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Getting Even: A Novel
Revenge has never been such fun
How would you feel if your best friend at work betrayed you? Was secretly having an affair with an influential colleague? Won a coveted promotion, then teamed you up with a mere junior, leaving you feeling completely demoted? What would you do? For Ivy there's no choice. The only person she has ever trusted, Orianna, has blown it big time. So there's only one way forward: revenge.
Ivy's campaign is brilliant, if horribly destructive, and she's determined to get even with the woman who has dared to cross her. But is Ivy really the innocent party? Or is she hiding secrets of her own?
From Sarah Rayner, the international bestselling author of One Moment, One Morning , comes Getting Even , an unputdownable story of jealousy, sex, friendship and backstabbing set in the heart of London's Soho adland.
How would you feel if your best friend at work betrayed you? Was secretly having an affair with an influential colleague? Won a coveted promotion, then teamed you up with a mere junior, leaving you feeling completely demoted? What would you do? For Ivy there's no choice. The only person she has ever trusted, Orianna, has blown it big time. So there's only one way forward: revenge.
Ivy's campaign is brilliant, if horribly destructive, and she's determined to get even with the woman who has dared to cross her. But is Ivy really the innocent party? Or is she hiding secrets of her own?
From Sarah Rayner, the international bestselling author of One Moment, One Morning , comes Getting Even , an unputdownable story of jealousy, sex, friendship and backstabbing set in the heart of London's Soho adland.
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2002
9 people are currently reading
913 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Rayner
24 books278 followers"Reading a Sarah Rayner book is like having a no-holds-barred chat with a close friend..."
Sarah Rayner writes both fiction and non-fiction and has sold over 750,000 books worldwide. She is the author of six novels - including 'Searching for Mr. Yesterday', published in February 2023. Her novel, the international bestseller, 'One Moment, One Morning' has two follow-ups, 'The Two Week Wait' and 'Another Night, Another Day', which feature the same Brighton-based characters.
She is also the author/publisher of the 'Making Friends' series of non-fiction self-help books. 'Making Friends with Anxiety: a warm, supportive little book to help ease worry and panic', 'Making Friends with the Menopause' and 'Making Peace with Depression' were published in 2022 by Thread, the non-fiction imprint of Bookouture. They were fully revised and edited for republication.
In 2021, Sarah published 'No More Tigers', her mother's childhood memoir, through her independent imprint, Creative Pumpkin Publishing. Mary Rayner grew up in Burma and when she was eight years old, in 1942, Mary and her family fled from Burma to India on foot to escape the invading Japanese. Mary Rayner is now 89, and is the author/illustrator of the 'Pig Books'. Sarah has written both a Foreword and Afterword for the memoir which is available on Amazon.
To find out more about Sarah or get in touch, please visit her website, www.sarah-rayner.com - it always makes her day to hear to hear from her readers. She is also on Facebook, Instagram and TicToc (search for Creative Pumpkin) and regularly posts about her life in Brighton, England, where she lives with her husband, Tom.
Sarah Rayner writes both fiction and non-fiction and has sold over 750,000 books worldwide. She is the author of six novels - including 'Searching for Mr. Yesterday', published in February 2023. Her novel, the international bestseller, 'One Moment, One Morning' has two follow-ups, 'The Two Week Wait' and 'Another Night, Another Day', which feature the same Brighton-based characters.
She is also the author/publisher of the 'Making Friends' series of non-fiction self-help books. 'Making Friends with Anxiety: a warm, supportive little book to help ease worry and panic', 'Making Friends with the Menopause' and 'Making Peace with Depression' were published in 2022 by Thread, the non-fiction imprint of Bookouture. They were fully revised and edited for republication.
In 2021, Sarah published 'No More Tigers', her mother's childhood memoir, through her independent imprint, Creative Pumpkin Publishing. Mary Rayner grew up in Burma and when she was eight years old, in 1942, Mary and her family fled from Burma to India on foot to escape the invading Japanese. Mary Rayner is now 89, and is the author/illustrator of the 'Pig Books'. Sarah has written both a Foreword and Afterword for the memoir which is available on Amazon.
To find out more about Sarah or get in touch, please visit her website, www.sarah-rayner.com - it always makes her day to hear to hear from her readers. She is also on Facebook, Instagram and TicToc (search for Creative Pumpkin) and regularly posts about her life in Brighton, England, where she lives with her husband, Tom.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
September 27, 2014
3.5 stars
This is a story full of office drama, vicious rumors and backstabbing. A reminder that a slight twist of someone's words can have devastating effects.
Orianna and Ivy are a creative team for an advertising firm. They've built their careers together and become best friends along the way. They are total opposites in every way. Ivy is brash, cold and sometimes downright nasty. Orianna is sweet and extremely naive, so she's clueless when it comes to Ivy's antics.
Ivy feels it's utter betrayal when Orianna takes a promotion. A promotion that makes her Ivy's boss. Add on top of that, the secret Orianna has been keeping for months. Her relationship with one of their colleagues, Dan. Ivy freaks and becomes dead set on getting revenge. She's starts a rash of rumors involving Orianna's boyfriend, his trainer and the new girl in the office. The sad part, Orianna has no idea that its Ivy making her life so miserable. But what goes around comes around. Especially since Ivy's been keeping secrets of her own.
I found this book entertaining overall, but I couldn't help feeling like something was missing. There was no character connection for me. I couldn't wrap my mind around why Ivy and Orianna would even be friends. They were just so different and Ivy had no redeeming qualities. At times Orianna's naivety was just too much to take. Could anyone really be that blind when you've been friends with someone for years? I also had a hard time with the way Orianna dealt with Dan. Who wouldn't give someone a chance to tell their side of the story? Just saying, it felt a little unbelievable.
3.5/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
*Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This is a story full of office drama, vicious rumors and backstabbing. A reminder that a slight twist of someone's words can have devastating effects.
Orianna and Ivy are a creative team for an advertising firm. They've built their careers together and become best friends along the way. They are total opposites in every way. Ivy is brash, cold and sometimes downright nasty. Orianna is sweet and extremely naive, so she's clueless when it comes to Ivy's antics.
Ivy feels it's utter betrayal when Orianna takes a promotion. A promotion that makes her Ivy's boss. Add on top of that, the secret Orianna has been keeping for months. Her relationship with one of their colleagues, Dan. Ivy freaks and becomes dead set on getting revenge. She's starts a rash of rumors involving Orianna's boyfriend, his trainer and the new girl in the office. The sad part, Orianna has no idea that its Ivy making her life so miserable. But what goes around comes around. Especially since Ivy's been keeping secrets of her own.
I found this book entertaining overall, but I couldn't help feeling like something was missing. There was no character connection for me. I couldn't wrap my mind around why Ivy and Orianna would even be friends. They were just so different and Ivy had no redeeming qualities. At times Orianna's naivety was just too much to take. Could anyone really be that blind when you've been friends with someone for years? I also had a hard time with the way Orianna dealt with Dan. Who wouldn't give someone a chance to tell their side of the story? Just saying, it felt a little unbelievable.
3.5/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
*Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
November 25, 2014
This is one book where maybe it could have been better but I found all of the characters uninteresting and the story line moved slowly so this did not help any. Although I thought that Orianna was a way better friend than Ivy was. Orianna was really thinking of Ivy and not wanting to hurt her. Yet, all Ivy could see is green for envy. It is no wonder that everyone did not like her. I did try to stick this book out. Yet after about a third of the way into the book. I found myself giving up and skimming parts of it until I got to about two chapters to the ending. Even after reading the ending I was like ok I saw this coming. On to the next book.
March 2, 2015
I previously read Sarah Rayner's One Moment, One Morning and was blown away by how good that novel was and how in just a few pages where the book begins on a train you get to read about how a typical ordinary day turned into such tragedy that affected three different women. I initially reviewed that book back in 2012 and I remember thinking to keep an eye on Ms. Rayner since I wanted to read some of her other books to see if I would like them. This book published originally in 2002 does not even show a hint of the brilliance that was "One Moment, One Morning."
Getting Even is ultimately a boring and at times plain stupid book. Told in the third person we have Orianna and Ivy work colleagues and at first blush each other's best friends.
Due to certain events Orianna is promoted and Ivy swears revenge against Orianna for taking a job she rightfully feels should have gone to her and also for not telling Ivy about her dating someone at their work. Yes you heard that right, Ivy is mad that Orianna did not tell her about her dating someone at work. At times I felt as if I was reading about two kids fighting over a Ken doll.
When I first selected this book through the Amazon Vine program I thought this was going to be a light-hearted funny look at a woman who was rightfully screwed out of a promotion and who was out to get a former friend who used her relationship with a work colleague to get ahead.
Well just a few pages into the book you know that Ivy is not the aggrieved party in this situation. The book hinting at secrets was just a joke because you find out all about Ivy and what's driving her within the first few chapters. Ivy is awful. You wonder at times how dumb Orianna can be to not see through the awfulness and lies that Ivy is telling her but she keeps doing it.
Ms. Rayner gives a weak back-story to the character of Ivy to try to justify why she may be an unrepentant monster but I was not buying it.
I think also the way that this book depicts two successful women in their field as either naive or a user and seducer of men that lies was off-putting. Not all successful women act like this.
This could have been a different book if it was really a funny book looking at one women's attempts to get revenge. This was just not that book.
There was also the character of Rob (Orianna's boyfriend Dan's trainer and also Ivy's trainer) that did not need to be included in this story at all. I don't know if Ms. Rayner just didn't have a lot to work with or what or she thought she could jazz things up a bit by adding Rob, but she could have cut that entire point of view from being included in this book and it would have taken nothing away from this book.
Ultimately, the things that Ivy does to Orianna and others is just hateful and disgusting. There was not one funny or hilarious scene at all. I could maybe have excused the book not being exactly as it promoted itself to be if there had been any comeuppance for the character of Ivy.
Besides one small scene between Ivy and Orianna I was left dissatisfied because Orianna still was acting as if Ivy had a leg to stand on. I just wish that something bigger or more awful had befallen Ivy so you can feel happy she got what was coming to her.
Besides being a totally different book than what was promoted, and the characterization of Ivy and Orianna, the totally unnecessary Rob, I have to sadly say the writing just showed no depth at all. There was no description of people, places, smells, anything. This book could have taken place in any place in the world. I know it takes place in London and besides a few throwaway lines here and there you would have no idea that it takes place in that city. Overall I would just not recommend this book to anyone and would instead select one of Ms. Rayner's later books.
Please note that I received this book for free via the Amazon Vine Program.
Getting Even is ultimately a boring and at times plain stupid book. Told in the third person we have Orianna and Ivy work colleagues and at first blush each other's best friends.
Due to certain events Orianna is promoted and Ivy swears revenge against Orianna for taking a job she rightfully feels should have gone to her and also for not telling Ivy about her dating someone at their work. Yes you heard that right, Ivy is mad that Orianna did not tell her about her dating someone at work. At times I felt as if I was reading about two kids fighting over a Ken doll.
When I first selected this book through the Amazon Vine program I thought this was going to be a light-hearted funny look at a woman who was rightfully screwed out of a promotion and who was out to get a former friend who used her relationship with a work colleague to get ahead.
Well just a few pages into the book you know that Ivy is not the aggrieved party in this situation. The book hinting at secrets was just a joke because you find out all about Ivy and what's driving her within the first few chapters. Ivy is awful. You wonder at times how dumb Orianna can be to not see through the awfulness and lies that Ivy is telling her but she keeps doing it.
Ms. Rayner gives a weak back-story to the character of Ivy to try to justify why she may be an unrepentant monster but I was not buying it.
I think also the way that this book depicts two successful women in their field as either naive or a user and seducer of men that lies was off-putting. Not all successful women act like this.
This could have been a different book if it was really a funny book looking at one women's attempts to get revenge. This was just not that book.
There was also the character of Rob (Orianna's boyfriend Dan's trainer and also Ivy's trainer) that did not need to be included in this story at all. I don't know if Ms. Rayner just didn't have a lot to work with or what or she thought she could jazz things up a bit by adding Rob, but she could have cut that entire point of view from being included in this book and it would have taken nothing away from this book.
Ultimately, the things that Ivy does to Orianna and others is just hateful and disgusting. There was not one funny or hilarious scene at all. I could maybe have excused the book not being exactly as it promoted itself to be if there had been any comeuppance for the character of Ivy.
Besides one small scene between Ivy and Orianna I was left dissatisfied because Orianna still was acting as if Ivy had a leg to stand on. I just wish that something bigger or more awful had befallen Ivy so you can feel happy she got what was coming to her.
Besides being a totally different book than what was promoted, and the characterization of Ivy and Orianna, the totally unnecessary Rob, I have to sadly say the writing just showed no depth at all. There was no description of people, places, smells, anything. This book could have taken place in any place in the world. I know it takes place in London and besides a few throwaway lines here and there you would have no idea that it takes place in that city. Overall I would just not recommend this book to anyone and would instead select one of Ms. Rayner's later books.
Please note that I received this book for free via the Amazon Vine Program.
December 12, 2014
I loved this book! Getting Even is the first book by Rayner I have read, but I am hooked. This was well-written and quick-witted. As a lover of all things British, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Ivy was the ideal "villan" in this story. I loved to hate her! She was evil and fabulous at the same time. Even as she was taking everybody down, I couldn't help but appreciate her biting humor.
Conversely, I felt for Orianna. Anyone who has ever been burned (and who hasn't?) couldn't help but feel for her. I am glad I didn't underestimate her and so glad Rayner gave her the perfect balance of vulnerablity and strength.
This book was full of well-developed characters, a great storyline and the dry British humor that I love! Read it. You will love it too.
PS, I'd love to see this made into a movie!
Reviewed by Joelle for Cocktails and Books
Ivy was the ideal "villan" in this story. I loved to hate her! She was evil and fabulous at the same time. Even as she was taking everybody down, I couldn't help but appreciate her biting humor.
Conversely, I felt for Orianna. Anyone who has ever been burned (and who hasn't?) couldn't help but feel for her. I am glad I didn't underestimate her and so glad Rayner gave her the perfect balance of vulnerablity and strength.
This book was full of well-developed characters, a great storyline and the dry British humor that I love! Read it. You will love it too.
PS, I'd love to see this made into a movie!
Reviewed by Joelle for Cocktails and Books
December 29, 2012
I was tempted to try this after enjoying Sarah's more recent "One Moment, One Morning", and I loved every page. It's an even brisker read than her recent hit, and the ad agency machinations are spot on. That said, the story of revenge will appeal to anyone who's ever worked in an office of any kind, and foreknowledge of the evil industry is not required! It's a meaty read with heaps of twists and turns, but I downed the lot in a day and a half because I was so enthralled. It's a brilliant holiday/commuter's read - though it isn't sad like OMOM - instead it's laugh out loud funny.
July 12, 2017
Entertaining read. Little get away from normal life as I really liked the characters in a weird way. Not sure I would have continued to be so nice...
September 28, 2014
Mark my words, this book is going to made into a movie! I was thinking about Devil Wears Prada and Bride Wars or even Melrose Place the whole time I was reading it. I love that it highlights women in the workplace but is naughty and "back-stabby" enough to keep me flipping the pages. The grey areas of friends / lovers / workplace politics all get mixed up and messy in this evilly giggly story. One of my favorite lines in this book is:
"she was no longer sure where discretion ended and deception began."
Orianna keeps her relationship with Dan secret from her friend Ivy and everything unravels from there. Ivy's jealousy takes on a life of its own and a reader can't help but be slightly shocked, but love it and want her to do more. Workplace politics are often such nightmares. It is great to read about (and cheer for) the craziness without personally experiencing it.
I will recommend this to a lot of my friends who like chick-lit or my girlfriends who don't read that often but like a fun read.
Read my entire review here:
http://ivoryowlreviews.blogspot.com/2...
"she was no longer sure where discretion ended and deception began."
Orianna keeps her relationship with Dan secret from her friend Ivy and everything unravels from there. Ivy's jealousy takes on a life of its own and a reader can't help but be slightly shocked, but love it and want her to do more. Workplace politics are often such nightmares. It is great to read about (and cheer for) the craziness without personally experiencing it.
I will recommend this to a lot of my friends who like chick-lit or my girlfriends who don't read that often but like a fun read.
Read my entire review here:
http://ivoryowlreviews.blogspot.com/2...
October 10, 2014
Getting Even
By
Sarah Rayner
What it's all about...
Ivy and Orianna work together...until one of them gets a promotion and the other one...well...the other one gets even!
However...within the same office and the same gym...there are a lot of relationships going on...some adulterous, some scandalous, some unsolicited and some rather shocking...and Ivy takes advantage of them all! And then there is everyone's trainer...Rob...who wants a relationship with Dan...who is in a relationship with Orianna. But a few choice words from Ivy...might have Rob believe that Dan wants to switch teams!
What made me truly enjoy this book...
This book was seriously about Ivy getting even with Orianna and she does it so skillfully and so cleverly that her plots and schemes are as smooth as silk. A few misunderstandings and a few incriminating words and life is changed for everyone. It's a fun romp all the way to the end...where you will see who wins!
Why you should read it, too...
If you love to read this kind of book...filled with quirky characters and revenge and subtle misperceptions...this might be the book for you! It's the perfect escape!
By
Sarah Rayner
What it's all about...
Ivy and Orianna work together...until one of them gets a promotion and the other one...well...the other one gets even!
However...within the same office and the same gym...there are a lot of relationships going on...some adulterous, some scandalous, some unsolicited and some rather shocking...and Ivy takes advantage of them all! And then there is everyone's trainer...Rob...who wants a relationship with Dan...who is in a relationship with Orianna. But a few choice words from Ivy...might have Rob believe that Dan wants to switch teams!
What made me truly enjoy this book...
This book was seriously about Ivy getting even with Orianna and she does it so skillfully and so cleverly that her plots and schemes are as smooth as silk. A few misunderstandings and a few incriminating words and life is changed for everyone. It's a fun romp all the way to the end...where you will see who wins!
Why you should read it, too...
If you love to read this kind of book...filled with quirky characters and revenge and subtle misperceptions...this might be the book for you! It's the perfect escape!
January 9, 2015
Sarah Rayner's GETTING EVEN was not exactly what I had expected after reading the book description. Instead of a witty, snappy tale of revenge, the book dragged. The first third of the book was very slow paced and repetitive and would have been more effective had it been summarized into one paragraph, plugged into some place in the story where things got more interesting. Don't know exactly where that would be though.
This book came off as dull to me, though I'm sure some read who like very (painfully) slow-paced stories might enjoy it.
This book came off as dull to me, though I'm sure some read who like very (painfully) slow-paced stories might enjoy it.
November 6, 2014
Sadly I just couldn't get into this one, which is a shame as I read and loved her later novels.
May 18, 2017
Sarah Rayner’s GETTING EVEN gives you insight into what it’s like working in a busy ad agency in London with several characters’ lives intertwined professionally and personally. The two protagonists, Orianna and Ivy, have worked very well together for years. There are no secrets between these besties. Their relationship is tight, and they have each other’s backs. But when things begin to change, their lives --- as well as those of their co-workers --- are affected.
Orianna is honest, caring, trusting and shows integrity, but she is deeply vulnerable. Ivy is also vulnerable to a certain degree due to her father’s abandonment of her mother and their family when Ivy was young. She was tasked with taking care of her brothers due to her mother’s breakdown. Her mother couldn’t cope with life, which leads Ivy to vow to herself that she’ll never give up in that same way. Her father remarries and has a new family who lives in a house that she has to pass by each day on her walk to school, which only adds insult to injury. Now, as an adult in her 30s, she’s a tough career-driven woman who won’t let anyone or anything stand in her way.
Orianna begins an affair with Dan, a department head at the agency. Their relationship thrives for several months without anyone knowing, including Ivy. On the other hand, Ivy and Russell, a powerful figure at the agency, are having their own affair, which has been going on for years. They are both married, and no one is privy to their private liaisons, not even their spouses. After six months have passed, Dan and Orianna let the cat out of the bag, and Ivy finds out about the affair. At first she’s shocked, as she and Orianna share everything, but remember, Ivy has her own secret as well.
When the creative director decides to leave the agency, Dan believes that Orianna is a wonderful candidate for the position. But how could she leave Ivy? Orianna always has Ivy’s best interests at heart. This creates the big conflict of the plot thus far. At first she is hesitant to take the promotion, but after thinking about it, she accepts as she feels she needs to do what’s best for her. The author made me feel like I was on team Orianna. I empathized with her as she is a much more likable character with a pleasant personality.
Orianna, now a creative director, needs to fill her old position. She hires Cassie, a junior to the agency, to work with Ivy, but this only adds more chaos into the mix for Ivy. She is not happy with Orianna at all. Why is she keeping things from her? First it’s the affair, then she abandons her (just like her father), accepts the promotion, and now has to work with Cassie. She believes she should have gotten the creative director position, as she is the smarter and more professional one. What’s really eating at Ivy is that Orianna never confided in her about any of this, as though she went behind her back and betrayed her. Cassie is the “ever-present reminder of the widening gulf between herself and Orianna.”
And then there’s Rob, Dan and Ivy’s gay professional trainer. She and Dan tend to confide in Rob when they’re working out because they feel he is neutral territory. Rob has a “thing,” or, as Rayner describes it, a “fancy” for Dan, but Dan is straight. In her deviousness against Dan, she puts ideas into Rob’s head that he’s gay, playing mind games with him. She begins to plan and plot to destroy Orianna and Dan’s personal and professional relationships, making Rob think Dan fancies him too. Since she can’t stand Cassie, she makes Orianna believe that Dan is having an affair with her. However, Cassie secretly is having her own affair. Ivy believes it’s with Leon, another office worker. She’s constantly advising Cassie to be discreet about her personal affairs in the office as it’s not acceptable. The author adds so many twists, turns and lies upon lies that the book turned out to be a real page-turner for me.
By now, Orianna has so many wild thoughts going through her head from all of Ivy’s misdeeds. She’s hurt as she thinks Dan is having an affair with Cassie. How could Dan do this to her when she thought he cared for her so much? Meanwhile, Ivy begins to realize all the lies she’s created and how deep she’s in.
I love Sarah Rayner’s writing style and the use of British terms. “Loo” is the bathroom, “fancy” is when someone likes you, and “shagging”…well, I think we all know what that is, especially when affairs are in play. I thoroughly enjoyed how Rayner ends the story and couldn’t wait to see how everything played out and what happened to Ivy. She does a wonderful job describing two women who thought they knew each other so well, but instead were rivals. As the saying goes, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Orianna is honest, caring, trusting and shows integrity, but she is deeply vulnerable. Ivy is also vulnerable to a certain degree due to her father’s abandonment of her mother and their family when Ivy was young. She was tasked with taking care of her brothers due to her mother’s breakdown. Her mother couldn’t cope with life, which leads Ivy to vow to herself that she’ll never give up in that same way. Her father remarries and has a new family who lives in a house that she has to pass by each day on her walk to school, which only adds insult to injury. Now, as an adult in her 30s, she’s a tough career-driven woman who won’t let anyone or anything stand in her way.
Orianna begins an affair with Dan, a department head at the agency. Their relationship thrives for several months without anyone knowing, including Ivy. On the other hand, Ivy and Russell, a powerful figure at the agency, are having their own affair, which has been going on for years. They are both married, and no one is privy to their private liaisons, not even their spouses. After six months have passed, Dan and Orianna let the cat out of the bag, and Ivy finds out about the affair. At first she’s shocked, as she and Orianna share everything, but remember, Ivy has her own secret as well.
When the creative director decides to leave the agency, Dan believes that Orianna is a wonderful candidate for the position. But how could she leave Ivy? Orianna always has Ivy’s best interests at heart. This creates the big conflict of the plot thus far. At first she is hesitant to take the promotion, but after thinking about it, she accepts as she feels she needs to do what’s best for her. The author made me feel like I was on team Orianna. I empathized with her as she is a much more likable character with a pleasant personality.
Orianna, now a creative director, needs to fill her old position. She hires Cassie, a junior to the agency, to work with Ivy, but this only adds more chaos into the mix for Ivy. She is not happy with Orianna at all. Why is she keeping things from her? First it’s the affair, then she abandons her (just like her father), accepts the promotion, and now has to work with Cassie. She believes she should have gotten the creative director position, as she is the smarter and more professional one. What’s really eating at Ivy is that Orianna never confided in her about any of this, as though she went behind her back and betrayed her. Cassie is the “ever-present reminder of the widening gulf between herself and Orianna.”
And then there’s Rob, Dan and Ivy’s gay professional trainer. She and Dan tend to confide in Rob when they’re working out because they feel he is neutral territory. Rob has a “thing,” or, as Rayner describes it, a “fancy” for Dan, but Dan is straight. In her deviousness against Dan, she puts ideas into Rob’s head that he’s gay, playing mind games with him. She begins to plan and plot to destroy Orianna and Dan’s personal and professional relationships, making Rob think Dan fancies him too. Since she can’t stand Cassie, she makes Orianna believe that Dan is having an affair with her. However, Cassie secretly is having her own affair. Ivy believes it’s with Leon, another office worker. She’s constantly advising Cassie to be discreet about her personal affairs in the office as it’s not acceptable. The author adds so many twists, turns and lies upon lies that the book turned out to be a real page-turner for me.
By now, Orianna has so many wild thoughts going through her head from all of Ivy’s misdeeds. She’s hurt as she thinks Dan is having an affair with Cassie. How could Dan do this to her when she thought he cared for her so much? Meanwhile, Ivy begins to realize all the lies she’s created and how deep she’s in.
I love Sarah Rayner’s writing style and the use of British terms. “Loo” is the bathroom, “fancy” is when someone likes you, and “shagging”…well, I think we all know what that is, especially when affairs are in play. I thoroughly enjoyed how Rayner ends the story and couldn’t wait to see how everything played out and what happened to Ivy. She does a wonderful job describing two women who thought they knew each other so well, but instead were rivals. As the saying goes, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
February 27, 2018
I'm starting to read more and more from this author and really enjoy her books. I'm never sure if I'm going to get some easy chick lit or a well written story. This one was borderline as I think it was more easy chick lit then well written but still enjoyable nonetheless. My main question at the end of this was why did this girl feel the need to go so far to get even over so many little things. Has she always been this way? Is there a prequel that goes into why she is the way she is? Why is she so screwed up in the head to want to ruin multiple people's lives? So many questions at the end of this book that I need wrapped up. I do feel the author tied the story up at the end which I always prefer but the underlying premise behind why this girl is the way she is, is still a mystery. Good book though!
July 18, 2020
The cabin I’m staying in is full of serious books... plus this one. (It was seriously on a shelf with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, two Joseph Campbell books, and some C.S. Lewis.)
I only have one day left here, and I was afraid if I started this book, I wouldn’t be able to finish it by the end of tomorrow. But then I just sat here and read the whole thing. Finished with a whole day to spare! Fun book, quite frivolous, perfect to be part of this trip.
Everyone is a bit ridiculously all good or all evil, and it does include the old “and then I wrote it all down in this book!” device, which usually irritates me. But somehow in this case, I was charmed.
I only have one day left here, and I was afraid if I started this book, I wouldn’t be able to finish it by the end of tomorrow. But then I just sat here and read the whole thing. Finished with a whole day to spare! Fun book, quite frivolous, perfect to be part of this trip.
Everyone is a bit ridiculously all good or all evil, and it does include the old “and then I wrote it all down in this book!” device, which usually irritates me. But somehow in this case, I was charmed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2021
Oh nooooo. Coming off of One Moment, One Morning, I picked up Getting Even with great anticipation. Within the space of a few pages, I knew I had erred: the writing was flat, predictable, and the pacing very slow. Hoping for a redeeming chapter, I persisted through the pedestrian writing until a sex scene (doggy style, really?) between the main character and a man not her husband made me shut the book with a sigh. The humanity of One Moment, One Morning is not here. I suspect this tome might actually have been Sarah Rayner's first book that didn't fly, but after her success with OMOM, it was published to take advantage of OMOM's tailwinds.
July 13, 2022
I picked my copy of this book up for $3 which feels like an appropriate price to me. This was the most ridiculous book I have read so far this year. Maybe I'm as naive as Orianna, but I've never known someone as serially manipulative as Ivy. It never felt like these things could really be happening in the way they were happening. I spent the whole book laughing at the ridiculously obnoxious and one-sided character of Ivy and wanting to shake Orianna. In the end, I'm a sucker for a happy ending though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2020
I found it unrealistic that Orienne would take infidelity rumours about her partner Dan (who she is in love with) at face value and accept them, yet take it upon herself to investigate fraud within the company she works for based on suspicion. If she was really that savvy she would definitely have checked for herself what her 'best' friend Ivy had told her about Dan was true.
I have to admit I was intrigued to see what became of Ivy (also I can't believe you could be friends with some like that for so long and not know their true colours).
I have to admit I was intrigued to see what became of Ivy (also I can't believe you could be friends with some like that for so long and not know their true colours).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2021
Another holiday book. Not that nice.
Ivy feels that her best friend at work is betraying her so she decides to be destructive and get even with her friend Orianna. She is also hiding secrets .
Orienna is having an affair with an important colleague and is promoted to a higher position.
Ivy feels that her best friend at work is betraying her so she decides to be destructive and get even with her friend Orianna. She is also hiding secrets .
Orienna is having an affair with an important colleague and is promoted to a higher position.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2017
Good fluff read with twists and turns. No deep thought required. But very enjoyable.
December 2, 2017
This book really irritated me beyond belief. It was like a train wreck of a story and the lies and manipulation were unbearable. I did finish it only because I wanted to know the ending.
January 16, 2018
I enjoyed this simple and well written story. It was a good bunch of characters that were easy to relate to. I don't think this book is going to change the world but it was a nice distraction
February 23, 2019
Predictable outcomes
February 27, 2019
This was a good easy read. It was a little juvenile in the story line, but a no brainer read.
Read
July 3, 2019Great read. Different pace than I’m use to, but refreshing none the less. If you like drama, caddy women, jealousy and backstabbing- this book is for you.
July 9, 2019
Couldn’t get into it
July 3, 2021
Very meh.
Want to read
February 25, 2023linda favorite author
February 8, 2019
It’s a little slow in the beginning. A lot of background, but I realize later on that this background info is necessary for the rest of the story.
But about halfway through, the book picks up speed, and I’m starting to flip the pages faster and faster. I loathe Ivy and her self-righteous behavior. I love Orianna but pity her simultaneously. She really needs better friends.
I finish in five days, which is fairly quick for also keeping my tiny human alive and my own writing afloat. It was good and the twists kept me reading. It could definitely be turned into a Lifetime movie. It has that feel to it.
Do I recommend it? Find out in my full blog review: https://www.brandijolittle.com/blog-1...
But about halfway through, the book picks up speed, and I’m starting to flip the pages faster and faster. I loathe Ivy and her self-righteous behavior. I love Orianna but pity her simultaneously. She really needs better friends.
I finish in five days, which is fairly quick for also keeping my tiny human alive and my own writing afloat. It was good and the twists kept me reading. It could definitely be turned into a Lifetime movie. It has that feel to it.
Do I recommend it? Find out in my full blog review: https://www.brandijolittle.com/blog-1...
Read
March 11, 2017I guess there are people who connive so well that others don't question their statements. Sorry to see so many women who assume the worst of others.
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