Let's Meet on Platform 8

by Carole Matthews

Let's Meet on Platform 8 by Carole Matthews released on Jul 23, 2004 is available now for purchase.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Romantic Comedy, Adult, British Literature

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Carole Matthews is an international bestselling author of hugely successful romantic comedy novels. Her unique sense of humour has won her legions of fans and critical acclaim all over the world.

A Minor Indiscretion and A Compromising Position both reached the Top 5 in the Sunday Times bestseller chart in the UK. You Drive Me Crazy reached number 8 in the original fiction charts. The novel Welcome To The Real World was shortlisted for RNA romantic novel of the year 2007.

In 2006 Carole co-edited - with writer Sarah Mlynowski - two new editions of the hugely popular Girls' Night In charity series called Girls' Night Out - one for the USA and one for Canada. All proceeds go to War Child.

Carole has presented on television and is a regular radio guest. When she’s not writing novels, television or film scripts she manages to find time to trek in the Himalayas, rollerblade in Central Park, take tea in China and snooze in her garden shed in Milton Keynes which is near London, England.

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 1 out of 5]

About 80 pages into this book, I stopped for a few days to contemplate whether I wanted to finish it. Ultimately, I decided that I wanted to see where the story was going - perhaps the characters would redeem themselves - so I picked it up again and powered through. Boy, was I sorry.

Let's Meet on Platform 8 is the story of Jamie and Terri, two London commuters who literally bump into each other at the train station and fall in love. The hitch? Jamie is married, which he doesn't bother to tell Terri until they've been seeing each other for several weeks.

I think the worst part of this book is that I felt like the author wanted me to root for Jamie and Terri's relationship, despite the fact that Jamie is not only relatively happily married, but has two children to boot. In reality, they both seemed like selfish a-holes who went out of their way to see one another when it would have been much easier to avoid each other and the whole affair mess. How am I supposed to believe that these people are so deeply in love after a few weeks of riding the train back and forth together that they're willing to ruin the lives of Jamie's wife and children? And if that's the case, then how am I supposed to like them?

Characters' actions in this book make little sense. Pamela, Jamie's wife, starts the book as a shrieking harpy who harangues her husband for coming home late from work when it's not even his fault. But she soon turns into a sweet, kind, vulnerable woman who discovers that, once he's having an affair, she truly loves her husband. I mean, really? Puke. If it ever took my husband cheating on me to prove to me that I loved him, I think it would be time to get my head checked and to put our relationship to bed.

Even more bewildering, Pamela eventually feels no anger toward Jamie and Terri but begins to understand their relationship and even empathize with Terri. What? Frankly, I can't see what either woman saw in the guy, he seemed like a "right git," as the Brits say. With the way this book went, I'm a little shocked that Jamie didn't end up getting to keep both women and they could have lived as one big happy family.

The hurried ending, complete with a "cliffhanger," would have been laughable if it hadn't made me fear that Matthews had written it intending to produce a sequel. Please tell me there wasn't a sequel! If there was, I'll arrange a book-burning bonfire myself.

I recommend that you not even consider reading this book. Ever.

[Leona]

I won't rate the book because I always think it's unfair to rate something you couldn't finish. I am a huge fan of Carole Matthew's books, but I found this one frankly difficult to read and not for the reasons you would think.

By chapter 6, I just wasn't into the characters or their story. There was nothing engaging to keep me interested. The story just plodded along with 2 very unlikeable characters.

I was in need for a good book to entertain me over the weekend. Needless to say, this wasn't the one.

[Sherrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just scraped a 2 star, this was published 25 years ago and is very dated with a few attempts at humour which mean nothing today. I didn't really like the subject matter and the main characters weren't that likeable. The ending was the best bit of the story, and left you guessing at the outcome.

[Sherri Bryant · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very disappointed in this story. Why couldn't Jamie have been separated or in the process of getting divorced? I don't understand why people begin new relationships before ending the ones they are currently engaged in completely. I had no respect for either Teri or Jamie for carrying on, though it began innocently. It was hard to dislike Pamela because I thought she was getting a raw deal, though Jamie does go back to her, where does that leave Teri and the possibility that she's pregnant? Bad news for everyone, all around

[Kerry Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first every Carole Matthews book I read and have been hooked on her books ever since.
You can't go wrong with a lively, funny and superbly romantic book on holiday or a cosy night in to just read. You will love this story if you haven't already read this one, it's a must have.

[Fizza · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's good but I just didn't like the way it ended.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

For someone who usually hates all the cheating going on somehow this one kind of made it work. Even with the lead character being so unlikeable at times well they all are. I wouldn't like to be any of these characters but found reading about them quite easy. It was quite the cliffhanger ending too even though some might find it a little predictable. An easy read but that not my favourite topic the whole story is about cheating. 3.5 stars

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT

First, let me say, I like Matthews’ books. I’ve enjoyed them all up to this point and though I didn’t hate this book, I just couldn’t bring myself to really like it, either.

I’m an old married woman. I’ve been happily married for 22 years now and though I won’t say my marriage is perfect, it’s pretty darn close. We are best friends and we enjoy being together. We finish each other’s sentences and there’s honestly not another human being out there I’d rather be with. He’s a male version of me. We like the same things, we feel the same way about many, many issues and I don’t think anyone else could stand me, quite frankly. So I’m coming from a pretty happy relationship background. I realize not everyone is as fortunate as I am in the love department. I get that. But I simply can not stomach that this book tries to justify marital infidelity, however clumsily.

Granted. I see where Ms. Matthews is coming from. She’s trying to write a more down-to-earth piece of chick lit and honestly? She nearly pulls it off. I get that old married couples, such as myself, get into ruts and yes, there are times I’m bored with my marriage – I’m sure Kevin would agree as well. And I understand there is temptation out there – we’re human after all. And I know that people get themselves into sticky situations and that’s reality, so I can appreciate Ms. Matthews trying to keep the story realistic.

However. I think she drops the ball on this story because she spends more time inside the slutty home-wrecker’s head than she does the poor wife’s head. I’m not saying that the wife is blameless, oh contrare, she certainly doesn’t help matters by forcing her husband to stay in a job he loathes to pay on a mortgage for a house he can’t stand and then to further humiliate him by only communicating with him by serving him nasty meals with snotty one liners in Alpha letters.

But the bottom line is: they’re married. They’re committed to one another and though I understand the temptation to stray from the marital vows, the fact that not only does Jamie stray, he doesn’t seem too overly sorry about it really chaps my ass. Sure. He struggles, but he spends way too much time trying to please his mistress’s feelings rather than putting that energy into trying to make his marriage work.

It’s hard to sympathize with two people who are pretty set on tearing a family apart.

Pamela, the wife, is way too understanding and calm throughout this ordeal. She finds out and yes, she’s upset, but she doesn’t have the passionate reaction I was looking for. She claims to love her man, but she’s perfectly okay with him going over to her house to break it off and have one last romp in the sack???? That seemed way too civilized, and weird, for my taste. I wanted to see some serious butt kicking going on, quite frankly. The tart who was determined to steal him away from his wife and children didn’t deserve the respect that was afforded her.

This is the first time, in a long time, I’ve actually hated the main character.

Even though I thought being inside the heads of Teri (mistress), Jamie (husband), and Pamela (wife) gave the story more depth, I think it would have been more satisfying if the reader spent more time inside Pamela’s head than Teri’s – especially given Jamie finally comes to his senses and dumps Teri to be with his family.

The minor character stories were necessary, though a bit drawn out, in order to show the reader how messing with someone’s relationship takes a huge, and sometimes dangerous, toll on the people involved. These stories were necessary to show Jamie just HOW much he was risking by humping the whore. (I’m sorry, but I’m not sympathetic to home wreckers. Especially to people who KNOW what’s going on and CHOOSE to pursue it anyway – to hell with the other partner as long as that one person finds his/her happiness. Talk about a self-centered, selfish attitude!!)

The writing itself was engaging, if not a bit stilted. I got the impression that Ms. Matthews was feeling a bit hesitant when she wrote this story. She took a chance, and I know she knew she was taking a chance, and it was as if she got halfway through the story and then realized how her reader would likely react and she faltered. Her writing was hesitant and a bit lukewarm – as if she was proceeding with caution because she wanted to push the envelope, but she didn’t want to totally lose her reader in the process of writing something a bit out-of-the box.

I admire her tenacity, but I think she fell short because I just wanted to throttle the b*tch by the end of the story.

And speaking of ending … WTH?!? Yet another reason not to succumb to extramarital affairs because just when you think it’s over – IT’S SO NOT OVER.

[Alexandra Gillgrass · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end!
While the concept does seem rather cliche Carole Matthews has such a talent for writing in it in a way that is tasteful and you find yourself sympathising with the characters. She really does have such a flare for writing that I simply could not put the book down and finished it in a matter of days.
The characters were so well developed and I found myself loving them the more I read on.
The great thing about Carole Matthew' books are her great references to living in London and generally all things British being a Brit herself. This makes her books so much more interesting to read!
Have only read one other Carole Matthews book before but this will definitely not be the last.
Highly recommend!

[Cherry Bennett · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is very much a dated book. Filled with political incorrectness from the get go, the FMC and MMC are unlikeable twats and the subject matter is... ugh! I'd skip this, there are much better books out there that even tackle the subject of cheating spouces much better. This is a damp squib.

[Lauren Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, this was a lovely read from Carole Matthews. One of my favourite authors.

[Coral · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great throwbacks, when you realise the book is 20yrs old such as the phone box, using 1471 on the house phone to see who had called!
Pretty slow story which never really went anywhere, but made me want to read till the end.

[Abi Purvis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bit of a rogue book about an affair. The plot twists at the end were a bit abrupt but was a good enough train read

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read with some good storytelling and setting descriptions in the beginning, and a few good insights into relationships, although the story sort of goes a bit over the top for the second half of the book. With some restraint, it could have been a good book. As it is, it's a fun, fast read and makes you feel morally righteous.

[Debbie Viggiano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was the first novel I read of Carole's and was so captivated I went on to read just about everything she's published, even though I've not had time to review them all. A perfect quandary but a perfect outcome!

[Danahamm2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

love triangle- really good characters

[Yesmina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book fucked my already frayed nerves!!!

In the midst of London train commuters, FMC drops on the ground, she's injured and her pantyhose are ripped. She starts tearing up and MMC the man who knocked her down apologizes sincerely. He let his train pass by so he can help her hopping around. He buys her new pantyhose and holds her ankle in his lap and massages it. He escorts her home, prepare coffee and asks her if she needs anything else. Then he pays a fortune for the taxi in order to go to his house.

FMC felt like she finally met Mr. right. MMC feels like he wanted to stay with her and spend the night cuddling her. But, he's married and he came back home to his wife and two young children.

For a long time I didn't know what the book wanted to do? Are we going to cheat or what???
For weeks, MCs met on train and shared a quite a friendship. But that friendship felt like a long courtship and a prelude to something more. Even when FMC knew he's married, they kept on meeting and saying "We're not doing anything bad". "We're not even kissing or touching."

Some chapters were from the MMC's wife perspective when she started sensing something wrong with her husband and other chapters are about MCs friends telling them "You need to stop before it gets physical, before hurting other people, before you reach point of no return."

And suddenly the book became tiresome like a moral preaching sermon with 0 stakes. There was no drama, no action, just MCs behaving like love-sick teenagers toying around the idea of "Affair" despite their impeccable manners otherwise.

So I got tired and restless and when I read MMC saying for the 100 times "I'm happily married but I want to see her on the train and I dream about her. However, I would never cheat" I said: "OK, Fuckers let's find out".

I jumped straight to the last page. Wait and behold: They had an affair and everybody knew, he went back to his wife who forgave him and chose his family. FMC was proud of his choice but had the feeling that she might be pregnant. She decided to raise her bastard in pride and joy never of course telling the dad of the baby existence. She sat on the toilet to do the test and the END.
A fucking useless cliffhanger for a fucking useless story with fucking nonexistent bottom line.

[Sarah Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 2004 but set some time in the 1990’s, the technology of the time took me way down memory lane to the days of ringing friends on landlines & simply having to try again later if they were out. It also makes the character’s affairs in this book both more difficult to conduct & somehow harder to disguise.

Having literally bumped into each other on the train platform, Teri & Jamie begin an initially relatively chaste affair that will test both their morals, his marriage, & their friendships. Throwing caution & sense to the wind as they become further entangled, I couldn’t help but hope they got their comeuppance.

Despicable characters, playing with the lives of several others as they try to figure out their own desires and emotions, I found myself hoping that they were on the 1807 out of Euston.

Very much a book of another time, some of the sentiments in it now seem very tired & clichéd, but to be fair, lots of books date badly. That said & putting the morals of the story firmly to one side, this was a ridiculously easy holiday read.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

could have been cute if it wasn’t for the fact every single person is a terrible human being and none of them deserve a happy ending
additionally (and i saw this in a review on storygraph) : I wish Jamie died in the train crash

[Kayleigh Leavis · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

[Nava · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that the story was from different perspectives and the relationship between the characters.

[Nicola Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can never be let down by Carole book always such an easy light read full of romance and meeting someone at a train station. Great characters and story plot is so good to can't recommend it enough.

[Vanessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Whenever i finish reading a book, i have never felt the ugly sinister feeling to rip it apart or burn it, until this book. Nor have i ever felt so disgusted and appalled.

WARNING SPOILERS!!
Aside from Charlie and Pamela, I did not like nor sympathize with the characters. Pamela out of spite made the wrong decision in her fake affair but she is a character you can feel for. Teri and Jamie on the other hand never expressed any true remorse but encouraged their affair and tried to justify it. What truly astounds me is that Jamie believes he can make amends when he has made no true heartfelt apology to his wife. He nay describe his supposed love for his wife as "steadfast" but his actions prove otherwise.

The ending was rubbish with no closure. Teri who may or may mot be pregnant out of an affair that was ended and may potentially end up ruining the marriage of Pamela and Jamie for good. Good riddance though.

[Aileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teri is single, looking for Mr Right but has been unsuccessful in the
past she works for city television, she gets knocked over her feet by
Jamie Duncan one night at Euston Station, Jamie is very good looking,
they start meeting regularly, only problem is he is married to Pamela
with 2 children, Teri is not happy when he eventually tells her and
gives him a piece of her mind, they agree to be friends, but can a
single girl be just friends with a married man?
I feel awful for saying this because Carole is one of my favourite
Authors, however, I am giving an honest review, this is not one of
Carole’s best books, I don’t agree with the concept of the story, Jamie
was a married man, however the book was funny, it is a quick read,
probably recommend.

[~☆starlight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay here goes when I started reading this book I really wasn't sure I'd enjoy it but I did manage to finish it. The plot was a very brave one to be fair affairs are a very sticky subject matter and they split alot of people's views. I for one don't think cheating is in anyway acceptable I understand very much that it happens but I'd never ravish or think highly of somebody who was doing it expecially if they don't harbour guilt or even try and stop it,anyway putting that aside that's just my view. The writing itself was very well written I just couldn't like the main characters or even the secondary ones much tbh I thought his wife was way too easy on him and as for Teri well I hated her. Not a bad read but definitely not a favourite

[Valerie Verworst · Rating 2 out of 5]

Carole Matthews is a great writer and I like her writing style a lot! Nonetheless, it is hard to root for the main character in the book from the start, and given the way the story further develops, almost impossible to root for anyone at all. Unfortunately, this turned into a minor hate-read for me as the story progressed, as I cannot find a reason to care for the characters by the end. Thankfully, Matthews' writing got me through it.

A look into the minds of adulterers: 2 stars for the writing style, but god, never again.

[Kelsie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed Wrapped Up in You by Carole Matthews, there was nothing I liked about this book. I didn't connect with -- or even LIKE any character. Yes, I read the summary beforehand but it bothered me that not a single character had morals. Everyone just seemed so slimy gross to me. Matthews also made England seem gloomy and depressing. I had to force myself to get through this, only to discover no real conclusion. Ugh.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very disappointed with this book, normally Carole’s books are lovely and cosy, and you know that somehow all will end up well in the end.
This one lacks all that warm and fuzzy feeling and all I could think of was this just can’t end well no matter what. Considering the story the ending was sort of ok.
Narration ok .

[Lorraine Vella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this one... the ending was quite unpredictable and kept me thinking on how the story could have evolved and if there will be a second book which will continue with this one! I love this author :)

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked this book but it just wasnt as good as carole matthews other books....i was quite frustrated at the end....was she or wasnt she?....