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Those Who Serve
It had all seemed so exciting and romantic! Not even out of their teens, Kate and Cass, friends since boarding school, both marrying dashing naval officers within weeks of each other. But after all the glamour of naval balls and white weddings, passing beneath the arches of naval swords had not led Kate down the pathway to marital bliss. Not even her cherished twins can compensate for her husband's coldness and mental cruelty and she yearns for the peace of her beloved West Country. Cass, on the other hand, revels in the freedom of movement her husband's long absences on the submarines provide - even with the arrival of the first of her four children, she is not to be denied the frenzied activity of the 1960s sexual revolution! But it is a dangerous game that Cass is playing, and as the decades roll by, Kate may not always be around to pick up the pieces...
516 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 13, 1995
25 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Marcia Willett
66 books355 followersMarcia Willett began her career as a novelist when she was fifty years old. Since that first novel Marcia has written twenty more under her own name as well as a number of short stories. She has also written four books under the pseudonym "Willa Marsh", and is published in more than sixteen countries.
Marcia Willett's early life was devoted to the ballet, but her dreams of becoming a ballerina ended when she grew out of the classical proportions required. She had always loved books, and a family crisis made her take up a new career as a novelist - a decision she had never regretted.
Marcia Willett's early life was devoted to the ballet, but her dreams of becoming a ballerina ended when she grew out of the classical proportions required. She had always loved books, and a family crisis made her take up a new career as a novelist - a decision she had never regretted.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 27, 2008
Kate and Cass are close friends with very different outlooks. One stays in an unhappy marriage, the other has many affairs. The first chapter is a 'flash-forward' to an event in Cass's life, and clearly overshadows the whole book. Well-written and believable, with hope in the midst of pain.
First read in 2000. Enjoyed the second time of reading, too, eight years later. This is Marcia Willett's first novel, and some of the characters introduced in it re-appear in her later books.
First read in 2000. Enjoyed the second time of reading, too, eight years later. This is Marcia Willett's first novel, and some of the characters introduced in it re-appear in her later books.
did-not-finish
January 25, 2022I really tried to get into this, but I just didn't care about the characters. Also, there is a lot of adultery in this book and it got old fast.
September 29, 2008
The first novel by Marcia Willett, this is the story of Kate Webster and Cass Wivenhoe, who meet at age 12 at an English boarding school and are friends for life. They are very different--Cass is free spirited and regularly unfaithful to husband Tom, a decent and loving husband, whereas Kate is faithful to her Navy officer husband, who is condescending, cold, and controlling. Cass' wildness leads to a family tragedy that forms a frame around the central story. This book is also known as First Friends in England. For fans of Maeve Binchy, but with a military setting.
September 24, 2023
“Charlotte had fallen and the twins were helping her up. Guy was brushing her down while Giles had his arm around her, comforting her. Oliver strolled up eating an apple and held it out casually, offering her a bite.
“Suddenly, uncontrollably, Kate began to cry. Great tearing sobs shook her body. Tears spurted from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She turned blindly and Cass took her into her arms, quietly, comfortingly, and stood holding her, watching the trees that danced and bowed in the wind beyond the window.” — Those Who Serve (a.k.a. First Friends by Marcia Willett
While I was waiting for this book to arrive from the library, I made the fatal mistake of looking it up on Goodreads and reading a couple of the reviews. Once I jumped out of that rabbit hole I was left wondering if I should even bother reading this book. That is how negative the reviews were.
Now that I’ve finished reading this first book of Marcia Willett’s, all I can say is that you should take every review you read with a grain of salt. Tastes differ. Enough said.
Cass and Kate meet at school and remain close friends into adulthood. Fresh from school they both marry naval officers and as they each pick up and move all over the UK, crossing and recrossing each other’s paths, their families grow, and these women share the joys and challenges of family life, especially married life with husbands who spend more time away at sea than at home.
Beyond the friendship between Cass and Kate, this book deals a lot with infidelity, and other challenges in marriage. Death and loss are also dealt with, but to a lesser extent than in some of Marcia Willett’s other books.
I really enjoyed reading this book. Admittedly, it was a bit soap opera-ish at times and most of the men besides Cass’s father, the General, made me cringe. If nothing else, read this book for the relationship between Kate and Cass’s father. It’s lovely.
Admittedly, this wasn't my favourite book of Marcia Willett's, but as a fan of her writing it was very satisfying to read her first book, especially because a lot of the same characters and families reappear in her later books. Even if Cass and Kate don't play big parts in the other books, I found it interesting to be there at the inception of those connections being forged between the characters.
“Suddenly, uncontrollably, Kate began to cry. Great tearing sobs shook her body. Tears spurted from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She turned blindly and Cass took her into her arms, quietly, comfortingly, and stood holding her, watching the trees that danced and bowed in the wind beyond the window.” — Those Who Serve (a.k.a. First Friends by Marcia Willett
While I was waiting for this book to arrive from the library, I made the fatal mistake of looking it up on Goodreads and reading a couple of the reviews. Once I jumped out of that rabbit hole I was left wondering if I should even bother reading this book. That is how negative the reviews were.
Now that I’ve finished reading this first book of Marcia Willett’s, all I can say is that you should take every review you read with a grain of salt. Tastes differ. Enough said.
Cass and Kate meet at school and remain close friends into adulthood. Fresh from school they both marry naval officers and as they each pick up and move all over the UK, crossing and recrossing each other’s paths, their families grow, and these women share the joys and challenges of family life, especially married life with husbands who spend more time away at sea than at home.
Beyond the friendship between Cass and Kate, this book deals a lot with infidelity, and other challenges in marriage. Death and loss are also dealt with, but to a lesser extent than in some of Marcia Willett’s other books.
I really enjoyed reading this book. Admittedly, it was a bit soap opera-ish at times and most of the men besides Cass’s father, the General, made me cringe. If nothing else, read this book for the relationship between Kate and Cass’s father. It’s lovely.
Admittedly, this wasn't my favourite book of Marcia Willett's, but as a fan of her writing it was very satisfying to read her first book, especially because a lot of the same characters and families reappear in her later books. Even if Cass and Kate don't play big parts in the other books, I found it interesting to be there at the inception of those connections being forged between the characters.
August 13, 2018
This was later published as "First Friends" which I read in 2012 and didn't much care for. Six years hasn't improved my impression. I didn't realize that it was the same book and wondered why Willett had revisited her least attractive characters. Here is my review from then: "I'm so glad that I read "A Friend of the Family" before I read this book. I really loved "A Friend of the Family", which is a sequel to "First Friends". I quite liked Cass in "A Friend..." and really hated her in this book. In this book, the first page tells you the tragic end to the story and you read the entire book with a feeling of dread."
I felt the same on this reading, except I found Kate extremely tiresome as well. I love the Willett books and I've enjoyed these characters in other books, but this one is just intolerable.
I felt the same on this reading, except I found Kate extremely tiresome as well. I love the Willett books and I've enjoyed these characters in other books, but this one is just intolerable.
March 15, 2020
Marcia Willett books are among my most favourite. This is superb. The characters are believable, I care what happens and want to know what happens to them. While it's really sad there is a heart-warming background running through it. The descriptions are marvellous, especially the houses and landscapes.
January 15, 2019
The first book I read from Marcia Willett I must say I was hooked I couldn't wait to find out more and more about the story and characters felt every emotion that they felt. Honestly so glad I found this book as this authour writes an amazing story!
February 18, 2020
Working my way through this series of old favourites which always give me something new with each re-reading. This was one of my least favourites that I don't return to as often but I really enjoyed it this time.
September 14, 2022
Wow
This was an incredible story. How sad and yet how beautiful. Very moving. I really enjoy Marcia. Willet's writing. Feeling very moved.
This was an incredible story. How sad and yet how beautiful. Very moving. I really enjoy Marcia. Willet's writing. Feeling very moved.
November 13, 2022
Love these Willett novels, so deep in character development and recurring characters. My kind of series.
June 29, 2025
Gosh. Very racy.
April 19, 2013
I think they got the title wrong. It should be called "How Many Extra-marital Affairs Can We Fit Into One Novel?" Seriously. It paints an almost hopeless picture of British Naval marriages.
The story follows two best friends who marry submariners and settle down in Navy living quarters, frequently moving to new postings, socializing with other Navy wives and spending long weeks/months alone while their husbands are at sea.
The first half is more focused on Kate and her poor excuse for a husband, Mark, and their twin sons. Her friend Cass's story is secondary until the spotlight turns on her in the last half. Cass and her husband, Tom, haven't much of a story other than their rotating affairs, which are treated very lightly, more as humour than anything else, except for Kate's rather melodramatic warning that if Cass keeps playing Russian roulette one day she'll take the bullet.
I found the story, the writing and the characters unbelievable. There were awkward places in the writing, like one where the point of view changes not just mid-chapter, but mid-conversation. In one particularly hard to believe scene, Kate runs into an old acquaintance. They comment on how it's been "years and years" since they've seen each other, and that was mostly in passing at social events, then the other woman says she really wants to talk to Kate about the personal problems she's having so they have lunch and she tells all. Not very realistic for people who are just acquaintances. I couldn't get past these bumps in the writing long enough to get into the story.
The characters seemed flat and disconnected from the emotions they were expressing. Most of them never became much more than names on a page. There were a couple of characters I liked; Cass's father, "The General", becomes a source of comfort and wisdom for Kate in his later years, and The General's housekeeper is a more realistic character who brings a bit of humour to the story.
I didn't like this book at all; I was very disappointed. But - Marcia Willett has a long list of novels under her belt and I'm going to trust that they get better and try again.
The story follows two best friends who marry submariners and settle down in Navy living quarters, frequently moving to new postings, socializing with other Navy wives and spending long weeks/months alone while their husbands are at sea.
The first half is more focused on Kate and her poor excuse for a husband, Mark, and their twin sons. Her friend Cass's story is secondary until the spotlight turns on her in the last half. Cass and her husband, Tom, haven't much of a story other than their rotating affairs, which are treated very lightly, more as humour than anything else, except for Kate's rather melodramatic warning that if Cass keeps playing Russian roulette one day she'll take the bullet.
I found the story, the writing and the characters unbelievable. There were awkward places in the writing, like one where the point of view changes not just mid-chapter, but mid-conversation. In one particularly hard to believe scene, Kate runs into an old acquaintance. They comment on how it's been "years and years" since they've seen each other, and that was mostly in passing at social events, then the other woman says she really wants to talk to Kate about the personal problems she's having so they have lunch and she tells all. Not very realistic for people who are just acquaintances. I couldn't get past these bumps in the writing long enough to get into the story.
The characters seemed flat and disconnected from the emotions they were expressing. Most of them never became much more than names on a page. There were a couple of characters I liked; Cass's father, "The General", becomes a source of comfort and wisdom for Kate in his later years, and The General's housekeeper is a more realistic character who brings a bit of humour to the story.
I didn't like this book at all; I was very disappointed. But - Marcia Willett has a long list of novels under her belt and I'm going to trust that they get better and try again.
September 30, 2015
When is Hong to read through my Marcia Willetts collection, this is the place to start as although stand alone novels, its best to read in chronological order as the author develops her characters and their lives throughout her books, supporting characters in one book will become principal ones in following novels and vice Versa. I love immersing myself into the Devon countryside so vividly brought to life and the daily lives of the Havel wives, it's a book of contrasts introducing the steadfast Kate who remains loyal to her bullying husband verses the Russian roulette activity of her best friend since school Cass whose dalliances get out of control. This story flows and ebbs like a tide and is both uplifting and dramatic. Due to its ending its not my favourite but as it introduces you to the characters and environment that develops in her following novels it's an enjoyable read as a first novel.
March 21, 2017
I have read other books with Cass and Kate in them, but I had never read the one that "started it all." I enjoyed it because I love books set in England, and I love books that deal with women's friendships, but I was not so pleased with the casual attitude toward adultery (thankfully no explicit sex scenes.)
The one thing I do wish had been different was the prologue mentioned a death of one of the characters, and I spent most of the book wondering when and how. I would have rather have it happen as part of the story without that. (Well, of course you hate to read of someone's death, but you know what I mean.)
Other than that, it was a good book. Marcia Willett is one of my favorite authors and I was thrilled to be able to read her first book. If you like Rosmunde Pilcher, Maeve Binchy, or Sharon Owens you will like this book/author. Note: I am not saying she is just like them, but they are similar in style and subject.
The one thing I do wish had been different was the prologue mentioned a death of one of the characters, and I spent most of the book wondering when and how. I would have rather have it happen as part of the story without that. (Well, of course you hate to read of someone's death, but you know what I mean.)
Other than that, it was a good book. Marcia Willett is one of my favorite authors and I was thrilled to be able to read her first book. If you like Rosmunde Pilcher, Maeve Binchy, or Sharon Owens you will like this book/author. Note: I am not saying she is just like them, but they are similar in style and subject.
Read
April 5, 2013Excellent writing about naval families in the latter part of the twentieth century. Got a little weird toward the end, but I've already started another book of hers.
September 2, 2013
good light hearted read although sometimes gets a bit confusing as to who is having an affair with who and who knows about it but liked the "bullet" at the end .
December 21, 2013
Hmmm. I found it to be a downer. Not what I expect from Marcia Willett's stories.
October 27, 2018
Audiobook
Rather unexpected ending, not sure why
Rather unexpected ending, not sure why
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews