Julia Gets a Life

by Lynne Barrett-Lee

When Julia's husband has an affair with local siren Rhiannon de Laney, she feels as if her world is falling apart. Once the arguments have abated, and her husband has moved out, Julia realises she's well and truly on her own, a single parent with two teenage children, a bad haircut and no idea of what to do or where to go next. Gradually, however, Julia begins to recognise the benefits of being it's the chance to meet new people and make new friends, change her hairstyle, throw out her old clothes, experiment with a new image, resurrect her photography career, travel the country with a boy band and, in short, rediscover herself outside the context of loyal wife and dutiful mother. She also rediscovers the joys of dating. After a few false starts, she finds herself learning more about the talents, musical and otherwise, of the lead singer of Britain's most famous band. Julia's certainly got herself a life you wonder whether it is the kind of existence she wants to live permanently, or whether her ailing marriage is worth saving. Light-hearted, humorous and at times surprising, Julia's battles with this age-old dilemma prove instantly recognisable yet highly entertaining, with a twist in the tale that may surprise or perplex. -- Emily Lowson

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction

Paperback

First published June 1, 2001

About the author

Lynne Barrett-Lee


Born in London, I began my writing career as a teenager, when I was ‘discovered’ by a London-based literary agent, Annie Hallam, via a fan letter I sent to an actor who was her friend. Though life and love took precedence and I didn’t actually achieve publication then, I returned to my first love in 1994, as a mother of three, newly transplanted to Cardiff. My first paid-for piece of writing was a short article about being a mature primary school teacher training student, published in the Times Education Supplement. My world changed that day; I have yet to work as a primary school teacher.

I have been a full time author since the mid 1990s. My latest novel, a psychological mystery/thriller, called CAN YOU SEE ME?, probably constitutes one of my proudest achievements as a writer, since it’s a return to the genre I started writing in as a teenager - dark, edgy, ‘underbelly’ fiction, where nothing is as it seems.

I haven’t always been dark though. I also have eight romantic comedy novels and over a hundred published short stories to my name, most of the latter (which is how I learned my craft) appearing in UK Women’s magazines. I have also published two ebook guides to writing fiction, based on the short courses for adults I have taught for Cardiff University since 2009.

I also write a weekly column for the Western Mail Weekend magazine; something I have done since June 2006, with only a week off per year for good behaviour.

I began ghostwriting in 2007 and have since ghosted 26* full-length memoirs, most of which have been UK Sunday Times bestsellers. My titles include Giant George; life with the world’s biggest dog, and The Girl With No Name; the incredible true story of a girl raised by monkeys, which has now been published in 27 countries and is also the subject of a National Geographic documentary. It also led to me being asked to give a TedEx talk – about what it’s like to be a ghostwriter - possibly the proudest, and definitely the most terrifying day of my professional life.

Recent publications include On Duty For The Queen, for former UK Royal Press Secretary Dickie Arbiter, and the heartbreaking story of the Rebecca Aylward murder, Bye Mam, I Love You, which has garnered over 700 five star reviews. I am also the co-writer of the Julie Shaw series of gritty Bradford-based crime memoirs, the first of which, Our Vinnie, went straight into the bestseller lists. The fifth title, Bad Blood, published in October 2016, charted at number one in the UK in its first week.

My most recent ghosted work (and probably my personal favourite) is Fabulous Finn, the story of a now famous police dog, who was stabbed, almost fatally, when on duty with his handler Dave Wardell. Finn (now retired) has gone on to win multiple prestigious awards for his bravery, including a PDSA Gold Medal (the civilian version of the Dicken Medal – see Able Seacat Simon, below) and, most recently, the 2019 Crufts ‘Friends For Life’ award. Finn is also the RPD behind the campaign for Finn’s Law, to strengthen current legislation to protect service animals. It has just passed its third reading in the commons.

(Modesty usually forbids me from shamelessly plugging books I’ve ghosted, but I always make an exception for Finn. It’s a remarkable, heartbreaking, uplifting story, and I’m honoured beyond belief to have been the one to help tell it. )

CAN YOU SEE ME? is published by Thomas and Mercer, and is out on 01.01.20

For more information about me and my work, please visit
www.lynnebarrett-lee.com



Full list of published full-length works

*As well as the titles listed below, I am also the ghostwriter of a series of fostering memoirs (the author name is pseudonymous for confidentiality reasons) for one of the UK’s leading publishers. The first was published in 2011, and the nineteenth title will be published in May 2020.

Psychological thrillers

Can You See Me? (Thomas and Mercer

Reviews

[Sassafrass · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, so I don't think this was the book for me. I was actually getting through it until the very last line of the book. I thought it was terrible that the heroine just learned "what I don't know won't hurt me" essentially. I think that's a terrible way to go through a marriage but whatever.

I also took issue with the fact that there was lot of British slang in her and I didn't understand a lot of it. I would have liked to have been warned about that prior to reading.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry but lost interest in this book quite early on although I did persevere to the end in the hope it would get better. Unfortunately it didn't. Even the ending was a dissappointment.

[Amanda Winkworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining read, but I hated the ending

[Layla]

note to self: this was boring and not my cup of tea for two reasons

1. The cheating: even though the H is the one who admits he cheated (which is great, bc most cheaters only confess when they get caught) the fact that he did it twice was really shitty. He had time btwn the infidelities to reflect on what a mistake it was and what it would cost him and he still did it again. And the characterization of him as a victim and OW as a slutty predator is not cool. He was the one who made the vows and he was the one who broke them.

2. The very end of the book has the h basically saying that it doesn't matter if he cheats again as long as she doesn't have to hear about it. "Because what we don't know can't hurt us, can it?" ummm... what? yeah I kind of think it can.

On the plus side. she was not a doormat and didn't remain celibate during the separation. Not gonna rate bc I skimmed it.

[ImA · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you considering this title I'd say, don't waste your time!!!!

Got to chapter 5 and while finding it dull, browsed other reviews for this title mostly saying how naff this book is so am ditching it rather than waste any more time on it.

Did buy other titles from this author so hopefully this is just a real bad pick.

First read on my new kindle, hope this isn't a sign that it's the first of many :(

[Rachael]

There are many things I didn't like about this book. The writing seemed lazy & rushed. Lots of abbreviations used, as if the author was texting a friend, not writing a novel.
I also found her views to be sexist. At one stage Julia was concerned she'd be attacked by the man in the hotel room. Then she thought he'd be put off by her age /body. Even pondering if it was worse to be raped, or to be thought too old & unattractive to be

[Biliwiz · Rating 1 out of 5]

With very little in the way of dialogue, reading this book felt like being inside the mind of a jibbering maniac of a woman. The small bits of storyline were interspersed with long passages of irrelevant diversions. Gave up on this after 20 per cent, fed up that I'd wasted my time and money!

[SandyL · Rating 2 out of 5]

Julia Potter's husband confessed to sleeping with a neighbor, which changes the course of Julia's life. She kicks her husband out of the house, gets some free-lance photography assignments and starts to reassess whether she still loves her husband. I struggled through this book - it seemed to go on forever and ever. The only character I really liked in the book was Craig James, although I had no idea what he saw in Julia.

[BeBookish · Rating 2 out of 5]

i did not like this book. according to me nothing happened throughout the book. Ending was not good either and my biggest problem was that this book was not as focused on Julia being a photographer or following her passion as was focused on her being in relationship with Howard and then Craig. Not any character was likeable to me. So i just didn't like this book.

[Foxy]

I had a hard time connecting with the many levels of breakup emotions and roller-coaster thoughts of Julia. One of the books I just listened to, to while up time working through my recons that didn't need my hundred percent attention. The book may be for others but definitely not for me.

[Jacqueline Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been in a reading slump for a while now so decided to go to the very first book I ever got for my kindle.

This book is very easy reading. I read it in one go. It didn’t set the world on fire but it was exactly what it said on the tin; cheery, funny and charming.

[Wayne Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny, clever and very relatable tale, told well (and no doubt especially appreciated by those readers, like me, lucky enough to be familiar with North Cardiff).

Julia Gets A Life is all about living, loving, and feeding a seemingly insatiable Pringles addition, whilst coping with the consequences of infidelity. The well constructed payoff seemingly champions the brave sensibility of compromise, which I suspect is always essential in ultimately achieving any triumphant independence.

Unlike many other reviewers I particularly liked the "wink wink" naughtiness suggested at by the epilogue. Fair play it would seem that Julia got a quality life without abandoning those who depended on her. Three cheers for Julia!

[Sharon Metcalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this one ages ago but for some reason I hadn't been in a hurry to read it. My loss! This book could be described, I suppose, as same but different. It was kind of had the normal romance format, relationship sours, finds another, is besotted, decides to return to the original. It was different in that the first relationship was between Julia and Richard who have 2 children and have been married for 15 years. Richard confesses to Julia (immediately after the event) that he's slept with another woman. He's distraught, guilty, apologetic and more than anything wishes he hadn't. Julia decides to toss him out. In the following months she decides she might enjoy the single life and intially finds herself attracted to her son's teacher Howard who has invited her out on several occassions. Unfortunately, he admits to Julia that he has just begun a relationship with another guy. Julia gets over this relatively easily and they do in fact maintain a good friendship. In the meantime she gets some photography work which sees her following the hit band Kite and photographing them for a book that's due for release. Without realising there's any attraction between them Julia and Craig James strike up a friendship which develops into a steamy affair. They both discover they have feelings for each other but even whilst she's enjoying the moment Julia begins to question why she can't forgive Richard. After months of being hostile towards each other (Richard because he wants to get back together & Julia because she doesn't want to forgive him) Julia and Richard do get back together. All the loose ends are tied up although on the last pages there's a news article that leaves the reader with food for thought. The impression given in the paper is that perhaps Julia and Craig had had a little rendezvous.

Julia/Richard then Craig then Richard then Craig???

[Maureen Vincent-Northam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Written in first person, we really get into the mindset of protagonist, Julia Potter. With her penchant for making lists, she addresses the ups and downs of her life – often with very funny consequences. Husband, Richard, has a fling and moves out but when she decides to have one herself to redress the balance, things don’t go to plan. But her life takes a turn for the better when she’s offered the chance to photograph a top band.

I found myself liking Julia immensely and laughed a good deal at the one-liners.

[Preet · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was kind of out there and a little more off the beaten path from what I've come to expect from Ms. Barrett-Lee. I found the book hard to get into, but it was interesting to see Julia Potter handle everything that was going on in her life, from her cheating husband, to rebellious teenagers, her former au-pairs personal problems, and managing her job(s).

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

The write up isn't really accurate. She chucks her husband out, rather than leaving him. It is a good book, though. Well written and I can relate to the characters well. Shame about the inevitable ending, though.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Didn't like the ending, beginning was a little dull, but the middle bit was fun.

[Helena Moran-Hayes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn´t like it. Sorry. Writer didn´t describe many think. And the sounds I didn´t get them. Besides. TEAM CRAIG!!!!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very realistic story line but was disappointed with the ending. Would read more by this author

[Lori · Rating 1 out of 5]

could only get to the 4th chapter. writing is "too british" and feels like im reading a not very bright girls diary that sje scribbled out late at night.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as last book read by this author. Predictable ending.

[Hayley Fletcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable easy read!

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

very boring & hard to read. I only managed a few chapters.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy fun read. Perfect for a rainy day.

[Jo Notary]

320pgs, it's a time of change and rediscovery, and no idea what to do, a bad haircut, with two teens, now she is single, her husband has an affair, 30's

[Ariane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not that I was expecting it to be a life-changing book or anything, but the story, characters etc are quite plain, rather boring and don't even get me started about how it ends. There's definetely much better chick lit out there than this.

[Pauline · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven't finished this book as I really can't get into it and the use of brackets is driving my bonkers. Sorry just not my cup of tea.