Perfect Love

by Elizabeth Buchan

How far would she go for the Perfect Love?

Many things can disrupt a long-time marriage. Prue Valour, 41, has spent her adulthood keeping house, making meals for her older husband, Max, and being a mother to their preadolescent daughter. Despite the comforts of life in their small English village, a vague discontent nags at Prue. But change is set in motion with the return of Max's petulant, icily beautiful daughter Violet. Moving in with her new baby and husband, Violet is as hateful to her step-mother Prue as she had been as a child. Worse, Violet resents her fretful baby. But Violet's husband Jamie is unexpectedly helpful, likeable, and caring. Drawn to each other, he and Prue are soon skirting a boundary between innocence and passion. But will Prue take that irrevocable step across?

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Relationships, British Literature, Adult Fiction, Contemporary

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Elizabeth Buchan began her career as a blurb writer at Penguin Books after graduating from the University of Kent with a double degree in English and History. She moved on to become a fiction editor at Random House before leaving to write full time. Her novels include the prizewinning Consider the Lily – reviewed in the Independent as ‘a gorgeously well written tale: funny, sad and sophisticated’. A subsequent novel, Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman became an international bestseller and was made into a CBS Primetime Drama. Later novels included The Second Wife, Separate Beds and Daughters. Her latest, I Can’t Begin to Tell You, a story of resistance in wartime Denmark, was published by Penguin in August 2014.

Elizabeth Buchan’s short stories are broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and published in magazines. She reviews for the Sunday Times and the Daily Mail, and has chaired the Betty Trask and Desmond Elliot literary prizes, and also been a judge for the Whitbread First Novel Award and for 2014 Costa Novel Award. She is a patron of the Guildford Book Festival and of The National Academy of Writing, and sits on the author committee for The Reading Agency.

Reviews

[AngryGreyCat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect Love by Elizabeth Buchan is a women’s fiction novel, about Prue a woman, wife, mother, and stepmother in her forties, who begins to be lured into infidelity. This is a classic midlife crisis family drama novel, with complex family relationships and situations. There is also an awkward running Joan of Arc metaphor that really doesn't work and could be eliminated from the novel altogether.

I have read several of Elizabeth Buchan’s books and I have a strange relationship with them, I always find them very well written, with fully developed characters with all their flaws, and interesting plots. On the other hand, I would not say that I like them, if that makes sense. Her stories are too realistic, there are never satisfying conclusions, no neat endings, no punishment for the wicked or rewards for the good. It always seems like things just trudge along and end with the characters still having numerous issues to work through, much like real life. As someone who reads women’s fiction, for an escape from reality I am always frustrated, but I still keep reading them for some reason

I gave this book 3 stars because of character development and writing.

[Supriya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well sketched characters. Ending could have been a bit less abrupt. However, it is realistically portrayed. An essentially good woman's feeling of being torn between her family obligations vs. her own self-hood. The Joan analogy doesn't work well though. Intrusive wherever it is brought in, and takes away from the overall effect- these sections can be skipped with no loss to reader. Average older-chic-lit.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story, but the references to Joan of Arc were annoying and for me not at all relevant to the action.

[Hemmie Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love stories revolving around families with secrets and strained relationships, so this one hit the mark in many ways. The characters are well depicted by the author, although I found myself not liking any of them for a variety of reasons, so although I read it quickly as I wanted to know the outcome, I was left still not liking their actions or the denouement.
Prue's marriage to Max seems mundane and straightforward, until her stepdaughter returns with her new husband, catapulting Prue into a secretive and deceptive life. The only character I truly liked was Emmy, the put-upon nanny. I will certainly read another book by this author as I did enjoy her writing.

[Lenore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could identify with Prue. Her husband and step-daughter really didn't appreciate her.

[Lynell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always loved any of Buchan's books, but I found this one to be a more difficult read. It was good, but it took me a while to finish

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read about adultery because it did sort of a deep dive into how it happens and its repercussions.

I'm not sure how the Joan of Arc sub-story weaves together with the main storyline. From my vantage point in the book, it doesn't do a good job, it just confuses the plot. From the beginning, I had to struggle to make sense of who all the characters are and how they're related, as this wasn't clearly delineated--although maybe that is the strategy here?

The motherhood realities and realizations and neuroses around it become pronounced and more real by the Autumn part of the book and things are starting to conflagrate.

By the end of the book, I think the Joan of Arc weaving in could have been left out and it wouldn't necessarily have changed the arc of this book. Also, there were too many characters involved, I think, although I do see how some of them tied in and emphasized various points, like when Emmy got pregnant by Angus and how that reflected what happened between Max and Helen.

I guess things eventually worked themselves out in the end, with people being able to be relatively happy settling for what was right for family units versus individual desires.

This was also very British, in terms of language, and if I didn't work for a British firm for over ten years, I might have gotten lost in the British terms.

Book coincidences: the name Prudence was used for main characters in this book and in The Signature of All Things; also virgins were a main theme.

I'm wondering why/how this book got suggested as a "must read" with a stack that included self-help books like Rising Strong, Braving the Wilderness, Daring Greatly, Deeper Dating, The Mastery of Love, Loving What Is, Hold Me Tight, Real Love, and Getting the Love You Want. Was it a mistake or an oversight--maybe a different author who wrote a book with a similar title that was actually a self-help book and not a novel? Either way, it was an interesting read, although it could have had a bit more umph and less confusion with the interweaving of Joan of Arc.

"She looked more than usually worn and lustreless, not from overwork, for she lived a privileged life, but from disappointment." pg. 197

"Thus, as he made the gesture, he equated it to the terrorist's action when he or she first pulled a pin or depressed a plunger. His fingers tensed. Once the action was done the result became the only thing that could matter. From then on, normal restraints were in the past, and it was not possible to go back." pg. 199

"Jamie did not often encounter Prue's practical side. Lovers don't, which is part of the seduction for each. Between lovers, there is no need to consider surly tennagers, leaking roofs and the weekly shop. These are reserved for the spouse." pg. 256

"Even your head no longer belonged only to you. Everywhere you went . . . Violet chopped on . . . babies came as well. You could not work without thinking about them, lunch without worrying if the baby was getting his, enjoy a drink with a colleague without feeling guilty." pg. 260

"Blindness to the centre of the other was how a marriage survived. If you knew too much about your spouse, the marriage stood less of a chance when changes occurred." pg. 270

"She clenched her fingers around the wheel. The luxury of being able to do something without the rest of your life being dragged in was, it appeared, given only to a few: the very lonely and very determined." pg. 311

"Jamie registered Violet's sharp shoulder blade under his hand. He had never seen Prue in a temper (neither, of course, she him) and the experience would alter, subtly, the image he carried. Jamie was learning about flux: the mutation from one state to another of the people he loved. Or. perhaps, he was learning to see what was there in the first place." pg. 328

"Prue ignored her daugher. Another black mark. Another cold stone for Jane to lay on the wall building between them." pg. 328

"A hand grasped Prue's heart and closed, and she was not sure if it indicated fear, or a curious exultation that the worst could be about to happen." pg. 390

"Prue had an idea that the roar and buffets of the battles ahead would strengthen her power. Love, after all, was an act of will. Passion was not." pg. 436

Book: borrowed from Skyline College Library.

[Lisa of Hopewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
My Interest
In part–the usual, I needed an audio book for drive-time. Back on my old blog and in the early days of this blog I enjoyed reading and reviewing a few of Buchan’s other books: Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman (link is to my Goodreads) Everything She Thought She Wanted, and Separate Beds (link is to my Goodreads). I’ve always intended to get back to reading her books.

But why this one? An older man–younger woman marriage. I can’t explain why these fascinate me. No, no–not the Rupert Murdoch kind. No, not the creepy arranged religious kind. The normal kind. They are still out there and no, it wasn’t “grooming” if both were adults. [For the record I am VERY anti-grooming. But my rule for my kids was if you could have been in high school together it’s fine.] My interest began after hearing about my grandmother’s cousin–a lady I loved, and her first husband. They were very happy and her parents, back in 1927 were happy too. Today we do look at it differently, I admit. I’ve met a few couples since who did fine with it. And an equal number who divorced.

The Story
At 19 Prue was a well-educated [private aka “public” school in UK] legal secretary in Max’s London law firm. His first wife walked out and left their elementary school aged daughter, Violet, with him. They married and had their own daughter, Jane. Over the past 20 years they’ve lived a very AGA Saga-ish life in a village where people commute to London or make due with what they’ve always had in the village. Prue is the bookkeeper for the W.I. and helps with flowers and events at the church while also working part-time in the local bookshop. Daughter Jane is a weekly border at her private school [Americans–this means she comes home every weekend].

Now this Joanna Trollope-ish life is disturbed by Violet and husband Jamie returned from New York to jobs in London, baby Edward and no nanny in tow. They must stay with Max and Prue for a few weeks while they find a house in London. [Don’t laugh–this book is set in 1992]. Edward is a difficult baby, Violet is a perfectionist who doesn’t really care for her child, and Jamie is the classic decent guy who fell for a bitch. Like Violet’s dad, Max, he was dumped by his first partner who took the daughter he’d helped raise and left leaving him devistated. So, Edward isn’t that big of a deal to him–he knows the kid will grow through these dreadful stages of babyhood and the crying and messes will end sooner than Violet thinks. Prue takes charge of Edward and finds a local girl to help.

Meanwhile midlife is stiking a couple of people [no spoilers] and the game of Happy Families is about to be disrupted a bit.

My Thoughts
1992–Wow! It seems like ancient history. These people had to RUN to the phone and answer it. Computers were shut off when not in active use and still required software to be loaded. The internet and cell phones [except for people like Magnum P.I. who had a brick-sized one] were in the future. Women still got up to do hair, full makeup and tug on panty hose, and then don a suit and jewlery to go to the office. Pumps were worn, except when walking anywhere when we could wear sneakers and put the pumps in our brief cases [remember those??]. Even Casual Friday wasn’t a thing yet! And, anorexia was the new black at girls private schools.

But back to the book…. While Max swanned off on the train to his law office to gleefully accept a European assignment too dreary for anyone younger, Prue-the-family-drudge did the shopping, planned and cooked the meals, petted the cat, made the beds, went to her “little” job at the bookstore, sat on her committees and nearly expired with boredom.

In London, Jamie was stuck with the wife who hated their child and the cheap, untrained nanny who had enough sense to demand her time off. He wasn’t thrilled with his job, either. Violet, like the mother in The Nanny Diaries, but with a career, felt is was ALL dumped on her, of course.

So things happen when people are bored. It isn’t always pretty. But it is always found out. No one can hide an affair. They radiate during it. The sneaking around makes it better, after all.

Interestingly, Max had only ONE Purdy shotgun–not the usual pair. I won’t spoil why it is in the book. This is one of Elizabeth Buchan’s early books so the humor that I loved in the others I’ve read just wasn’t there.

I will say I was compelled to keep listening, but I was let down that the humor wasn’t there. It made the other books so fun.

Question for UK readers: Would someone really say “she QUITTED the platform” [of the train station] Bizarre!

My Verdict
3.5
Perfect Love by Elizabeth Buchan

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have ready many novels by Elizabeth Buchan over the years, and each one merited 5 shiny stars from when rating it...until now. I just did not love "Perfect Love," the way I did the prior books of hers I had read. Her writing style is still sublime, in that manner perfected by the best British writers, but the storyline did not hold my interest as much as I would have expected, probably because there were so many characters who were off putting and unlikable.
At its heart, "Perfect Love" is about love and marriage, with all its imperfections, some of which are worse than others. Pru Valour is approaching middle age, and is married to an older man, Max. Together they have a pre-teenaged daughter who is often petulant, and who seems to be in the throes of an eating disorder. Max has an older daughter, the very beautiful Violet, married and the mother of young Edward. Unfortunately, Violet does not have a maternal bone in her body, which was disconcerting, to say the least. She is happiest when she is away from her baby, and he is being cared for by young Emmie who is in love with Angus. Angus is most likely also in love with Angus, and is not a man upon whom any young girl should bestow her affection. He gives his, far too frequently, to any number of women.
Max knows Pru is not very happy, and decides that he cannot give her the kind of passion he once could, or that a younger man can, so he looks the other way when she begins an affair. He has no idea with whom she is cavorting, but when he discovers the identity of the man, he is furious, and rightly so!
So, here we have messy lives fraught with betrayals and longings, petulance, and disappointments, which all come together to create a soap opera of sorts in the pages of a novel. This should have made for a very fun, addictive book, but it did not. I found the women to be cold, and most of the male characters to be far more likable, though there were a few scoundrels in the mix, Angus especially.
If you have never read books by Elizabeth Buchan, do not let this one off novel prevent you from reading other books she has written. I gave 5 stars to "Housewives Behaving Badly," "Everything She Thought She Wanted," and "Separate Beds," and 4 stars to "Wives Behaving Badly." Her books remind me of those I have read by Joanna Trollope, all set. in quaint villages in Great Britain, where people may appear to be prim and proper, but are far from it!
I listened to the audiobook which was well read in a true British accent, which I always enjoy.

[Sandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Elizabeth Buchan's , "Consider the Lily", "Light of the Moon" and "Revenge of the Middle Aged Woman" are three of my favourite novels. I spotted "Perfect Love" at a charity shop and started it the same night. Unfortunately, I just could not connect to the characters. Lead female characters Prue and Violet are so very difference but I find both of them unlikeable. The references back to Joan of Arc (whose biography Prue seems to be aimlessly trying to write) I have to admit I started skimming over. I will try others by here but this one just wasn't for me. Back to the charity shop it goes.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book I rated 5 ⭐️’s due to the depth of emotion it evoked. (Except for a running theme about the life of Joan of Arc which I felt was totally unnecessary and in no way compared to Prue’s choices) so there won’t be any spoilers I’ll just say Prue is a totally unsympathetic character. And at No Point did I ever once feel sorry for her. She’d sacrifice anyone for her own happiness.
I read it because it’s well written and quite honestly I thought at some point there would be a cautionary tale.

[Jocelyn Ryder-Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

She is a really good writer and I finished this book, as I wanted to know how it all ended. But I thought it was all too drawn out, and that quite a lot of pruning would have made it a better book, including the numerous references to Joan of Arc. I could see that the Joan theme seemed in theory an interesting and relevant thread, but I think in practice, the book would have been better if it had been cut. Having said all that - she is a good writer and i did finish the book with interest.

[Marie O'Halloran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A realistic portrait of marriage infidelity and its accompanying guilt and effects. An enjoyable read but, like other reviewers, I didn't think the inclusion of the Joan of Arc story was necessary or pertinent.

[Constance Lechman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written story about love, marrage and fidelity in all of its complexity.

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Raced through this - sorry not my cup of tea but had to finish it. Read so many of this author's stories and loved them but this, not so.
Jan of Arc interfered too much.

[Orla O'Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit laboured. Zoned out at the mentions of Joan of Arc. A good insight into the complexities of having an affair.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite slow and desperately sad

[Joyce Ellis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, just couldnt handle the joan of arc stuff. Shame, as I have enjoyed her other books. Gave up after 4 chapters.

[Jane Gregg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a crunchy one.

[MargCal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finished reading: Perfect Love / Elizabeth Buchanan ...... 26.08.2015
ISBN 10: 0330344730
ISBN 13: 9780330344739

Back to an Aga saga after a bit of a break, and what a disappointment. I kept reading hoping there would be a bright spot at the end – but there wasn't.

This story is populated with characters who are, variously, selfish, self-centred, stupid, immature, weak, lacking self-control, manipulative .... and by the end there was scarcely an improvement in any of them.

This is a bleak story about adultery which is justified via the female adulterer saying that it has to have been worth it for the self-knowledge gained, the experiences that would not have been had otherwise, the passions unleashed, etc, etc, because otherwise, with all those hurt, and there were many, it would not have been worth it. Huh? What sort of circular argument is that?!

Part of the plot involves the "heroine", Prue, writing a biography of Joan of Arc. At various points Prue compared herself to Joan. This part of the plotline didn't work on any level.

In the past I have enjoyed other books by Elizabeth Buchan but unless you're depressed and want to stay that way, I can't recommend this one. It is definitely “not” for anyone who is currently suffering from their partner having an affair. There is nothing in this that will bring you any comfort.

[Susan Sawicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Slow Story

I chose this rating because it felt like this story never really got off the ground. The middle chapters were stagnant, with the most lively and interesting aspects occurring in the last few chapters.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like her books. Entertaining and smart - a rare combination.

[Odoublegood · Rating 3 out of 5]

would read more of Elizabeth Buchan's books

[Vivienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok an easy read

[Carrie]

Too much like real life. I read about half of it, and it was good. Don't let my desire for fantasy/sci fi stop you.

[Emma Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

This looks at the sad reality of an affair from all the people involveds perspectives. A good read.

[Heather Parker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too boring to finish. I hate putting books down halfway, but this one just couldn't hold my interest and I didn't want to waste time.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

the tension of relationships, adultery and love are felt on every page. i read this last of all her books and it was excellent

[Michiru · Rating 1 out of 5]

tip zapelje Eeno od oDeta svoje Eene. ni res mati, vendaar vseeno. Mi glih cool

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thing Rosamunde Pilcher. Very light, but a nice feel good, easy to read book.