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Just the Three of Us
Debs is having an affair with a married man. Not that she meant to or anything. But while she was miserably hanging around waiting for Mr Right - if only she could lose that stubborn half stone - Bob just kind of happened. Lovely, kind, sexy Bob. OK, he's also a rampant cheat, but when you've been starved of affection for as long as Debs has, it's hard to say no. Geri is married to Bob. She also thinks he's lovely, kind and sexy, even if the last bit has worn a bit thin after seventeen years of marriage. And two kids. Geri suspects something's wrong but surely Bob would never do anything to hurt her... So for now it's just the three of them - but how long can that last?
- GenresChick Lit
452 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
8 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Clare Dowling
27 books50 followersClare Dowling is a screenwriter and bestselling author. She's had many jobs, including as an actress, a waitress and a legal secretary before turning to writing full-time. She's had eleven novels published, and she also writes scripts for television. She lives in Dublin with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 17, 2024
Was ok, zero concentration required and not very engaging.
Fine for what it is.
Two stars.
Fine for what it is.
Two stars.
December 6, 2009
Geri and Bob have a good marriage, or so they both thought. They have 2 children, have good jobs and a nice home. But when Bob meets Debs by chance in a sandwich shop near work, sparks fly and the two embark on an affair, without Geri being any the wiser of course. Debs loves Bob very much and wants him to be a part of her life, but Bob is of course far more reluctant.
But as things begin to get serious for Debs and Bob, will their sudden relationship survive the scrutiny, and is Geri ever going to find out that it’s more than just the two of them in her marriage?
I have read several of Clare Dowling’s books after discovering her a few years ago, and my favourite to date has been Going It Alone, which was the novel released before this one. Dowling is very successful in her home country of Ireland, but seems relatively unknown in the UK which is a shame as her books are definitely up there with other great Irish authors such as Marian Keyes, Sinead Moriarty and Melissa Hill. This book is Dowling’s 7th novel, the fourth of hers I have read and is out now in hardback, and in November in paperback.
The idea of this plot is a good one – seeing an affair from both sides of the story and the way it affects all of the relationships involved but there was a major problem for me. I found the tone of the whole book was just too depressing, and there was nothing happy going on to counter-act the misery of the characters which in turn made it hard to keep reading in parts. Although Dowling has tried to tackle some important issues in the book as well, these just add to the sombre tone of the book and I just felt at times it was all too much and had to pick up something more light-hearted to cheer me up a bit!
The narration is told in the third person which allows for quick and easy changing of story, as it tends to alternate every couple of chapters with who it is following. We first meet Debs who is single and desperate to find a man and prove to her mother she can find herself someone nice to settle down with. The progression of the relationship with Bob is good, and nothing happens unrealistically, but I just couldn’t like it because of how wrong it was. She was likeable enough at the start, but I didn’t like the direction she went in and therefore I really didn’t like her parts of the story, and sort of wanted to skip them.
Geri wasn’t a perfect character but I could sympathise with her because of her situation. Dowling writes with real heart as Geri’s side of the plot progresses and I couldn’t help but feel so sorry for her as her life as she knows it crumbles before her. The way her character is deeply affected is quite hard to read at times, and I credit that to the talented writing of Dowling because she really brings home how infidelity can ruin a family. Other characters pop up but none of them are worth mentioning here as they aren’t vital to the plot but just pad out other scenes.
What I did enjoy about the book was the writing style. Dowling’s books are always easy to read because of the nice folowing language, and good pacing of the story but this wasn’t good enough to outweigh the overly depressing nature of the story for me. As I mentioned, Dowling does try to tackle a very serious issue in the book (not the affair) and while this is very well done and is very informed, it’s perhaps just too much for what is already an unhappy storyline. After all, how much happiness can be gotten out of a book about infidelity? If you’re a fan of Dowling’s work, you’ll want to read this but if you haven’t tried her before, I’d recommend trying Going It Alone – much happier and an easier read!
But as things begin to get serious for Debs and Bob, will their sudden relationship survive the scrutiny, and is Geri ever going to find out that it’s more than just the two of them in her marriage?
I have read several of Clare Dowling’s books after discovering her a few years ago, and my favourite to date has been Going It Alone, which was the novel released before this one. Dowling is very successful in her home country of Ireland, but seems relatively unknown in the UK which is a shame as her books are definitely up there with other great Irish authors such as Marian Keyes, Sinead Moriarty and Melissa Hill. This book is Dowling’s 7th novel, the fourth of hers I have read and is out now in hardback, and in November in paperback.
The idea of this plot is a good one – seeing an affair from both sides of the story and the way it affects all of the relationships involved but there was a major problem for me. I found the tone of the whole book was just too depressing, and there was nothing happy going on to counter-act the misery of the characters which in turn made it hard to keep reading in parts. Although Dowling has tried to tackle some important issues in the book as well, these just add to the sombre tone of the book and I just felt at times it was all too much and had to pick up something more light-hearted to cheer me up a bit!
The narration is told in the third person which allows for quick and easy changing of story, as it tends to alternate every couple of chapters with who it is following. We first meet Debs who is single and desperate to find a man and prove to her mother she can find herself someone nice to settle down with. The progression of the relationship with Bob is good, and nothing happens unrealistically, but I just couldn’t like it because of how wrong it was. She was likeable enough at the start, but I didn’t like the direction she went in and therefore I really didn’t like her parts of the story, and sort of wanted to skip them.
Geri wasn’t a perfect character but I could sympathise with her because of her situation. Dowling writes with real heart as Geri’s side of the plot progresses and I couldn’t help but feel so sorry for her as her life as she knows it crumbles before her. The way her character is deeply affected is quite hard to read at times, and I credit that to the talented writing of Dowling because she really brings home how infidelity can ruin a family. Other characters pop up but none of them are worth mentioning here as they aren’t vital to the plot but just pad out other scenes.
What I did enjoy about the book was the writing style. Dowling’s books are always easy to read because of the nice folowing language, and good pacing of the story but this wasn’t good enough to outweigh the overly depressing nature of the story for me. As I mentioned, Dowling does try to tackle a very serious issue in the book (not the affair) and while this is very well done and is very informed, it’s perhaps just too much for what is already an unhappy storyline. After all, how much happiness can be gotten out of a book about infidelity? If you’re a fan of Dowling’s work, you’ll want to read this but if you haven’t tried her before, I’d recommend trying Going It Alone – much happier and an easier read!
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December 2, 2023Skimmed ...found it boring ,lame ..a.long and drawn out non saga followed by the most anticlimactic confrontation ever
Available on Open Library
Available on Open Library
December 24, 2023
Meh. The writing was good quality but I am not satisfied with the story itself. I skimmed this because there's way too much random exposition and side tangents.
The cheating reconciliation was lackluster and I do not forgive the hero. Although we get the OW's point of view and see the husband's affair happen, the husband never really discusses the details with his wife and the author doesn't dive deep into all of his motivations and feelings.
Moreover, the majority of the hero and heroine's reconciliation is done off page, which was frustrating. The wife takes blame too (blehh) and they both commit to work on improving their marriage and that's it. The husband suffers no consequences: even after the wife finds out about the affair and kicks him out of the house, he still goes back to living and having sex with OW. He also fell in love with OW too so it was not just a physical affair. I just find it hard to believe that the wife could just get back together with him after all that. It felt like they got back together just for the kids.
The cheating reconciliation was lackluster and I do not forgive the hero. Although we get the OW's point of view and see the husband's affair happen, the husband never really discusses the details with his wife and the author doesn't dive deep into all of his motivations and feelings.
Moreover, the majority of the hero and heroine's reconciliation is done off page, which was frustrating. The wife takes blame too (blehh) and they both commit to work on improving their marriage and that's it. The husband suffers no consequences: even after the wife finds out about the affair and kicks him out of the house, he still goes back to living and having sex with OW. He also fell in love with OW too so it was not just a physical affair. I just find it hard to believe that the wife could just get back together with him after all that. It felt like they got back together just for the kids.
July 5, 2020
This is another re-read book that I’ve hoarded for years. I guess I had enjoyed it when I first read it and thought I’d read it again sometime. Now I have, I can’t for the life of me figure out what I liked about it.
As the title suggests, this is about three people. Bob and Geri, who have been married for a long time and have two teenage children. Also Debs, who is single, overweight and unhappy with herself, her life and her job.
It’s as predictable as it sounds. Bob and Debs meet by chance, frequenting the same lunch bar, and strike up a friendship which leads to an affair.
To be honest, I didn’t particularly like Debs or feel sorry for her. Geri was okay, just tired and busy and life had got in the way of wanting to jump Bob every five minutes. Exactly how Debs would have wound up.
This book felt like it dragged on forever. I read half and then skipped to the end. It still felt too long.
As the title suggests, this is about three people. Bob and Geri, who have been married for a long time and have two teenage children. Also Debs, who is single, overweight and unhappy with herself, her life and her job.
It’s as predictable as it sounds. Bob and Debs meet by chance, frequenting the same lunch bar, and strike up a friendship which leads to an affair.
To be honest, I didn’t particularly like Debs or feel sorry for her. Geri was okay, just tired and busy and life had got in the way of wanting to jump Bob every five minutes. Exactly how Debs would have wound up.
This book felt like it dragged on forever. I read half and then skipped to the end. It still felt too long.
October 20, 2024
Боб, головний герой роману, — чоловік, який переживає кризу середнього віку. Вдома на нього чекає заклопотана дружина Джері, неконтрольована донька-підліток Сюзі та син Дейві, який потребує уваги. Одного дня під час обідньої перерви Боб знайомиться у кав'ярні із молодшою на десять років Дебс —у них починаються романтичні стосунки, які завдають невимовного болю родині і відкривають Бобові очі на те, що він кохає свою дружину.
⠀
Книга написана ірландською англійською, але читалася легко. Упродовж читання мене переповнювали емоції. Було невимовно шкода і Джері, яка прожила сімнадцять років із чоловіком і не мислила свого життя без нього, і Дебс, яка постійно терпіла кпини від знайомих (з приводу зайвої ваги, відсутності стосунків і т/д), а знайшовши кохання, зазнала найбільшого болю у житті. Втім, кожна жінка отримала свій урок і почала робити перші кроки до позитивних змін.
⠀
Книга написана ірландською англійською, але читалася легко. Упродовж читання мене переповнювали емоції. Було невимовно шкода і Джері, яка прожила сімнадцять років із чоловіком і не мислила свого життя без нього, і Дебс, яка постійно терпіла кпини від знайомих (з приводу зайвої ваги, відсутності стосунків і т/д), а знайшовши кохання, зазнала найбільшого болю у житті. Втім, кожна жінка отримала свій урок і почала робити перші кроки до позитивних змін.
August 16, 2021
I would have like more of the Hs point of view. I wanted to know if he felt any guilt or remorse. I didn’t get that from his chapters with the OW. The other woman’s eating disorder was it supposed to make us feel for her? It’s was a well written story but I had 0 sympathy for the other woman and I’m sure that was what the author was try to achieve. She was rude to hear friends and sarcastic and I’m surprised her roommate stuck around.
The wife was a rockstar in my opinion like all wives who try to hold their families together and work full time. Oh the poor husband who is neglected. Boo hoo.
The wife was a rockstar in my opinion like all wives who try to hold their families together and work full time. Oh the poor husband who is neglected. Boo hoo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2020
(rated 2 and half/5)
I've just finished Just The Three Of Us by Clare Dowling and i have to say i was a little disappointed by it.
I really expected to experience all the pain, heartache and tears, but instead i was met with a classic "cheat" who's wife finds out about the affair and everything blows up from there!
Don't want to say too much, but its an OK read ,slow in the beginning and a few drifting off points, but i finished the book, so means its all good!
I've just finished Just The Three Of Us by Clare Dowling and i have to say i was a little disappointed by it.
I really expected to experience all the pain, heartache and tears, but instead i was met with a classic "cheat" who's wife finds out about the affair and everything blows up from there!
Don't want to say too much, but its an OK read ,slow in the beginning and a few drifting off points, but i finished the book, so means its all good!
June 4, 2021
I’ve read a few of this author’s books. They’re always enjoyable and easy to read. I love the Irish humour. This wasn’t my favourite as it dragged a bit with nothing much happening at times. But the characters seemed very human and I was interested to find out what happened to them. Quite enjoyed overall.
June 13, 2017
An easy enjoyable read. It felt a bit drawn out at times but the ending was sweet.
March 10, 2020
Really liked it. It is kind of long, but it's funny and realistically shows how eating disorders look and are treated.
April 3, 2024
Light palate cleanser after a depressing previous read
June 7, 2015
This took me a little while to read because, well...
I guess it just wasn't the most exciting thing I've read recently.
I thought this book was going to be about the emotions of three people involved, all knowing about one of them - the husband/lover, in this case - being "with" the other two. I expected heartbreak and drama and everyone trying to hold it together. Because that's kind of what the cover blurb promised.
But it's not what happened.
Instead this is a fairly standard Boy-meets-girl-and-cheats-on-his-wife-with-her story. And like 99% of these stories (I expected this one to be different, I guess, from the misleading blurb) as soon as the wife finds out, everything blows up. So really, it's not about the three of them. It's about a guy who is unhappy in his marriage to an overbearing wife who doesn't like sex, who finds a younger woman with self-esteem and body-acceptance issues who falls at his feet because he's nice to her, and everyone gets screwed in the end.
Some literally, some figuratively. Some both.
Geri is a wife who takes her husband sort-of for granted. She doesn't notice him much, which is why it takes her a while to catch on that he's having an affair. She's caught up with her work and her friends and her bake sales at the kids' school. Debs is sweet and kind of shy and has some dysmorphia about her body. She hates her job and her little apartment and the fact that she doesn't have a boyfriend, but she's also not much motivated to do anything about it. But Bob - who is married to Geri - has lunch at the same deli as Debs most of the time, and eventually they start having lunch together. As well as other things.
It's an ok read, but nothing special. This is an Irish book, which - being an Irish lass myself - I often like just because of the kickback to Irish culture in the homeland and all that. But this book could've honestly been set anywhere, so that didn't add anything for me.
I'm a little sad. I wanted it to have more.
I guess it just wasn't the most exciting thing I've read recently.
I thought this book was going to be about the emotions of three people involved, all knowing about one of them - the husband/lover, in this case - being "with" the other two. I expected heartbreak and drama and everyone trying to hold it together. Because that's kind of what the cover blurb promised.
But it's not what happened.
Instead this is a fairly standard Boy-meets-girl-and-cheats-on-his-wife-with-her story. And like 99% of these stories (I expected this one to be different, I guess, from the misleading blurb) as soon as the wife finds out, everything blows up. So really, it's not about the three of them. It's about a guy who is unhappy in his marriage to an overbearing wife who doesn't like sex, who finds a younger woman with self-esteem and body-acceptance issues who falls at his feet because he's nice to her, and everyone gets screwed in the end.
Some literally, some figuratively. Some both.
Geri is a wife who takes her husband sort-of for granted. She doesn't notice him much, which is why it takes her a while to catch on that he's having an affair. She's caught up with her work and her friends and her bake sales at the kids' school. Debs is sweet and kind of shy and has some dysmorphia about her body. She hates her job and her little apartment and the fact that she doesn't have a boyfriend, but she's also not much motivated to do anything about it. But Bob - who is married to Geri - has lunch at the same deli as Debs most of the time, and eventually they start having lunch together. As well as other things.
It's an ok read, but nothing special. This is an Irish book, which - being an Irish lass myself - I often like just because of the kickback to Irish culture in the homeland and all that. But this book could've honestly been set anywhere, so that didn't add anything for me.
I'm a little sad. I wanted it to have more.
February 15, 2017
Love it! My first by this new-to-me Irish author and I will happily read more!
February 13, 2017
Did I say that I read chick lit - well I do. What can I say about this. Its terrible - but that what makes it great. Claire Dowling is apparently quite well known in the UK and Ireland. The main problem I think is that Bob isnt sexy or desirable and I know that was part of it but yeah If you like chick lit this will take you about 4 hours to read and I like that - escapism.
October 20, 2013
I tried really hard to finish this book and I really don't know the reason because I usually read all these chic lit books very quickly and easily. After finishing it up I got a bit disappointed by the ending. Well to be honest not only by the ending but also by the whole story. I was expecting a funnier, more interesting love triangle. All three characters, Geri-Bob-Debs, were a bit dull. There were certain moments when i felt that there was no life in them, that their doings were part of an act and well calculated, surely not natural. Perhaps that's why I lost my motivation in reading this book. Well, in spite of this, I am looking forward to reading another book of this Irish author, as reading only one author's book is like having read none.
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October 15, 2010Could not even bring myself to rate this book with 1 star it's took so long to read becasue I could not be bothered to pick it back up, in the end I only finished it because I bought another book that i really wanted to get stared on and i can't start a book and not finish it.
The whole time I just kept telling my self it can only get better by the end I was SO glad it was over and don't want to spoil the ending for anyone so all I will say and this is the first think I said when I finally got to the end "what a crap ending to a crap book"
Seriously take some friendly advice do not waste any of your life reading this!!
The whole time I just kept telling my self it can only get better by the end I was SO glad it was over and don't want to spoil the ending for anyone so all I will say and this is the first think I said when I finally got to the end "what a crap ending to a crap book"
Seriously take some friendly advice do not waste any of your life reading this!!
September 11, 2025
UNA PERDITA DI TEMPO
"Amore a tempo perso"... E l'ho perso anch'io, il tempo! Questo romanzo è infatti monotono, senza eventi rilevanti e con un finale prevedibile/ingiusto.
"Amore a tempo perso"... E l'ho perso anch'io, il tempo! Questo romanzo è infatti monotono, senza eventi rilevanti e con un finale prevedibile/ingiusto.
October 10, 2011
I really struggled to engage with this book. I have several of this authors books on the shelves and have read good reviews, so hopefully I will enjoy the others. I suppose I didn't empathise with any of the characters- because of the subject matter. I didn't feel sorry for any of them and wasn't even sure how I wanted it to end!
March 22, 2011
I had problems getting into this book, which was surprising as I have
read most of the books by this Author, however when I did get into it,
I really enjoyed this book, so much that I read it in a day, I couldn’t
put it down, I would definitely recommend.
read most of the books by this Author, however when I did get into it,
I really enjoyed this book, so much that I read it in a day, I couldn’t
put it down, I would definitely recommend.
May 18, 2014
Just the Three of Us by Clare Dowling is a story that takes place in Ireland of a husband and wife and his mistress. Despite the difficult subject matter, it was an enjoyable read with a relative happy ending. A pretty quick read. Would recommend this book to others.
June 13, 2011
The plot was average and ending predictable. There were some surprises with regard to the minor characters; overall a bearable read.
Read
August 7, 2011Very funny, bit sad in places, covers some serious topics for a chick lit book. Recomendable
October 12, 2011
VERY LONG BORING BOOK THINK IT WAS AT LEAST 100 PAGES TOO LONG. THIS IS THE SECOND DOWLING BOOK I HAVE READ AND I FOUND HER OTHER BOOK THE SAME SO NO MORE BOOKS BY CLARE WILL BE ON MY BOOK SHELVES.
March 19, 2012
Could have been better. Didn't like the mistress. Nothing clicked together well. Took me ages to finish, I was bored.
June 11, 2012
oooh another good one......really dug deep into how the characters would've felt and have to say I reckon she was spot on.Brought back many a crap memory but loved the book!!!
August 6, 2012
I love love love this author and she didn't fail to impress me again with this book , I found it funny original and hilarious at times
October 22, 2015
I remember that I enjoyed this book, Surprisingly.
May 25, 2015
Not funny, not poignant. Not my usual type of book - drivel. If I hadn't been listening to it on a long journey, I would have given up.
November 30, 2015
Interesting to read about an affair written from both mistress and wife perspective. Very normal circumstances, not over the top or too many clichés especially in regards to the mistress angle.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews