When She Was Bad

by Louise Bagshawe

Lita and Rebecca are worlds apart. From the tough streets of the Bronx, Lita is determined to succeed - whatever the cost. Privileged Rebecca has never wanted for anything. And when she inherits an estate in England, it's just the start of a whole new life. Linked by betrayal, Rebecca and Lita are set against each other. Until they discover that revenge can be very sweet indeed . . .

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary Romance

407 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Louise Daphne Bagshawe was born on 28 June 1971 in England, UK. She attended local all-girls Catholic schools near her family home in Surrey, before going to Oxford University in 1989. After graduating with a degree in Anglo Saxon and Norse, she worked as press officer with EMI records and then as a marketing official with Sony Music. On her 22nd birthday, her passion for writing was realised with a major publishing deal as Louise Bagshawe. She is the author of more than fifteen novels, published in more than eight languages. She is sister of the also writer Tilly Bagshawe.

Louise married Anthony LoCicero, and they had three children, but since June 2011, she is married with her second husband Peter Mensch. She lives in Northamptonshire with her family, and has been the Parliamentary Candidate for Corby and East Northants since November 2006, and became the Member of Parliament for Corby after winning the seat at the 2010 general election.

Reviews

[♥ Marlene♥]

Well I did try but after 60 pages or so I had to put it down because Lita was so annoying and the story a bit unbelievable. If I had read this book when I was younger I am sure I would have devoured it.
Nothing better than a young poor girl becoming a star and later having revenge.

I might give it another try but I do not think I will.

[Dark-Draco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was slightly disappointed by this book. I am a recent convert to Louise Bagshawe's books and really enjoyed the two read previously. Unfortunatley, I have just read 'Sparkles', which has a similar theme but was written so, so much better. This is the earlier novel, so obviously a theme she wanted to return to.

It is the story of Lita and Becky, two very different girls. Lita is a Hispanic model from a poor background, determined to make a lot of money and get out of the life she hates. Becky is a young heiress, suddenly coming into her English inheritence with its mansion and failing business. They are linked by Lord Rupert, a vain, lazy man with nothing more than a title and the wish to own his distant cousin's, Becky's, house. He starts off with Lita, proposes, but steals her money. Then tries the same with Becky. But both girl's quickly learn from their mistakes and build up independent, successful lives. However, they nearly ruin each other in the mistaken believe that Rupert is behind everything that goes wrong with their lives.

Personally, I found both girls a bit annoying. They go at each other under the flimsiest pretext and their rivalry is never really justified. The book blurb slates it as a revenge novel, but this only happens in the last few chapters and Rupert gets his comeupance in the last paragraph. The two other love interests, Dr Mark and Logan, are a bit one-dimensional too, and I really didn't understand Becky's fight with Logan at all. Still, it was an entertaining read, but I am so glad that Bagshawe's later novels are so much better.

[Yona Racheva · Rating 2 out of 5]

When i started this book, I expected to like it, but i even can't finish it. I was reading it so slow and in the end i just gave up.
I don't like the characters of Lita and Rebecca.
I just can't stand reading about Lita any more, she is from Bronx and want to succeed, she behave like everyone should kiss the ground she is walking. And indeed she succeeds she wins a lot of money, finds someone she loves and wants to get married because of his money and the title he will inherit. But one day he leave her and he takes almost all of her money and she wants revenge.
I like Rebbecca more, but she is a little bit boring.
And the book is about these two women, the both of them used by the same man, at first they hate each other, until they discover that they both were used and finds that they want the same thing to revenge.

[Annika Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not interesting enough to keep me going. Very disappointed.

[Gladys Maina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Average book, average characters and average plot.

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gave up not for me

[Ariel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light, straightforward romance novel with girl power themes set in the 70s. It suffers typical problems of the genre - some unrealistic plot developments, all the men objectifying the two female main characters, the sex scenes not being particularly good, the author describing the Hispanic female lead as having "café-au-lait" skin. Bagshawe must like older men, because both main characters end up with men at least 10 years older than them.

Overall, as long as you don't go in with high expectations, When She Was Bad is a fun read.

[Side note, the author was a Conservative MP for Britain, which may help explain the approach to class, wealth and "women's libbers".]

[Jo Woolnough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although my first choice of genre in Books is Crime-Supernatural or Horror every now and then I like something light .

This book served it all Rich v Poor - scandals - the polished lord the rough & ready gardener and two very different main characters Rosalita Morales & Becky Lancaster both from opposite sides of pond all fond of fame & riches .

Enjoyed every bit of it 😁

[Elaine Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I nearly gave up on this book - well if I believed in giving up I maybe would have - but as the story goes on it gets better and better and I'm glad I stayed with it.
An American model and an American Heiress' paths cross in a most unexpected way - either could destroy the other so let the battle commence.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing chick lit

[Alvina Dossani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light and decent read

[Jessica]

Heart eyes emoji

[Katherine Pierce · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting story about two women who at first glance seem very different, but in fact they are quite similar and are united by a common goal, the goal that in principle unites women - revenge.

[Maria Elmvang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Louise Bagshawe is my guilty pleasure. I've so far only encountered one of her books that I didn't love (Venus Envy) and as a general rule I find them difficult to put down once I've started them. This was no exception, and I enjoyed 'wasting' a lazy weekend on it. Her heroines are always larger than life, more beautiful than anybody else and capable of doing anything. They also always move in the higher classes of life - perhaps not at the beginning, but definitely near the end. It's the American dream - for women ;)

After this justification of why I enjoy her books (escapism - pure escapism) I have to say that When She Was Bad is one of her better ones with her two heroines being slightly more human than in some of her other books. I especially enjoyed following the life of Becky - heiress to a huge estate and a company that's quickly going bankrupt and would LOVE to have the money to go stay at her hotel.

[Kathy Chung · Rating 3 out of 5]

It would be perfect if the revenge part were elaborated. The part about Rupert's revenge and the collaboration between Lita and Becky were too brief

Am giving it only three stars as I feel the characters in this book are too young to hold such commanding image. Lita not yet 20s and as successful model who knows her mind and doesn't gets her head turned by all the glamour?

Then Becky being the helm woman of a group of companies?

Well if they are in mid 20s then it will be more believable.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I read by this author and I loved the strong characterisation. Most chick-lit books are about 20-30 year old women whose only ambition is to find a gorgeous man and live happily ever after. In this book thats not the case. The women are strong and want more out of life. There were a few editing mistakes (the ages of the 2 women didn't tally up towards the end) but overall this was an enjoyable read.

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this author, as I always know that when a read one of Louise's books, I know that I'm in for a treat. Pure indulgence on so many levels, it's got everything.

I loved getting to know all of the different characters and there own individual stories which you get to discover as you progress through the book.

If you haven't read a her books before, then I highly recommend that you do.

[Cat Malin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely, light read when on holiday. Nice sassy characters but a little unrealistic in terms of real life... but then maybe that's what many of us look for in a holiday romance - to be transported into different life for a short while!

[Ange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book - I couldn't put it down from start to finish. Very easy reading!

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a good book but the ending was a bit dissapointing.

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty average chick-lit with unlikeable central characters and a silly ending. Am sorry I wasted my time, but have enjoyed her previous novels. Maybe I'm getting too old for this sort of thing!

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my 114th read of 2011, with an aim of 133 books. Randomly chosen.

[Danielle Dent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Louise Bagshawe is my guilty pleasure but this isn't one of her better novels. It was predictable and quite unbelievable in parts.

[Kay Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revenge, Sex and Money. Easy going book.

[Lynsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very dreary and uninteresting characters and storyline. I read just over half of this book and gave up because I just couldn't keep interested in it.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read with an entirely predictable outcome. Light and fluffy and just what I needed this week.

[Lisa Mcmaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good chick book with revenge...great read and very quick to read

[Lilanthi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of RosaLita and Rebecca ...Lita & Bekky. Two different worlds, two different lives..bonded by betrayal.

[Sharon Metcalf]

Not really getting into this too much. Only up to pg 86 one week after starting it. Have a copy at mums & another at home so might try again in March when I'm back!

[Mukta Arya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced, engrossing, kept me hooked till the end. I love the way Louise makes her stories captivating.