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Spare Brides
Damaged and beautiful, they were the generation who lost so much and became 'spare brides'. The richly compelling and emotional new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Adele Parks is the powerful story of four extraordinary women left to pick up the pieces of their lives, in the scarred, glamorous and endlessly fascinating post-First World War era.
New Year's Eve, 1920. The Great War is over and it's a new decade of glamorous promise. But a generation of men and women who survived the extreme trauma and tragedy will never be the same.
With countless men lost, it seems that only wealth and beauty will secure a husband from the few who returned, but lonely Beatrice has neither attribute. Ava has both, although she sees marriage as a restrictive cage after the freedom war allowed. Sarah paid the war's ultimate price: her husband's life. Lydia should be grateful that her own husband's desk job kept him safe, but she sees only his cowardice.
A chance encounter for one of these women with a striking yet haunted officer changes everything. In a world altered beyond recognition, where not all scars are visible, this damaged and beautiful group must grasp any happiness they can find - whatever the cost.
New Year's Eve, 1920. The Great War is over and it's a new decade of glamorous promise. But a generation of men and women who survived the extreme trauma and tragedy will never be the same.
With countless men lost, it seems that only wealth and beauty will secure a husband from the few who returned, but lonely Beatrice has neither attribute. Ava has both, although she sees marriage as a restrictive cage after the freedom war allowed. Sarah paid the war's ultimate price: her husband's life. Lydia should be grateful that her own husband's desk job kept him safe, but she sees only his cowardice.
A chance encounter for one of these women with a striking yet haunted officer changes everything. In a world altered beyond recognition, where not all scars are visible, this damaged and beautiful group must grasp any happiness they can find - whatever the cost.
440 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
70 people are currently reading
1447 people want to read
About the author
Adele Parks
58 books3,365 followersAdele Parks MBE is one of the most-loved and biggest-selling women's fiction writers in the UK. She has sold over 4 million books and her work has been translated into 30 different languages.
She has published 21 novels, all of which have been London Times bestsellers.
Adele has written 19 contemporary novels and 2 historical ones, Spare Brides and If You Go Away, which are set during and after WW1. Her latest novels, Both of You, Just My Luck, Lies Lies Lies, I Invited Her In, The Image of You and The Stranger in My Home are twisty, domestic noirs. Adele likes to scrutinize our concepts of family, our theories on love, parenting and fidelity.
During her career Adele has lived in Italy, Botswana and London. Now she lives happily in Surrey, UK with her husband, son and cat.
If you want to stay in touch you can find Adele on Twitter @AdeleParks, Instagram @Adele_Parks or Facebook @OfficialAdeleParks. You can sign up to her newsletter at eepurl.com/cI0l and there’s lots more info about Adele and her books on www.adeleparks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
August 8, 2014
I must say that this may be one of the worst books in my possession. Actually, it’s not in my possession any more. It’s on a tram. In Edinburgh. 300 miles from my home town. I’m rather pleased that the majority of people liked this book. I now have hope that the random stranger who picks the book up will enjoy it.
However, the premise sounds good, so why did I dislike it? A group of four women are all left in different martial situations after the First World War. 1920s. The Lost Generation. Sounds fab doesn’t it? In fairness, Adele Parks does write quite well, and she evidently researched the war and its aftermath very well. This is what made the first section, Winter, quite compelling.
This first section is good because the stories of all four women are equally weighted. However, they all vary greatly in interesting personalities.
The story would’ve been very different if Adele Parks had chosen to make Bea or Ada her protagonist. Or even Sarah, even if she was a little dull. However, Lydia was our protagonist and for me, the book went downhill from there.
Lydia has little or no positive aspects about her personality. She was beautiful, yes but she was also dull, vapid, shallow, arrogant, spoilt, whiney and completely self-absorbed. And we’re frequently reminded that Lydia is beautiful as if excusing her childish behaviour.
This book is also very, very melodramatic. It’s straight out of a Mills and Boon. Plot synopsis:
Yuck. As you may have guessed this certainly was not my cup of tea.
I personally thought that the romance in this book was not very good. I have nothing against affairs in novels – but I want them to be written well. This romance was predictable, boring and I didn’t care for it at all. I would say the main love interest, Edgar Trent was excruciatingly boring. He was undeveloped and stereotyped, and hardly any of the chapters were from his point of view leading to making him be a figurehead, a pawn in a chess game. The sex scenes also were not executed well. They were long, boring and very clichéd. I wanted them to be over.
However, I am in the minority, and it does seem most people liked this book. It was just not my cup of tea.
However, the premise sounds good, so why did I dislike it? A group of four women are all left in different martial situations after the First World War. 1920s. The Lost Generation. Sounds fab doesn’t it? In fairness, Adele Parks does write quite well, and she evidently researched the war and its aftermath very well. This is what made the first section, Winter, quite compelling.
This first section is good because the stories of all four women are equally weighted. However, they all vary greatly in interesting personalities.
The story would’ve been very different if Adele Parks had chosen to make Bea or Ada her protagonist. Or even Sarah, even if she was a little dull. However, Lydia was our protagonist and for me, the book went downhill from there.
Lydia has little or no positive aspects about her personality. She was beautiful, yes but she was also dull, vapid, shallow, arrogant, spoilt, whiney and completely self-absorbed. And we’re frequently reminded that Lydia is beautiful as if excusing her childish behaviour.
This book is also very, very melodramatic. It’s straight out of a Mills and Boon. Plot synopsis:
Yuck. As you may have guessed this certainly was not my cup of tea.
I personally thought that the romance in this book was not very good. I have nothing against affairs in novels – but I want them to be written well. This romance was predictable, boring and I didn’t care for it at all. I would say the main love interest, Edgar Trent was excruciatingly boring. He was undeveloped and stereotyped, and hardly any of the chapters were from his point of view leading to making him be a figurehead, a pawn in a chess game. The sex scenes also were not executed well. They were long, boring and very clichéd. I wanted them to be over.
However, I am in the minority, and it does seem most people liked this book. It was just not my cup of tea.
March 11, 2015
Read more reviews at What Danielle Did Next
You know those books that you feel were just written for you. Like you made a list of everything you could want in a book and an author was wonderful enough to somehow accommodate you?
SPARE BRIDES was a "me" book. Adele Parks should really have included a subtitle "For Danielle" because this book had everything I look for in historical fiction. Impeccably researched, wonderful character development and fabulous writing, it was a joy to read from start to finish.
I am a huge war history geek, I wrote my thesis on the effects of WWI on the psyche of Irish writers and their literature so the time period is one I adore to read about both in fiction and non-fiction. Examinations on Post-War life are a particular love of mine and Spare Brides hit the mark with its compelling story about the fragile state of a society literally shell-shocked.
Spare Brides tells the story of four upper-class women whose fortunes after the war are very different. Sarah, widowed and left raising two children, fights loneliness every day. Her sister Beatrice, never the beauty must now come to terms with the fact that the lack of men and her less than stellar financial situation means she'll be left on the shelf. Ava, beautiful and vivacious, for her “single” is a state of great opportunity and the independence gained from working while the men were away fighting is not something to be relinquished easily and Lydia, beautiful, rich and spared the grief of losing a husband in the trenches she has it all so why when the captivating and brutish Edgar Trent walks into her life is she willing to risk what every women around her craves.
I have never read Adele Parks before and I heard this was her first foray into historical fiction so I didn’t know what to expect. Parks manages to capture beautifully the delicate balance between the desperation to recapture the past’s former glory and familiarity and the encroaching modernity with the wants and desire for change. The Old World is losing its grip and the social lines are blurring.
From the first pages I was caught up in this world of glamour and sparkle tinged with sadness and despair. Park’s four heroines are equally well developed and grabbed my sympathy and attention for their individual plights.
Sarah, patient and kind has been dealt the rawest of deals. She was fortunate to have married for love, a rare commodity in a culture focused on marrying well and losing her husband, finds herself a single mother, aching for the company, passion and security she knows a man can offer.
Beatrice, eager and intelligent had her precious chance at a successful season “out” ripped away by the declaration of war. Now the men who have returned to England are broken, their souls and limbs left behind in the fields of France. Those who managed to escape relatively unscathed have their pick of the “spare brides” and Beatrice is cast aside, too chubby, too forgettable. I really sympathised with Bea, a girl who would have thrived in the halls of University who is forced to be humiliated at every social outing as the old ways win out for the time being.
Ava, the epitome of the post war modern flapper, teetering on the edge of scandal at all time refuses to find herself in such a hopeless state as Beatrice. Determined to stand and be counted, her story was fascinating. The hopes and dreams of single women today, the opportunities that lie before them were founded here in the steely ambition of women like Ava so many years ago.
Lydia, the true heroine of the story was the one who invoked the widest spectrum of emotions in me, from sympathy to hatred, love to screaming frustration. Her recklessness at a time when her peers scrambled for the safety of the familiar was compelling to read. Her cold accusation to her husband of shirking his responsibilities by accepting a desk job during the war effort and her belief that being a war widow would have been more acceptable than the shame of being on the arm of a healthy man is unbearable to witness at times. Her subsequent relationship with Edgar was equal parts admirable and horrifying and her journey was ultimately unforgettable.
Parks has a wonderful ability to create characters that are unfailingly sympathetic and her thoughtful examination on women, their status, their relationships and their hidden desires is staggering.
This is a period of time when an ever present cloud of dismay and guilt crossed social lines that no-one was able to avoid.
The unspoken calculation of what everyone has lost and gained in the war and the resentment seeping out through thinly veiled insults disguised as concern. The desire to forget yet the unwillingness or perhaps incapability to do so is a recurring theme. One cannot help but feel for these women, these “spare brides”. Caught between the fleeing past and the charging future, their present is desperately sad. The painful knowledge that their purpose in life; to be a wife and mother has been lost and watching men broken by war try desperately to come to terms with the images of horror and brutality forever playing behind their eyes.
This book was by far my favourite historical fiction book in recent years. Capturing the struggle of women and giving a voice to those who were part of a generation filled with uncertainty and change at too fast a pace is a story that can be appreciated by any generation and will be just as important and relevant to the daughters and grand-daughters that come after. Simply stunning.
You know those books that you feel were just written for you. Like you made a list of everything you could want in a book and an author was wonderful enough to somehow accommodate you?
SPARE BRIDES was a "me" book. Adele Parks should really have included a subtitle "For Danielle" because this book had everything I look for in historical fiction. Impeccably researched, wonderful character development and fabulous writing, it was a joy to read from start to finish.
I am a huge war history geek, I wrote my thesis on the effects of WWI on the psyche of Irish writers and their literature so the time period is one I adore to read about both in fiction and non-fiction. Examinations on Post-War life are a particular love of mine and Spare Brides hit the mark with its compelling story about the fragile state of a society literally shell-shocked.
Spare Brides tells the story of four upper-class women whose fortunes after the war are very different. Sarah, widowed and left raising two children, fights loneliness every day. Her sister Beatrice, never the beauty must now come to terms with the fact that the lack of men and her less than stellar financial situation means she'll be left on the shelf. Ava, beautiful and vivacious, for her “single” is a state of great opportunity and the independence gained from working while the men were away fighting is not something to be relinquished easily and Lydia, beautiful, rich and spared the grief of losing a husband in the trenches she has it all so why when the captivating and brutish Edgar Trent walks into her life is she willing to risk what every women around her craves.
I have never read Adele Parks before and I heard this was her first foray into historical fiction so I didn’t know what to expect. Parks manages to capture beautifully the delicate balance between the desperation to recapture the past’s former glory and familiarity and the encroaching modernity with the wants and desire for change. The Old World is losing its grip and the social lines are blurring.
From the first pages I was caught up in this world of glamour and sparkle tinged with sadness and despair. Park’s four heroines are equally well developed and grabbed my sympathy and attention for their individual plights.
Sarah, patient and kind has been dealt the rawest of deals. She was fortunate to have married for love, a rare commodity in a culture focused on marrying well and losing her husband, finds herself a single mother, aching for the company, passion and security she knows a man can offer.
Beatrice, eager and intelligent had her precious chance at a successful season “out” ripped away by the declaration of war. Now the men who have returned to England are broken, their souls and limbs left behind in the fields of France. Those who managed to escape relatively unscathed have their pick of the “spare brides” and Beatrice is cast aside, too chubby, too forgettable. I really sympathised with Bea, a girl who would have thrived in the halls of University who is forced to be humiliated at every social outing as the old ways win out for the time being.
Ava, the epitome of the post war modern flapper, teetering on the edge of scandal at all time refuses to find herself in such a hopeless state as Beatrice. Determined to stand and be counted, her story was fascinating. The hopes and dreams of single women today, the opportunities that lie before them were founded here in the steely ambition of women like Ava so many years ago.
Lydia, the true heroine of the story was the one who invoked the widest spectrum of emotions in me, from sympathy to hatred, love to screaming frustration. Her recklessness at a time when her peers scrambled for the safety of the familiar was compelling to read. Her cold accusation to her husband of shirking his responsibilities by accepting a desk job during the war effort and her belief that being a war widow would have been more acceptable than the shame of being on the arm of a healthy man is unbearable to witness at times. Her subsequent relationship with Edgar was equal parts admirable and horrifying and her journey was ultimately unforgettable.
Parks has a wonderful ability to create characters that are unfailingly sympathetic and her thoughtful examination on women, their status, their relationships and their hidden desires is staggering.
This is a period of time when an ever present cloud of dismay and guilt crossed social lines that no-one was able to avoid.
The unspoken calculation of what everyone has lost and gained in the war and the resentment seeping out through thinly veiled insults disguised as concern. The desire to forget yet the unwillingness or perhaps incapability to do so is a recurring theme. One cannot help but feel for these women, these “spare brides”. Caught between the fleeing past and the charging future, their present is desperately sad. The painful knowledge that their purpose in life; to be a wife and mother has been lost and watching men broken by war try desperately to come to terms with the images of horror and brutality forever playing behind their eyes.
This book was by far my favourite historical fiction book in recent years. Capturing the struggle of women and giving a voice to those who were part of a generation filled with uncertainty and change at too fast a pace is a story that can be appreciated by any generation and will be just as important and relevant to the daughters and grand-daughters that come after. Simply stunning.
September 2, 2023
So, let's start with the review for this one. I would rather give 2.5 stars but raised it to three since it really isn't a 2 star book.
I was so excited to delve into this story. I became fascinated with the 20's after watching The Great Gatsby (which for some people seems to be a deadly sin, whenever I mention this someone looks at me like I commited a crime) and was happy to find a novel that not only comes with a gorgeous cover, but also a story set right after WWI and with a lot of jazz and flappers.
All in all I was disappointed by the story. I won't go into details, this shall be a spoiler-free review after all. But I expected more. Way more. I liked the atmosphere of the whole thing, people who don't know what to do with themselves after the Great War, one can only imagine how they must have felt. Parks manages to bring this aspect into a lot of chapters and she does so brilliantly. Altogether, I did enjoy the plot, but there have been a few scenes that could have been left out. But this isn't the main reason why I only gave three stars to this book.
When I read the blurb, I was expecting that the story would be split into equal parts for all the girls, Lydia, Ava, Beatrice, and Sarah. I was happy to find a few other perspectives in it, but if you buy the book thinking that that's what you'll get, you will be disappointed.
Most chapters are told from Lydia's perspective, which smoothly leads us to the characters. I liked her at the beginning, but with every chapter told from her perspective, I began to dislike her. She is shallow, whiny and only focuses on herself. There are a few bright moments in which she cares for others, but in the end, it's all motivated by her own desires. I wanted to like her and her story, but I just couldn't. I think Parks made a huge mistake by focusing so much of the story on her, one really gets annoyed by Lydia's thoughts and constant pining. I also didn't like the way she talks to her husband, I realise that marriages based on status are not always happy, but I would have liked her to take a second and think about situations. Also, her whole transformation into her 'new me' made me question the character. People breaking out of their old life is nothing new, but this one seemed to be quite sudden and I lost almost all interest in her at the end of the book.
Another girl, Ava, is a socialite and I liked her much more. She was daring - not in an annoying way, but in a self-confident and forward-thinking way. I loved her short and sassy remarks and how she did show that there's more beneath her public persona. She gets a few chapters in the book, but I would have loved to find out what her life would look like after the end of the story. As with many other characters, her storyline just abruptly came to an end.
Beatrice is called a 'spinster' and she is another character whose chapters I enjoyed. She was quite relatable - you were mad at her, wanted to shake her, but I also wanted her to become happy. For me she represents a girl stuck in time, clutching to old ways, but wanting to be just as cool as Ava, or just as pretty as Lydia. Her money struggles also made her more realistic and I was always excited to read her name at the beginning of a chapter, her story really made me feel close to her.
The last girl is Sarah, a war widow with children. She made me sad a couple of times, I cannot imagine losing a husband in war and being left with children in a world that cannot really find its place anymore. I wished her all the best throughout the story and loved it when she started to get back into life!
There are a few other characters, but I won't say anything about them, since that might lead to spoilers.
In the end, I was left stricken about this book. The (few) chapters I loved didn't improve the many others I didn't like. I was fed up with Lydia at the end and I cannot help but think of the four girls as the friend group in Sex and the City. Beatrice is Charlotte, Sarah is Miranda, Ava makes a marvelous Samantha and Lydia is Carrie - someone I also never really liked and who asks her friends for advice whithout ever really entertaining the thought of following their suggestions.
I would still recommend this book, if you like a good 20s story and aren't disappointed by a very Lydia-heavy storyline.
I was so excited to delve into this story. I became fascinated with the 20's after watching The Great Gatsby (which for some people seems to be a deadly sin, whenever I mention this someone looks at me like I commited a crime) and was happy to find a novel that not only comes with a gorgeous cover, but also a story set right after WWI and with a lot of jazz and flappers.
All in all I was disappointed by the story. I won't go into details, this shall be a spoiler-free review after all. But I expected more. Way more. I liked the atmosphere of the whole thing, people who don't know what to do with themselves after the Great War, one can only imagine how they must have felt. Parks manages to bring this aspect into a lot of chapters and she does so brilliantly. Altogether, I did enjoy the plot, but there have been a few scenes that could have been left out. But this isn't the main reason why I only gave three stars to this book.
When I read the blurb, I was expecting that the story would be split into equal parts for all the girls, Lydia, Ava, Beatrice, and Sarah. I was happy to find a few other perspectives in it, but if you buy the book thinking that that's what you'll get, you will be disappointed.
Most chapters are told from Lydia's perspective, which smoothly leads us to the characters. I liked her at the beginning, but with every chapter told from her perspective, I began to dislike her. She is shallow, whiny and only focuses on herself. There are a few bright moments in which she cares for others, but in the end, it's all motivated by her own desires. I wanted to like her and her story, but I just couldn't. I think Parks made a huge mistake by focusing so much of the story on her, one really gets annoyed by Lydia's thoughts and constant pining. I also didn't like the way she talks to her husband, I realise that marriages based on status are not always happy, but I would have liked her to take a second and think about situations. Also, her whole transformation into her 'new me' made me question the character. People breaking out of their old life is nothing new, but this one seemed to be quite sudden and I lost almost all interest in her at the end of the book.
Another girl, Ava, is a socialite and I liked her much more. She was daring - not in an annoying way, but in a self-confident and forward-thinking way. I loved her short and sassy remarks and how she did show that there's more beneath her public persona. She gets a few chapters in the book, but I would have loved to find out what her life would look like after the end of the story. As with many other characters, her storyline just abruptly came to an end.
Beatrice is called a 'spinster' and she is another character whose chapters I enjoyed. She was quite relatable - you were mad at her, wanted to shake her, but I also wanted her to become happy. For me she represents a girl stuck in time, clutching to old ways, but wanting to be just as cool as Ava, or just as pretty as Lydia. Her money struggles also made her more realistic and I was always excited to read her name at the beginning of a chapter, her story really made me feel close to her.
The last girl is Sarah, a war widow with children. She made me sad a couple of times, I cannot imagine losing a husband in war and being left with children in a world that cannot really find its place anymore. I wished her all the best throughout the story and loved it when she started to get back into life!
There are a few other characters, but I won't say anything about them, since that might lead to spoilers.
In the end, I was left stricken about this book. The (few) chapters I loved didn't improve the many others I didn't like. I was fed up with Lydia at the end and I cannot help but think of the four girls as the friend group in Sex and the City. Beatrice is Charlotte, Sarah is Miranda, Ava makes a marvelous Samantha and Lydia is Carrie - someone I also never really liked and who asks her friends for advice whithout ever really entertaining the thought of following their suggestions.
I would still recommend this book, if you like a good 20s story and aren't disappointed by a very Lydia-heavy storyline.
February 18, 2014
I’m already a big fan of Adele Parks, I’ve read and enjoyed her previous novels so I was looking forward to her latest release. I was especially looking forward to this one as it was a historical, and I love historical fiction.
In 1920, The Great War is over, and everyone is now trying to readjust to life after all they have been through. And with so many men lost, the chances of finding a husband are slim. As Beatrice, Ava , Sarah and Lydia try to find their way in life, a chance encounter for one of these women with a striking yet haunted officer will change everything…
I really enjoyed this, I was really interested to see how Adele’s writing would be with a slight change in genre but I fell in love with the story straight away. I was soon hooked to what I was reading and I flew through the book.
I loved the characters. I liked how the four women had their own individual personalities and so I could hear their separate ‘voices’ as I read. I liked Edgar very much too and I was hooked reading about him and how he was affected by the war, as well as reading about his interactions with the ladies.
Adele Parks is a real storyteller, the period detail was beautiful and ever so vivid – it felt as though I had travelled back in time and was stood watching the scenes play out in front of me. The atmosphere, the clothes, everything seemed to jump to life. Adele also does a fantastic job of portraying life after war and the effects that it had not just on the towns and cities, but the effects on the actual lives of people who survived and their feelings as they all began to try to move forward with their lives.
I don’t want to give any more of the plot away but it is a gripping story of the four women as they journey through love, loss, grief and hopes for their future. I really enjoyed Spare Brides and I hope to see more of Adele writing in this genre again
In 1920, The Great War is over, and everyone is now trying to readjust to life after all they have been through. And with so many men lost, the chances of finding a husband are slim. As Beatrice, Ava , Sarah and Lydia try to find their way in life, a chance encounter for one of these women with a striking yet haunted officer will change everything…
I really enjoyed this, I was really interested to see how Adele’s writing would be with a slight change in genre but I fell in love with the story straight away. I was soon hooked to what I was reading and I flew through the book.
I loved the characters. I liked how the four women had their own individual personalities and so I could hear their separate ‘voices’ as I read. I liked Edgar very much too and I was hooked reading about him and how he was affected by the war, as well as reading about his interactions with the ladies.
Adele Parks is a real storyteller, the period detail was beautiful and ever so vivid – it felt as though I had travelled back in time and was stood watching the scenes play out in front of me. The atmosphere, the clothes, everything seemed to jump to life. Adele also does a fantastic job of portraying life after war and the effects that it had not just on the towns and cities, but the effects on the actual lives of people who survived and their feelings as they all began to try to move forward with their lives.
I don’t want to give any more of the plot away but it is a gripping story of the four women as they journey through love, loss, grief and hopes for their future. I really enjoyed Spare Brides and I hope to see more of Adele writing in this genre again
March 18, 2016
Absolute drivel...
There's absolutely no real connection with the period. It was pretty much tedium personified.
There's absolutely no real connection with the period. It was pretty much tedium personified.
December 1, 2014
3 stars. Just. This was interesting enough to keep me reading until the end, although by the time I got there, there were few surprises left. It all ended as I thought it would at the beginning - when I'd been hoping I was wrong and was going to be treated to something poignant and sweet from at least one of the four characters.
That brings me onto problem one; we're led to believe that it's an equal division of book between four young women. It's not. Perhaps it was intended to start that way but it soon becomes all about Lydia and Trent. Frankly I couldn't care less about their love affair. I've seen the dynamic done many times before and often better. There was nothing to really like or dislike about either of them, nothing to get a handle on. So when we got four and five chapters in a row focused on the pair while the more interesting situations of Ada, Beatrice and even Sarah, were just left hanging, it was more than a little frustrating. I think I did end up shouting 'oh for the gods' sake! Not another bloody chapter about that stupid affair' at one point.
Ava's story wasn't fully explored and it felt like a let down. Beatrice got foisted off by the author as much as by society - it was a total cop out. I think Sarah was the only character that acted like herself all the way through but she was hard to care about as she was so intent on becoming a dour, drab little person.
What the book had going for it was the flashes of post war mentality and how mores and manners adjusted around that whilst on the surface staying the same. It was interesting what the war did the the gentry and aristocracy who in some ways were even more affected than the middle and working classes. The utterly despicable way poor and maimed ex-soldiers were treated was also slipped in. The problem was all of this was just sketched in and it was by far the most interesting part of the book.
But perhaps the biggest issue is that this was billed as a historical novel. It is not. It's chic lit wearing period costume. If your expecting something richly woven and depict ice of the time you will be disappointed, this is not the book for you. It failed to find it's target audience in me, in general I'm not fussed about chic lit. And this follows the tropes and tells of chic lit faithfully - many of which I don't like. For example, I got thoroughly sick of two page descriptions of how characters were feeling and why. I kept thinking that any second I'd get shown rather than told but it never happened. Also as with much chic lit, the love and sex scenes were formulaic with the odd naughty word thrown in to spice it up. While this style of writing no doubt delights many lovers of chic lit, I found it dull and irritating. I acknowledge it's a well written book. There's some flashes of genuine brilliance but ultimately I think I never would have read this if I hadn't thought it was a genuine historical novel. On the plus side it was something light, frothy and in no way brain straining while I was finishing up nano this year, so there is that.
If you are a women's fiction lover and would quite like to read some set in 'Downton Abbey' time, knock yourself out.
That brings me onto problem one; we're led to believe that it's an equal division of book between four young women. It's not. Perhaps it was intended to start that way but it soon becomes all about Lydia and Trent. Frankly I couldn't care less about their love affair. I've seen the dynamic done many times before and often better. There was nothing to really like or dislike about either of them, nothing to get a handle on. So when we got four and five chapters in a row focused on the pair while the more interesting situations of Ada, Beatrice and even Sarah, were just left hanging, it was more than a little frustrating. I think I did end up shouting 'oh for the gods' sake! Not another bloody chapter about that stupid affair' at one point.
Ava's story wasn't fully explored and it felt like a let down. Beatrice got foisted off by the author as much as by society - it was a total cop out. I think Sarah was the only character that acted like herself all the way through but she was hard to care about as she was so intent on becoming a dour, drab little person.
What the book had going for it was the flashes of post war mentality and how mores and manners adjusted around that whilst on the surface staying the same. It was interesting what the war did the the gentry and aristocracy who in some ways were even more affected than the middle and working classes. The utterly despicable way poor and maimed ex-soldiers were treated was also slipped in. The problem was all of this was just sketched in and it was by far the most interesting part of the book.
But perhaps the biggest issue is that this was billed as a historical novel. It is not. It's chic lit wearing period costume. If your expecting something richly woven and depict ice of the time you will be disappointed, this is not the book for you. It failed to find it's target audience in me, in general I'm not fussed about chic lit. And this follows the tropes and tells of chic lit faithfully - many of which I don't like. For example, I got thoroughly sick of two page descriptions of how characters were feeling and why. I kept thinking that any second I'd get shown rather than told but it never happened. Also as with much chic lit, the love and sex scenes were formulaic with the odd naughty word thrown in to spice it up. While this style of writing no doubt delights many lovers of chic lit, I found it dull and irritating. I acknowledge it's a well written book. There's some flashes of genuine brilliance but ultimately I think I never would have read this if I hadn't thought it was a genuine historical novel. On the plus side it was something light, frothy and in no way brain straining while I was finishing up nano this year, so there is that.
If you are a women's fiction lover and would quite like to read some set in 'Downton Abbey' time, knock yourself out.
January 29, 2016
This book has utterly consumed me... I dnt know how i'll ever recover
March 1, 2015
I give this book 2.5 stars.
The cons slightly outweighed the pros for me. I hated the character of Lydia - she was a passive, irritating sycophant who only ever spoke about men. I was hoping she would die at the end of the book. Ava on the other hand was the complete opposite, and Bea was alright too.
The writing style was not to my liking, it had some terrible sex scenes ("got to it" seriously?) and it was like the author had only just discovered the word 'lascivious'. The second half picked up more than the first but the ending was then a bit lazy and too neat.
The cons slightly outweighed the pros for me. I hated the character of Lydia - she was a passive, irritating sycophant who only ever spoke about men. I was hoping she would die at the end of the book. Ava on the other hand was the complete opposite, and Bea was alright too.
The writing style was not to my liking, it had some terrible sex scenes ("got to it" seriously?) and it was like the author had only just discovered the word 'lascivious'. The second half picked up more than the first but the ending was then a bit lazy and too neat.
May 7, 2015
Excellent read. Definitely a 4.5 (why is there still no way to grant half stars on Goodreads?!) This was the first historical fiction that I've read by Adele Parks but I've read plenty of her contemporary fiction and I like her style. I wasn't disappointed with this book and she continues to have a way of writing women and their relationships, dreams and lives, in a way I find witty, poignant and true. I actually liked each of the women portrayed in this book so that was new (I usually find there's always one I don't much like in Parks' books but I still find them terribly interesting to read about). I completely bought in to their individual desperation & how they each went about achieving their goals. Life following WWI was a bit grim if you were a woman looking for a male mate and it was clear in this story that many were. I won't spoil here but I will say that I didn't think I'd root for Bea as much as I did. She came off as a bit bitter to begin but then I'd feel for her because of her unfortunate looks, cankles and grim finances. She's worse off than Edith Crawley and it hurt to watch. Even though everyone else was suffering in their own way, I felt she'd suffered enough at the starting gate. so the added indignity of "maiden aunt" status was more than I wanted her to bear for too long.
I think this would be a great read for book club and should it come up in any of those I'm a member of, I'll be happy to read this again & look forward to the discussion. It's not a hard read but it can be engrossing so while it's not a chore to get through, you may experience aggravation at having to put it away during a commute or reading lunch. I don't consider books lengthy until they reach the 500 page mark but I do know some book club reads around the 450 (this one is around that) or so mark can be considered a bit long & too much of a commitment with a looming deadline. I still think this one is worth the read.
I think this would be a great read for book club and should it come up in any of those I'm a member of, I'll be happy to read this again & look forward to the discussion. It's not a hard read but it can be engrossing so while it's not a chore to get through, you may experience aggravation at having to put it away during a commute or reading lunch. I don't consider books lengthy until they reach the 500 page mark but I do know some book club reads around the 450 (this one is around that) or so mark can be considered a bit long & too much of a commitment with a looming deadline. I still think this one is worth the read.
March 17, 2016
I read a few reviews of this author that didn't fill me with confidence going into this book; but I have to say that there is a rawness about this story that surprised me, it's very...'frank', I think the word is. There are depths to the writing, the style and character development that lifted this novel out of the mundane kept me engaged. Powerful narratives, with an overwhelming sense of despair, underwrites the sense of loss at so some many lives lost in a futile war; every brittle laugh or seemingly whimsical affectation disguises the utter hollowness of lives lived without meaning and for appearance..at times this made for uncomfortable reading....in a good way, Parks captures it all perfectly.
Four women live during a time where they had little or no choice of what their lives should mean or be outside of society's expectations find that friendship is not always everything it should be.
Really enjoyed it.
Four women live during a time where they had little or no choice of what their lives should mean or be outside of society's expectations find that friendship is not always everything it should be.
Really enjoyed it.
August 13, 2016
This is a realistic story of four women coming to terms with their expectations for the future after the horror of war. Adele Parks deals with their emotions and desires honestly - even though not all the characters are easy to like - and she crafts a tale which has the reader wondering what they might have done in the same position. Personally I am not normally a fan of historical fiction, but the issues raised here had me engaged from the beginning.
July 24, 2015
A new favourite. It was such a lovely atmospheric read and I was swept away by all the romantic drama and tension. Highly, highly recommended to all historical fiction fans.
August 14, 2014
Spare Brides is essentially about four upper class ladies and their adjustment to life after WW1. Friends who have previously lead silly giddy lives where the most difficult decision they have had to make in a day is what dress or shoes they should wear suddenly are given responsibility, jobs and a purpose in life. In reality this is a book about awakening, friendship, the search for direction and happiness and Adele Parks takes us on a journey that changes each of these women's lives forever.
The characters are flawed before the war but these flaws are made all the more visible to themselves and those around them when the war ends and the heavy price that victory has cost them is painfully brought home to them with the loss of loved ones, and the realisation that nothing will ever be the same again.
With thousands of men lost, and damaged and crippled survivors coming home this means challenges for everyone. For the upper class women it means fewer husbands available forcing those who don't find marriage the turmoil of what they will do with their lives, they have no purpose and no direction. Beatrice falls into this unenviable category; sister to Sarah whose husband is killed in the war leaving her with two children to bring up alone, Bea was hoping to find happiness and marriage before the war but being less attractive than other girls her 'coming out' was a disaster due to the start of the war and dashed all her hopes of happiness. Her story is of loneliness and tragic acceptance to a life of emptiness. Then there's Sarah who loses the love of her life and spends every day mourning for him and trying to bring up two children alone. Sarah and Bea become the 'spare parts' and looked on with pity, being offered invitations to events as a courtesy.
We meet the beautiful Ava, enchanting, mesmerising, scandalous, vivacious, most of the men lust after her and most of the women secretly envy her. Seemingly a frivolous and self-centered flapper, Ava is a much more complex and fragile character than she first appears. War work has given these women some purpose in life and they are enjoying their new found freedom it's inconceivable that things can return to the way they were before the war and of course they can't. Ava doesn't just want to be a wife she wants to have a career or make a difference in this new world. She is absolutely determined not to end up like Bea just because she doesn't want to marry, she wants a career. She fights to find herself and surprisingly uses her new found courage to help her friends not least Bea to find strength within themselves to try something new.
Then there's Lydia; having made a successful marriage to Lord Chatfield and soon to become a Countess when her father-in-law dies, she is tormented by being unable to produce an heir although she is envied by others as she is spared the grief of losing a husband to war. When she is drawn to Edgar Trent it is difficult for those who know her to believe she would be willing to sacrifice a husband and grand lifestyle that the others most want for what they believe to be a silly infatuation. To her friends it seems equally unfair that she should have two men when some women have none. She embarks on a dangerous affair but learns a lot about herself along the way and what really is important in her life.
Beautifully written, Adele Parks does not disappoint in this novel. Passionate and at times poignant she takes the reader through the giddy, lavishness of pre war frivolous trophy women and pompess Victorian men to a very different country post WW1. Four friends each with their own secrets and desires, each facing their own demons and trying to adjust to a post war life that is trying to hold on to the old values while having to move forward into the new world where social boundaries were blurred and embracing change was frightening and exhilarating in equal measure.
Returning soldiers who managed to come back relatively intact had the pick of the 'spare brides' leaving no room for those less fortunate plain women. My heart ached for Bea the wallflower when the war ended, with no great looks or dowry to rely on she has to face the painful realisation that she'll be left on the shelf and die an old maid. Parks takes us from the eager intelligent puppy like girl to the resigned, often humiliated and wary woman that she becomes.
But this novel is not all doom and gloom; there are some unexpected twists and turns which I won't reveal that go on to make this a satisfying and happy read. Each of the four characters are well developed; it is easy to identify and sympathise with them all and each one brings something fragile and raw to the story to touch your heart. It seems that the war fought on the front was a prelude to the war that inevitably has to take place once the men return and the fighting is over. This war did change lives forever, it opened up opportunities, it broke down social barriers, it left families destroyed by the horror of war and the guilt of profiteering from it but it also meant new beginnings which comes across very well in this novel. It was awful, it was brutal, the struggles of both men and women during this time were monumental and Adele Parks deals with this brilliantly in her book.
I have to give this book a 5 star rating, it was beautifully written, brutally honest, heartbreakingly real but mostly it was a book that I would not have wanted to miss - it would make a great film. You have to read it.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
The characters are flawed before the war but these flaws are made all the more visible to themselves and those around them when the war ends and the heavy price that victory has cost them is painfully brought home to them with the loss of loved ones, and the realisation that nothing will ever be the same again.
With thousands of men lost, and damaged and crippled survivors coming home this means challenges for everyone. For the upper class women it means fewer husbands available forcing those who don't find marriage the turmoil of what they will do with their lives, they have no purpose and no direction. Beatrice falls into this unenviable category; sister to Sarah whose husband is killed in the war leaving her with two children to bring up alone, Bea was hoping to find happiness and marriage before the war but being less attractive than other girls her 'coming out' was a disaster due to the start of the war and dashed all her hopes of happiness. Her story is of loneliness and tragic acceptance to a life of emptiness. Then there's Sarah who loses the love of her life and spends every day mourning for him and trying to bring up two children alone. Sarah and Bea become the 'spare parts' and looked on with pity, being offered invitations to events as a courtesy.
We meet the beautiful Ava, enchanting, mesmerising, scandalous, vivacious, most of the men lust after her and most of the women secretly envy her. Seemingly a frivolous and self-centered flapper, Ava is a much more complex and fragile character than she first appears. War work has given these women some purpose in life and they are enjoying their new found freedom it's inconceivable that things can return to the way they were before the war and of course they can't. Ava doesn't just want to be a wife she wants to have a career or make a difference in this new world. She is absolutely determined not to end up like Bea just because she doesn't want to marry, she wants a career. She fights to find herself and surprisingly uses her new found courage to help her friends not least Bea to find strength within themselves to try something new.
Then there's Lydia; having made a successful marriage to Lord Chatfield and soon to become a Countess when her father-in-law dies, she is tormented by being unable to produce an heir although she is envied by others as she is spared the grief of losing a husband to war. When she is drawn to Edgar Trent it is difficult for those who know her to believe she would be willing to sacrifice a husband and grand lifestyle that the others most want for what they believe to be a silly infatuation. To her friends it seems equally unfair that she should have two men when some women have none. She embarks on a dangerous affair but learns a lot about herself along the way and what really is important in her life.
Beautifully written, Adele Parks does not disappoint in this novel. Passionate and at times poignant she takes the reader through the giddy, lavishness of pre war frivolous trophy women and pompess Victorian men to a very different country post WW1. Four friends each with their own secrets and desires, each facing their own demons and trying to adjust to a post war life that is trying to hold on to the old values while having to move forward into the new world where social boundaries were blurred and embracing change was frightening and exhilarating in equal measure.
Returning soldiers who managed to come back relatively intact had the pick of the 'spare brides' leaving no room for those less fortunate plain women. My heart ached for Bea the wallflower when the war ended, with no great looks or dowry to rely on she has to face the painful realisation that she'll be left on the shelf and die an old maid. Parks takes us from the eager intelligent puppy like girl to the resigned, often humiliated and wary woman that she becomes.
But this novel is not all doom and gloom; there are some unexpected twists and turns which I won't reveal that go on to make this a satisfying and happy read. Each of the four characters are well developed; it is easy to identify and sympathise with them all and each one brings something fragile and raw to the story to touch your heart. It seems that the war fought on the front was a prelude to the war that inevitably has to take place once the men return and the fighting is over. This war did change lives forever, it opened up opportunities, it broke down social barriers, it left families destroyed by the horror of war and the guilt of profiteering from it but it also meant new beginnings which comes across very well in this novel. It was awful, it was brutal, the struggles of both men and women during this time were monumental and Adele Parks deals with this brilliantly in her book.
I have to give this book a 5 star rating, it was beautifully written, brutally honest, heartbreakingly real but mostly it was a book that I would not have wanted to miss - it would make a great film. You have to read it.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
Read
April 12, 2020Just couldn’t finish... a strong starter but it flagged and fizzled badly, bombing out in between the historical setting which initially was intriguing, the conditions women found themselves living with post WWI which were poignant but devolved badly into a syrupy romance with helpless characters flailing over unattractive options. I simply couldn’t stew through their brew past the halfway mark and gave up.
May 14, 2023
This is a good read, nothing that would ever win literary awards, but an interesting story of life for upper class English women in the years following the First World War. The romance is a bit annoying and frivolous, but the stories of the women who had to deal with the lack of men, the mental and physical injuries of the men who did return, and bereavement is really well handled.
It did seem a strange choice for the author to focus on Lydia as the main character, she’s probably the the most boring of all the female characters, Ava would have made a much more interesting focal point.
It did seem a strange choice for the author to focus on Lydia as the main character, she’s probably the the most boring of all the female characters, Ava would have made a much more interesting focal point.
October 15, 2015
I found this book enjoyable but didn't think it was as good as some of Adele Parks other books... The synopsis makes out that the story is going to be equally divided between the four main characters but just seems to be about Lydia and her love affair with Edgar Trent.
It's a shame that Ava's story wasn't fully explored as she seemed to be the most interesting and ambitious of all the 'Spare Brides'.
The good thing about the book is that there are a few surprises that have been left right to the end which made the last few pages exciting and I thought that the post war mentality of the characters was very interesting. I also loved reading about the 1920s fashions and how the different classes were affected after the war.
It's a shame that Ava's story wasn't fully explored as she seemed to be the most interesting and ambitious of all the 'Spare Brides'.
The good thing about the book is that there are a few surprises that have been left right to the end which made the last few pages exciting and I thought that the post war mentality of the characters was very interesting. I also loved reading about the 1920s fashions and how the different classes were affected after the war.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2014
Overall I thought this was more like a 3 star rating but the ending was so perfect I bumped it right up to 4 stars. I adored that it was set in the 1920s and discussed so much that happened during and after WW1. Had this been a contemporary romance I think my interest would have waned long before the end. I did have some issues with the female characters; both Lydia and Ava drove me insane throughout but I guess that is what the author is trying to achieve. I predicted the plot quite early on in the novel but this didn't take away any of the enjoyment. Would recommend to any vintage lovers, historical fiction fans or for those who like good old romances!
November 25, 2013
This is Adele's first historical novel but with the confidence and quality which runs throughout you can tell it's her 14th novel overall. Her deftness of touch when it comes to the infinite historical detail is brilliant and - as ever with Adele's books - the characters are absolutely superb! Edgar is a hero if ever I saw one, and the stark, emotive setting of England recovering from the devastation of WWI makes for an incredible backdrop. SPARE BRIDES is one of my books of 2014 and a really exciting new direction for Adele to explore with her writing.
August 16, 2015
An enjoyable read (more or less guaranteed with Adele Parks in my opinion) but with rather too many similarities to 'If you go away' which I had only recently finished. Almost identical themes, characterisation and subplots and quite a lot of bodice ripping too! She likes a romance to cross the class divide in her historicals it seems. I would still recommend the book, she s a brilliant story teller, but leave a long gap between the two novels.
February 4, 2015
It wasn't rubbish, but nor was it great. The writing was good, and the characters well-developed....but I didn't find them engaging, and I found the plot hackneyed. It's a real shame, as it was a fascinating premise that could have had so much more done with it had it not been smothered by the chicklit tropes.
January 8, 2025
Parks’ Spare Brides explores the post ww1 era, a time when women were forced to redefine their roles in society amidst social and economic upheaval. The novel thrives in this setting highlighting the struggles of 4 women trying to find their place in a world transformed by war.
Ava’s story for example offers an insight into fertility movements, womens’ rights and reform for the impoverished. Bea’s story develops this further by showing the opportunities available to a ‘spinster’ at the time. And Lydia and Sarah prove that there is still a chance for love.
However, I found the book’s focus uneven. The primary narrative centres on Lydia, a character whose journey from seeming privileged to conflicted partner is the driving force of the novel. While her romance with Trent is captivating, Lydia’s personal growth took a back-seat. Parks did a fantastic job of creating a connection between Trent and Lydia. The pages were practically sizzling! However, her character reads as self-absorbed and she often seems out of touch with the struggles of her friends. Lydia’s lack of empathy to those around her which makes it difficult to fully invest in her narrative. Whilst she does show some support to her friends, her role in the story often feels limited to one that is more focused on romantic escapism than personal transformation.
The imbalance on romance leaves Bea and Ava’s stories underdeveloped. The novel would have benefited from more insight into their lives - especially as independent women. The experiences and attitudes they face from the old institutions are deserving of deeper study.
Furthermore, Sarah’s perspective feels constrained. Her chapters feel too closely linked to Lydia’s storyline with little room to explore her own journey. I found it particularly odd that the most substantial view into Sarah’s sister in law’s story and her struggles with a wounded spouse came from Lydia’s POV. I was expecting more from Sarah herself.
On the positive side, Parks does an excellent job describing the realities of trench warfare, offering a vivid and unflinching portrayal of the horror of ww1. This darker element of the novel adds depth to the romance.
In conclusion, I found Spare Brides an engaging read but it feels biased towards Lydia’s story. While the themes of war and social change are enlightening, they have gotten lost in the romance that overpowers the more complex dynamics of the period. Despite this flaw, this book would be a good read for those who enjoy historical fiction and eager for some romance.
Ava’s story for example offers an insight into fertility movements, womens’ rights and reform for the impoverished. Bea’s story develops this further by showing the opportunities available to a ‘spinster’ at the time. And Lydia and Sarah prove that there is still a chance for love.
However, I found the book’s focus uneven. The primary narrative centres on Lydia, a character whose journey from seeming privileged to conflicted partner is the driving force of the novel. While her romance with Trent is captivating, Lydia’s personal growth took a back-seat. Parks did a fantastic job of creating a connection between Trent and Lydia. The pages were practically sizzling! However, her character reads as self-absorbed and she often seems out of touch with the struggles of her friends. Lydia’s lack of empathy to those around her which makes it difficult to fully invest in her narrative. Whilst she does show some support to her friends, her role in the story often feels limited to one that is more focused on romantic escapism than personal transformation.
The imbalance on romance leaves Bea and Ava’s stories underdeveloped. The novel would have benefited from more insight into their lives - especially as independent women. The experiences and attitudes they face from the old institutions are deserving of deeper study.
Furthermore, Sarah’s perspective feels constrained. Her chapters feel too closely linked to Lydia’s storyline with little room to explore her own journey. I found it particularly odd that the most substantial view into Sarah’s sister in law’s story and her struggles with a wounded spouse came from Lydia’s POV. I was expecting more from Sarah herself.
On the positive side, Parks does an excellent job describing the realities of trench warfare, offering a vivid and unflinching portrayal of the horror of ww1. This darker element of the novel adds depth to the romance.
In conclusion, I found Spare Brides an engaging read but it feels biased towards Lydia’s story. While the themes of war and social change are enlightening, they have gotten lost in the romance that overpowers the more complex dynamics of the period. Despite this flaw, this book would be a good read for those who enjoy historical fiction and eager for some romance.
July 3, 2020
The book starts before a New Years eve party on the 31st January 1919, at a large house. Although not only is the year changing, but the decade is changing as well, to the 1920’s, which means that they will be in a different decade to the Great War (world war I), however the war still holds it spell over the people at the party. The novel is set around four women who have been affected by the war in a number of different ways from becoming a widow to being unable to find a husband due to the number of men who had died in the war.
The characters, were all well defined each having there own individual personality, which meant as the issues came up they dealt with the issues of their own and others in a way that was to be expected. This was also enhanced by the way the woman interacted with each other, with the conversations written in such a way to make them not only enjoyable but seemed natural to my ear.
When you take a look at this story at first glance the story seems just about a four women friendship group trying to find, there way in the world in the shadow of the war. On the other hand it is almost a social commentary, on Britten’s post war era, as women and men try and deal with its after affects of what we now know as PTSD, survivors guilt and a world that they had expected to be in as they grew up had changed but not only that was still changing.
As I got this as an audio book I must say that I enjoyed the narration of Charlotte Strevens, who not only enhanced my enjoyment of the book but, with her acting ability allowed me be able to work out who was talking if I missed a little bit as if I was doing something while listening to the book.
I really enjoyed this book, not only the story it self but the relationships of the people, so if you are into books about social commentary of the time or just one about friendship, then once again Adele Parks has done that with Spare Brides.
The characters, were all well defined each having there own individual personality, which meant as the issues came up they dealt with the issues of their own and others in a way that was to be expected. This was also enhanced by the way the woman interacted with each other, with the conversations written in such a way to make them not only enjoyable but seemed natural to my ear.
When you take a look at this story at first glance the story seems just about a four women friendship group trying to find, there way in the world in the shadow of the war. On the other hand it is almost a social commentary, on Britten’s post war era, as women and men try and deal with its after affects of what we now know as PTSD, survivors guilt and a world that they had expected to be in as they grew up had changed but not only that was still changing.
As I got this as an audio book I must say that I enjoyed the narration of Charlotte Strevens, who not only enhanced my enjoyment of the book but, with her acting ability allowed me be able to work out who was talking if I missed a little bit as if I was doing something while listening to the book.
I really enjoyed this book, not only the story it self but the relationships of the people, so if you are into books about social commentary of the time or just one about friendship, then once again Adele Parks has done that with Spare Brides.
January 18, 2024
“Spare Brides” by Adele Parks is a captivating journey into the post-First World War era, where the echoes of trauma resonate in the lives of four extraordinary women. Set against the backdrop of New Year’s Eve, 1920, the novel weaves a tapestry of resilience, loss, and the pursuit of happiness. - shorten this book review in a way that it conveys the major points. Add emoji’s in it
Parks skillfully brings to life the contrasting fates of Beatrice, Ava, Sarah, and Lydia, each grappling with the aftermath of war. The author’s prose paints a vivid picture of a society where only wealth and beauty seem to secure a future, leaving those without in a precarious position. Beatrice, devoid of both attributes, faces a daunting challenge, while Ava questions the confines of marriage after tasting the freedom granted by the war.
The narrative takes an emotional turn with Sarah, who paid the ultimate price for her husband’s life, and Lydia, torn between gratitude and resentment for her husband’s safe desk job. The introduction of a haunted officer sparks a transformative encounter, altering the course of these damaged and beautiful lives in a world forever changed.
Adele Parks delves into the complexities of love, loss, and societal expectations, creating characters with depth and authenticity. The scars, both visible and hidden, become poignant symbols of resilience. The storytelling is richly compelling, drawing readers into a scarred yet glamorous world that mirrors the complexities of the human experience.
As the characters navigate the pursuit of happiness in a world where not all wounds are apparent, Parks masterfully explores the cost of finding solace. The novel is a poignant reminder of the indomitable spirit of those who survived, faced with a reality that demanded strength beyond measure.
“Spare Brides” is a testament to Adele Parks’ narrative prowess, offering readers a powerful and emotionally charged exploration of a generation that lost much but found strength in unexpected places. This evocative tale will linger in the hearts of readers, a beautifully crafted narrative that transcends time and leaves an indelible mark.
Parks skillfully brings to life the contrasting fates of Beatrice, Ava, Sarah, and Lydia, each grappling with the aftermath of war. The author’s prose paints a vivid picture of a society where only wealth and beauty seem to secure a future, leaving those without in a precarious position. Beatrice, devoid of both attributes, faces a daunting challenge, while Ava questions the confines of marriage after tasting the freedom granted by the war.
The narrative takes an emotional turn with Sarah, who paid the ultimate price for her husband’s life, and Lydia, torn between gratitude and resentment for her husband’s safe desk job. The introduction of a haunted officer sparks a transformative encounter, altering the course of these damaged and beautiful lives in a world forever changed.
Adele Parks delves into the complexities of love, loss, and societal expectations, creating characters with depth and authenticity. The scars, both visible and hidden, become poignant symbols of resilience. The storytelling is richly compelling, drawing readers into a scarred yet glamorous world that mirrors the complexities of the human experience.
As the characters navigate the pursuit of happiness in a world where not all wounds are apparent, Parks masterfully explores the cost of finding solace. The novel is a poignant reminder of the indomitable spirit of those who survived, faced with a reality that demanded strength beyond measure.
“Spare Brides” is a testament to Adele Parks’ narrative prowess, offering readers a powerful and emotionally charged exploration of a generation that lost much but found strength in unexpected places. This evocative tale will linger in the hearts of readers, a beautifully crafted narrative that transcends time and leaves an indelible mark.
July 2, 2020
So, I literally read this on a beach. Was it perfect for a beach read? Yes!
The story follows Lydia, a young women who married the third son of someone important, but ended up being the heir; Ava, a young heiress who bucks the current conventions, and sisters Beatrice (Bea) and Sarah, their family once had money and now has less.
I thought the novel would follow each person rather equally, but overall, it focused on Lydia.
Lydia was happy in her marriage, except she longed to produce an heir, and she thought that was all that was missing. Until she met the handsome Edgar, a soldier. I'm sure you can guess what happens from there.
The problem is, Lydia is so unlikable. She goes shopping. She hates her husband. She whines. Everything is awful for her. You know, not like Sarah who is a war widow and has three children. Lydia could do things, like Ava who tries to help the poor, or further women's rights. But no, she just loves Edgar and anything else is terrible. It's hard to like her.
I do with the story had focused equally on each person. Ava seemed really interesting, and as the story went forward, Bea became quite fun.
The book does seem well researched as it semi goes over the class stuff going on. But, it wasn't enough to save the book. Perfect for a beach though!
The story follows Lydia, a young women who married the third son of someone important, but ended up being the heir; Ava, a young heiress who bucks the current conventions, and sisters Beatrice (Bea) and Sarah, their family once had money and now has less.
I thought the novel would follow each person rather equally, but overall, it focused on Lydia.
Lydia was happy in her marriage, except she longed to produce an heir, and she thought that was all that was missing. Until she met the handsome Edgar, a soldier. I'm sure you can guess what happens from there.
The problem is, Lydia is so unlikable. She goes shopping. She hates her husband. She whines. Everything is awful for her. You know, not like Sarah who is a war widow and has three children. Lydia could do things, like Ava who tries to help the poor, or further women's rights. But no, she just loves Edgar and anything else is terrible. It's hard to like her.
I do with the story had focused equally on each person. Ava seemed really interesting, and as the story went forward, Bea became quite fun.
The book does seem well researched as it semi goes over the class stuff going on. But, it wasn't enough to save the book. Perfect for a beach though!
November 18, 2020
I discovered this book at the big bad wolf book sale (2019). The attractive cover caught my interest, and as I had wanted to read more historical fiction lately, I decided to get it.
The story is a realistic portrayal of people’s lives after WW1. It centers on a group of upper class women and explores their goals, interests and relationships. Despite a slow start to the story, at some parts boring, I still found it to be a compelling read. It was atmospheric and emotional. The setting was good and made me feel like I was in a Downtown Abbey movie. I liked the writing and to me, the author did a good job of portraying people and their complex emotions. It was honest and frank. Often while reading, I wondered what will happen next to the characters. I cared about them, got annoyed or disagreed with some of them, but also hoped for good outcomes for them.
One side of the book which surprised me as I was reading was the somewhat unbalanced narratives. I thought the story would be a focus on each of the four women equally, as it certainly started off that way, but towards the middle, a lot of the story was about Lydia and Edgar’s affair. The other 3 ladies’ developments were made, but not explored much. They became supporting characters, and this book became more about Lydia. Some readers may not like this aspect of the book, but it was still okay for me.
Overall I enjoyed reading this; it was entertaining and I learnt some history too.
The story is a realistic portrayal of people’s lives after WW1. It centers on a group of upper class women and explores their goals, interests and relationships. Despite a slow start to the story, at some parts boring, I still found it to be a compelling read. It was atmospheric and emotional. The setting was good and made me feel like I was in a Downtown Abbey movie. I liked the writing and to me, the author did a good job of portraying people and their complex emotions. It was honest and frank. Often while reading, I wondered what will happen next to the characters. I cared about them, got annoyed or disagreed with some of them, but also hoped for good outcomes for them.
One side of the book which surprised me as I was reading was the somewhat unbalanced narratives. I thought the story would be a focus on each of the four women equally, as it certainly started off that way, but towards the middle, a lot of the story was about Lydia and Edgar’s affair. The other 3 ladies’ developments were made, but not explored much. They became supporting characters, and this book became more about Lydia. Some readers may not like this aspect of the book, but it was still okay for me.
Overall I enjoyed reading this; it was entertaining and I learnt some history too.
January 4, 2024
4 - 4 1/2 stars. This was the first of Parks' books I had read and it was a good read. It's the aftermath of WWI in England and four old friends are looking at their lives and the lives of the women with them. Lydfia is married to a rich man who will be an earl. She's the kind of woman who has sailed through life on her looks and family background. She and her husband have been married 8 years and no child has arrived, no heir to the earldom. Everyone blames her for being barren. Her friend Sarah is a widow whose life did not turn out like she expected it to. As a widow, she has no real status, she is living in the house where her brother is the master, although he came back from the war with terrible wounds so she and his wife Cecily take care of him and the children. Her younger sister Beatrice is destined to be a spinster as she is plain and plump and there are just not enough men to go around with so many dead in battle. She is trying to find her place in a world that doesn't value women, especially single ones. And Ava is the star of every party in town, beautiful, rich, willful, amoral, Ava shines and writes her own rules. These four women have much to contend with in the aftermath of the War to End All Wars and it was an interesting and very good read.
November 21, 2017
"Be warned, you might nearly miss your bus stop (like I did) you'll be so engrossed. Plus there's a mighty twist at the end" - Woman
I'm not sure if this quote came from a magazine review, or the publishers just asked a random woman on the street and didn't bother to get her name.
I was disappointed when I finished reading Spare Brides. Uh, warning not necessary thanks 'Woman'. And incorrect - there was no 'mighty' twist at the end of this novel. A fistful of melodramatic ladies, wholly engrossed in their own tragedies of being married/unmarried, rich/not rich, childless/riddled with offspring. And when I got to the last word, of the last page, I just thought "Well that was underwhelming". Read this book if you wish. Otherwise I'd recommend anything by Liane Moriarty or Amy Tan, The Distant Land of my Father by Bo Caldwell, or The Light Between Oceans by M L Stedman.
Note: Dear Adele Parks. No offence intended by my review, you look like a lovely person in your author headshot. I just didn't like this book. Cheers, Anna
I'm not sure if this quote came from a magazine review, or the publishers just asked a random woman on the street and didn't bother to get her name.
I was disappointed when I finished reading Spare Brides. Uh, warning not necessary thanks 'Woman'. And incorrect - there was no 'mighty' twist at the end of this novel. A fistful of melodramatic ladies, wholly engrossed in their own tragedies of being married/unmarried, rich/not rich, childless/riddled with offspring. And when I got to the last word, of the last page, I just thought "Well that was underwhelming". Read this book if you wish. Otherwise I'd recommend anything by Liane Moriarty or Amy Tan, The Distant Land of my Father by Bo Caldwell, or The Light Between Oceans by M L Stedman.
Note: Dear Adele Parks. No offence intended by my review, you look like a lovely person in your author headshot. I just didn't like this book. Cheers, Anna
August 28, 2022
A very easy read. Set after WW1, following the stories of four female friends, all affected in their own way by how they have had to pick up the pieces of the wars effect on the male population.
Very well rounded characters. Bea is by far my favourite and I championed her throughout the book. Although well written the book lost stars for me because I didn't care for Lydia's storyline yet that the story that seemed to be given the most limelight.
Any historical fiction fans can't go wrong with this one as a quick read when you're stuck in a slump, I struggled to stop reading once I'd started.
Must mention the photo featured on my post. This is a photo of my distant cousin Jessie Pratt. He died at the battle of Fromelles, France 1916. He volunteered to go into noman's land to search for the wounded, he saved two but then got killed by machine gun fire. His brother Will Pratt fought along side him. He survived to the age of 104 so I got to know him well 💖
Very well rounded characters. Bea is by far my favourite and I championed her throughout the book. Although well written the book lost stars for me because I didn't care for Lydia's storyline yet that the story that seemed to be given the most limelight.
Any historical fiction fans can't go wrong with this one as a quick read when you're stuck in a slump, I struggled to stop reading once I'd started.
Must mention the photo featured on my post. This is a photo of my distant cousin Jessie Pratt. He died at the battle of Fromelles, France 1916. He volunteered to go into noman's land to search for the wounded, he saved two but then got killed by machine gun fire. His brother Will Pratt fought along side him. He survived to the age of 104 so I got to know him well 💖
March 13, 2023
Ava, Lydia, Sarah and Beatrice are all women who have experienced different facets of the war. Ava’s family became uber rich by supplying boots to the frontline, and despite Ava’s beauty, charm and brains she has absolutely no intention of marrying. Lydia married into a wealthy family and when the other sons are killed in the war, her husband is set to inherit a title and riches. Sarah buried her beloved husband, and held care for her brother to lost limbs in the war and her sister Beatrice is a spinster. But when Lydia meets a beautiful male soldier and starts an affair, everyone questions her morality and her choices. She needs to figure out what she wants out of life and who she wants to be with in the future.
This book was interesting. I’ve never thought much about the repercussions for women who stayed home and lost so many men from their society in the war. This is an interesting tale, but it’s a slow burn out rages a while to get to the plot.
This book was interesting. I’ve never thought much about the repercussions for women who stayed home and lost so many men from their society in the war. This is an interesting tale, but it’s a slow burn out rages a while to get to the plot.
June 2, 2023
This is the second Adele Parks I've read (listened to) and although it was better than the first one I read (Lies, Lies, Lies) which was crime, I still didn't 100% enjoy it. I went for this one to change it up a bit with the genre as most other books I saw by Adele Parks were crime, I thought I'd try this one for a change. I loved the time period, post war-time 1920's glam time. It's got a nice Bridgerton in the 20's vibe, which I am all for! The problem I have with this storyline is that it glamourizes an affair and that just doesn't sit well for me at all on a personal and moral level. I've heard from a friend who's read a few other Adele Parks books that they tend to happen a lot in her stories, so for that reason I may have to stop reading her books for now and make a start on a new author.
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