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Red for Revenge
Maggie is married with two grown-up children. Her 25-year-old marriage to Phil has lost its sparkle.
Carla is widowed. She understands life is short so she lives it to the full. But is her new romance all that it seems?
When the two women meet in the beauty salon, they soon find they have more in common than the colour of their nails.
The discovery that they are sharing the same man is shocking. How will Phil be taught a lesson or two he won't forget?
Carla is widowed. She understands life is short so she lives it to the full. But is her new romance all that it seems?
When the two women meet in the beauty salon, they soon find they have more in common than the colour of their nails.
The discovery that they are sharing the same man is shocking. How will Phil be taught a lesson or two he won't forget?
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
11 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Fanny Blake
38 books115 followers Fanny Blake was a publisher for many years, editing fiction and general non-fiction before becoming a freelance journalist and writer. She has written several bestsellers and acted as ghost writer for a number of celebrities. She is also Books Editor of womanandhome magazine. Her novels include The Secrets Women Keep (Orion) and With a Friend Like You (Orion).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
June 6, 2020
When Maggie accidentally meets her husbands girlfriend at the beauty parlour, they discover they have a lot in common. A very unlikely situation is wonderfully explored and you get to see the workings of a new friendship. Maggie grows and widens the world she lives in. You get to share her blossoming into a new woman.
October 27, 2015
This was better than I expected and so far is one of the better Quick Reads that I've read. I will definitely pick up some more for sure.
I would suggest reading all of these books with an open mind and knowing very little about the story itself. If you are a little fussy with novella's and short stories, you especially will need an open mind.
So far my experience with these books is good and I recommend for sure.
I would suggest reading all of these books with an open mind and knowing very little about the story itself. If you are a little fussy with novella's and short stories, you especially will need an open mind.
So far my experience with these books is good and I recommend for sure.
August 4, 2015
When Maggie accidentally meets her husbands girlfriend at the beauty parlour, they discover they have a lot in common. A very unlikely situation is wonderfully explored and you get to see the workings of a new friendship. Maggie grows and widens the world she live in. You get to share her blossoming into a new woman!
February 17, 2019
Omg.
I felt like i was watching this instead reading it and i loved the story. Two women and one man. A man who lies to both of them to try to keep them both in their lives. Both women team up and play him to teach him a lesson. I'm happy how both women become friends and join forces to make him feel bad - revenge on him.
I felt like i was watching this instead reading it and i loved the story. Two women and one man. A man who lies to both of them to try to keep them both in their lives. Both women team up and play him to teach him a lesson. I'm happy how both women become friends and join forces to make him feel bad - revenge on him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2017
Another very good quality story from the Quick Reads series.
December 5, 2015
I got given this book and it did not look at all like something I would normally read. But it was so short (91 pages with a large font) that I thought I would give it a try for relaxation. Relaxation is exactly what it was- it was just funny and wise enough not to be offensive, while being too simple to really take any effort to read. The writing was a lot better than I expected (perhaps partly because of the brevity so we weren't subjected to lingering descriptions of meals or sex nor was there the overwritten angst chick-lit books are often full of.
Blake didn't bother trying to avoid cliches, instead she played with them. I liked Carla from the beginning because she seemed able to see her own flaws and take responsibility and some of her answers to Maggie's more cliched comments were a great way to undercut misogynist patterns that women often participate in. The friendship between the two women was refreshing at first (it waned by the end of the book which became for each of them more about individual "empowerment" than how they supported each other). Sonia was an interesting character, perhaps the brevity of the book once again did her a favour- we are left with a complex dynamic as Blake writes out the original cliche (but doesn't have time and space to do it completely).
Phil is such a cliche, but I love that zero time is wasted on his POV. He is just the bad guy. End of story! The economic aspects of Maggie's "Revenge" (ie how that would impact on her) are ignored and the book is a bit fluffy when it comes to the reality of women's experiences. It also drips with class privilege and consumerism making it's questions and answers mostly shallow. Of course it is heteronormative (I thought it was going to unbalance that briefly but Maggie dreams of "a new man" (p69) and is reassured to find she is normal, that "that side of her hadn't shrivelled up and died" (p83)
So in short the book has all the usual chick-lit flaws but is paced a lot better and has two dynamic heroines that just don't have time for excessive instrospection and angst! If you like your feminism reasonably light-weight then go for it!
Blake didn't bother trying to avoid cliches, instead she played with them. I liked Carla from the beginning because she seemed able to see her own flaws and take responsibility and some of her answers to Maggie's more cliched comments were a great way to undercut misogynist patterns that women often participate in. The friendship between the two women was refreshing at first (it waned by the end of the book which became for each of them more about individual "empowerment" than how they supported each other). Sonia was an interesting character, perhaps the brevity of the book once again did her a favour- we are left with a complex dynamic as Blake writes out the original cliche (but doesn't have time and space to do it completely).
Phil is such a cliche, but I love that zero time is wasted on his POV. He is just the bad guy. End of story! The economic aspects of Maggie's "Revenge" (ie how that would impact on her) are ignored and the book is a bit fluffy when it comes to the reality of women's experiences. It also drips with class privilege and consumerism making it's questions and answers mostly shallow. Of course it is heteronormative (I thought it was going to unbalance that briefly but Maggie dreams of "a new man" (p69) and is reassured to find she is normal, that "that side of her hadn't shrivelled up and died" (p83)
So in short the book has all the usual chick-lit flaws but is paced a lot better and has two dynamic heroines that just don't have time for excessive instrospection and angst! If you like your feminism reasonably light-weight then go for it!
February 22, 2015
Red for Revenge is part of the Quick reads for this year and high up on my list for this reason. I think Quick Reads are a great program, and this was another great short story to come out of it.
This is about two women, one has a husband of 25 years and things have gone a little stale, Maggie knows things have been a little dry for a long time but Phil is the father of her children, they are grown up now but Maggie still feels there is a place for the family. She has got into a rut but decides for their anniversary dinner to make more of an effort and to look her best. She decides to use a beauty voucher that her bought her for Christmas.
Carla works with Phil, she is single and knows how to dress well. When the two women meet in the beauty salon it becomes apparent that they have a lot in common.
I really felt that I connected with the two women, both for different reasons, I felt the emotion that came across in this short story and I thought it was executed well. This is a short read, just over 100 pages and I really loved that. IT allowed me to read this in one sitting which was brilliant as I felt I could really get into the story and be with the characters.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to escape life for an hour. It was a satisfying read, however I do wish I knew a little more. I don't want to spoil it for you by telling you what happened in this short story, that is for you to go and find out for yourself.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
This is about two women, one has a husband of 25 years and things have gone a little stale, Maggie knows things have been a little dry for a long time but Phil is the father of her children, they are grown up now but Maggie still feels there is a place for the family. She has got into a rut but decides for their anniversary dinner to make more of an effort and to look her best. She decides to use a beauty voucher that her bought her for Christmas.
Carla works with Phil, she is single and knows how to dress well. When the two women meet in the beauty salon it becomes apparent that they have a lot in common.
I really felt that I connected with the two women, both for different reasons, I felt the emotion that came across in this short story and I thought it was executed well. This is a short read, just over 100 pages and I really loved that. IT allowed me to read this in one sitting which was brilliant as I felt I could really get into the story and be with the characters.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to escape life for an hour. It was a satisfying read, however I do wish I knew a little more. I don't want to spoil it for you by telling you what happened in this short story, that is for you to go and find out for yourself.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2020
I just can't get enough of Quick Reads. Why? Well its a great charity plus I can try out authors and genres which I would never choose.
Good light reading, this is my first book by Fanny Blake, definitely not the last. I enjoyed the feminine reference to beauty and fashion.
However I wish more revenge was done.
Overall a pleasant read!
Good light reading, this is my first book by Fanny Blake, definitely not the last. I enjoyed the feminine reference to beauty and fashion.
However I wish more revenge was done.
Overall a pleasant read!
March 22, 2015
I enjoyed it
October 12, 2016
Great fun, exciting and highly entertaining read
August 2, 2020
This book was recommended on Bookstagram and so I thought I would give it a try as I hadn’t read anything by this author before.
Two women have a chance meeting and soon come to realise that they have more in common than they both first think. Then as the story unfolds they start to seek their revenge on the man they have both been unknowingly sharing.
It was a quick and easy read with no real twists or surprises and the style of writing was wonderful. This was a great introduction to this author and I definitely want to read more from her soon!
Two women have a chance meeting and soon come to realise that they have more in common than they both first think. Then as the story unfolds they start to seek their revenge on the man they have both been unknowingly sharing.
It was a quick and easy read with no real twists or surprises and the style of writing was wonderful. This was a great introduction to this author and I definitely want to read more from her soon!
December 30, 2022
When Maggie meets a lovely woman as she is getting her nails done she could never imagine just how much it will change her world. Having been married to Phil for over 25 years and having 2 children who are grown to the point they are not at home any longer it is the point where Maggie should be starting to enjoy her time at home with Phil but that hasn't seemed to be the case and when she discovers that the woman she has met, Carla, knows Phil too, it starts to stir up the thoughts about her life and just where she is in that life and what she wants from it.
This story is a really well thought out and delivered one that works perfectly. The characters are well developed and for a quick read you find that the story is one that has layers to it that you would expect from a much longer read which shows a true talent from the author.
A great book that is a good introduction to this author if you've not read their work before.
This story is a really well thought out and delivered one that works perfectly. The characters are well developed and for a quick read you find that the story is one that has layers to it that you would expect from a much longer read which shows a true talent from the author.
A great book that is a good introduction to this author if you've not read their work before.
August 29, 2020
4 stars.
This was super cute. I picked it up in need of some light relief and a bit of a break, and that’s exactly what it was.
I’m not usually a fan of the whole “Hell-hath-no-fury” women taking revenge style story, but as a short story, this really worked.
Carla was a delight and I want her to be MY friend too. The whole thing flowed beautifully and was so enjoyable.
It felt very similar to Milly Johnson’s “A Spring Affair” for me, but not in a bad way, I loved that book.
I was, however, very bothered by the fact that Carla’s cat was referred to as “Bumble the cat”, “Carla’s cat Bumble”, and “The tabby, Bumble” approximately 19744 times. I get it! Bumble is the cat! There’s five characters in this whole book, I will not forget he’s a cat if you don’t refer to it every other page. *and breathe, Laura*
Anyway, would definitely recommend for a bit of lighthearted relief and I’m glad I picked it up.
Remember, Bumble is the cat.
This was super cute. I picked it up in need of some light relief and a bit of a break, and that’s exactly what it was.
I’m not usually a fan of the whole “Hell-hath-no-fury” women taking revenge style story, but as a short story, this really worked.
Carla was a delight and I want her to be MY friend too. The whole thing flowed beautifully and was so enjoyable.
It felt very similar to Milly Johnson’s “A Spring Affair” for me, but not in a bad way, I loved that book.
I was, however, very bothered by the fact that Carla’s cat was referred to as “Bumble the cat”, “Carla’s cat Bumble”, and “The tabby, Bumble” approximately 19744 times. I get it! Bumble is the cat! There’s five characters in this whole book, I will not forget he’s a cat if you don’t refer to it every other page. *and breathe, Laura*
Anyway, would definitely recommend for a bit of lighthearted relief and I’m glad I picked it up.
Remember, Bumble is the cat.
December 30, 2023
It had some good parts with the women banding together, but without being overly vengeful towards the love rat. Blake was happy to work with the cliches around cheating blokes, and didn't try to avoid them which actually made it a better read. In parts it seemed almost to reach it's potential but then drop off, and I wouldn't go out of my to read anything by this author again. I love the Quick Reads for a change of pace, but this wasn't one of the better ones I have read.
October 19, 2021
*2.5 stars*
I liked seeing women banding together and supporting one another, rather than turning on each other as is so common in this trope. I was probably the wrong audience for this book, as I think it is targeted at older women, probably those who are married.
I liked seeing women banding together and supporting one another, rather than turning on each other as is so common in this trope. I was probably the wrong audience for this book, as I think it is targeted at older women, probably those who are married.
November 16, 2023
Not a bad little book really! I’m a fan of the Quick read books. Maggie got on my nerves a bit initially when she was naively believing Phil when It was clear what he had been like previously.
However I warmed to her as time went on thankfully and went on to enjoy the book.
However I warmed to her as time went on thankfully and went on to enjoy the book.
August 14, 2017
A good short read loved the ending.
December 2, 2017
the ending was so dull. I wanted a good dish of cold revenge but just got a damp squib
December 31, 2017
A shame it was so short! Read the majority of it in one sitting.
March 14, 2018
Enjoyable. I loved the way the characters met so coincidentally, but their friendship got quite boring quickly. An okay read for a dull day.
July 28, 2018
really liked it
September 25, 2018
Great subtle revenge short story, written in a true life manner. I would recommend, I will definitely check more of the authors work out
February 13, 2019
Never heard of this author before but was quite an enjoyable shirt story
March 14, 2019
Quick easy read
April 13, 2019
This isn't the sort of book that I normally read but I did enjoy it. Despite being a quick read it didn't feel rushed or lacking in any way. The plot was obvious but it made for a nice easy read.
September 25, 2019
What a great quick read. I loved Maggie and Carly and their sweet, sweet revenge.
October 30, 2019
2019 read
Loved this book. Loved how the women came together. Carla supporting Maggie to her happy ending...let's hope.
Loved this book. Loved how the women came together. Carla supporting Maggie to her happy ending...let's hope.
December 15, 2019
A well rounded short story.
June 26, 2020
Quick, easy, enjoyable read
June 27, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. A nice light read and a story of friendship found in the strangest of ways.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews