated but I'm not sure why. Buffy, read with great enthusiasm by Hopkins is a rather priggish character who nevertheless has his plus points. His wives all vary in terms of first/second/third world problems and have their moments.
I think it's readable but not too memorable.
Hmm, a tricky read. Moggach's book suit a certain type of reader. I've read a few of her books, including the sequel to this (which I can't remember reading) and find that her writing is observational but not always very illuminating in terms of plot development.
The idea is quite good here. Celeste is our timid character entering the big smoke, in some degree of 'love' with our lead protagonist, an ageing actor. She has an ulterior motive, however, inadvertently meeting a motley of ex-wives. The style seems quite dated but I'm not sure why. Buffy, read with great enthusiasm by Hopkins is a rather priggish character who nevertheless has his plus points. His wives all vary in terms of first/second/third world problems and have their moments.
I think it's readable but not too memorable.
July 5, 2018
The Ex Wives, a book l have started on and off, started again but this time l could not put it down.
I throughly enjoyed it. Very funny, and a cracking good dialogue, that would be perfect for a 🍿 movie.
The characters are hilarious and the main character Buffy is such a typical male. Deborah Moggach was not afraid on touching on the topic of males getting older, writing about their physical changes and their attraction to younger women.
This book is so great, the jokes are with so much wit and just honesty it is so appreciated.
This book is highly recommend.
An interesting mind blowing twist at the end, not what l expected.
I throughly enjoyed it. Very funny, and a cracking good dialogue, that would be perfect for a 🍿 movie.
The characters are hilarious and the main character Buffy is such a typical male. Deborah Moggach was not afraid on touching on the topic of males getting older, writing about their physical changes and their attraction to younger women.
This book is so great, the jokes are with so much wit and just honesty it is so appreciated.
This book is highly recommend.
An interesting mind blowing twist at the end, not what l expected.
June 10, 2025
Read this book for I think a second time as seemed familiar. Enjoyed this tale of Buffy an aging actor now doing voice overs for adverts. He has had a succession of ex wives and partners and children that he has lost touch with. And though you know that you shouldn’t you feel an affection towards him, even though he has not always treated people right and he is not politically correct. The story centres around Celeste a beautiful young girl who whilst clearing out her dead mother’s things finds a letter that leads her to Buffys door. She then befriends him and secretly traces down his previous partners.
October 12, 2025
The Ex-Wives by Deborah Moggach is a delightful story, which I listened to narrated by John Hopkins, he was a tremendous voice of Buffy at times and brought the old reprobate to life.
He has three ex-wives, a failing acting career with only his dog George for company., he is once again on his own. Until he meets Celeste, whom he falls madly in love with, although she is young enough to be one of his many children. Unknown to Buffy, Celeste is researching his ex- wives and family, four reasons of her own.
Then on. Christmas Eve everything is made clear, and everyone in the extended family have a Christmas to remember.
Highly recommended
He has three ex-wives, a failing acting career with only his dog George for company., he is once again on his own. Until he meets Celeste, whom he falls madly in love with, although she is young enough to be one of his many children. Unknown to Buffy, Celeste is researching his ex- wives and family, four reasons of her own.
Then on. Christmas Eve everything is made clear, and everyone in the extended family have a Christmas to remember.
Highly recommended
September 8, 2018
Described as a comedy this isn’t a laugh a minute tale but it does have amusing one liners. Buffy is an actor in his sixties who has seen better days acting wise. He is living in a squalid flat when he meets Celeste and he is smitten. At the same time his ex-wives and extended families re-appear in his life and it isn’t difficult to see the twist which is going to come.
It was very hard to relate to the characters who all appeared too wrapped up in their middle class lives. The Christmas towards the end of the novel, is so dysfunctional it could easily have come from an Alan Aykbourn play.
It was very hard to relate to the characters who all appeared too wrapped up in their middle class lives. The Christmas towards the end of the novel, is so dysfunctional it could easily have come from an Alan Aykbourn play.
January 13, 2023
Published originally in 1993, I think this now qualifies as historical fiction! Certainly the digital era would have made it a whole lot easier - and faster - for Celeste to piece together her past! Nonetheless, mentions of Hirondelle wine, candlestick telephones and the like made for an entertaining trip down memory lane.
Moggach writes beautifully and her story telling is always great. Major criticism is that Buffy sounded and behaved more like a man of eighty-one than sixty-one.
Quick and easy read.
Moggach writes beautifully and her story telling is always great. Major criticism is that Buffy sounded and behaved more like a man of eighty-one than sixty-one.
Quick and easy read.
September 4, 2025
Buffy is an actor and once again a bachelor when he meets Celeste in the local chemist’s. He falls for her and she is very interested in her past life, especially his ex wives and his children. Why is she so interested?
Very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Excellent characters in this well paced novel. Buffy has a dog and a failing career. He wants to spend more time with Celeste but she wants to spend more time with his past. Quite entertaining.
Very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Excellent characters in this well paced novel. Buffy has a dog and a failing career. He wants to spend more time with Celeste but she wants to spend more time with his past. Quite entertaining.
May 5, 2019
I liked the premise but there were too many characters. Buffy's attraction to Celeste was also slightly creepy. I like Deborah Moggach but hadn't read anything by her for some time. This book felt dated because technology has moved on so much in the 20 or so years since it was written. Good use of The Winter's Tale.
November 22, 2020
I realised why Celeste was doing what she was doing right from the beginning, but it was fun to read how she did it. Some amusing bits had me chuckling out loud and having to read them to my husband - very witty! Especially the bits about getting older. Fun - not a book that sticks to the ribs - but light and shrewd, sometimes shrewish!
November 15, 2021
This book has it's faults but the quality of writing and laugh out loud moments made it a very enjoyable read. Deborah Moggach is brilliant at creating memorable characters, so although there are so many, they all remain distinctive and the reader doesn't get muddled by who is who. (A common failing in other novels of this genre)
January 12, 2023
I loved other titles she's written so was looking forward to this. However, I really didn't enjoy it and wish I'd ditched it. I'm not sure how much of my dislike stems purely from the fact that it's really dated and hasn't aged well. In the 80's it was probably quirky, racy and funny. Now it just seems creepy and disturbingly dysfunctional. I felt like I needed a shower after reading.
June 22, 2024
3.5 stars
This is a quiet family drama with lashings of British humour and a meandering story that does make sense if you hang in there!
I would call it a cosy mystery of sorts as you do need to work out how all the characters fit together, even though there isn't a lot happening in terms of plot.
This is a quiet family drama with lashings of British humour and a meandering story that does make sense if you hang in there!
I would call it a cosy mystery of sorts as you do need to work out how all the characters fit together, even though there isn't a lot happening in terms of plot.
September 2, 2025
This book was just okay for me. Some bits were funny, but other parts dragged and felt a bit boring. I found most of the characters pretty irritating and the whole thing felt a little outdated. The writing itself was good and the narration was fine, but overall it didn’t really leave much of an impression.
August 25, 2021
A little dated and the true relationship between Celeste and Buffy was obvious from the start (for me anyway). However, the little observations and the gentle humour are wonderful. Made me feel quite nostalgic for simpler times.
November 9, 2021
An amusing book which recaptured life in 1990s London. The story is a little too long and a bit confusing at times, but the characters are hilarious and I enjoyed the focus on Buffy as the husband/lover/father rather than on Celeste or any of the other females.
March 8, 2022
One of Moggach's earlier books - I loved this - read it relatively quickly while I was ill. A clever, funny sad story about families and they way they do or don't interact and are linked through one person.
November 16, 2024
I read this after reading Heartbreak Hotel, and it provided lots of background information about Buffy and his ex-wives. If I'd not read HH first I doubt I'd have read this to the end as a standalone book though.
May 17, 2017
Entertaining and funny. the end only slightely disappointing.... as if the writer wanted to finish the book as fast as she could.
Read
September 19, 2019This was an interesting story. Celeste's mother has died and she finds a letter that her mother had written to her that sent her on a journey.
May 27, 2020
I liked the characters of Lorna & Popsi most.
May 25, 2021
Rubbish!
December 23, 2021
Tedious reading but very funny in parts.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews