Trust

by Mike Bullen

The debut novel from BAFTA Award-winning writer of TV's COLD a laugh-out-loud tale of contemporary relationships, this is perfect for anyone who has ever fallen in love. Or out of love. Or back in love again.

'Trust wasn't something you could have in degrees; it was all or nothing. ..'

Greg and Amanda are happy. They've been together thirteen years and have two young daughters. They're very much in love.

Dan and Sarah aren't so fortunate. Their marriage is going through the motions and they're just staying together for the sake of their son.

When one bad decision sends a happy couple into turmoil and turns an unhappy couple into love's young dream, there's only one thing that can keep everything from falling trust.

Praise for

' A smart and fun story about relationships from the creator of Cold Feet' ( Heat )

'A funny, poignant and complex story of what happens to relationships when trust breaks down, beautifully handled by an accomplished writer' (Carole Matthews)

'Move over David Nicholls. For here's a serious contender for your contemporary-urban-ironic crown. A comic tour de force , brimming with wit and weary wisdom' ( Daily Mail )

'A brilliantly funny debut novel about mid-life relationships from the creator of Cold Feet' ( The Pool )

Genres: Fiction, Humor

304 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2015

Reviews

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like many people I was an avid addict of the tv show “Cold Feet” back when it aired and I’m sure when it comes back I shall be again – so as a person who rather prefers books if given the chance I was really pleased when Trust dropped through the letterbox…and I loved every minute of it.

For someone who reads a lot of crime and novels about dark dastardly deeds “Trust” was like a breath of fresh air – fast, funny and intuitively authentic, Mike Bullen has given us a wonderfully readable character study using a cast of honestly likeable people and exploring themes of life, love…and marriage.

An excellent mix of humour and emotional uproar, there is a great intricacy of plot as we follow Dan and Greg and their various decisions and interactions, the best thing about “Trust” comes from the developing and changing relationships within, those little twists and turns of life that make it so beautifully challenging – the author captures all of that and keeps you turning those pages.

Often VERY hilarious (snorting tea out through your nose on the Bicester to Marylebone train is one way of confirming to the wider world that you are perhaps a little odd) but always bang on the money when it comes to the realities of human nature, Trust is warm and wonderful read and only makes me more eager to enter the world of Cold Feet once more – and hope that Mike Bullen writes some more novels. Can’t wait.

Highly Recommended especially if you need a reading pick me up.

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, nothing too serious or thought provoking; but a well written novel with a plot driven narrative and some good character development. The writing style reminded me of David Nicholls (One Day, Us etc.), which in my opinion isn’t a bad comparison, and the plotline would not have been out of place in Cold Feet, for which Mike Bullen was the creator and primary script writer.

The story of Greg and Dan, and their various liaisons, is well structured, with enough twists and turns to keep you interested. The side plots involving partners and children add to the overall narrative, but on occasions do seem a little superfluous (did a word/page count have to be achieved?).

If you want a well written, cosy easy read, this could be the book for you.

*I was given a free copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Alyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was enjoying it, but about half way through I started to get annoyed. Its the two husbands who have affairs, never the wives, and everyone keeps telling in particular one wife to forgive him and let him come back. Obviously these things are complicated and i was ultimately happy she did take him back, but never does anyone once tell her she should leave him, which is entirely justified when your husband cheats on you! Also her husband takes far to long to realise what he did was cheating, believing that because he didnt in the end seal the deal, he's off the hook.
so by the end i was angered that it had fallen into such gendered stereotypes.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written by the writer of the classic TV show Cold Feet. When I discovered this book I was very pleased to hear who was writing it as I love Cold Feet. When I was reading Trust, it had the same style as Cold Feet, with the same kind of subject matters.

Trust was a good book, with good rounded characters, I was rooting for the relationships to go a certain way, but did they? you'll have to read it to find out. I loved the wives in the book ,as I thought their point of view was put across well. I didn't like the men at all, as I found them annoying and selfish. Although I think the portrayal of the men was clichéd , I enjoyed the book and I look forward to Mike Bullen's next book.

Thank you goes to Net Galley and the publishers for providing this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Becca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it difficult to connect to the characters in this book, which made it a hard read. All of the men are portrayed in a bad light, the women as strong willed, the balance just felt off. I was disappointed as someone who loved the cold feet series. The laughs I was promised were few, it didn't really make me feel anything other than irritated. The story was ok, but it didn't measure up to my hopes in any way.

[Ruby Warhol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is the first time my review matches the average opinion of a book. 3 stars, probably rounded up from 2.5, it was okay but nothing amazing.
It's funny and sarcastic and brutal at times, but the language was too simple/boring/unemotional and not poetic enough for my personal taste. There were sitcom-like mix-ups and misunderstandings, soaked in dry British humour. But emotional topics weren't given the space and weight they deserve.

It was difficult to really get into this book. I read 2 other books in-between because I couldn't be bothered continuing it. At about 50% I considered DNF'ing and flicked through the rest instead.
I didn't like any of the characters, and while the plot idea itself was really good, it wasn't executed very well. Probably more enjoyable for older generations whose pacemakers don't allow for extreme emotions while reading. I need something a bit more exciting though.

The ending was actually kind of heartwarming and wholesome, and suddenly dug deeper into the characters' fears and motivations than the entire rest of the book. If I could only rate the last part, I would rate it 3.5 to 4 stars.

[Marie Powell · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a massive fan of Cold Feet, I was very excited to hear that the creator had written a novel. I'm not sure exactly what I had expected, needless to say, whatever it was - I expected more. My biggest critisism is that the author conveys his strongly held opinions and it comes across as quite judgmental, which would be fine if he were disguising it as the opinions of the characters but he doesn't. To that end, I felt a little chastised. The story itself is a fairly vanilla tale of two families, each dealing with the repercussions of infidelity. It certainly lacked the drama I craved and was not believable (but not in a far fetched way) That said, I did persevere until the end and it wasn't a hardship. It's an easy book to read and the characters are all likeable, if a little bland. If you are looking for chick lit to read by the pool then this is for you. However, if you are expecting the essence of cold feet to be captured and re-imagined them you will be disappointed.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

It might be a little harsh giving this book only 2 stars - as it was very easy to read and quite harmless! However, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. I think somewhere it was compared to David Nicholls - which had given me very high hopes!

The book traces the story of two couples and explores what happens when trust is broken. The characters are harmless and not unlikeable, but I didn't feel I cared THAT much about what happened to them. Read this if you're bored or want a casual easy read.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book got better and better. At first I was afraid that it was going to be predictable and boring. Then not too far in new circumstances start to emerge creating more and more complications which added to and enhanced the drama. An interesting look at relationships and the misunderstandings that lead to drama.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you are a Cold Feet fan or not this will not disappoint. With characters whose stories cleverly interlink this is truly riveting. Loved it from start to finish!

[Paperback Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt like I was reading a tv show,
It could have been shorter..
Quite funny, Ending a bit of a let down

Received an advanced copy of this book for free

[Cass Moriarty · Rating 3 out of 5]

With one child home with chicken pox, and feeling a little under the weather myself (perhaps I've gone out in sympathy?), I wanted something light-hearted, fun and entertaining to read, and Trust (Sphere Little, Brown and Company 2015) by Mike Bullen (the creator of the award-winning TV series Cold Feet) fitted the bill. Although Bullen now lives in Australia, Trust is set in inner London and reads like a fast-paced rollicking rom-com movie script, testament perhaps to his first love, screenwriting. If you are a fan of Toni Jordan's latest novel, Our Tiny Useless Hearts, you will enjoy Bullen's almost farcical account of two couples pulled this way and that by love, infidelity, the work/life balance, and the perils of parenthood. Greg and Amanda are ostensibly happy - they've been together 13 years and have two delightful girls. Dan and Sarah have been together longer and have a 15-year-old son (caught up in his own anxieties), but they are ostensibly unhappy. When a terribly bad decision by one - or perhaps by both men - during a weekend work conference causes a domino effect of a chain of more and more awful consequences, everyone is affected: their partners, their children, their neighbours, the resident gossips, their work colleagues, and a random selection of strangers, and of course, Greg and Dan themselves. As the two men try rather ineffectually to disentangle themselves from the messes of their own making (indiscretions leading to white lies leading to cover-ups leading to more substantial untruths...) the plot, as they say, thickens. And it all leads back to that great leveller: trust. Will trust keep everything from falling apart? Will trust be enough to get things back on an even keel? Trust in all its permutations is explored: a lack of trust, too much trust, misplaced trust, unrecognised trust, blind trust where there should be none, and guilt by association where trust would have better served. My main problem with the writing style was the frequent head-hopping of point of view characters which I found distracting, but Bullen's comedic writing results in a good read that is mostly funny and endearing, with a plot that is frequently clever, especially with the constant misunderstandings and miscommunications landing the characters in all sorts of hot water, and with an underlying message that is sometimes insightful.

[Sebastian]

A decent light read with some good wit thrown in here and there.
If the 90s BBC TV series Cold Feet was to your taste then this first novel by its lead writer Mike Bullen may be, too.
Best not to take the plot seriously, it's trite and predictable. The message about the importance of trust in relationships and the consequences of breaching it is laboured.
Wisely, Bullen makes the women the stronger and more admirable of the 4 main characters (Greg and Amanda; Dan and Sarah) even though they are the 'victims' of the infidelities of the two boofy blokes and their drunken straying at a conference.

Here's an example of the light humour in the dialogue:
'Yes,' she agreed. 'So here's the thing: that date she went on?'
'With Ben,' Greg said bitterly.
'Five'll get you ten there's no repeat performance.'
Greg hesitated. 'I've never understood betting. Does that mean you think she will see him again or not?'
'Not, you knob!' Clearly this was Geraldine's word of the day. 'She wouldn't say why, but she thinks he's a complete tosser.'
Which was worse, tosser or knob? It didn't matter; either way, it was great news.


The loose ends are tied up, as mentioned, rather predictably. How about the divorced sister in law and the cheap hotel receptionist?

A disappointment to me was the failure to use the character Strap On more effectively. There was a character with possibilities. She appears only fleetingly and disappears around page 300.

[Varunika Sood · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story revolves around two main characters, Tom and Louise, who are in their forties and have been married for over 20 years. They have two children and seemingly lead a happy life, but things start to unravel when Louise discovers that Tom has been having an affair with a younger woman. The revelation shakes their marriage to its core, and both characters must navigate the aftermath and decide whether to forgive and rebuild their relationship or move on.

Bullen's writing style is engaging and relatable. He creates well-rounded characters with complex emotions andmotives, and the plot is driven by their actions and decisions. The story is told from alternating perspectives, allowing the reader to see the situation from both sides and understand the motivations of each character.

One of the strengths of "Trust" is its ability to explore the complexities of a long-term relationship, and how trust can be both fragile and resilient. Bullen also delves into the challenges of middle age, and how the characters must confront their own fears and insecurities as they navigate this new phase of their lives.

Overall, "Trust" is a well-written and thought-provoking novel that will appeal to fans of contemporary fiction and romance. It's a story that explores the themes of trust, forgiveness, and second chances, and will leave readers with a greater appreciation for the fragility and resilience of relationships.

[Mike Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my usual kind of read but pleasant enough and easy to read. Pretty perfect for the relaxing first few days of my holiday.

The premise is that two salesmen consider having a one night stand affair at a regional conference. Greg, the original instigator of the idea, decides that he loves his partner too much and backs out at the last minute, whereas reluctant associate Dan, spends the night with his temporary partner Lynda.

On their return home, Greg gets rumbled for cheating, while Dan gets away undetected.

The rest of the novel focuses upon the two relationships of these man as they try and prevent their lives from unravelling as a result of the drunken night of infidelity.

It's reasonably good fun and poses some interesting questions about the nature of trust but I felt a little short-changed by the ending. There were also a few times where I found myself thinking "You can tell this was written by a man". Overall though, harmless and I enjoyed it.

[Tamzin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy read, enjoyable, and I was hooked to see how the story lines would all come together in the end, but it was missing a little something, I couldn't really believe that all these affairs or would-be affairs could happen quite so easily and the character development was a little light on in parts, but there were other scenarios that the writer really nailed and I immediately identified with (like when you hear the rubbish truck at 6am...), on the whole I enjoyed the trajectory of this story and I'm a bit sad it's finished now!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super predictable and reads like a cheesy romance film/short series. Unfortunately, I was ready to be finished with this one. Reading another review I understood why it just didn’t do it for me. Firstly, the main character is always under the impression that he never cheated, even in the end. It is clear that his definition of cheating is “sealing the deal”. That didn’t sit well with me.

Secondly, a separated woman with children can’t get along on her own without a man. Geraldine takes Amanda to a bar to show her the “slim pickings” of desperate over 40’s men. Why did Amanda need to have a man if she choose to separate from Greg? It doesn’t seem like a very progressive book, written by someone with pretty huge personal biases surrounding marriage, cheating and divorce.

[Narelle Connell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this romp of a read that started with two men making spontaneous decisions that will have huge impacts on their relationships.
The characters and their actions felt believable and I was definitely invested in their stories. I found one of the couples more relatable, and wasn't entirely sure I believed the outcome for the other couple was realistic. Overall a fairly light read I'd recommend for holidays or downtime!

[Liv H · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but it infuriated me. As someone who has a bit of a fear of infidelity, I found myself really angry with all the characters in this book at some stage. The male arrogance, the female psyche that was portrayed -dare i say it, it is so obviously written by a man! There aren't many twists and turns that you can't predict. All in all, a solid, easy holiday read but I wouldn't rave.

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded to 4 - this was a surprisingly enjoyable read grabbed at random from the library shelf based on the cover. A decent insight into the affairs happening in 2 marriages, it was light and easy to read, but not without substance. Felt like it was written by a female author ( not a bad thing, I was just surprised).

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this, haven't read a page turner in many years but this had me actually avoiding doing stuff with my boyfriend on holiday so I could finish this book in 2 days. It does very much remind me of David Nicholls and almost like it's a script of a TV show - I really liked this style!

An author to look out for next time i'm in the book shop!

[Sankari Ramana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of adult jokes , middle age mentality and adultery. On a broad view, the main adulterers get to realise their love for their spouse which was long lost in years of marriage which ultimately led the men to breach the line.

[Lynne Easy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't really like the story line, two men cheating and trying to get away with it, but this story was written well with more too it than just one nifht stands/affairs.
I was drawn to the book as an avid Cold Feet fan and did really enjoy it. Recommend for a great holiday read.

[Amberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started and finished date - 27.10.24 to 30.10.24.
My rating - One stars
I really didn't like book, Overall I found boring and dull. The atmosphere was okay and the writing was fine but the paced of plot was bit slow for my liking. The cover of book was fine. I didn't like the characters and I felt at they be flush out bit more.

[Laura J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Never seen Cold Feet so couldn't make any comparisons to that but I initially enjoyed the humour and Britishness of how this book is written with many little well-known phrases and quips. However, it did drag on and towards the end I was skim reading... Probably wouldn't recommend to others, shame.

[Dominique Daatselaar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Leest wel lekker weg. Ik vond het storend dat iedereen tegen Amanda zei dat ze Greg weer terug moest nemen nadat hij vreemd was gegaan en dat niemand woede over zijn acties uitte of het leek te begrijpen als ze uit elkaar wilde gaan...

[Gerti Wouters · Rating 3 out of 5]

De romanversie van een Frans comedy-deuren-theaterstuk, waarbij steeds weer nieuwe verwikkelingen optreden bij een eenvoudig uitgangspunt (man bedriegt vrouw maar toch net niet). Grappig en onderhoudend, al is de schrijfstijl (of de vertaling) wat simpel.

[Sabrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trust is a story of two families where the husbands go off to a conference and end up cheating on their wives.

[Aleksandra Volkovich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story about the couples' relationships where the main issue is not only the trust, but also to learn how to forgive.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too much one-liners and observations piled up, but I liked the series of complications.