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The Best of Friends
Whittingbourne is one of those charming English towns where families live happily ever after. Gina and Fergus, Hillary and Laurence have grown up, married, and raised their children in the warmth of amiable friendship. But one day it all unravels as Fergus calmly leaves Gina to share his life with a young man in London, and Laurence nearly chucks it all to move to France with Gina in the heat of passion. Their children are devastated and beset with emerging passions of their own. Teenage Sophy, angry with her father, Fergus, for disrupting her life, is nonetheless drawn to him as a refuge from her mother's affair. But Fergus is not prepared for Sophy to share his new life. Sophy is also scared she might be pregnant after a furtive encounter with young George.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
170 people are currently reading
937 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Trollope
132 books607 followersJoanna Trollope Potter Curteis (aka Caroline Harvey)
Joanna Trollope was born on 9 December 1943 in her grandfather's rectory in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England, daughter of Rosemary Hodson and Arthur George Cecil Trollope. She is the eldest of three siblings. She is a fifth-generation niece of the Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope and is a cousin of the writer and broadcaster James Trollope. She was educated at Reigate County School for Girls followed by St Hugh's College, Oxford. On 14 May 1966, she married the banker David Roger William Potter, they had two daughters, Antonia and Louise, and on 1983 they divorced. In 1985, she remarried to the television dramatist Ian Curteis, and became the stepmother of two stepsons; they divorced in 2001.
From 1965 to 1967, she worked at the Foreign Office. From 1967 to 1979, she was employed in a number of teaching posts before she became a writer full-time in 1980. Her novel Parson Harding's Daughter won in 1980 the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Joanna Trollope was born on 9 December 1943 in her grandfather's rectory in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England, daughter of Rosemary Hodson and Arthur George Cecil Trollope. She is the eldest of three siblings. She is a fifth-generation niece of the Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope and is a cousin of the writer and broadcaster James Trollope. She was educated at Reigate County School for Girls followed by St Hugh's College, Oxford. On 14 May 1966, she married the banker David Roger William Potter, they had two daughters, Antonia and Louise, and on 1983 they divorced. In 1985, she remarried to the television dramatist Ian Curteis, and became the stepmother of two stepsons; they divorced in 2001.
From 1965 to 1967, she worked at the Foreign Office. From 1967 to 1979, she was employed in a number of teaching posts before she became a writer full-time in 1980. Her novel Parson Harding's Daughter won in 1980 the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
August 22, 2024
My beloved Joanna Trollope is back in my good graces now that I have read this novel. The tone, the pace and the content are perfect, the characters are well drawn and I was left feeling really satisfied at the end, which is often not the case.
What happens when childhood friends of the opposite sex marry others, raise families which become close, and then one of the spouses leaves? There is great support until a line is crossed and the woman who has lost her spouse decides she needs to feel loved again, and what better person to choose than the man she has known forever? But he has a wonderful wife and a good life. And yet, he, too, becomes caught up in the headiness of a secret love. And so it goes, with fallout to the children, the grandmother, to careers and everyone who is connected to these 2 families. I had hoped it would end a certain way, and it did. No one portrays the British middle class with as much astuteness as Trollope. I was disappointed in her newest novel, "The Soldier's Wife," so I was thrilled to discover this old gem from 1995, which still feels completely current today, because people and emotions do not change. Read this one! It's thought provoking and a pleasure to read.
What happens when childhood friends of the opposite sex marry others, raise families which become close, and then one of the spouses leaves? There is great support until a line is crossed and the woman who has lost her spouse decides she needs to feel loved again, and what better person to choose than the man she has known forever? But he has a wonderful wife and a good life. And yet, he, too, becomes caught up in the headiness of a secret love. And so it goes, with fallout to the children, the grandmother, to careers and everyone who is connected to these 2 families. I had hoped it would end a certain way, and it did. No one portrays the British middle class with as much astuteness as Trollope. I was disappointed in her newest novel, "The Soldier's Wife," so I was thrilled to discover this old gem from 1995, which still feels completely current today, because people and emotions do not change. Read this one! It's thought provoking and a pleasure to read.
May 25, 2015
Not my favorite Joanna Trollope novel, because too many of the main characters are too unsympathetic. I admire Trollope's refusal to people her books with the sort of "pictures of perfection" that made Jane Austen feel so sick when she came across them in the course of her own reading; but if everyone's the moral equivalent of a cheap candy bar (not always bad, but sure to turn into an icky mess under the slightest heat or pressure), I start to question why I'm bothering to read.
I did appreciate learning that there's a place in the world where people say they're "as cross as a bag of cats." That's a keeper.
I was a little baffled by Trollope's description of strawberries "served the American way...with lemon juice, sugar, and sour cream." That may be an American way -- I'm guessing this is a Southern dish -- but it can't be the American way if I've lived in America all my life and never even heard of it, let alone tried it. Specifically, I live in a part of America whose 12-month growing season gives us higher strawberry yields per acre than any other growing area, not that I want to brag or anything. (Oh, of course I want to brag. It's fun. Go ahead and try it. I don't mind.)
Not that the whole book's about strawberries, or that my whole review should be. This being a Joanna Trollope novel, there's lots of British food and lots of very civilized people trying awfully hard to find happiness if that would be quite all right with everyone. There's also a bittersweet ending -- Trollope's endings are always at least half happy, but rarely more than half. And there's wistful wisdom sprinkled throughout, such as:
Perhaps it was better not to think of that evening, because the trouble about things going wrong was that they then soured the memory of things that had gone right before.
Boy, do they.
I did appreciate learning that there's a place in the world where people say they're "as cross as a bag of cats." That's a keeper.
I was a little baffled by Trollope's description of strawberries "served the American way...with lemon juice, sugar, and sour cream." That may be an American way -- I'm guessing this is a Southern dish -- but it can't be the American way if I've lived in America all my life and never even heard of it, let alone tried it. Specifically, I live in a part of America whose 12-month growing season gives us higher strawberry yields per acre than any other growing area, not that I want to brag or anything. (Oh, of course I want to brag. It's fun. Go ahead and try it. I don't mind.)
Not that the whole book's about strawberries, or that my whole review should be. This being a Joanna Trollope novel, there's lots of British food and lots of very civilized people trying awfully hard to find happiness if that would be quite all right with everyone. There's also a bittersweet ending -- Trollope's endings are always at least half happy, but rarely more than half. And there's wistful wisdom sprinkled throughout, such as:
Perhaps it was better not to think of that evening, because the trouble about things going wrong was that they then soured the memory of things that had gone right before.
Boy, do they.
April 20, 2011
I bought this book ages ago because the plot seemed intriguing. Two friends Gina and Laurence and their respective families and how they cope with the breaking down of marriage and a love that blossoms from it. Well that's kind of how it was described on the jacket sleeve.
Only when I started it it became confusing and muddled. The book was told from just about everyone's point of view at some point in time and only one set of characters was intriguing and that was Gina's 80 something mom, Vi and her friend/lover Dan. Those are the only two characters in the whole novel that you could like.
Gina came off as shrill and selfish and whiny, the typical poor woman who's husband has left her.
Laurence was wishy washy and most of his kids are just blah, except for Gus, who is sweet.
Hillary, Laurence's wife is the typical frustrated wife, working to hard, and getting little satisfaction.
Sophy was a brat
You don't really get a lot of story on Gina's soon to be ex-husband Fergus, except that he changed his name before they were married and is now living with another many, Tony, but he's not gay or in love with Tony. (Tony is in love with him) ARGH!
The hardest part of the novel to take is the love affair that comes between Gina and Laurence. It simply seems that we turn a page to find a new chapter and these two characters shacked up together.
WTF? I mean it was destiny as far as the story telling goes, but there was really nothing that led up to it.
But it gets better...no really it doesn't it gets worse. Then both characters have to come to grips with Hillary, Laurence's wife and how their relationship will change the lives of both sets of children. The only problem is neither character really does that.
Gina panics when Sophy runs to London to her father...and that's about the only maternal thing we see in her.
It took me forever to read this and when I was done I was truly glad to be away from the book. I had to check Amazon to see what other people had thought of it and I was really happy to see that I wasn't the only person that felt so "meh" about the book, though there were many that claimed they loved it. I sadly can't count myself as one of them.
This is not a romance, its an interwoven tale of characters bound by the friendship of Gina and Laurence, though you never quite understand that friendship or many of the other relationships in this book. (except for Vi and Dan)
For me, this book was a total waste of my time.
Only when I started it it became confusing and muddled. The book was told from just about everyone's point of view at some point in time and only one set of characters was intriguing and that was Gina's 80 something mom, Vi and her friend/lover Dan. Those are the only two characters in the whole novel that you could like.
Gina came off as shrill and selfish and whiny, the typical poor woman who's husband has left her.
Laurence was wishy washy and most of his kids are just blah, except for Gus, who is sweet.
Hillary, Laurence's wife is the typical frustrated wife, working to hard, and getting little satisfaction.
Sophy was a brat
You don't really get a lot of story on Gina's soon to be ex-husband Fergus, except that he changed his name before they were married and is now living with another many, Tony, but he's not gay or in love with Tony. (Tony is in love with him) ARGH!
The hardest part of the novel to take is the love affair that comes between Gina and Laurence. It simply seems that we turn a page to find a new chapter and these two characters shacked up together.
WTF? I mean it was destiny as far as the story telling goes, but there was really nothing that led up to it.
But it gets better...no really it doesn't it gets worse. Then both characters have to come to grips with Hillary, Laurence's wife and how their relationship will change the lives of both sets of children. The only problem is neither character really does that.
Gina panics when Sophy runs to London to her father...and that's about the only maternal thing we see in her.
It took me forever to read this and when I was done I was truly glad to be away from the book. I had to check Amazon to see what other people had thought of it and I was really happy to see that I wasn't the only person that felt so "meh" about the book, though there were many that claimed they loved it. I sadly can't count myself as one of them.
This is not a romance, its an interwoven tale of characters bound by the friendship of Gina and Laurence, though you never quite understand that friendship or many of the other relationships in this book. (except for Vi and Dan)
For me, this book was a total waste of my time.
October 24, 2013
As with all of the contemporary novels by Joanna Trollope that I have read, I found this book very sensitively written. It depicts a quiet community and a relatively commonplace drama, but it does so in a way that is both evocative and memorable. I especially appreciated the way the author highlights the big questions of life in the midst of small situations.
Here, a happily married man finds that he loves two women, and he is forced to confront the unruly nature of love itself. But love comes in many forms. It is the love between friends which is under the spotlight in "The Best of Friends", and it is shown to be just as complicated and destabilising as romantic love. This makes for an interesting display of various platonic relationships - one between pensioners, one between forty-something adults, and one between teenagers.
I found the characters very appealing. The young characters are beautifully portrayed, and the older ones are just as likeable. In fact, one feels that one has been drawn into the village and spent time with them, because there is a distinct sense of loss when one comes to the end, almost like having to say goodbye.
A satisfying read and good for the soul.
Here, a happily married man finds that he loves two women, and he is forced to confront the unruly nature of love itself. But love comes in many forms. It is the love between friends which is under the spotlight in "The Best of Friends", and it is shown to be just as complicated and destabilising as romantic love. This makes for an interesting display of various platonic relationships - one between pensioners, one between forty-something adults, and one between teenagers.
I found the characters very appealing. The young characters are beautifully portrayed, and the older ones are just as likeable. In fact, one feels that one has been drawn into the village and spent time with them, because there is a distinct sense of loss when one comes to the end, almost like having to say goodbye.
A satisfying read and good for the soul.
June 14, 2020
It was an ok read. I struggle with Joanna Trollope books, they sound really good but perhaps it is the way they are written, I'm never drawn in like Veronica Henry books.
July 3, 2016
Not one of the best Joanna Trollope that I have read, nevertheless an engaging story of human relationships and their fallacies.
This book deals with two families, who are friends with each other, and how the other family is affected, when one husband leaves his wife for no apparent reason. As Trollope goes on to say, 'the consequences were somewhat like one oak being uprooted, falling upon the one standing behind it, causing a mass uprooting to occur'
I didnt like the parents much - they seemed too shallow and purposeless.
The kids were good - Sophie, the single child of the couple who initially separate, and 3 boys of the other family, in varying stages of teens.
I loved the premises, descriptions and thought processes much better than the actual story line.
4 stars for description, 2.5 stars for the story - average 3 stars.
Overall, a readable book.
This book deals with two families, who are friends with each other, and how the other family is affected, when one husband leaves his wife for no apparent reason. As Trollope goes on to say, 'the consequences were somewhat like one oak being uprooted, falling upon the one standing behind it, causing a mass uprooting to occur'
I didnt like the parents much - they seemed too shallow and purposeless.
The kids were good - Sophie, the single child of the couple who initially separate, and 3 boys of the other family, in varying stages of teens.
I loved the premises, descriptions and thought processes much better than the actual story line.
4 stars for description, 2.5 stars for the story - average 3 stars.
Overall, a readable book.
March 3, 2021
I found this book deeply irritating. None of the characters, of which there was a bewildering amount, were particularly interesting or sympathetic, and they were constantly engaging in histrionics. Below, I’ve included a sample. Bear in mind these characters are supposed to be British.
Sophy slid free and began to pummel on the nearest wall with her fists.
Vi wanted somebody to blame, somebody to punish. She started on the nurses as Gina towed her out of the ward, then had a go at two passing porters.
“ I just feel like someone who’s been knocked down by a car and every time they try and cross the street afterwards, they get knocked down again.”-Sophy
She gave a shrieking scream, as if he had slapped her, and beat at him with her fists.
He wanted to die. When George came to try and talk to him, he howled, ‘Fuck off! Fuck off, will you?’
Gina gave a cry and flung herself back in the chair.
And in spite of all the hysterics, nothing very interesting actually happens! A marriage breaks down. There’s an affair. An elderly person dies. A teenager has sex. That’s it!
So give it a miss, I’d say.
Sophy slid free and began to pummel on the nearest wall with her fists.
Vi wanted somebody to blame, somebody to punish. She started on the nurses as Gina towed her out of the ward, then had a go at two passing porters.
“ I just feel like someone who’s been knocked down by a car and every time they try and cross the street afterwards, they get knocked down again.”-Sophy
She gave a shrieking scream, as if he had slapped her, and beat at him with her fists.
He wanted to die. When George came to try and talk to him, he howled, ‘Fuck off! Fuck off, will you?’
Gina gave a cry and flung herself back in the chair.
And in spite of all the hysterics, nothing very interesting actually happens! A marriage breaks down. There’s an affair. An elderly person dies. A teenager has sex. That’s it!
So give it a miss, I’d say.
May 29, 2024
Really well written and not false insight into family life. I love how interwoven they are and how well the threads of each character overlap. They also each have their own relationships with each other that was really interesting to see play out as the story developed.
Really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of Trollope’s books!!
Really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of Trollope’s books!!
January 22, 2019
Just read Andrea's review to see what I would have said, but Andrea beat me to it. My first Joanna Trollope so I was disappointed because so many people told me how good she is. I hope her other books are better.
October 15, 2024
This book was a strange one. I picked it up a while ago but could not get into it at all. I started reading it in earnest a few days ago and was able to finish it. It is a different writing style than I am used to. A lot of drama and upset but actually, it turned out to be a fairly good read.
March 17, 2018
This is classic Joanna Trollope, although not her very best (but I'm still working through some of them). I reserved two from the library and they both came in months later, so much so I'd forgotten what I reserved. Imagine my delight when I picked them up.
I read this on the weekend after a very difficult week at work and it was just what I needed - family and friend relationships done so very well. I loved all but one of the characters, but even so, I could understand her (which is the point of good writing).
I'm only sorry I read this in paperback as I would have many highlighted passages to share with you.
Recommended reading on an overcast, cold weekend with a hot mug of tea :)
I read this on the weekend after a very difficult week at work and it was just what I needed - family and friend relationships done so very well. I loved all but one of the characters, but even so, I could understand her (which is the point of good writing).
I'm only sorry I read this in paperback as I would have many highlighted passages to share with you.
Recommended reading on an overcast, cold weekend with a hot mug of tea :)
October 13, 2022
Joanna Trollope spins another chronicle of domestic turmoil in this story of Gina Bedford and Laurence Wood, who have been friends since they were school children. Both marry other people and have children, but the couples stay close over the years.
Gina had married Fergus and together they have a daughter named Sophy; Laurence married Hilary and the couple has three sons. Fergus decides to leave Gina, believing he can no longer stay in their marriage and moves to London to live with another man. His radical move sets in motion events that almost destroys both families.
As Trollope begins her story, she settles her readers comfortably in a small village in England, the setting of many of her novels. There she begins an account of what happens after Fergus leaves and Gina, devastated by his departure, seeks solace from her long-time friend Laurence.
Gina’s daughter Sophy runs off to live with her father but discovers he is neither prepared nor inclined to share his new life with his daughter. Laurence’s sons are equally upset by the turmoil and the situation turns even more complicated when Gina’s connection to Laurence becomes more than comfort seeking and sparks begin to fly. Laurence wonders how much comfort he can offer Gina without threatening his own marriage and as Hilary senses Gina and her husband are becoming too close, decides to fight for her marriage.
The break-up and reconfiguration of a family is not an uncommon event in modern times and Trollope provides her readers with a glance behind the door of such fraught domestic relationships.
Much of the narrative focuses on sixteen-year-old Sophy, who appears angrier than her mother about what is happening. As everyone struggles, confusion and insecurities arise and are played out, compromises are made and changes result, with a predictable, too pat ending bringing events to a close.
Trollope’s writing has always been enjoyed by her many loyal, largely female readers, who enjoy novels about a world they know and understand. Trollope’s stories are often set in middle-class families in which she creates believable characters who struggle with relationships and are strained by life events, allowing her readers to stand by as they pick up the pieces and carry on. In this novel, her portrayal of the sensitive, insecure, teenaged Sophy during this family trauma, is especially well done.
Events in the novel take place over a few months in this solidly paced narrative which also becomes Sophy’s coming of age story. The ending is a little too neat and tidy to be realistic, but will still satisfy Trollope’s many readers.
Gina had married Fergus and together they have a daughter named Sophy; Laurence married Hilary and the couple has three sons. Fergus decides to leave Gina, believing he can no longer stay in their marriage and moves to London to live with another man. His radical move sets in motion events that almost destroys both families.
As Trollope begins her story, she settles her readers comfortably in a small village in England, the setting of many of her novels. There she begins an account of what happens after Fergus leaves and Gina, devastated by his departure, seeks solace from her long-time friend Laurence.
Gina’s daughter Sophy runs off to live with her father but discovers he is neither prepared nor inclined to share his new life with his daughter. Laurence’s sons are equally upset by the turmoil and the situation turns even more complicated when Gina’s connection to Laurence becomes more than comfort seeking and sparks begin to fly. Laurence wonders how much comfort he can offer Gina without threatening his own marriage and as Hilary senses Gina and her husband are becoming too close, decides to fight for her marriage.
The break-up and reconfiguration of a family is not an uncommon event in modern times and Trollope provides her readers with a glance behind the door of such fraught domestic relationships.
Much of the narrative focuses on sixteen-year-old Sophy, who appears angrier than her mother about what is happening. As everyone struggles, confusion and insecurities arise and are played out, compromises are made and changes result, with a predictable, too pat ending bringing events to a close.
Trollope’s writing has always been enjoyed by her many loyal, largely female readers, who enjoy novels about a world they know and understand. Trollope’s stories are often set in middle-class families in which she creates believable characters who struggle with relationships and are strained by life events, allowing her readers to stand by as they pick up the pieces and carry on. In this novel, her portrayal of the sensitive, insecure, teenaged Sophy during this family trauma, is especially well done.
Events in the novel take place over a few months in this solidly paced narrative which also becomes Sophy’s coming of age story. The ending is a little too neat and tidy to be realistic, but will still satisfy Trollope’s many readers.
May 25, 2009
Here is another book I read this month that I ended up liking more at the end than I did when I started reading it. It covers the period of one summer into the fall, when two families lives changed drastically, throwing their individual and mutual universes into total chaos. In the beginning, I felt it was going to be a little too soap-opera-ish for my taste, but things improved.
The story deals with two families, who are friends primarily because the husband (Laurence) in one and the wife (Gina) in another have been best friends since they were in high school. The character driving the story is Gina and Fergus' daughter, Sophy, who is devastated and angry when her father suddenly announces that he and her mother are separating. They always seemed to be at one another's throats, but Sophy cannot believe that they are breaking up.
As the story develops, the relationships of all the characters to each other change quite a bit, sometimes unexpectedly, and usually with very sad consequences.
As I said earlier, it started out like a soap opera plot, and though it still contained some of that type of story, the narrative was effective enough to make you wonder what would happen next. The characters are pretty well-drawn, and fairly complex, and the story creates as many questions as are resolved by the end.
Not great, not awful, and slightly thought-provoking.
The story deals with two families, who are friends primarily because the husband (Laurence) in one and the wife (Gina) in another have been best friends since they were in high school. The character driving the story is Gina and Fergus' daughter, Sophy, who is devastated and angry when her father suddenly announces that he and her mother are separating. They always seemed to be at one another's throats, but Sophy cannot believe that they are breaking up.
As the story develops, the relationships of all the characters to each other change quite a bit, sometimes unexpectedly, and usually with very sad consequences.
As I said earlier, it started out like a soap opera plot, and though it still contained some of that type of story, the narrative was effective enough to make you wonder what would happen next. The characters are pretty well-drawn, and fairly complex, and the story creates as many questions as are resolved by the end.
Not great, not awful, and slightly thought-provoking.
May 31, 2017
I read Joanna Trollope when I need a dose of fine family drama. The families don't live Hallmark lives and have their conflicts and hurts, and the members often have difficulty connecting with the love they feel towards each other. But in the end, there is always some sort of acceptable resolution. This is not one of her best (I found it dragged in part), but it provided what I was looking for with the customary satisfaction.
May 28, 2013
A sparkling contemporary novel, centered around the domestic nuances and dilemmas of family and village life. The author portrays the daily irritations and joys of married life the ache of adolescence and the sweet surprise of love late in life.
April 7, 2010
I hate people who destroy their families for their "one true love". The story was also wrapped up way too neatly at the end.
June 10, 2013
The irritations and joys of married life, the ache of adolescence and the sweet surprise of love late in life are portrayed with skill.
March 8, 2015
It was well written, but it was a sad story of love, marriage and the unravelling of two families as marriages disintegrate.
May 1, 2024
I remember reading Joanna Trollope a lot when I was younger, and now that I have reached my 40s, I imagined that I would enjoy her that much more, finding her both relatable in older age, whilst at the same time nostalgic and familiar. Sadly, this wasn't the case with this particular book. Whilst there is absolutely no denying that this is well written, beautifully tailored storytelling, the plot is thin to say the least. Gina and Laurence are best friends, but when Gina's husband Fergus leaves the family home, relationships move forward and families are divided. I actually thought this might be more of a thesis on how men and women can be friends without being romantically connected, but this seemed to tell the opposite story. I didn't really believe that they were ever friends, because this part wasn't explored enough before their union ramped up a notch. I also couldn't warm to any of the characters, because they were all either too bland, or too self serving. And whilst I appreciated that this paints more of a realistic picture of how relationships and marriages actually work, without romanticising anything unnecessarily, what little action there was plodded along at such a glacial pace, that I wasn't really bothered about what happened to any of these people. The only character for whom I held any sympathy was Vi, the mother and grandmother of Gina and Sophy respectively, but even she could be downright cruel at times. No-one really seemed cable of empathy or compassion that strayed further than pity, despite them all being members of the same family. I do think it was slightly overwritten, in that every movement was documented, every detail noted - what each character was wearing, what was on the table, what they were carrying. By the end, I found it all insufferable. But I think the point was that it wasn't meant to be remarkable, it was meant to be a realistic portrayal of small mindedness in a typically English village in the 1990s. I couldn't help but think, however, that we have moved on since then and if you want a similar case study from the modern period, then look no further than the magnificent Little Fires Everywhere. Trollope, however, has clearly put her heart and soul into this, and I'm sure that there are some people out there who thoroughly devour her work.
August 20, 2022
In the the late 1980s or early 1990s, the somewhat condescending term ‘Aga-saga’ was coined to describe a kind of cosy novel that featured the emotional travails of British middle class families who lived in rural or semi-rural areas. (The phrase was inspired by the Aga cooker, which had been in use for some time in large country houses and which was then becoming increasingly popular in modern middle-class kitchens.) Joanna Trollope’s work was deemed to be the essence of ‘Aga-saga’ fiction, but in my view unfairly so. There is nothing cosy, for example, about her 1995 novel ‘The Best of Friends’. In fact, its principal facet is quite the opposite: bleakness. It’s the story of two families, headed by married couples Fergus and Gina and Laurence and Hilary, who live in the fictional town of Whittingbourne. Though not married to each other, Laurence and Gina have been best friends for years. When Gina’s marriage to Fergus breaks up, it sets off a cataclysmic chain of emotional events that affects every member of both families, in particular Sophy (the teenage daughter and only child of Gina and Fergus) and Gus, Adam and George (the three teenage sons of Hilary and Laurence).
The events depicted in this beautifully written novel all ring true. Trollope is very good at capturing the essential elements of teenage angst. Some of her characters are not very likeable. I struggled at times to warm to the seemingly self-centred Sophy, for example, even though much of her personality and behaviour can be attributed to the wayward actions of the adults in her life. But their situation is depicted with skill and with empathy. Trollope explores with compassion the understandable emotional confusion and turmoil that Sophy experiences when her father moves to London to live with a gay friend. The relationship between Gina’s elderly mother Vi and her ‘gentleman friend’ is beautifully written. And though Gina is another not particularly likeable character, you do understand her quiet perseverance in pursuit of a relationship with Laurence after Fergus leaves her, despite the fallout that it leads to.
‘The Best of Friends’ is an emotionally intelligent, convincing, moving and very readable novel.
The events depicted in this beautifully written novel all ring true. Trollope is very good at capturing the essential elements of teenage angst. Some of her characters are not very likeable. I struggled at times to warm to the seemingly self-centred Sophy, for example, even though much of her personality and behaviour can be attributed to the wayward actions of the adults in her life. But their situation is depicted with skill and with empathy. Trollope explores with compassion the understandable emotional confusion and turmoil that Sophy experiences when her father moves to London to live with a gay friend. The relationship between Gina’s elderly mother Vi and her ‘gentleman friend’ is beautifully written. And though Gina is another not particularly likeable character, you do understand her quiet perseverance in pursuit of a relationship with Laurence after Fergus leaves her, despite the fallout that it leads to.
‘The Best of Friends’ is an emotionally intelligent, convincing, moving and very readable novel.
September 6, 2024
Trollope is a genius at capturing detailed observations of relationships, exploring their complexities and allowing her readers to draw their own conclusions about the choices her characters make. She does it again here.
Gina and Laurence were best friends in secondary school. Time has moved on but they both still live in the same small town. Laurence and his practical wife, Hilary, run The Bee Hive small hotel and live above it with their three boys. Gina is about to experience a devastating divorce and her only child, Sophy, is going to bear the brunt of the decision. Sophy has a good friendship with Laurence's boys and one wonders whether history is going to repeat itself in a new generation.
The perils of platonic relationships that take a different turn is at the heart of this novel, recorded with brilliant dialogue, in heated exchanges, and calm, deliberate declarations. There are poignant questions and excoriating soul searching, while secondary characters reflect on what really matters, life, death and the aftermath.
None of us gets through life emotionally unscathed, but Joanna Trollops allows us into some of the more intense possibilities of emotional trauma which may cause many a reader to think twice about their own choices and decisions.
Gina and Laurence were best friends in secondary school. Time has moved on but they both still live in the same small town. Laurence and his practical wife, Hilary, run The Bee Hive small hotel and live above it with their three boys. Gina is about to experience a devastating divorce and her only child, Sophy, is going to bear the brunt of the decision. Sophy has a good friendship with Laurence's boys and one wonders whether history is going to repeat itself in a new generation.
The perils of platonic relationships that take a different turn is at the heart of this novel, recorded with brilliant dialogue, in heated exchanges, and calm, deliberate declarations. There are poignant questions and excoriating soul searching, while secondary characters reflect on what really matters, life, death and the aftermath.
None of us gets through life emotionally unscathed, but Joanna Trollops allows us into some of the more intense possibilities of emotional trauma which may cause many a reader to think twice about their own choices and decisions.
August 21, 2019
Trollope's writing is really captivating. I really enjoyed it.
I must say, though, if you like plot-ridden stories, this is not a book for you. This is a very character-ridden story. I genuinely loved the drama and the dynamics these two families had. Exploring each and every character and their minds, emotions and ideals have been so much fun.
Fergus and Dan are easily my most favourite characters and then of course, there's Gus.
I recommend reading this book, if you're not really looking for an exciting ride, but a pleasant journey through an old town. Joanna Trollope has a way with writing the very sentence you have been thinking for yourself for ages, but couldn't put it into words before. Often enough, I stopped reading and took notes of some words or passages that I liked the way they sound.
I must say, though, if you like plot-ridden stories, this is not a book for you. This is a very character-ridden story. I genuinely loved the drama and the dynamics these two families had. Exploring each and every character and their minds, emotions and ideals have been so much fun.
Fergus and Dan are easily my most favourite characters and then of course, there's Gus.
I recommend reading this book, if you're not really looking for an exciting ride, but a pleasant journey through an old town. Joanna Trollope has a way with writing the very sentence you have been thinking for yourself for ages, but couldn't put it into words before. Often enough, I stopped reading and took notes of some words or passages that I liked the way they sound.
March 3, 2020
I first read this about 20 years ago, and then didn't much notice the old couple, Vi and Dan - I was far more interested in the middle-aged four. Now, edging towards old age, I felt much more sympathetic towards them. I also felt very little empathy or sympathy for the 40+es, and far more for the teenagers who were sucked in, willy-nilly. But although all her books aren't up to the same standard, this one is definitely one of Joanna Trollope's best. Excellent insights into divorce, the causes thereof, and the reasons for staying or going. I particularly liked the way Trollope describes how friendships veer into the more dangerous waters of sexual attraction Dan/Vi, Sophie/George, Sophie/Gus, Gina/Laurence, Tony/Fergus. Satisfying all round.
September 9, 2023
This is probably a 3.5 rating. Joanne Trollope books are so very readable but I found myself so cross with them all. Only Hilary acted sensibly keeping her childrens interests paramount. When Laurence walks out on Gina and her teenage daughter Sophy, Gina falls apart completely and seems to forget that she has any parental responsibilities. Then she throws herself into the lives and marriage of her childhood friend Fergus. As always the danger of a vulnerable woman strikes and Fergus and Gina come together with disregard for E ryone else. Gina’s mum Vi is the only one who can knock their heads together and tell them to stop acting so selfishly. I loved Vi!
September 5, 2018
This suffered slightly from being the book I read after one that was personally life-changing.
That said, a tale of real people (with the sole exception being that no-one seems to suffer from genuine money worries) with good aspects and and bad aspects. Trollope brings her beady eye to these characters in a lovely English village and tells us about them - warts and all. The warts here are mostly of the selfish, self-absorbed sort ... but there's probably a fair bit of that about in the current social climate.
That said, a tale of real people (with the sole exception being that no-one seems to suffer from genuine money worries) with good aspects and and bad aspects. Trollope brings her beady eye to these characters in a lovely English village and tells us about them - warts and all. The warts here are mostly of the selfish, self-absorbed sort ... but there's probably a fair bit of that about in the current social climate.
April 22, 2021
I hadn't read a Joanna Trollope book for years, but I remembered I enjoyed her novels. This novel didn't disappoint me.
The story follows two couples and their offspring. Gina is married to Fergus, and Laurence is married to Hilary. Gina and Laurence have been friends since their teenage years, and all function well together until Fergus leaves Gina. Gina then turns to her best friend, Laurence, and there the troubles begin. I don't wish to write a spoiler review, so I can say no more about the story. If you're intrigued, you need to read it!
The story follows two couples and their offspring. Gina is married to Fergus, and Laurence is married to Hilary. Gina and Laurence have been friends since their teenage years, and all function well together until Fergus leaves Gina. Gina then turns to her best friend, Laurence, and there the troubles begin. I don't wish to write a spoiler review, so I can say no more about the story. If you're intrigued, you need to read it!
January 7, 2024
Trollope is a compelling writer who aptly captures small-town life and drama, as well as the messiness of marriage, adolescence and old age. Her writing is evocative and she navigates the narrative smoothly. This is by no means a life-changing story, but I still found myself invested enough to be rooting for and against her characters, many of whom were difficult to like at times. It is a perfectly good book to pepper in between heavier reads, when you just need to catch your breath and contemplate the intricacies of domestic life.
May 11, 2017
Enjoyable read
Nice strong characters realistic storylines I enjoyed this book immensely. Two old school friends rekindle their connection after Ginas husband leaves her the children from both families are caught up in all the ceasefire and have adventures of their own. Trollope as always tells the story with believable and strong characters who you can't help but end up caring about.
Nice strong characters realistic storylines I enjoyed this book immensely. Two old school friends rekindle their connection after Ginas husband leaves her the children from both families are caught up in all the ceasefire and have adventures of their own. Trollope as always tells the story with believable and strong characters who you can't help but end up caring about.
September 14, 2017
Beautifully written, but by the end, I did feel that most of the characters were worse off than they were at the start. I also thought that one of the women was judged more harshly for her behaviour than the man in a similar position, even though Fergus not only left his wife and daughter, but also insisted on selling their house, despite his daughter still being at home. Very few of the adults in the book came out well.
July 24, 2020
I enjoyed this Joanna Trollope book, I really do like her novels, her style of writing is fantastic and she seems to understand human nature particularly well. As usual, this book is about ordinary people and their lives, I disliked Gina and Fergus instantly, loved Sophy and Vi, and liked the Wood family, even Lawrence.Basically the story of teenagers, their parents, mistakes and what might have been. It isn’t my favourite book of hers, but still worth reading.
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