Leaving Patrick

by Prue Leith

Jane is a high-powered London attorney who doesn't have time for her marriage. Patrick is a struggling restaurateur who wishes his wife would stay home more often and enjoy the pleasures of domesticity with him. They drift apart, and one day, Jane leaves Patrick. She wants more from her relationship than friendship, and so at age 36 she sets off on a journey to find what it takes to complete her life.

Jane travels to India where she falls rapturously in lust with her cultured tour guide, Rajiv. Meanwhile Patrick falls for baby-faced American food critic Stella, who could lose him more than his peace of mind. She could lose him his restaurant business.

Jane becomes the first female partner in her firm, and has her exotic lover, but discovers that what she thought she wanted doesn't make her happy. Bit by bit, she dismantles the life she had left Patrick for. As both their lives spiral toward disaster, Patrick and Jane come to reassess the decisions they've made. Has Jane thrown away true love with both hands?

Prue Leith is one of England's top chefs, and her expertise shines through in her insider's details of the restaurant business and the breathtaking food of India. In Leaving Patrick, Leith has created a well-written, poignant, and moving story with wry humor and intelligence about the real choices that adults have to make once they start taking stock of their lives.

Genres: Fiction

416 pages, Hardcover

First published May 25, 2000

Reviews

[Leanne Hunt]

This being the first of Pru Leith's novels, I was impressed. The story followed a conventional theme - a woman approaching middle age goes in search of the happiness she feels is missing from her life and ends up discovering that life is all about choices. But the characterisation was such that I developed a keen impression of the main character and her various associates/lovers. I enjoyed seeing India through the eyes of an English tourist, and found that the scattering of facts was light enough to garnish, not overwhelm, the overall picture. Of course, there was the inevitable inclusion of cookery details, but these, too, added to the exotic and contemporary flavour of the story. All in all, a good read with a satisfying ending.

[Kristi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could not get past the first 50 pages.

[Daniella Tamayao · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jane is a successful lawyer who is a lot of career-oriented with a restaurateur husband Patrick but she thought that she is not happy anymore and wanted to explore. She went on a work trip in India where she met a man who was her tour guide and 'fell in love' with him. Patrick also met a younger journalist Stella who he found out goes around to take advantage of men like him.

[Jenny Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. I'd give it 3.5 if I could, it wasn't spectacular enough for a 4, but more than just a chick lit book. The story really held my interest and wasn't one where the ending was guaranteed.

[Suzanne]

Well, I read it to the end, though I did not enjoy the book

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a wonderful surprise to me. I didn’t have real high expectations of a first time author who is a celebrity chef, but Leaving Patrick was well done!

[Beth D · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a story of a married couple named Patrick and Jane who have been married for fourteen years. Jane feels that her and Patrick have grown apart. Jane travels to India and falls for the tour guide Rajiv. They have a passionate love affair. Rajiv even goes back to London with Jane, but he is unable to find a job and goes back to India. Meanwhile Patrick has an affair too with a chef. I enjoyed the book a lot and recommend it.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad a bit slushy.

[Dawn]

Couldn't finish reading it.