A Class Apart

by Susan Lewis

Jenneen, Kate, Ellamarie, and Ashley are enviable women. They are desirable and powerful, with glamorous jobs in the media and the theatre, and—most importantly—the closest of friendships. But each of the friends has a dark secret, and none of them can ever be entirely safe from the passion, deceit, and danger which threatens to seduce and then destroy them.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit

576 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.


Susan Lewis is the bestselling author of over forty books across the genres of family drama, thriller, suspense and crime. She is also the author of Just One More Day and One Day at a Time, the moving memoirs of her childhood in Bristol during the 1960s. Following periods of living in Los Angeles and the South of France, she currently lives in Gloucestershire with her husband James, stepsons Michael and Luke, and mischievous dogs Coco and Lulu.

Reviews

[Alma (retirement at last) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A veritable feast of sexual activity and tension. However, I felt a lot of it was gratuitous and not necessary. The book is nearly 600 pages and I'm sure a third could have been cut if the story had concentrated more on the lives of the 4 friends rather than all the sex scenes. Saying that, the story flowed even though it jumped from friend to friend. It took me a while to remember who was who as there are a fair number of characters involved but definitely an entertaining read although after reading the Author's 'In Plain Sight' I didn't find this as interesting. I will read another of Lewis's novels to see where she goes from here.

[Melissa-Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good read, but found it all a little unbelievable. Yes everyone has issues but to have four people come together with those sorts of issues, and having it end the way it did didn't sit right with me. It was almost as though there were problems finding a way to end the book.

[Shirley Bauman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good read! Didn't want to put it down. Sooooo good!

[Leslie Brooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing

This book was way too long, told too many details of far too many stories, and as a result, was very confusing. I kept reading, but the plot(s) failed to hold my interest. I’m still amazed that I stuck with it.
Thanks

[Nikita Mulder Swindon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too many characters, and seems like all they talk about is sex. Not my cup of tea.

[Kiyara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Shaking my damn head.

[Sue Wynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book I found it quite hard going and I was getting confused who people where. A couple of chapters in things changed, the story revolves around 4 friends and how their lives change, it was a very good book with twists and turns which I did not expect. It was a very good read.

[Hazel Attwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book but couldn't get into it then I read a review that said someone felt the same but had persevered and several chapters in got hooked. I gave it another go and was pleased I did. It does have a lot of sexual descriptions which I could have done without but that aside I enjoyed the book with all its twists and turns.

[glynis thomason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting reading. Highly recommend

I really couldn't put this book down. It wasn't what I expected after reading Don't Believe a Word, which I also loved. The characters in both books are very deep and believable. I'll certainly be buying more from Susan Lewis.

[Margaret Reay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book, yes it was unbelievable in parts but it kept me hooked the whole time.

[Nikki Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit too much information about certain things…A fairly good read otherwise.

[pat andrews · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible

Would not recommend book to anyone. Too much explicit sexual description. Can't think of anther nine words. Sorry really did not like book?

[De Beresford · Rating 3 out of 5]

A class apart

I found this novel complicated, a while before I put the characters in their place. I persevered and quite enjoyed it.

[Jo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I generally enjoy this authors work. This book, however seem so to be written by a different person.
It's a horrible mess of supposedly successful women roiling in self- flagellation, focused on their own ' pain' , unable to help themselves, full of probing tongues, and throbbing penises.
It holds the most puerile, overwrought description of a woman post abortion I have ever read - phrasing such as ' feeding the baby the milk of eternal life ' once said character had killed herself left me completely exasperated.
Frankly, for a book about career women, the characters are so enthralled in their sex lives, and make such stupid choices it is impossible to believe they could ever get out of bed, let alone hold down high powered job.

Skip this one, her others are much better

[Rena Hereti Lyons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written in 1988 and although not quite dated, is not a patch on the author's later books, or on some of her earlier ones. The book was over long and a bit unbeliavable towards the end. Without wanting to spoil it, personally I could not quite believe that all four characters who feature in the story, could possibly reach a crisis in their lives, all at the same time and in the same week, however much they had been cruising for a bruising from page one! Set at a time in London and New York, when women were still struggling to be accepted as equal in a men's world and forge careers for themselves, this is the story of four girlfriends each with her own secret, living lives reminiscent of that 70s classic novel "Valley of the Dolls", except here sex takes the place of the "dolls". I.e. The pills and drugs. This was the kind of book to take to the beach and not care if it gets wet or full of sand. Almost all other Susan Lewis books are wonderful and usually love reading her. Try any of her other ones and do not discover her through this book, as this would be an injustice to her.

[Adeline Kam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a long story but very interesting to read. Four good friends with secrets in their lives. As you read on, the story just gets more and more interesting, I keep turning the pages and wish that this story will never end. It has a sad ending though but the value of friendship cannot be underestimated. A good book to read, highly recommended. I am going to look out for more of Susan Lewis books.

[Dimpf81 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as...

Summer Madness
Last Resort
Darkest Longings

Formulaic I know, but I love Susan Lewis for these books, when the heroine became stalkerish or the storyline became realistic I walked away. I re-read the three listed above every couple of years, love love love them :)

[Nduko Elvis Nyanaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. It somehow managed to keep me reading through to the end. It also made me know a thing about Human behavior and character in general which thing in this case was hiding secrets. Good thing is finally everyone gets theirs fixed...

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and it held my attention in the main. However it was difficult trying to keep track of who was who and etc. Too many main characters one tended to loose track of them. Not one of Susan Lewis best books.

[Cherilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quote that I remember from this book... "It takes a tragedy to make one appreciate life, for what would life be like without friendship."

[Fatma · Rating 1 out of 5]

didn't finish it , it's like sex in the city series( four friends have problems with there lovers) .

[Bev · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found how each of the four strands of this story concluded a bit too unbelievable. An ok read but no more than that.

[Laura Gray · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good read but...

I enjoyed this but it was laden with spelling and grammatical errors. That put me off a bit unfortunately. However it was still a good read

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written book. Keeps you on the edge of your seat

[Lynda Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was chosen as a holiday read and fitted that purpose. However I didn't really enjoy the story as it didn't seem believable. Successful women yes but with the same difficulties and two shooting!

[Sweeter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book back in 2009/2010 and only got to read and understand it now in 2019... I can safely say its one of the novels I've ever landed my hands on. There's no way I'm going to borrow anyone, I'm keeping it in my safe 😊😊😆