The Apple Barrel

by Susan Sallis

Hope and Jack Langley seem like a couple who have it all. Soon after they marry and move into an idyllic Gloucestershire village, Hope discovers she is pregnant. The glamorous Petersons, Henrik and Mandy, appear as new neighbours, and both couples become close. But appearances can be deceptive.

Genres: Fiction

477 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Susan Sallis was the author of over twenty bestselling novels, many of them set in the West Country. She was born in Gloucestershire and lived in Somerset with her family. She died in 2020.

Reviews

[Barbra]

This was a good book and I really enjoyed it.

It was a good book which is based in Cornwall and Gloucester. Following the lives of a couple from their wedding onwards. When a Norwegian couple come into their lives things start happening - not for the good.

[Holly]

Could not get into this story. I was not able to love any character. Took me 3 weeks to force myself to finish the book and I generally read at least one per week.

[Karen Rufus]

A very different type of book for me but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in the 70's, Hope and Jack a newly married couple, blissfully happy and looking forward to life with their two girls. But then they become friendly with some new neighbours who have a very odd relationship which eventually impacts on Hope and her whole family. Life turns sour and it becomes a tale of broken relationships, the isolation away from modern life that was needed to heal, learning to live independently again and coping with a very different and primitive lifestyle, relying on your own self. Serious illness, financial hardship, sadness. But in amongst all that sadness a new friendship grows between Hope and an elderly couple of farmers Bella and Peter and the odd - in every sense of the word - Jem, a traveller who comes and goes and has an impact on the whole story. The central character Hope and the farming couple and Jem on occasions learn that to survive they have to rely on each other. It's very well written with some wonderfully descriptive narratives of a bleak and lonely landscape. An unexpected ending too.

[Kathy Welch]

This book isn’t even worth your time, even if you get it for free.

I don’t understand why this book gets such good reviews. The plot could have been condensed into a short story with the ending incredibly predictable. I slogged through the first half, then skimmed the second half to see if improved. It got worse. The husband betrays his wife with her best friend for 12 years and financially ruins them. Throughout the book the wife plays the tortured martyr which exhausts both her and you, the reader. The daughters are nothing but obnoxious and disloyal to their mother. Save your time.

[Eleanor]

Not what I was expecting when I started the book. How do you deal with supposed friends who are using you for their own ends, with amongst this you find out the infidelity of your husband. Getting back to some degree of normality was a long and difficult road but just as the rotten apple was discarded so the rest could stay fresh and useful Hope and John do gradually find their way through to find a better and companionable life putting their past experiences behind them and discarding their so called friends.

[June Churchill]

Hmmm, not as enjoyable as previous books by Susan Sallis, I found myself getting angry or frustrated with the characters. Hope with her naivety, Jack with his almost controlling attitude and secrecy, Amanda and Henrik parasites/leeches and daughters Faith and Charity for their lack of parental respect. But I did read it to the end, it sort of came right at the end.

[Shirley Smith]

Love In Cornwall

Intricacies of relationships and different kinds of love, misconstrued and true. It was sad to read even when situations seemed happy because trouble seemed obviously imminent. It was compelling because of the character development and charming settings. The best part was the wisdom shown through the old farmer and his wife.

[Mrs Eileen W Edwards]

Well written and at times I couldn’t put it down. Made Cornwall come alive.

A love story with complications. Brought up to date quite simply.
I do like a happy ending and I got that.

[Deborah White]

Enjoyable Read

Thoroughly enjoyed this book wondering exactly where the lives of the characters were going. When it became apparent how it would end I lost interest a bit and felt the story was dragged out a touch too long

[Eileen]

The title of this book is a little odd. I was trying to figure out what it meant and I remembered a short scene near the beginning when they were looking for one rotten apple in a barrel and commenting that it would ruin the whole barrel if they left it there. I guess it's a metaphor for life. Good novel.

[Jw]

A little different but written very well.

[Sandy Aragon]

Truly a different love story!

Wow! At first I thought "Boy Hope sure is a Pollyanna". And then you see, love and admire this really extraordinary woman with so much strength!

[Mary G]

Awesome

The power of the human spirit and love, forgiveness & hope! Well written by someone who has lived life to the fullest. Makes one inspect one's self.

[Kate]

Not the most cheerful read

I usually love Susan Sallis books but I found this hard going & to be honest quite depressing. Perhaps not one to read during lockdown.

[karen chambers]

God read

Most enjoyable read from page to page .it took me back to the Cornwall I knew many years ago thanks.

[Bernie Morris]

Good but predictable

[Michelle]

Hope and Jack are newly weds and honeymoon in Cornwall, life is good and they settle into their new life in Gloucester. New neighbours, Mandy and Henrik move in and they become friends but soon things start to unravel and Hope escapes back to Cornwall to see if she can find contentment again.

[Lynsey Rawlingson]

Very slow and dragged on. Skimmed the second half as was taking way too long to get to any sort of point.

[Jo]

I wasn’t completely into this book and i was almost at the point of bailing but it got better towards the end …. Im
glad its finished - it was dull throughout and the book had a weird font choice !

[Donna]

Not one of her best.

[Sharon Reeves]

I read this book and liked it, in most places, what I found strange is that it is called 'The apple Barrel', but there is no mention of any apple barrel in the book?? Maybe I am missing something? It was not one of her worst books. An OK read.