Just Married

by Zoë Barnes

Emma and Joe Sheridan have just got married. Emma has been in love with Joe since school, and marrying him was the happiest day of her life. But now the honeymoon's over and Emma's having to cope with the reality of married life.

Genres: Chick Lit

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Did you know ...?
Zoë was born near Liverpool, but is a real mixed bag! Her mum is Manx and her dad is from Yorkshire. She now lives in Cheltenham, where her novels are set.
She is also a French translator, and translates novels by Christian Jacq (author of the Ramses series) under the pen-name of Sue Dyson.
She was named 'Secretary of the Year' in 1987, although she wasn't actually working as a secretary at the time!
When not writing or translating, she works as a singer.
At the moment she has three cats: Domino, Pizza and Jupiter. Unfortunately, Jupiter's favourite foods are Sellotape and glue, and he enjoys chewing the corners off library books.
The only animals she really doesn't like are cockroaches. And it's not their fault they're creepy.
She loves chocolate, but it makes her ill. Sadly, green vegetables are perfectly safe. There is no justice.
There is no such thing as a Javanese Yellow Skunk. But there ought to be.

Zoë died on October 30th 2009 after taking an overdose.

Reviews

[Annie Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for more sex/scandal and intrigue. Long time since I had read a traditional chick book and I was a bit bored. I am too use to thrillers. I need more twists and excitement!
Sorry not for me

[Sharon Metcalf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've seen a few books by this author and they always strike me as the sort of thing I'd like to read but I've usually seen them when I've already had my arms loaded up with books by some of my favourite authors so haven't bothered. This week I saw this book in the fill a bag for $5 bin at Lifeline and figured it would be coming home with me. So, when I'd finished the book I was reading I decided to give this one a go. Was it one of my all time favourites? Nup not even close. Was it readable? Most definitely. Will I grab more by this author? Pretty likely, especially if they are cheap enough. Her writing style was good without being anything to rave about....huh say's me who would love to write a book to this standard! The characters were well formed and the main character was likeable. The story was possibly the thing that let it down the most. Not terrible but nothing too far from the standard formula for the genre. After 7 years together Joe and Emma have started their married life and though it should be a blissfully happy time for them it really isn't. At the start we get the sense that Joe desperately loves Emma and vice versa but the trouble is Joe is on the fast track at work and has been promoted meaning the time they get to spend together is limited. Emma is lonely, he resents her job - which she loves - and the in-laws are applying pressure for her to be a dedicated housewife and hopefully soon a mum. Whilst Joe is still happy to live the life of a bachelor and have rowdy Friday nights with his mates, he's not at all keen for Emma to remain in contact with her friends, particularly if it eats into their time together. All of these factors contribute to feelings of disillusionment. This is not what Emma had banked on and so to fill her hours she starts a photography course, meets Richard and there's a bit of chemistry. Just when it seems she's going to do the dirty on Joe she comes to her senses and bails. Richard however won't take no for an answer and starts to become a bit of a stalker. As expected, it all comes good in the end. Emma's friend Mickey and her new boyfriend scare off Richard. Joe loses his job but Emma decides she's happy not to accept the promotion she's been offered. Instead they move to Australia where they have a son and so we are lead to believe live happily ever after.

[Krisz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like ZB in general, because she writes enjoyable, detailed, well-thought-out chick lit. I was more than happy to find she approached the topic of after-romance, and could make a fine book on the conflicts that can come once you find yourself living together with someone AND being married to him (her).
I think the whole plot was believable and many readers can learn from this couple, as the problems are typical: how Joe doesn't want to admit he doesn't feel so fine at work, and how Emma wants to keep her independence and grow in her career before she has a baby, and how easy it is not to deal with problems but let the thing collapse and look for an other relationship.