What do you think?
Rate this book
The Compromise
It is the eve of St Patrick's Day in Dublin and five childhood friends are about to find their lives irrevocably torn apart.
Wealthy privileged Juliet Jordan lies trapped on a ledge at the bottom of a cliff, not knowing if she fell or was pushed.
What enemy would go so far to get her out of the way? Or what friend. . .
Juliet was about to go head to head with Matthew Moore in the country's latest Presidential Election contest. Matthew and Juliet have often clashed but now she stands squarely in the way of his power-hungry ambition.
Matthew's wife, the wealthy but insecure Rose, has her own reasons for not wanting Juliet to contest the battle and her sister Rebecca, Juliet's best friend, grows increasingly alarmed that the ruthless campaign could destroy all their lives.
When Juliet is found, no one escapes the emotional fall out, not even the beautiful Danielle, Rebecca's daughter, who has fled Dublin after the fraught break-up of her engagement.
The tangled ties of forbidden love and friendship, old secrets and heartbreak that bind all the women are ripped apart until there is nothing left. And they have to realise what really counts, and what is the true meaning of love.
Wealthy privileged Juliet Jordan lies trapped on a ledge at the bottom of a cliff, not knowing if she fell or was pushed.
What enemy would go so far to get her out of the way? Or what friend. . .
Juliet was about to go head to head with Matthew Moore in the country's latest Presidential Election contest. Matthew and Juliet have often clashed but now she stands squarely in the way of his power-hungry ambition.
Matthew's wife, the wealthy but insecure Rose, has her own reasons for not wanting Juliet to contest the battle and her sister Rebecca, Juliet's best friend, grows increasingly alarmed that the ruthless campaign could destroy all their lives.
When Juliet is found, no one escapes the emotional fall out, not even the beautiful Danielle, Rebecca's daughter, who has fled Dublin after the fraught break-up of her engagement.
The tangled ties of forbidden love and friendship, old secrets and heartbreak that bind all the women are ripped apart until there is nothing left. And they have to realise what really counts, and what is the true meaning of love.
- GenresFiction
448 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2013
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 18, 2014
Four and a half stars. Sometimes you pick up a book and from the moment you start it, you know you are going to keep reading. The novel starts with the discovery of a body at the bottom of the cliff. From there it goes into the first person account of Juliet, who is the person at the foot of the cliff before chapter 2 takes the reader to the third person and what is happening in Rebecca’s life. Rebecca is Juliet’s best friend and they have recently had an argument. Rebecca, Juliet and Rose have been friends for years. Along with Matthew, they grew up in a small village outside Dublin.
As the story progresses we discover there is a secret Juliet and her friends have kept, a secret that could have repercussions not just for Matthew in his political career but for his wife Rose and his family. Juliet who had been running against Matthew was prepared to bring the truth of what happened years ago to light. As the story unfolds it seems there is more than one person who would be happy to see Juliet out of the way and Rebecca finds she doesn't know Juliet as well as she thought.
Meanwhile Rebecca’s daughter Danielle has her own secret. Having cancelled her wedding she is in Rome, refusing to tell her mother why the wedding has been cancelled. Although I figured out fairly early on what both secrets were, it didn’t lessen my enjoyment any. What can I say? I like being proved right.
The story shifts from time to time as background incidents and memories are filled in. These are clearly labelled with the date so readers know exactly where they are.
The further into this book I got the quicker I started turning the pages, so that last night when my husband said; 'Coming to bed now?' He was told. ‘You have to wait. I have to finish this book first.’ Just as well he understands the compulsion of a good story. Being from Sydney originally I also loved the description of the harbour, the iconic opera house and bridge, which occurs towards the middle of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Love the cover too.
As the story progresses we discover there is a secret Juliet and her friends have kept, a secret that could have repercussions not just for Matthew in his political career but for his wife Rose and his family. Juliet who had been running against Matthew was prepared to bring the truth of what happened years ago to light. As the story unfolds it seems there is more than one person who would be happy to see Juliet out of the way and Rebecca finds she doesn't know Juliet as well as she thought.
Meanwhile Rebecca’s daughter Danielle has her own secret. Having cancelled her wedding she is in Rome, refusing to tell her mother why the wedding has been cancelled. Although I figured out fairly early on what both secrets were, it didn’t lessen my enjoyment any. What can I say? I like being proved right.
The story shifts from time to time as background incidents and memories are filled in. These are clearly labelled with the date so readers know exactly where they are.
The further into this book I got the quicker I started turning the pages, so that last night when my husband said; 'Coming to bed now?' He was told. ‘You have to wait. I have to finish this book first.’ Just as well he understands the compulsion of a good story. Being from Sydney originally I also loved the description of the harbour, the iconic opera house and bridge, which occurs towards the middle of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Love the cover too.
February 6, 2018
Childhood friends Juliet, Rebecca,Rose & Matthew grew up in a small village outside Dublin. Now privileged, wealthy and powerful, they appear to have it all. But when Juliet is involved in a suspicious accident and lies trapped between life and death at the bottom of a cliff, a secret that has been hidden for years threatens the seemingly perfect lives of the close-knit group.
For the beautiful, fragile Rose, Juliet's accident brings unwanted attention on the sins of the past. For her husband, the ruthlessly ambitious Matthew, it removes a critical obstacle from the path of his political career. As Rebecca discovers more about what happened to her friend, she begins to wonder if she ever knew the real Juliet Jordan.
Rebecca's troubled young daughter Danielle, hiding out in Rome, knows the truth that can shed light on what happened. But as secrets are revealed, the childhood friends are about to discover that sometimes, old friends are the ones you know the least.
For the beautiful, fragile Rose, Juliet's accident brings unwanted attention on the sins of the past. For her husband, the ruthlessly ambitious Matthew, it removes a critical obstacle from the path of his political career. As Rebecca discovers more about what happened to her friend, she begins to wonder if she ever knew the real Juliet Jordan.
Rebecca's troubled young daughter Danielle, hiding out in Rome, knows the truth that can shed light on what happened. But as secrets are revealed, the childhood friends are about to discover that sometimes, old friends are the ones you know the least.
April 26, 2021
Boring boring boring! I am just so frustrated. 2nd book I am reading in a row. Still cannot get into the story even though I am at Chapter 25 already. Is it me having reader's block or this novel is just plain boring? I just can't get into this book. Cannot absorb the characters and storyline. I finally gave up and turned to the last chapter to read the ending. Maybe this is a good book since it has been rated 3.8 but I just couldn't get into it. Maybe in months or years to come, I will try to make an attempt to read it again.
June 2, 2017
Really enjoyed this book from Zoe Miller. Another page turner.
Characters were strong. Sisters Rebecca & Rose, their best friend Juliet, and Matthew were childhood friends. Then we've Rebecca's daughter Danielle and her cousin James (Rose & Matthew's son).
After a tragic accident, the families are worried buried secrets will come to the fore.
The reader is kept guessing throughout.
Characters were strong. Sisters Rebecca & Rose, their best friend Juliet, and Matthew were childhood friends. Then we've Rebecca's daughter Danielle and her cousin James (Rose & Matthew's son).
After a tragic accident, the families are worried buried secrets will come to the fore.
The reader is kept guessing throughout.
March 21, 2019
I loved this book! Excellent writing that kept you readIng from beginning to end! I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!
May 27, 2016
A great page turner. The plot wasn't fab but was secondary to the characters. I got totally invested in the sister's, their friend and daughter and wanted there to be a sequel so I could continue eavesdropping on their lives.
April 24, 2013
Find my review here http://www.chicklitclub.com/thecompro...
May 11, 2013
What a page turner, I really enjoyed this book. One gets completely drawn into the women's lives and you just dont know what's going to pop up next. Read it you won't be disappointed x
January 21, 2015
Could not put this down.
April 22, 2015
The end was too predictable. A good read but was a bit lengthy so it lost its punch
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews