What do you think?
Rate this book
A Different World
A mesmerising novel exploring the joys and challenges of family life throughout the twentieth century, A DIFFERENT WORLD is the latest bestselling novel from Judith Lennox. Not to be missed by readers of Lucinda Riley and Rachel Hore.
In the summer of 1939, nineteen-year-old Olivia Goodland arrives in London. Working for a society dressmaker, she meets wealthy, beautiful Grace Ruthwell. Beguiled by the glamour of Grace's world, it's only slowly and too late that she becomes aware of the darkness that lies beneath the glittering exterior.
When the Second World War erupts, Olivia joins the Land Army. At a party in Wiltshire, she meets the handsome poet George Flynn, whose charms prove impossible to resist. Over the ensuing years, Olivia's life is absorbed by the upbringing of her three sons, and by her relationship with a man whose passions go beyond poetry. But as the twentieth century continues to unfold, Olivia makes a shocking discovery, and starts to question where her true happiness lies . . .
Praise for Judith
'I have fallen completely in love with Judith Lennox's writing - she's a fantastic storyteller!' Jill Mansell
'A fast-moving, complex story' The Times
'Judith Lennox's writing is so keenly honest it could sever heartstrings' Daily Mail
In the summer of 1939, nineteen-year-old Olivia Goodland arrives in London. Working for a society dressmaker, she meets wealthy, beautiful Grace Ruthwell. Beguiled by the glamour of Grace's world, it's only slowly and too late that she becomes aware of the darkness that lies beneath the glittering exterior.
When the Second World War erupts, Olivia joins the Land Army. At a party in Wiltshire, she meets the handsome poet George Flynn, whose charms prove impossible to resist. Over the ensuing years, Olivia's life is absorbed by the upbringing of her three sons, and by her relationship with a man whose passions go beyond poetry. But as the twentieth century continues to unfold, Olivia makes a shocking discovery, and starts to question where her true happiness lies . . .
Praise for Judith
'I have fallen completely in love with Judith Lennox's writing - she's a fantastic storyteller!' Jill Mansell
'A fast-moving, complex story' The Times
'Judith Lennox's writing is so keenly honest it could sever heartstrings' Daily Mail
- GenresHistorical
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2025
14 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Judith Lennox
28 books151 followersAka Judith Lennox-Smith
Judith Lennox lives in Cambridgeshire, England with her husband and three sons.
Judith Lennox lives in Cambridgeshire, England with her husband and three sons.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 1, 2025
Boa....was für eine Enttäuschung!
Ich liebe eigentlich die stimmungsvollen FrauenRomane der Autorin....doch stimmungsvolle Unterhaltung suchte ich in diesem uninspirierten und langatmigen Roman vergeblich....
Die Lebensgeschichte von Hauptprotagonistin Olivia ist so durchschnittlich erzählt, die Charaktere so beliebig, dass ich wirklich Mühe hatte, das Buch zu Ende zu lesen....
Nur die Frage, warum der Titel "Die andere Tochter" heißt ließ mich durchhalten....denn auf die "andere Tochter" wartete ich...und wartete....und ließ mich ratlos zurück....denn Töchter kommen im Roman definitiv nicht vor...🤔😄
Ein enttäuschendes Buch....Wirklich schade!
Lieber im Regal stehen lassen....sorry!
Ich liebe eigentlich die stimmungsvollen FrauenRomane der Autorin....doch stimmungsvolle Unterhaltung suchte ich in diesem uninspirierten und langatmigen Roman vergeblich....
Die Lebensgeschichte von Hauptprotagonistin Olivia ist so durchschnittlich erzählt, die Charaktere so beliebig, dass ich wirklich Mühe hatte, das Buch zu Ende zu lesen....
Nur die Frage, warum der Titel "Die andere Tochter" heißt ließ mich durchhalten....denn auf die "andere Tochter" wartete ich...und wartete....und ließ mich ratlos zurück....denn Töchter kommen im Roman definitiv nicht vor...🤔😄
Ein enttäuschendes Buch....Wirklich schade!
Lieber im Regal stehen lassen....sorry!
February 20, 2025
Boring... I really like Judith Lennox books but this one had no climax - it was plot after plot after plot after plot. No excitement was built up.
January 19, 2026
Episodenhafte Geschichte von Olivia und ihrer Familie, von 1939 bis in die späten 70er Jahre. Lässt sich gut weglesen, plätschert so dahin. Der deutsche Titel hat sich mir bis zum Ende nicht erschlossen. Es gibt viele bessere Bücher von Judith Lennox.
May 23, 2025
A Different World starts in the summer of 1939, when Olivia, a young dressmaker in London, meets the glamorous Grace Ruthwell. Grace is charming and friendly towards Olivia, who finds herself increasingly drawn into the woman's life, without quite appreciating the dangers. The acquaintance ends abruptly and not soon after, World War II breaks out. The story then follows Olivia through the years, through the ups and downs of married life and a changing world.
An engaging and gentle read from Judith Lennox, who excels at these historical family sagas. As always Lennox wonderfully brings to life a different era and world, but also shows that world changing with the times, as the story here ends in 1979. Olivia, as the main character, was easy to like, and the story was filled with a host of colourful supporting characters who come and go out of Olivia's life.
As with many of Lennox's novels, there were large time jumps here, which could sometimes be jarring. She will go into the minutiae of a certain event, but then suddenly skip decades, such that it was hard to always feel fully invested in the relationships and with some of the characters.
I enjoyed the opening of the book set pre World War II, as I thought the Ruthwells were an intriguing family, who clearly had their secrets, and it wasn't clear exactly how far Olivia could trust any of them. Certainly she was portrayed as somewhat naïve and taken in by the glamour and friendliness of Grace, and though Grace did use her, I could but feel sorry for her own predicament and especially what happened with Frankie.
Her connection to the Ruthwells continues to weigh on Olivia's mind throughout the book and I liked that we did get closure on this aspect of the story, and that we came back to it, meeting Rory and Alice again later in the book to get some answers.
I thought Olivia and George's relationship was well portrayed, as we follow them from the highs of first love to the day to day of being married and raising a family, the sacrifices that are made for the sake of that family and the messy dynamics when it falls apart, though I liked that there remained a sense of genuine friendship between the two. I didn't find the parts focusing on the lives and relationships of Olivia's children as engaging, as I never really felt any attachment to any of their characters.
Certainly this is not my favourite of Lennox's books, the story at times was a little lacking and too mundane. However, I hadn't read a Lennox novel for a little while, and will say that I enjoyed the gentle and cosy feel of the book.
An engaging and gentle read from Judith Lennox, who excels at these historical family sagas. As always Lennox wonderfully brings to life a different era and world, but also shows that world changing with the times, as the story here ends in 1979. Olivia, as the main character, was easy to like, and the story was filled with a host of colourful supporting characters who come and go out of Olivia's life.
As with many of Lennox's novels, there were large time jumps here, which could sometimes be jarring. She will go into the minutiae of a certain event, but then suddenly skip decades, such that it was hard to always feel fully invested in the relationships and with some of the characters.
I enjoyed the opening of the book set pre World War II, as I thought the Ruthwells were an intriguing family, who clearly had their secrets, and it wasn't clear exactly how far Olivia could trust any of them. Certainly she was portrayed as somewhat naïve and taken in by the glamour and friendliness of Grace, and though Grace did use her, I could but feel sorry for her own predicament and especially what happened with Frankie.
Her connection to the Ruthwells continues to weigh on Olivia's mind throughout the book and I liked that we did get closure on this aspect of the story, and that we came back to it, meeting Rory and Alice again later in the book to get some answers.
I thought Olivia and George's relationship was well portrayed, as we follow them from the highs of first love to the day to day of being married and raising a family, the sacrifices that are made for the sake of that family and the messy dynamics when it falls apart, though I liked that there remained a sense of genuine friendship between the two. I didn't find the parts focusing on the lives and relationships of Olivia's children as engaging, as I never really felt any attachment to any of their characters.
Certainly this is not my favourite of Lennox's books, the story at times was a little lacking and too mundane. However, I hadn't read a Lennox novel for a little while, and will say that I enjoyed the gentle and cosy feel of the book.
August 18, 2025
Langatmig, platt und pathetisch und ein Titel, der wenig bis nichts mit dem Inhalt zu tun hat. Die meiste Phantasie beweist die Autorin (oder die Übersetzerin) bei den Farbadjektiven: wie darf ich mir "austerfarbene Augen" vorstellen oder "silberblondes Haar" (nein, nicht grau; die so beschriebene Frau ist jung)? Auch verdanke ich diesem Buch die Bereicherung meines Vokabulars um den Begriff "alpenveilchenrosafarben". Immerhin
October 30, 2025
Couldn't get on with this book. Plot kept jumping. didn't finish
November 8, 2025
Erinnert an Rosamunde pilcher
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews