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Choral Society
When Lucy and Rebecca agree to help the shy Joanna overcome stagefright during their choral class, an unlikely friendship develops among the three. And soon enough, the lessons turn to matters of the heart. Lucy has been recently widowed and now faces the loss of her “old-fashioned” food column. Rebecca is a flighty single mother with a voracious sexual appetite, and Joanna is a hard charging businesswoman, who comes home nightly to an empty house.
313 pages
First published January 1, 2008
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148 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
April 28, 2015
Three very different women (over age 50 ) meet when they decide to join a community choir. Lucy is a recent widow and a food journalist, Joanna is a divorced high powered business executive , and Rebecca is the ever youth chasing, flirtatious one who collects husbands. Long story short , after they all come to forks in the road of their lives, they decide to restore a run down hotel on the Cornish Coast together and run it as a spa using their individual talents. A light easy read (chick lit for us 55+) A good change of pace. Perfect beach read . 3 stars
November 17, 2020
This is possibly the worst book I have ever tried to read. It is snobby and classist, which is bad enough, but then I got to page 55 and had to stop reading because I read this blatantly racist line: “She had never been with a black guy, and was ashamed that her mind kept sidetracking to Aids and worrying about condoms.“ This book was written in 2009. Just disgusting. And memo to the author, AIDS is an acronym, it’s not spelt ‘Aids.’ I cannot recommend people not to read this book enough.
June 29, 2012
The book is entitled "Choral Society". This book is formulaic. Three women meet in a choral group. At the beginning of the book each woman has a short-coming. By the end of the book they have resolved their problems in one way or another.
As a musician who has conducted several choirs in my career I thought this book would be of interest to me. Admittedly the three main characters meet because they join a choral group, but the book deals with their separate lives and we hardly hear much about the choral society at all, except that the scratch group starts off singing Gospel songs and later is rehearsing for a performance of "Messiah".
I have the impression that the three women are extensions of Prue Leith herself. One is a food-writer and, as in previous novels, there is far too much about cooking methods and ingredients, and descriptions of the meals the various characters eat. There are also too many details about the clothes they wear and the names of contemporary dress designers. There is even a very detailed description about a medical procedure to remove excess fluid from one of the character's knees!
Prue Leith might have had a different editor for this book than for her earlier novels. How could the editor have overlooked so much slang, clichés, and a whopper about "the laird in the manse" which upset my Scottish sensibilities. Doesn't everybody know that a minister inhabits a manse? What was a laird doing there?
Admittedly there was a performance of "Messiah" towards the end of the book, but it appeared to be done by chorus only without any mention of soloists. Her nebulous description of this performance reminded me of a description of a performance by a string quartet in one of Mary Wesley's books. When she mentioned a conductor of the said quartet, I refused to go on reading it.
After the disappointment of this book I doubt whether I'll be buying any more of Prue Leith fiction, although my cooking might benefit from reading one of her cookery books!
As a musician who has conducted several choirs in my career I thought this book would be of interest to me. Admittedly the three main characters meet because they join a choral group, but the book deals with their separate lives and we hardly hear much about the choral society at all, except that the scratch group starts off singing Gospel songs and later is rehearsing for a performance of "Messiah".
I have the impression that the three women are extensions of Prue Leith herself. One is a food-writer and, as in previous novels, there is far too much about cooking methods and ingredients, and descriptions of the meals the various characters eat. There are also too many details about the clothes they wear and the names of contemporary dress designers. There is even a very detailed description about a medical procedure to remove excess fluid from one of the character's knees!
Prue Leith might have had a different editor for this book than for her earlier novels. How could the editor have overlooked so much slang, clichés, and a whopper about "the laird in the manse" which upset my Scottish sensibilities. Doesn't everybody know that a minister inhabits a manse? What was a laird doing there?
Admittedly there was a performance of "Messiah" towards the end of the book, but it appeared to be done by chorus only without any mention of soloists. Her nebulous description of this performance reminded me of a description of a performance by a string quartet in one of Mary Wesley's books. When she mentioned a conductor of the said quartet, I refused to go on reading it.
After the disappointment of this book I doubt whether I'll be buying any more of Prue Leith fiction, although my cooking might benefit from reading one of her cookery books!
January 20, 2015
Chick lit for the over 50s. It was OK, funny in some parts, a bit silly in other parts. I didn't really felt drawn to any of the women although I didn't mind Lucy. Joanna was far to high flying for my taste and Rebecca was a stereotype for women who don't want to grow up.
None of these single women gave me the idea they were independent. They all still seemed to need the company of men around them, especially Rebecca who sees men as a meal ticket.
But it was a light read and as such quite enjoyable. Don't take it seriously though............
None of these single women gave me the idea they were independent. They all still seemed to need the company of men around them, especially Rebecca who sees men as a meal ticket.
But it was a light read and as such quite enjoyable. Don't take it seriously though............
August 30, 2009
This novel was a true surprise to me. Written by an author previously noted for cook books, "Choral Society" introduces four women, all strangers, who resolve issues confronting them in midlife through their unexpected decision to join a singing group. The women are interesting, far from saintly, and their actions were often courageous, sometimes disappointing but true to their beliefs. The novel is well written and posed some interesting questions and reflections to me.
August 15, 2009
I enjoyed this book because I liked the way the author developed all the characters. However, I really didn't identify with them and, although I liked one of them, the other two didn't appeal to me. The story was nice and did show that women can do things to change their lives, even if they are in their 50s. Part of the problem for me may have been
April 28, 2012
It's an easy read but I have read far better 'chic lit' than this. I can't say it really held my interest and certainly wasn't a page turner. It was all just a bit too dull and frankly unbelievable, how many people can afford to buy a Cornish mansion on a whim and refurbish it?
June 26, 2015
Nice story about some age 50+ women. I liked it.
December 29, 2017
I've spent the year rediscovering my love of choral singing and enjoying life as a single 40-something, so this story resonated. It's light- almost beach reading- but does a nice job of intertwining the stories of three 50-something single women who join a choir for very different reasons. There's little character development, and a lot of things that seem important to the narrative happen off-stage, but the essentials are there. I feel like the heroines in a lot of chick lit end up riding off into a predictable, coupled-off, happy-ending sunset, but in Choral Society Leith gave each of the woman a different way to move forward. There isn't enough meat here for me to want to reread it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
August 20, 2017
Thought this was a fairly harmless piece of fluff for middle aged women, even excusing the ridiculous behaviour of Rebecca as the author being too enamoured of Samantha from Sex and the City. But then came that truly disturbing chapter where . Shortly after that I realised I despised all these people. And this book.
March 8, 2023
A very good story about three mature ladies, and how their lives are panning out.
It's called Choral Society, but that really is a minor part of the story, although still interesting.
It does have a cooking theme, which is quite appropriate. But it still has very good storylines, and makes you think about what does go into writing cookery books.
Characters very well portrayed, and the three ladies have quite different lives, ( not all cooking topics), and come together by joining the choir.
Very enjoyable book, from Prue Leith. I think she has written other books, so maybe an extra career path to follow.
Recommended
It's called Choral Society, but that really is a minor part of the story, although still interesting.
It does have a cooking theme, which is quite appropriate. But it still has very good storylines, and makes you think about what does go into writing cookery books.
Characters very well portrayed, and the three ladies have quite different lives, ( not all cooking topics), and come together by joining the choir.
Very enjoyable book, from Prue Leith. I think she has written other books, so maybe an extra career path to follow.
Recommended
May 28, 2025
What a fun summer read! I know Prue Leith from GBBO and was surprised to see she'd written a few novels. And this one was centred around three women, from very different walks of life. Yet, through their work in a local choir, the friendship grows and becomes an important thing to each of them.
Very enjoyable characters and a lovely read.
Very enjoyable characters and a lovely read.
June 20, 2017
Enjoyable read about three 50+ women with interesting personalities.
March 29, 2018
A sweet, British novel about love and food and relationships.
May 7, 2018
An entertaining escape.
December 11, 2020
Wasn’t reading with a great deal of enthusiasm so thank goodness for p154 which finished it off for me. Not badly written until that point but was struggling to care a fig about of the characters.
August 9, 2022
Great read
I really enjoyed this book, being a widow with lots of friends to keep me busy - but missing someone to do nothing with EXCELLENT READ
I really enjoyed this book, being a widow with lots of friends to keep me busy - but missing someone to do nothing with EXCELLENT READ
March 12, 2023
A nice easy read. Slightly improbable premise of the three ladies finding friendship, but I enjoyed the humour and reading about women of a similar age.
January 21, 2024
I adore Prue Leith from Great British Bake so getting to read novels by her is a real treat!
April 12, 2024
So boring, got half way still waiting for it to get going! Gave up i read the spoiler, they open a b&b spa in Cornwall. Phew! Thank god I don't have to read any more
March 4, 2017
An uplifting and easy to read novel about how three very different women become friends thanks to music.
Since I am part of the "mature" set, I could relate to the concerns of these characters. I also love to sing and have been singing with choirs and groups for a very long time. Music touched these women and helped form bonds.
Since I am part of the "mature" set, I could relate to the concerns of these characters. I also love to sing and have been singing with choirs and groups for a very long time. Music touched these women and helped form bonds.
September 6, 2012
Prue Leith is a name you probably associate with cookery rather than fiction although it is now many years since she gave up that career to become a novelist. I have read three of Prue Leiths earlier fiction offerings starting with Leaving Patrick , in 1999, Sisters in 2002, and The Gardener in 2008 by which time I was writing short reviews on Bookcrossing. Her novels are not great literature but they are enjoyable and realistic, as she draws on her own life experiences as a business woman and a cook. Her writing will appeal to all overs of contemporary fiction and the grown ups amongst us will appreciate the fact her heroines are older women. Although sometimes a little predictable she provides exactly what one should expect if you pick up a novel in this genre, a feel good romance.
Choral Society is about the ups and downs in the lives of three women in their fifties who meet in a choir group and as different as they are they soon become friends. So close in fact that they become the sort of friends that are always there for each other, a little too quick for the real world, in my opinion friendships like theirs normally take years to grow. Our three protagonists are Lucy, Joanna and Rebecca all very different women with their own problems to overcome, which of course they do by the end of the novel. Lucy is a recently widowed food journalist, who joins the choir as her daughter feels it will help her overcome her grief. Joanna a single entrepreneurial business woman for whom failure is never an option, has joined the choir to learn to sing, as up to this point she never been able to hit a note. Rebecca is the extrovert and flirtatious single mother unashamedly searching for a man to support the lifestyle she yearns for.
Prue Leith makes their lives interesting enough to keep one reading as the choir teaches them a lot more about themselves than how to sing. When they decide to combine their talents to turn a Cornish hotel from a dated failure into an up market success there is bound to be problems. Of course they are resolved but I am not spoiling the story by telling you here. If you are fan of the genre of a certain age I do not think you will be disappointed.
http://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspo...
Choral Society is about the ups and downs in the lives of three women in their fifties who meet in a choir group and as different as they are they soon become friends. So close in fact that they become the sort of friends that are always there for each other, a little too quick for the real world, in my opinion friendships like theirs normally take years to grow. Our three protagonists are Lucy, Joanna and Rebecca all very different women with their own problems to overcome, which of course they do by the end of the novel. Lucy is a recently widowed food journalist, who joins the choir as her daughter feels it will help her overcome her grief. Joanna a single entrepreneurial business woman for whom failure is never an option, has joined the choir to learn to sing, as up to this point she never been able to hit a note. Rebecca is the extrovert and flirtatious single mother unashamedly searching for a man to support the lifestyle she yearns for.
Prue Leith makes their lives interesting enough to keep one reading as the choir teaches them a lot more about themselves than how to sing. When they decide to combine their talents to turn a Cornish hotel from a dated failure into an up market success there is bound to be problems. Of course they are resolved but I am not spoiling the story by telling you here. If you are fan of the genre of a certain age I do not think you will be disappointed.
http://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspo...
March 5, 2013
This is a polished tale from an experienced and thoughtful writer. Humourous in its own way, because readers can laugh gently at themselves as they laugh at the antics, thoughts and habits of the three main characters, it also asks the reader think as well as laugh.
Rebecca, Lucy and Joanna join a choral society for three different reasons and are thrown together by their choral master to help Joanna relax enough to be able to sing out loud. Lucy is sinking into depression, she’s a newly bereaved widow. Rebecca wants money, a man and gaiety. Joanna, the single, highly successful business woman, wants to sing. These three disparate women become friends, supporting each other, finally even going into a business venture together. The story is charming, not at all sentimental, for Ms Leith is an honest writer. The characters have a chapter each and we follow their ordinary lives as well as their choir lives until they all combine in the last few chapters.
One of the joys of this books is that its three heroines are middle aged women who face growing old, their past mistakes, and uncertain futures, yet manage not only to survive, but to live with enjoyment. I found the book a pleasure to read.
Rebecca, Lucy and Joanna join a choral society for three different reasons and are thrown together by their choral master to help Joanna relax enough to be able to sing out loud. Lucy is sinking into depression, she’s a newly bereaved widow. Rebecca wants money, a man and gaiety. Joanna, the single, highly successful business woman, wants to sing. These three disparate women become friends, supporting each other, finally even going into a business venture together. The story is charming, not at all sentimental, for Ms Leith is an honest writer. The characters have a chapter each and we follow their ordinary lives as well as their choir lives until they all combine in the last few chapters.
One of the joys of this books is that its three heroines are middle aged women who face growing old, their past mistakes, and uncertain futures, yet manage not only to survive, but to live with enjoyment. I found the book a pleasure to read.
September 14, 2011
This book was left by an Australian guest who recommended it as a light read and this is exactly what it was and what I needed at the time, having just read The Journeyer by Gary Jennings. The plot was fairly predictable and the central characters an unlikely trio. At times I felt that the story line was lacking credibility and the characters lacked depth. Time seemed to travel at lighting speed throughout the story with leaps and bounds which meant the author didn't give either the story or the characters the time and effort needed to grow. However, having said that the book did the job as a light read and I liked the idea of the three women becoming friends through joining a choir.
September 7, 2016
Feel good novel by best selling food writer, who can also write a pretty good novel. No bad dreams from this one and just the right side of Mills & Boon. A sweet tale of three women – Rebecca (hi maintenance glam); Lucy (WI, cook, writer); Joanna (successful business woman). All the stereotypes, but well done. Prue Leith is a good writer and intelligent, so while things progress in a very organised way, one never loses credibility. When finished (and I did and it was easy and enjoyable) one feels reasonably satisfied, but probably not inspired or elated. You’d have to go elsewhere for that. But for jolly good read, well told, try Prue.
July 9, 2012
I really enjoyed this story! It was refreshing to have characters who weren't "just out of their teens" or in the yummy brigade of their 30's!
It took me a little while to get to know the characters and occasionally I had to remind myself who was who, but overall they were beleivable women, and one of them (Rebecca) did remind me of my mum in some places!
As a book I downloaded on a bit of a whim, I'm glad I did and I would not hesitate to read again or reccomend it to a friend to read.
It took me a little while to get to know the characters and occasionally I had to remind myself who was who, but overall they were beleivable women, and one of them (Rebecca) did remind me of my mum in some places!
As a book I downloaded on a bit of a whim, I'm glad I did and I would not hesitate to read again or reccomend it to a friend to read.
August 30, 2016
I love this book. The characters are all women I can identify with. Their friendship makes sense. And I love the fact that the women are not defined only through their men, that they aren't all looking finally for the ring on their finger and the title of wife.
A really good book, very English in many ways.
A really good book, very English in many ways.
August 4, 2012
The story of three fifty-something women who meet at a singing class, this book proved a light and entertaining read, just the thing to keep me preoccupied on the treadmill and rekindle my yearning to visit Cornwall. It is full of warmth and depicts friendship between women well. I recommend it for a feel-good read when winter has you feeling low.
May 31, 2013
Story of 3 mid-50's women who join a chorus and then buy a B&B together. Widow, business woman and divorce/. The behavior of the divorced woman seemed a bit much for someone her age and I guarantee that a mid-50's woman who hasn't had plastic surgery is not going to excite a bunch of 20 year old guys when she takes her swimsuit top off! Laugh and swim away more likely.
March 20, 2014
A very light read. Formulaic and predictable. I read somewhere that Pru Leith was described as Sophie Kinsella for grown ups. I'm not sure about that. Although the three main characters are in their late 40's/50's at least one of them doesn't seem grown up at all. I found it a bit messy in construction. Not a bad read but not a great one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews