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Betty Hughes: A Love Story in Four Parts
The kids are grown and Norm is always away, busy at the hospital caring for his patients.
Betty Hughes goes about her life, attending the junior league meetings, keeping the household affairs in order, sipping whiskey alone in the evenings.
But where does Norm get off to? Is he always at the hospital?
Looking through his things she notices the asterisks hidden on the calendar, which lead to the folder hidden in the desk, which takes her to the apartment in the city, where she finds a light on in the window, and a blonde woman who emerges and disappears up the street…
Betty Hughes goes about her life, attending the junior league meetings, keeping the household affairs in order, sipping whiskey alone in the evenings.
But where does Norm get off to? Is he always at the hospital?
Looking through his things she notices the asterisks hidden on the calendar, which lead to the folder hidden in the desk, which takes her to the apartment in the city, where she finds a light on in the window, and a blonde woman who emerges and disappears up the street…
392 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2025
12 people are currently reading
268 people want to read
About the author
Anna Woiwood
5 books62 followersAnna Woiwood is a writer of mid-century Sapphic stories. Her debut novel, The Veracity of Lies, was a finalist for a 2023 Golden Crown Literary Award in historical fiction and A Tiger in Suburbia was a 2024 Golden Crown Literary Ann Bannon Popular Choice finalist. She lives in Kansas City with her small cat son, Walter. Find her on Instagram @anna.w.writes
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 21, 2025
Once again Woiwood shows she is a master for portraying queer married women from the 50’s 60’s. The loneliness and the despair are really well written, and the reader will totally feel them. It’s again, very sad to see women trapped in loveless marriages and unable to get their independance. Here comes Ava, a strong women that doesn’t undergo her job as a sex worker, she really uses her sexuality as a tool for independance, and even finds pleasure in it. Woiwood wrote Betty’s attraction towards women with time and care. Her relationship with Ava was more steamy than I expected, her confused feelings towards Ava’s job were very intriguing to read, teetering between jealousy and arousement to picture Ava having sex with men ; but because I personally am not someone sharing in my relationships and not interested in reading about sex with men, it made me a uneasy at times.
The characters’ darkness and nuanced feelings are a signature mark of Woiwood’s work, and she portrays them perfectly.
The last part was sweet, with a satisfying ending for readers.
With a perfectly paced and easy to read novel and likable main characters, Woiwood delivers another immersive and strong book.
The characters’ darkness and nuanced feelings are a signature mark of Woiwood’s work, and she portrays them perfectly.
The last part was sweet, with a satisfying ending for readers.
With a perfectly paced and easy to read novel and likable main characters, Woiwood delivers another immersive and strong book.
November 19, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
This book completely drew me in. It really was such a good story with a genuinely strong feminist perspective. I loved experiencing everything through Betty’s point of view, her rather feminist views on so many topics like birth control, paired with her very real personal and mental turmoil as she grapples with falling in love with a woman. It’s a story that stirred something in me on every emotional level: anger, joy, sadness, and everything in between.
One scene that really stuck with me was how Betty tries so intentionally to teach her children to respect women and to simply be good people, all while pushing to keep her daughter from marrying too young and prioritizing her career. It was such a layered look at motherhood and fear but also love.
The historical aspect was another highlight for me. It felt authentic and carefully crafted, creating a setting that felt lived-in and believable. And the writing was SOO smooth and addictive. I kept thinking about the characters even when I wasn’t reading, and every time I stepped away, I wanted to dive right back in.
Besides, I also adored Betty and Ava’s relationship and the way it slowly developed over the course of the book. Their connection felt really tender, complicated, and very real in my opinion.
Overall, this was a really memorable read for me. A beautifully written, emotionally rich book I’ll definitely be thinking about for a long time.
This book completely drew me in. It really was such a good story with a genuinely strong feminist perspective. I loved experiencing everything through Betty’s point of view, her rather feminist views on so many topics like birth control, paired with her very real personal and mental turmoil as she grapples with falling in love with a woman. It’s a story that stirred something in me on every emotional level: anger, joy, sadness, and everything in between.
One scene that really stuck with me was how Betty tries so intentionally to teach her children to respect women and to simply be good people, all while pushing to keep her daughter from marrying too young and prioritizing her career. It was such a layered look at motherhood and fear but also love.
The historical aspect was another highlight for me. It felt authentic and carefully crafted, creating a setting that felt lived-in and believable. And the writing was SOO smooth and addictive. I kept thinking about the characters even when I wasn’t reading, and every time I stepped away, I wanted to dive right back in.
Besides, I also adored Betty and Ava’s relationship and the way it slowly developed over the course of the book. Their connection felt really tender, complicated, and very real in my opinion.
Overall, this was a really memorable read for me. A beautifully written, emotionally rich book I’ll definitely be thinking about for a long time.
November 17, 2025
I didn’t know what I was getting myself into with this one but enjoyed the ride. This is an age gap love story with all the feels, from angry to sad to happy. It’s centered around Betty’s life (I know that’s pretty obvious from the title) but it’s worth mentioning I felt like we got a good look into Ava as well.
December 2, 2025
4 Stars
Are we 100% sure Anna Woiwood was not born in the 30’s and lived through 50’s and 60’s? Do we have unquestionable proof of this fact because Betty Hughes felt like an intimate, candid and salacious personal journal.
Betty Hughes’s cast of women were all facets of womanhood in the 60’s. No matter what role they played in society - a housewife, a college student, a sex worker, a maid, a rich high society wife, there was one thing that tied them all together, they hid a part of themselves. The author proficiently brought the reader back to a time when women were seen but not heard, everyone had a role to play and society watched closely because a misstep could cost dearly.
The novel was giving Carol (The Price of Salt) all over the place - the mood, the ambience, the character gestures. It’s as if the author has a yearly Carol marathon or something. I digress. Betty Hughes would be the author’s fourth published book and so far, her craft feels more polished than ever.
Are we 100% sure Anna Woiwood was not born in the 30’s and lived through 50’s and 60’s? Do we have unquestionable proof of this fact because Betty Hughes felt like an intimate, candid and salacious personal journal.
Betty Hughes’s cast of women were all facets of womanhood in the 60’s. No matter what role they played in society - a housewife, a college student, a sex worker, a maid, a rich high society wife, there was one thing that tied them all together, they hid a part of themselves. The author proficiently brought the reader back to a time when women were seen but not heard, everyone had a role to play and society watched closely because a misstep could cost dearly.
The novel was giving Carol (The Price of Salt) all over the place - the mood, the ambience, the character gestures. It’s as if the author has a yearly Carol marathon or something. I digress. Betty Hughes would be the author’s fourth published book and so far, her craft feels more polished than ever.
November 15, 2025
Why are midcentury unhappy housewives so hot?
4.5 ⭐️
4.5 ⭐️
November 21, 2025
An unforgettable, beautifully crafted masterpiece
What can I say about this incredible book? The storyline was phenomenal and had me hooked from beginning to end. I absolutely adored Betty—her self-growth, her strength, and the way she steps into her own truth made her an inspirational character to follow.
The relationship between Betty and Ava was written with such care and depth. Their progression from enemies to friends to lovers was top-tier storytelling. With Ava being a hired woman that Betty’s husband sleeps with, their connection begins in an extremely complicated place—but the way a genuine friendship blossoms from the mess, and then evolves into a tender, passionate love, was breathtaking. I was rooting for them from the very start. Their journey felt authentic, raw, and beautifully executed.
The side characters added so much richness. Lillian, who helps Betty realise that her attraction to women is valid and okay, was a wonderful guiding presence. And Betty’s daughter Gwen was such a lovely character—her personal growth was heartwarming and her relationship with Betty added so much emotional depth.
Ana has written an absolute masterpiece, and I’m overjoyed and grateful for the opportunity to read this outstanding book. I cannot wait to see what she brings us next.
Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥 🔥
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
What can I say about this incredible book? The storyline was phenomenal and had me hooked from beginning to end. I absolutely adored Betty—her self-growth, her strength, and the way she steps into her own truth made her an inspirational character to follow.
The relationship between Betty and Ava was written with such care and depth. Their progression from enemies to friends to lovers was top-tier storytelling. With Ava being a hired woman that Betty’s husband sleeps with, their connection begins in an extremely complicated place—but the way a genuine friendship blossoms from the mess, and then evolves into a tender, passionate love, was breathtaking. I was rooting for them from the very start. Their journey felt authentic, raw, and beautifully executed.
The side characters added so much richness. Lillian, who helps Betty realise that her attraction to women is valid and okay, was a wonderful guiding presence. And Betty’s daughter Gwen was such a lovely character—her personal growth was heartwarming and her relationship with Betty added so much emotional depth.
Ana has written an absolute masterpiece, and I’m overjoyed and grateful for the opportunity to read this outstanding book. I cannot wait to see what she brings us next.
Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥 🔥
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
November 5, 2025
i didn’t even bother asking what this book was about when i accepted the arc. i just knew that if anna woiwood wrote it, it was going to be brilliant. and i was right.
betty hughes tells the story of a middle-aged woman trying to rediscover who she is in a world that’s told her for years who she’s supposed to be. it’s set in a time when women had little autonomy and when bigotry, in all forms, shaped how people lived their lives. betty’s journey of self-discovery isn’t smooth at all - full of quiet struggles, unlearning, and small but powerful realizations that eventually lead her to reclaim her voice. there’s something so satisfying about watching her slowly grow into herself, little by little, until she starts taking up space in ways she once thought she wasn’t allowed to.
one thing that really stood out to me was how the book explored aging and beauty. betty’s relationship with her body and her reflection changes throughout the story, and it’s written in a way that feels so deeply human. it captures that shift from seeing yourself through other people’s eyes to seeing yourself through your own. the gender imbalance and expectations of motherhood are also central themes here, showing how women have been boxed in for generations, expected to perform and endure without question. and then there’s the part about abortion which was handled with so much empathy and honesty, especially given the time period the story is set in. woiwood doesn’t sensationalize it or turn it into a huge moral debate. instead, she writes it as a deeply personal and emotional experience that reflects the reality of women’s choices at the time, and the courage it takes to make them. it’s both painful and quietly empowering.
and then there’s ava. betty’s love interest, a sex worker, who completely captivated me. ava is one of those characters who’s both grounded and mysterious at the same time. she owns her story and her choices, which makes her such a powerful contrast to betty, who’s only beginning to learn what that kind of control feels like. i loved the way their relationship unfolded. it was tender, patient, and full of understanding. ava is strong in all the right ways but she’s also gentle with betty, giving her the space to be uncertain, to feel, and to grow. i kept wishing i could read ava’s point of view because she brings so much quiet depth to the story.
overall, betty hughes is about a woman taking her place in the world, and it was so liberating to read.
thank you, anna woiwood, for the arc.
betty hughes tells the story of a middle-aged woman trying to rediscover who she is in a world that’s told her for years who she’s supposed to be. it’s set in a time when women had little autonomy and when bigotry, in all forms, shaped how people lived their lives. betty’s journey of self-discovery isn’t smooth at all - full of quiet struggles, unlearning, and small but powerful realizations that eventually lead her to reclaim her voice. there’s something so satisfying about watching her slowly grow into herself, little by little, until she starts taking up space in ways she once thought she wasn’t allowed to.
one thing that really stood out to me was how the book explored aging and beauty. betty’s relationship with her body and her reflection changes throughout the story, and it’s written in a way that feels so deeply human. it captures that shift from seeing yourself through other people’s eyes to seeing yourself through your own. the gender imbalance and expectations of motherhood are also central themes here, showing how women have been boxed in for generations, expected to perform and endure without question. and then there’s the part about abortion which was handled with so much empathy and honesty, especially given the time period the story is set in. woiwood doesn’t sensationalize it or turn it into a huge moral debate. instead, she writes it as a deeply personal and emotional experience that reflects the reality of women’s choices at the time, and the courage it takes to make them. it’s both painful and quietly empowering.
and then there’s ava. betty’s love interest, a sex worker, who completely captivated me. ava is one of those characters who’s both grounded and mysterious at the same time. she owns her story and her choices, which makes her such a powerful contrast to betty, who’s only beginning to learn what that kind of control feels like. i loved the way their relationship unfolded. it was tender, patient, and full of understanding. ava is strong in all the right ways but she’s also gentle with betty, giving her the space to be uncertain, to feel, and to grow. i kept wishing i could read ava’s point of view because she brings so much quiet depth to the story.
overall, betty hughes is about a woman taking her place in the world, and it was so liberating to read.
thank you, anna woiwood, for the arc.
October 19, 2025
As a fan of Anna Woiwood’s books, I was excited to receive an ARC of her new novel. She has an ability to create characters that the reader is able to connect with deeply. This book was no exception. I was immediately drawn into the life of Betty and her journey of finding herself after spending her life caring for others. It’s captivating following along as Betty goes from yearning to embracing her deepest desires. 5 stars, a book that will linger with me and one that I will definitely read again.
November 11, 2025
Anna has done it again with a beautifully written book. I was not surprised that this is another five-star review because Anna's writing has gripped me in every novel she has written.
Betty Hughes was not only a story of reflection for the experience of a woman and moving through society, and self-exploration and discovery but a love that can't be ignored.
Betty, as a character, is not only deeply relatable but also comes alive on the page, and you learn every aspect of her-- her desires, her insecurities, her yearning for love, and her journey and struggle with self-acceptance. She is a well-crafted, well-rounded character who I think shines a light not only on women in the time period but transcends time periods and can still be felt by women today, and most certainly is.
Ava, who serves as Betty's love interest, is also a character I fell in love with. Anna balances both Ava's mysterious parts with her story, creating a character whose presence on the page I wanted to learn more about, and she served as a great pairing to Betty.
Their relationship grows with such care for one another that I wanted nothing more than for them to be happy. Their love story is gentle but also filled with so much passion that you can't deny their love for one another.
This was a great book and one I cannot recommend enough, and it is a great addition to Anna's collection of stories.
Betty Hughes was not only a story of reflection for the experience of a woman and moving through society, and self-exploration and discovery but a love that can't be ignored.
Betty, as a character, is not only deeply relatable but also comes alive on the page, and you learn every aspect of her-- her desires, her insecurities, her yearning for love, and her journey and struggle with self-acceptance. She is a well-crafted, well-rounded character who I think shines a light not only on women in the time period but transcends time periods and can still be felt by women today, and most certainly is.
Ava, who serves as Betty's love interest, is also a character I fell in love with. Anna balances both Ava's mysterious parts with her story, creating a character whose presence on the page I wanted to learn more about, and she served as a great pairing to Betty.
Their relationship grows with such care for one another that I wanted nothing more than for them to be happy. Their love story is gentle but also filled with so much passion that you can't deny their love for one another.
This was a great book and one I cannot recommend enough, and it is a great addition to Anna's collection of stories.
November 12, 2025
🏳️🌈Rep: Sapphic, Lesbian FMCs, sapphic SCs
📝Tropes/Themes: Age Gap, 40+ MC, Womanhood, Sex Work, Family Relationships, Self Discovery, Taking Control of Your Life, Starting Over
To say I was excited for this book would be an understatement! I’ve been a huge fan of Anna Woiwood’s work since I read her debut novel, The Veracity of Lies and have been not-so-patiently waiting for her to release another book! And, as always, Anna delivered with another deeply emotional and erotic tale of love and desire.
This is not a sweet and cozy love story though. It’s gritty and rough and real. While it is still not easy to be a woman or queer in the world today, it was exceptionally harder in the mid 1900s. This story is grounded in the historical context of the 1950s/60s and transports you back through time, into the life of a lonely housewife whose kids are grown and whose husband is absent more than he is home as she tries to figure out who she is outside the titles of mother and wife.
I do think her husband, once upon a time, may have been a decent man. But not in this story. When Betty suspects Norm is doing something other than working all the nights he is away and discovers payments for an apartment in the city, she takes it upon herself to find some answers. She expected an affair. What she didn’t expect was how enthralled she would become with the mysterious blonde woman she caught leaving, or how possessive she might come to feel about her.
I loved the contrast between these two women. Betty kept her head down, did what was expected of her, volunteered willingly when she was asked, followed the rules, and did her best to be a dutiful wife and mother. Ava, on the other hand, was this captivating and mysterious woman who threw out the rules, and took control of her life in any and every way she could. Her line of work did not cause her shame or embarrassment or make her feel like less. It gave her power over her life and her body that she didn’t have before. Meanwhile, Betty is only just beginning to understand the possibility of having control in her life.
My heart was with Betty from the very start. The loneliness. The grief. The pain and sadness. She wasn’t living. She was just existing, in a world and in a life that was too small and too confining. A world that didn’t belong to her. A world she felt trapped in. Her story was both heart wrenching and beautifully empowering and I loved watching how she grew and changed throughout the story - allowing herself to experience pleasure and joy and happiness and to believe she deserved it.
And Ava! I was just as captivated with her as Betty was. She knew who she was. She lived without shame and went after what she wanted. She was sexy and sensual and utterly enchanting. And she met Betty where she was. She knew that Betty didn’t understand her choices or her life or why she did the things she did. But she also made it clear that this is who she was.
Their connection was palpable and not just in a physical sense. There was a comfort and peace and belonging they found together that I don’t think either had truly experienced before and it was so lovely to watch that connection grow deeper with each interaction. It broke my heart to see Betty for so much of the story still not feel worthy of it though - thinking Ava was better off without her.
I won’t say much more because I don’t want to give spoilers. But I absolutely adore Ava’s son. 🥹 And the ending…ugh! I wanted even more but it was also pretty dang perfect. And Betty’s youngest son, and her interactions with him - some of my favorite moments outside of Betty and Ava together! I also loved Ida and how her story ended up too. 🥰
If you like historical fiction that feels real and romance that is both sweet and gritty with morally grey characters that are messy and raw - then you should definitely check out this book and ALL of Anna’s books because that’s exactly what you will get!
I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest and voluntary review.
⚠️TW/CW [contains spoilers]:
📝Tropes/Themes: Age Gap, 40+ MC, Womanhood, Sex Work, Family Relationships, Self Discovery, Taking Control of Your Life, Starting Over
To say I was excited for this book would be an understatement! I’ve been a huge fan of Anna Woiwood’s work since I read her debut novel, The Veracity of Lies and have been not-so-patiently waiting for her to release another book! And, as always, Anna delivered with another deeply emotional and erotic tale of love and desire.
This is not a sweet and cozy love story though. It’s gritty and rough and real. While it is still not easy to be a woman or queer in the world today, it was exceptionally harder in the mid 1900s. This story is grounded in the historical context of the 1950s/60s and transports you back through time, into the life of a lonely housewife whose kids are grown and whose husband is absent more than he is home as she tries to figure out who she is outside the titles of mother and wife.
I do think her husband, once upon a time, may have been a decent man. But not in this story. When Betty suspects Norm is doing something other than working all the nights he is away and discovers payments for an apartment in the city, she takes it upon herself to find some answers. She expected an affair. What she didn’t expect was how enthralled she would become with the mysterious blonde woman she caught leaving, or how possessive she might come to feel about her.
I loved the contrast between these two women. Betty kept her head down, did what was expected of her, volunteered willingly when she was asked, followed the rules, and did her best to be a dutiful wife and mother. Ava, on the other hand, was this captivating and mysterious woman who threw out the rules, and took control of her life in any and every way she could. Her line of work did not cause her shame or embarrassment or make her feel like less. It gave her power over her life and her body that she didn’t have before. Meanwhile, Betty is only just beginning to understand the possibility of having control in her life.
My heart was with Betty from the very start. The loneliness. The grief. The pain and sadness. She wasn’t living. She was just existing, in a world and in a life that was too small and too confining. A world that didn’t belong to her. A world she felt trapped in. Her story was both heart wrenching and beautifully empowering and I loved watching how she grew and changed throughout the story - allowing herself to experience pleasure and joy and happiness and to believe she deserved it.
And Ava! I was just as captivated with her as Betty was. She knew who she was. She lived without shame and went after what she wanted. She was sexy and sensual and utterly enchanting. And she met Betty where she was. She knew that Betty didn’t understand her choices or her life or why she did the things she did. But she also made it clear that this is who she was.
Their connection was palpable and not just in a physical sense. There was a comfort and peace and belonging they found together that I don’t think either had truly experienced before and it was so lovely to watch that connection grow deeper with each interaction. It broke my heart to see Betty for so much of the story still not feel worthy of it though - thinking Ava was better off without her.
I won’t say much more because I don’t want to give spoilers. But I absolutely adore Ava’s son. 🥹 And the ending…ugh! I wanted even more but it was also pretty dang perfect. And Betty’s youngest son, and her interactions with him - some of my favorite moments outside of Betty and Ava together! I also loved Ida and how her story ended up too. 🥰
If you like historical fiction that feels real and romance that is both sweet and gritty with morally grey characters that are messy and raw - then you should definitely check out this book and ALL of Anna’s books because that’s exactly what you will get!
I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest and voluntary review.
⚠️TW/CW [contains spoilers]:
October 11, 2025
💫ARC Read
Where do you even start with an Anna Woiwood book?
With the story?
With the writing talent?
With the gritty material?
Or
With the main Characters?
I’ve been a massive fan of Anna’s since reading The Tiger In Suburbia..I’d never read a book so gritty and engrossing, I was desperately rooting for Vera to find a way out. And boy did she ever!
Following on from there I read The Veracity Of Lies, which I know all fans of Anna’s rave about because let’s face it, its chuffing amazing! The amount of emotion we get from that book is off the charts. It’s attached itself to my soul lol.
Kathryn and Alice Forever!!
The People Next Door may not be AS gritty but it still opens your eyes to what woman had to deal with and how sexuality was keep tightly locked up.
NOW we have THIS beauty to add to our collection.
I’ve been desperate for a new book from Anna lol, dropping some NOT-so-subtle hints to her that she needed to forget her real life and chop-chop please.
Betty Hughes is your classic 1950-60’s suburban housewife...Spawned far too many kids as far as I’m concerned lol. A doctor husband whose barely around their massive, cold,
lonely house. With only her housekeeper, Ida, on hand, day in day out since her children all grew up and the collection of other clearly bored housewives who fill their time with committee meeting and soiree, Betty starts to feel drawn to one particular housewife, who doesn’t fit in at all.
With the suspicion that her husband is cheating on her, she decides to see just what he’s up to when he stays in the city “working” at the hospital.
When she sees a blonde woman leave the apartment she’s immediately intrigued and desperate to know more about her.
No spoilers from me… Because that’s not fair now is it , but I did drop Anna a few messages trying to figure out just WHO Betty ends up with lol
This story is so touching, gritty, morally grey & NOT Hallmark
It’s ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ for me and I can't wait to add it to my physical collection
Well Done Anna!!
Where do you even start with an Anna Woiwood book?
With the story?
With the writing talent?
With the gritty material?
Or
With the main Characters?
I’ve been a massive fan of Anna’s since reading The Tiger In Suburbia..I’d never read a book so gritty and engrossing, I was desperately rooting for Vera to find a way out. And boy did she ever!
Following on from there I read The Veracity Of Lies, which I know all fans of Anna’s rave about because let’s face it, its chuffing amazing! The amount of emotion we get from that book is off the charts. It’s attached itself to my soul lol.
Kathryn and Alice Forever!!
The People Next Door may not be AS gritty but it still opens your eyes to what woman had to deal with and how sexuality was keep tightly locked up.
NOW we have THIS beauty to add to our collection.
I’ve been desperate for a new book from Anna lol, dropping some NOT-so-subtle hints to her that she needed to forget her real life and chop-chop please.
Betty Hughes is your classic 1950-60’s suburban housewife...Spawned far too many kids as far as I’m concerned lol. A doctor husband whose barely around their massive, cold,
lonely house. With only her housekeeper, Ida, on hand, day in day out since her children all grew up and the collection of other clearly bored housewives who fill their time with committee meeting and soiree, Betty starts to feel drawn to one particular housewife, who doesn’t fit in at all.
With the suspicion that her husband is cheating on her, she decides to see just what he’s up to when he stays in the city “working” at the hospital.
When she sees a blonde woman leave the apartment she’s immediately intrigued and desperate to know more about her.
No spoilers from me… Because that’s not fair now is it , but I did drop Anna a few messages trying to figure out just WHO Betty ends up with lol
This story is so touching, gritty, morally grey & NOT Hallmark
It’s ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ for me and I can't wait to add it to my physical collection
Well Done Anna!!
November 19, 2025
Betty Hughes is the wife of a Doctor and seems to have a good life. Except her husband is cheating and has another woman he's keeping in a apartment. Which she stakes out, and ultimately sees the other woman.
Betty has had... attractions to other women, but never acted on them. But Lilian, a fellow housewife, has been showing interest. They kiss, but that's it so far.
Ava, the other woman, is not whom Betty expects. She's basically a high class call girl, and doesn't care for thd various men. But she seems to like Betty, Inviting her out to drinks when they meet.
In the aftermath of a cancer scare Norm leaves Betty for a young nurse. Betty reconnects with Ava, and this time they date.
Very.. so so? Its not specified when it's set, 60s, maybe 70s, and the overall situation for women is pretty bad. The writing is good, mind you, but not really my sort of book.
Betty has had... attractions to other women, but never acted on them. But Lilian, a fellow housewife, has been showing interest. They kiss, but that's it so far.
Ava, the other woman, is not whom Betty expects. She's basically a high class call girl, and doesn't care for thd various men. But she seems to like Betty, Inviting her out to drinks when they meet.
In the aftermath of a cancer scare Norm leaves Betty for a young nurse. Betty reconnects with Ava, and this time they date.
Very.. so so? Its not specified when it's set, 60s, maybe 70s, and the overall situation for women is pretty bad. The writing is good, mind you, but not really my sort of book.
November 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
Betty Hughes’s story is emotional, raw, and utterly captivating. On the surface she seems to have a charmed life, but underneath, she’s slowly coming undone. One impulsive decision during a covert stakeout shifts everything for her. Her relationship with Ava mirrors the changes she’s experiencing, and every moment is described with such care that I could genuinely feel every emotion right alongside her. This is one of those books that sticks with you—it made me feel so deeply, and even days after finishing, I still catch myself thinking about these characters and their journey.
Betty Hughes’s story is emotional, raw, and utterly captivating. On the surface she seems to have a charmed life, but underneath, she’s slowly coming undone. One impulsive decision during a covert stakeout shifts everything for her. Her relationship with Ava mirrors the changes she’s experiencing, and every moment is described with such care that I could genuinely feel every emotion right alongside her. This is one of those books that sticks with you—it made me feel so deeply, and even days after finishing, I still catch myself thinking about these characters and their journey.
December 30, 2025
i really did love this book- it's a slow burn, with some spicy parts but not a ton of trueeeee spice. betty has some revelations of who she is, and coming to truly know herself as loving women and all the complexities.
November 20, 2025
Another 5⭐️ book from Anna Woiwood ❤️🔥
December 22, 2025
a wlw story that doesn’t end in tragedy 🥰
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