Jaded

by Lucy Hawking

In Lucy Hawking’s debut novel, William Gadget appears to have it all—a high-profile, not to mention high-pressure, career as a London banker, a pricey Notting Hill flat, enough money to keep himself in vodka, even his own manservant. But when he flees his apartment in the middle of the night wearing only his pajamas and claiming that his life is in danger, it’s left to his four best friends to uncover the source of his bizarre behavior: Min, unlikely heiress and free spirit; Jemal, the pragmatic, reluctant host of a popular television gardening show; Dallas, a pot-smoking, B-level actor looking for his big break; and Mac, a rugged, tough-talking mercenary.

Together, this unlikely crew sets out to uncover whether their friend is finally suffering a complete nervous breakdown, or if someone is indeed setting him up for a fall.

Genres: Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Lucy Hawking is a novelist who has also written several children's books in collaboration with her father, physicist Stephen W. Hawking.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5🌟

This book was passed on to me and looking at the front cover, I presumed it wouldn't be my type of book, but being someone who is happy to give ANY book a go, I did so.

It wasn't dreadful and I've read much worse, but you could definitely tell that it was published a while ago. A couple of sentences of dialogue describing sexual orientation, and mild drug use for me, were maybe a little insensitive but I'm a believer that just because you write of something, it doesn't mean you share the same view. I'd love to write a book around a serial killer but a serial killer I am not 😀. I appreciate though that others have different views.

A small amount of depth to storyline. Not just a fluffy romance.
Maybe a read for a younger person.

[Νάτσο · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it , I don't get why it has such low ratings

[Lana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fluffy enjoyable entertainment

[Mycala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not normally the sort of book I seek out for myself, but I did find myself laughing out loud at certain parts. It was really slow going for about the first two-thirds of the book, but I didn't put it down because I was curious about what was going on with the main character. Well, that and I'm too OCD to leave a book unfinished forever. :-P I found myself unable to put it down for the final third, and I'm glad I held out. Still, three stars just because at the beginning it was a lot of work to read.

[Louise Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

at times thought this was extremely sill y and shld be reading something more intellectual but it was quite amusing and thought about william gadget and his emotional state as he had a bit of breakdown may be due to trauma as a child which i know how it effects u and can all of sudden jump out at u i must admit I got more lost towards the end but on the whole provided bit of amusement

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very fast read, that I enjoyed, but will probably not leave a lasting impression. This story of corporate fraud/romantic comedy/english sarcasm, is well written and entertaining and contained no unattractive people, which is nice.

[Dmitri Chubarov]

Простая книжка, основанная на мечтах выпускника хорошего английского университета о своём будущем и будущем своих однокурсников. Беда заставляет бывших соседей по студенческой квартире встретиться вместе через десять лет. Помогая друг другу, они могут преодолеть многие испытания.

[Amber · Rating 1 out of 5]

What an awful waste of my time. YUCK.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun quirky book

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

so far so good! This was a fun read, with some good little twists and turns.