The Right Time

by Dianne Blacklock

The Beckett sisters – Ellen, Emma, Elizabeth and Evie – all need to shake things up.



Emma has been planning her dream wedding ever since she was little, and as soon as her boyfriend proposes, surely it will be smooth sailing from then on?

Liz expects her affair with a married colleague to turn into something more serious as soon as her partner can leave his wife. But that does seem to be taking a long time...

Evie and Craig's marriage has become rather dull but when Craig suggests a way to spice it up, Evie is horrified. Must she go through with Craig's plan to keep him?

And Ellen, the anchor of the family, is dealing with a marriage breakdown and getting back into the dating game. But she wonders if she'll ever be able to open her heart to love again.

There's never a perfect time for life-changing decisions — just the right time.

Genres: Womens Fiction

360 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Dianne Blacklock is the author of Call Waiting, Wife for Hire, Almost Perfect, False Advertising, Crossing Paths, Three’s a Crowd, The Right Time, and in November 2011, The Secret Ingredient.

When she's not writing she goes on rampages through the house, cleaning and emptying out cupboards and making everyone do extra chores. Needless to say, the family prefers it when she's writing.

Reviews

[Margi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. I have enjoyed several of Dianne Blacklock's books and definately enjoyed this one. I couldn't wait to get back to this each time I put it down to see what each of the 4 sisters were doing with their lives.

[MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Half the time I wanted to shake the silly bitches for being silly bitches... But irl everyone has blind spots.

Glad I read it, and aside from the overly stepfordish kids at the end, it showed the process of getting to know people you all ready 'know' well.

0719

[Corinne Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A re-read of a book i've owned for 15 years or so. So much is still pertinent to life love and families. Relationships in all their various guises, parents and children, spouses and siblings. I wish Dianne Blacklock was still writing!

[Silvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, but not as good as Almost Perfect. The characters were not as quirky and the plot was not as compelling.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A predictable book but a nice easy read with likeable characters

[Jessica Sadler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had a feel good vibe to it without being unrealistic. The themes covered were real life matters and were beautifully explored by the author.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Right Time is Dianne Blacklock’s 7th novel. Once again set in Sydney, this novel deals with the lives of the four Beckett sisters. Ellen, the eldest, a teacher, surviving her marriage breakdown from husband, Tim and wary about dating again; Emma, an event planner, waiting for boyfriend Blake to propose so she can have the dream wedding she has spent her life planning; Elizabeth (Liz), a successful dermatologist, conducting a long-term affair with Andrew, a married surgeon, is having doubts about her career and her relationship; and Evie, married to Craig and mother of three, feels her marriage needs saving but wonders whether Craig’s solution is really the answer. All are facing life-changing decisions: is it the right time to make them? As always, Blacklock touches on many issues: divorce, pornography and swinging clubs, being the “other woman”, cosmetic dermatology, teachers and public schools, over-the-top weddings and letting go of the childhood family home. This novel asks the question: how far will you go to save your marriage and when is a marriage broken beyond repair. Blacklock’s characters are all people you will be familiar with from the café or the school P&C meeting. The dialogue is easily recognisable for anyone who has brothers, sisters or parents. There are many laugh-out-loud moments and a few lump-in-the-throat ones. I loved the dad, Edward, and I thought the idea of the fixed-term marriage contract with the option to renew could be further explored. A heart-warming read.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about four sisters - really enjoyable reading. All four are very different, but I honestly liked all of them and was interested in how their stories unfolded. (Even though I did get a bit annoyed they were so selfish towards their parents getting on with their lives).
Liz is hung up on a married doctor who has been stringing her along for years, married mum Evie gets the shock of her life when her husband suggests a swingers club, Ellen has recently had a long term marriage break up and Emma has just become engaged and has turned into a bridezilla. Very relatable, everyday Australian women. Diane has a real talent for writing about them.

[Adora Herveaux · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting premise. Too much dialogue. Too many characters. An easy read that doesn't dig too deep into life issues.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable. Just what I felt like.

[Amanda Dougall · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars