Having devoured Gill Paul's previous novels I couldn't wait to get my hands on this and was very lucky to be able to see a preview of it. Whenever you read a book from a favourite author you wonder if it will live up to their other work but when reading Gill Paul's books you know you're going to get a special book, rich with history and atmosphere with beautifully crafted characters and with plenty of themes that keep you wanting to turn those pages- this is definitely the case with Another Woman's Husband. Published in August 2017 you really must put this on your To Be Read list!
This novel tells the stories of Wallis Simpson/Warfield and Mary Kirk who met as teenagers and became such good friends they referred to each other as sisters. However, Mary's family made it clear their opinions on Wallis and tried to persuade Mary to not be quite so endeared by her. Over time, Wallis and Mary were separated by thousands of miles yet their friendship held strong through letter writing and visits but as they matured their differences put a strain on their relationship, could their shared history be enough to hold their friendship together throughout it all?
Many, many years later, in 1997, Rachel and Alex find themselves caught up in the horror of the crash of Diana Princess of Wales in Paris. The innocent couple who were simply enjoying an evening out, had no idea that their lives would suddenly be altered by being close by when the accident happened. Rachel struggles to focus on her life and finds that both herself and Alex are obsessing about the event especially when Alex shows Rachel a mysterious jewel he picked up from the crime scene. She finds that there is a link between Diana and Wallis, why was she visiting Wallis' house on the day she died? And as Rachel questions this and various other conspiracy theories she realises that her own views are very different to Alex's and that this leads to their own relationship being strained. Can the mystery around Diana's death, the link to Wallis and the distracted way Alex is behaving be too much for their relationship to survive?
What I really liked about this book is the way that it's written in such a way that you can relate to it- no you may not be part of the social elite or witness one of the biggest news stories of the century but you can relate to how your relationship with a friend or a family member or a loved one, anyone, can be hugely tested over time. This novel paints this picture really well in two very different relationships- the female friendship over many years and the relationship of a newly engaged couple as they try to plan their wedding and carry on with big pressures from work too. I think it's very clever how Gill Paul manages to do this so well. I think we have all had a friend who has been a huge part of our childhoods, who we've confessed our first loves to and shared those exciting moments together but who, as we've grown older, we've realised that our lives are no longer as entertwined and our partners/husbands/jobs/ lives in general change us and the relationship can never be what it used to be. I think we've all questioned how much we will forgive these friends- is this shared history enough to make you forgive being let down/betrayed? So when reading this, I might not have been in the era that this book is set or have the same backgrounds or even be from the same country but there were moments when I was thinking of my own friendships and thinking what I would do if I was Mary and I think that's a very clever skill to have. I found it especially so with Rachel and Alex, their relationship slowly began to fall apart after the accident, from being loved up and planning a wedding to questioning their whole relationship with each page that was turned and I think so many can relate to this; how if you have a differing opinion to your partner it can really strain your relationship and it takes a lot to put that aside and remember why you love them.
The characters in this novel are perfectly crafted, so much so that you ride the emotions with them; I was frustrated on Rachel's part with some of the things that Alex said and did and wanted to bang their heads together at times. I was moved by the relationship between Mary and her husband towards the end of the book and there was definitely not a dry eye here at the ending. I particularly like the character of Wallis, I think she's described really well with a big personality that you can easily see would rub people up the wrong way but could also be endearing too and I like the way her character gets along with Mary, you can see over time why they became friends and how Mary was influenced by her. I don't think it's possible to get cross with a character or have a tear in the eye if they are not well crafted so these characters are definitely that.
There are lots going on in this book; the relationships, the crash, what is this mysterious jewel? Why is Alex behaving so strangely? Will Wallis push Mary too far? Can they repair their friendship before it's too late? And as well as all these questions that need you to keep turning the pages to find answers to there's also a lot to think about. I found it fascinating just how much life has changed from the beginning of the twentieth century to the end. Two very different eras yet these stories are woven together so beautifully that it works really well.
Although there are lots going on within this book it doesn't feel like it's too much, instead it's just enough to have you wanting to find out more and to pull you in but not so much that you're trying to remember everything and losing threads. The pace of the novel is set out in such a way that you are gently introduced to the characters and then find yourself being pulled into their lives and along on their story and before you know it you're turning those pages and time has vanished!
This is a brilliantly written book which is so rich in history and descriptions of fashion and feelings that it creates not just a brilliant picture but emotions too. I really enjoyed reading this book, it was the perfect way to switch off from my own world for a while and lose myself in the world of other people and, once I had finished the book, I was left thinking about it for a good while afterwards- always the sign of a good book I think! This novel will have you thinking about your own relationships, turning the pages, asking what you would do in certain situations and will leave you reaching for a tissue... definitely one to recommend.