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The Mistress
"He took one last long look at her before walking away and disappearing into the night. At that moment, Mandy knew her life would change forever . . ." Mandy Sanderson is turning thirty and has everything going for her - dark ebony hair, flashing black eyes, flawless skin and a job she loves - yet, so far, true love has eluded her. Then, on the night of her birthday party, surrounded by friends she adores, Cupid strikes as Mandy and the gorgeous Jake Chaplin lock eyes across the restaurant and fall for one another in an instant. Jake is confident, successful, oozing with sex appeal and utterly irresistible. He is also married, with two children, and Mandy has always sworn not to break her own golden rule: never encourage a man to play away. Jake is used to getting what he wants, and this time it is Mandy he's determined to win, and with Jake, seduction comes in more ways than one . . . Warm, sexy and heart-wrenchingly moving, The Mistress is written by one of Britain's best-loved actresses and offers a refreshingly modern take on what it is that women want.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
11 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
December 14, 2009
I felt obliged to give this one star, since it has a cardboard cover and is stuffed with pages, most of which have words on them, and therefore does function on some level as a book. However, that's about the nicest thing I can think of to say about it.
I'm no snob - I've read a lot of chick lit in my time, and some of it has been very good. The trouble is that chick lit is very difficult to do well, and this misses the mark on nearly every level. The protagonist is absolutely hateful - I can't remember the last time I wanted so desperately for someone to die horribly by the closing chapters. To make matters worse, McCutcheon seems convinced her protagonist is a nice person, and so has several other characters (and indeed the prose) tell us this repeatedly. It doesn't work. Every time someone claims that Mandy "doesn't deserve" what's happening to her, I would just think "YES SHE DOES. She's rancid."
The characters are all barely one-dimensional (the half-chapter given over to explaining how the obligatory Beautiful Gay Best Friend discovered his sexual orientation is utterly laughable). The prose is confused, and flits between different times and locations without any clear indication. The sex scenes are excruciating. The dialogue is hopeless. The resolution is utterly unearned. In short: avoid. It's barely even worth reading for the lulz (the main reason I picked it up).
I'm no snob - I've read a lot of chick lit in my time, and some of it has been very good. The trouble is that chick lit is very difficult to do well, and this misses the mark on nearly every level. The protagonist is absolutely hateful - I can't remember the last time I wanted so desperately for someone to die horribly by the closing chapters. To make matters worse, McCutcheon seems convinced her protagonist is a nice person, and so has several other characters (and indeed the prose) tell us this repeatedly. It doesn't work. Every time someone claims that Mandy "doesn't deserve" what's happening to her, I would just think "YES SHE DOES. She's rancid."
The characters are all barely one-dimensional (the half-chapter given over to explaining how the obligatory Beautiful Gay Best Friend discovered his sexual orientation is utterly laughable). The prose is confused, and flits between different times and locations without any clear indication. The sex scenes are excruciating. The dialogue is hopeless. The resolution is utterly unearned. In short: avoid. It's barely even worth reading for the lulz (the main reason I picked it up).
March 11, 2012
Girl meets boy. Boy says he's married.
A chapter on discussing affairs.
They hook up.
Girl's sister's husband has an affair. But she's ok with her sister being "the other woman".
Sister attempts to kill herself.
The wife knows he is cheating, but is totally cool with it - they're more like business partners.
Boy buys girl an apartment (he's a millionaire).
Girl gets promoted at work to the top level.
Girl gets pregs. She has a baby.
Boy now lives with girl, he can't stand the way she is with baby, the focus is baby not him.
He moves back in with his wife.
She is once again the mistress, alone with baby - other than the frequent visits from the boy.
Plot fail much? What was the point of this book? Just a actor turned author. Her life & career is flawless, though she spends most of her time with the boy. And the book is all about the boy. She also manages to talk to the taxi driver from her basement apartment, and of course we need to know all the details of her life, from what her front door looks like to her outfits, and where she bought them. And then there's one of her friends, who calls everyone "Darling" but dragged out.
How big is McCutcheon's ego? The front cover should tell you this. When I first glimpsed at the book, I thought the author's name was the title. A title should always be bigger than the author's name, as the book it about itself, and not so much the author (unless it's an auto/biography. Interesting the protagonist bares a striking resemblance to her too.
The book was shallow as a puddle, and quite frankly not worth a read. The only reason I read it all the way through was because I always read books I buy, fortunately I picked this one up at a warehouse sale for $5.
A chapter on discussing affairs.
They hook up.
Girl's sister's husband has an affair. But she's ok with her sister being "the other woman".
Sister attempts to kill herself.
The wife knows he is cheating, but is totally cool with it - they're more like business partners.
Boy buys girl an apartment (he's a millionaire).
Girl gets promoted at work to the top level.
Girl gets pregs. She has a baby.
Boy now lives with girl, he can't stand the way she is with baby, the focus is baby not him.
He moves back in with his wife.
She is once again the mistress, alone with baby - other than the frequent visits from the boy.
Plot fail much? What was the point of this book? Just a actor turned author. Her life & career is flawless, though she spends most of her time with the boy. And the book is all about the boy. She also manages to talk to the taxi driver from her basement apartment, and of course we need to know all the details of her life, from what her front door looks like to her outfits, and where she bought them. And then there's one of her friends, who calls everyone "Darling" but dragged out.
How big is McCutcheon's ego? The front cover should tell you this. When I first glimpsed at the book, I thought the author's name was the title. A title should always be bigger than the author's name, as the book it about itself, and not so much the author (unless it's an auto/biography. Interesting the protagonist bares a striking resemblance to her too.
The book was shallow as a puddle, and quite frankly not worth a read. The only reason I read it all the way through was because I always read books I buy, fortunately I picked this one up at a warehouse sale for $5.
November 28, 2014
What a saucy read!
I couldn't believe how much criticism this book received. Generally, celebs create their own sickly sweet perfume or release some deafening pop song to gain more exposure. Martine McCutcheon, the much loved actress from Love Actually, decided to write a book.
The book follows Mandy Sanderson as she enters her thirties. She goes out for a glamorous birthday meal in London with her closest friends where she meets Jake Chaplin, a successful and gorgeous business man with one slight complication... he has a ring on his finger - and two children.
The two know how wrong it is to be entering into this sinful relationship but the love and lust they share for one another is too difficult to ignore.
This is their love story - steamy, heart-wrenching and simply delectable.
You couldn't imagine the ending that Martine McCutcheon gave this story - it is completely unexpected and knocks you off balance a little. I wasn't sure whether to be happy, disappointed or just completely and utterly confused. Perhaps I was all three at once. The ending felt rushed and cut short - I wished that she had elaborated on the path and life that the key character (Mandy,) decided to choose.
It is an easy book to get lost in - enjoyed best while on holiday or killing time at the airport, which lets face it, I seem to be doing a lot of these days.
It was really hard for me to pick this book up - let alone finish it. Being in love and involved with a married man (unknowingly) is (unfortunately) something very close to home for me. I chose to read this book because of the book that I am busy writing with a similar storyline, minus the children and glam London lifestyle. Although my book is fiction - it is built on the bones of my experience with a man I deeply loved and who I shared some absolutely beautiful moments with - but whom I lost... whom I never really had to begin with.... and that, my friends, was the hard part to accept. Cue that beautiful and sad melodic song posted in my previous post to best define just how I feel:
http://bohemianmuses.blogspot.com/201...
Both Martine McCutcheon's story and my own just goes to show that sometimes the people (call them what you like: mistresses, seducers, home-wreckers..) that you are led to judge and hate are often the ones that were not in the wrong. Many times, our stories need to be belted out to the world.
Empowerment of those who have been burned and rubbed the wrong way.
This is by all means a fabulous read for anyone who has ever felt that way.
It has taken me a long time to be able to finally start writing my new book again but now I am finally ready and I am absolutely loving it. I'm sure you'll all hear about it soon - but for now it is still being created and my first book, Walk With Me, is selling like crazy.
All of that is my explanation as to why I have been quieter than usual lately. I have been reading and writing my absolute bloody heart out (pardon the pun) - as well as cramming in the odd airplane ride and spontaneous trip around South Africa to keep my travel junkie soul entertained.
Loving life in the bubble of words, pages, ink and literature that I have wrapped myself in!
Peace and love until a later date...
Jade
I couldn't believe how much criticism this book received. Generally, celebs create their own sickly sweet perfume or release some deafening pop song to gain more exposure. Martine McCutcheon, the much loved actress from Love Actually, decided to write a book.
The book follows Mandy Sanderson as she enters her thirties. She goes out for a glamorous birthday meal in London with her closest friends where she meets Jake Chaplin, a successful and gorgeous business man with one slight complication... he has a ring on his finger - and two children.
The two know how wrong it is to be entering into this sinful relationship but the love and lust they share for one another is too difficult to ignore.
This is their love story - steamy, heart-wrenching and simply delectable.
You couldn't imagine the ending that Martine McCutcheon gave this story - it is completely unexpected and knocks you off balance a little. I wasn't sure whether to be happy, disappointed or just completely and utterly confused. Perhaps I was all three at once. The ending felt rushed and cut short - I wished that she had elaborated on the path and life that the key character (Mandy,) decided to choose.
It is an easy book to get lost in - enjoyed best while on holiday or killing time at the airport, which lets face it, I seem to be doing a lot of these days.
It was really hard for me to pick this book up - let alone finish it. Being in love and involved with a married man (unknowingly) is (unfortunately) something very close to home for me. I chose to read this book because of the book that I am busy writing with a similar storyline, minus the children and glam London lifestyle. Although my book is fiction - it is built on the bones of my experience with a man I deeply loved and who I shared some absolutely beautiful moments with - but whom I lost... whom I never really had to begin with.... and that, my friends, was the hard part to accept. Cue that beautiful and sad melodic song posted in my previous post to best define just how I feel:
http://bohemianmuses.blogspot.com/201...
Both Martine McCutcheon's story and my own just goes to show that sometimes the people (call them what you like: mistresses, seducers, home-wreckers..) that you are led to judge and hate are often the ones that were not in the wrong. Many times, our stories need to be belted out to the world.
Empowerment of those who have been burned and rubbed the wrong way.
This is by all means a fabulous read for anyone who has ever felt that way.
It has taken me a long time to be able to finally start writing my new book again but now I am finally ready and I am absolutely loving it. I'm sure you'll all hear about it soon - but for now it is still being created and my first book, Walk With Me, is selling like crazy.
All of that is my explanation as to why I have been quieter than usual lately. I have been reading and writing my absolute bloody heart out (pardon the pun) - as well as cramming in the odd airplane ride and spontaneous trip around South Africa to keep my travel junkie soul entertained.
Loving life in the bubble of words, pages, ink and literature that I have wrapped myself in!
Peace and love until a later date...
Jade
September 13, 2016
I wanted to give it a shot. I don't think this books deserves the heavy criticism it has received. Okay, so the writing isn't great, but it could have been far worse. It's cliched and the ending felt rushed, but you know what, it was a quick, fun read and that's all I expected. Yes, there's all levels of chick lit, but I don't think this is quite as dire as everyone else has suggested, particularly when you consider that Ms. McCutcheon chose to write this without any help at all. Not a bad effort at all.
January 8, 2010
On Mandy Sanderson's thirtieth birthday, it seems that she has everything going for her. She has a fab job, even better friends and a fantastic family. The only thing she seems to be missing is someone to love. Until she meets Jake when she's having her thirtieth birthday dinner at a posh restaurant. Mandy and Jake seem to click and she finally feels as if she's found The One. It turns out, though, that Jake is already married with two children. Mandy never thought she'd be someone's mistress but it seems she may have no choice in the matter...
When it was announced that Martine McCutchoen was writing a novel, I was a bit sceptical. After all it seems every celebrity is writing a novel at the moment. The main question seems to be whether the celebrities will write the book themselves or whether they'll use a ghost-writer. It seems Martine has used the former method and has written The Mistress all by herself. I read the first chapter online (http://readthemistress.com) and I thought it was the biggest pile of rubbish I've ever read. However I still wanted to read the entire book and decided to buy it for myself.
The book starts just as Mandy is heading out to her thirtieth birthday dinner. I wasn't thrilled with the first chapter as Mandy comes across as rather full of herself. Mandy and Jake see each other pretty quickly once at the restaurant and their attraction is instantaneous. I kind of didn't understand just how quickly Mandy and Jake seemed to fall for each other but I let it slide and carried on reading. As the book progresses, Mandy and Jake seem to fall much more in love with each other - if that's possible - but since Jake is already married, it causes quite a few problems (obviously). I thought the second half of the book was better than the first half, but it was all pretty dire.
The characters in the book really weren't that impressive and were so cliched, it was ridiculous. As I mentioned, Mandy seemed full of herself even during the first few pages so I found it so so hard to warm to her. My dislike for Mandy increased when she gave a huge speech to her friends about how she would never let herself become a mistress and then, a page later, she became a mistress. Her speech became almost hypocritical. I can't say I was a huge fan of Jake. There's usually a reason for a man cheating on his wife/girlfriend, if reason is the right word, but Jake had no reason whatsoever and although he said he was guilty quite a lot, he didn't seem at all sincere. Mandy's friends were all cliched: George, the gay best friend, Assia, the foreign friend and Deena, the hippie-chick friend. I have to say, although they were cliched I quite liked George and Deena. They really added to the book and made it just a tad more likeable. Mandy's mother, Valerie, and sister, Olivia, were also easily likeable and seemed so different to Mandy.
The writing really wasn't anything special. In fact, for the entire first half of the book, I felt that the book was stop-start in its writing style and seemed as if it'd been meshed together. The dialogue didn't seem to ring true and the conversations the characters' had seemed incredibly forced. The writing did pick up a tad during the second half of the book but by then it was just a little too late for my liking. I want a book to grab me right from the off and, failing that, at least after five chapters. The Mistress didn't grab me at all but I did manage to finish it relatively quickly as it's just so short. Amazon say there are 400 pages but there are only 322 pages. The writing is also spaced really far apart - so much so that if the book had been properly spaced, it would have been a much shorter novel. The whole book had a rushed feel to it, particularly the ending (which was rather stupid). I can only assume the book has been chopped and changed quite a lot pre-publication for it to have such a peculiar writing pattern.
Cheating is a rather taboo subject in books, as usually the mistress/husband's infidelities are glossed over and we usually focus on the wronged wife getting over such a betrayal, so books that focus on the mistress herself are always quite interesting. One of my favourite ever books - Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin - focuses on the aspect of cheating and is the only book where I've ever felt the cheating was somewhat justified. The rest of the time, I disagree with books about mistresses and just think of them as home-wreckers. Mandy doesn't see herself as a home-wrecker and is unrepentant about the possibility of splitting up a family. Jake and Mandy flaunt their relationship all around London without a second thought about anybody else and it surprised me that they were never caught.
I am really not a fan of celebrities turning to book writing because it's usually only done to make them more money, rather than the fact they really want to be an author. I think Martine has written this because she wants to be an author rather than doing a Katie Price and writing for the money rather than the fun of it. It's a shame that I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have wanted to. As much as I like Martine - she seems very nice - the tag of author doesn't seem to be something that works for her. For me to pick up her second book - she's apparently writing a trilogy of books - it would have to be a heck of a lot better. Give this one a miss.
When it was announced that Martine McCutchoen was writing a novel, I was a bit sceptical. After all it seems every celebrity is writing a novel at the moment. The main question seems to be whether the celebrities will write the book themselves or whether they'll use a ghost-writer. It seems Martine has used the former method and has written The Mistress all by herself. I read the first chapter online (http://readthemistress.com) and I thought it was the biggest pile of rubbish I've ever read. However I still wanted to read the entire book and decided to buy it for myself.
The book starts just as Mandy is heading out to her thirtieth birthday dinner. I wasn't thrilled with the first chapter as Mandy comes across as rather full of herself. Mandy and Jake see each other pretty quickly once at the restaurant and their attraction is instantaneous. I kind of didn't understand just how quickly Mandy and Jake seemed to fall for each other but I let it slide and carried on reading. As the book progresses, Mandy and Jake seem to fall much more in love with each other - if that's possible - but since Jake is already married, it causes quite a few problems (obviously). I thought the second half of the book was better than the first half, but it was all pretty dire.
The characters in the book really weren't that impressive and were so cliched, it was ridiculous. As I mentioned, Mandy seemed full of herself even during the first few pages so I found it so so hard to warm to her. My dislike for Mandy increased when she gave a huge speech to her friends about how she would never let herself become a mistress and then, a page later, she became a mistress. Her speech became almost hypocritical. I can't say I was a huge fan of Jake. There's usually a reason for a man cheating on his wife/girlfriend, if reason is the right word, but Jake had no reason whatsoever and although he said he was guilty quite a lot, he didn't seem at all sincere. Mandy's friends were all cliched: George, the gay best friend, Assia, the foreign friend and Deena, the hippie-chick friend. I have to say, although they were cliched I quite liked George and Deena. They really added to the book and made it just a tad more likeable. Mandy's mother, Valerie, and sister, Olivia, were also easily likeable and seemed so different to Mandy.
The writing really wasn't anything special. In fact, for the entire first half of the book, I felt that the book was stop-start in its writing style and seemed as if it'd been meshed together. The dialogue didn't seem to ring true and the conversations the characters' had seemed incredibly forced. The writing did pick up a tad during the second half of the book but by then it was just a little too late for my liking. I want a book to grab me right from the off and, failing that, at least after five chapters. The Mistress didn't grab me at all but I did manage to finish it relatively quickly as it's just so short. Amazon say there are 400 pages but there are only 322 pages. The writing is also spaced really far apart - so much so that if the book had been properly spaced, it would have been a much shorter novel. The whole book had a rushed feel to it, particularly the ending (which was rather stupid). I can only assume the book has been chopped and changed quite a lot pre-publication for it to have such a peculiar writing pattern.
Cheating is a rather taboo subject in books, as usually the mistress/husband's infidelities are glossed over and we usually focus on the wronged wife getting over such a betrayal, so books that focus on the mistress herself are always quite interesting. One of my favourite ever books - Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin - focuses on the aspect of cheating and is the only book where I've ever felt the cheating was somewhat justified. The rest of the time, I disagree with books about mistresses and just think of them as home-wreckers. Mandy doesn't see herself as a home-wrecker and is unrepentant about the possibility of splitting up a family. Jake and Mandy flaunt their relationship all around London without a second thought about anybody else and it surprised me that they were never caught.
I am really not a fan of celebrities turning to book writing because it's usually only done to make them more money, rather than the fact they really want to be an author. I think Martine has written this because she wants to be an author rather than doing a Katie Price and writing for the money rather than the fun of it. It's a shame that I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have wanted to. As much as I like Martine - she seems very nice - the tag of author doesn't seem to be something that works for her. For me to pick up her second book - she's apparently writing a trilogy of books - it would have to be a heck of a lot better. Give this one a miss.
December 20, 2009
Well, where do I start?? I don't usually read books written by celebrities, and I should have stuck to my guns. This book was the biggest pile of poo I've read in a long time. It's only saving grace was that it wasn't too long and I didn't feel like I wasted too much of my time. Everything else is so saccharin, I felt like poking my eyes out most of the time.
The book is written in the third person, so it doesn't really make sense for the narrater to describe literally everything in her life as beautiful and wonderful and perfect, the list goes on. She slips constantly in the views of the other characters, which just doesn't work and jars us from the story and from getting know Mandy. There's so much telling and not enough showing, and she constantly repeats hereself, 'God, she loved London', God, she loved her flat', 'God she loved George'. Which brings me to my next point. Her bestest friend (she has three of them), is gay and is a walking cliche, please can you make him anymore camp Martine?
The other threads in the story include a storyline where her sister Olivia's husband is having an affair too, so she whines a little bit about that, but doesn't really change her mind about her affair with a married man, even when her sister tries to commit suicide.
I hated the ending - all the way through the book we are told repeatedly what a strong, career minded, 21st century chick Mandy is; then why the hell does she allow Jake to go back and live with his wife (who doesn't want him anyway), when she finally has him? As far as I'm concerned the last two chapters are totally unneccessary. She should have just ended the book with the birth scene, which was sickly and perfect, but a bit more believable than the actual ending.
All in all, as you can tell, I was hugely disappointed, as I've read Martine's autobiography and know she could have drawn on some of her life experience to write a better book than this. Martine, if you feel like writing another book in the future, please do yourself a favour and get some writing lessons, and shame on you Curtis Brown for representing this drivel!!
First of all Mandy the main character is so sickly sweet, she is far too perfect to be believeable. It would seem her only flaw is falling in love with a married man.
The book is written in the third person, so it doesn't really make sense for the narrater to describe literally everything in her life as beautiful and wonderful and perfect, the list goes on. She slips constantly in the views of the other characters, which just doesn't work and jars us from the story and from getting know Mandy. There's so much telling and not enough showing, and she constantly repeats hereself, 'God, she loved London', God, she loved her flat', 'God she loved George'. Which brings me to my next point. Her bestest friend (she has three of them), is gay and is a walking cliche, please can you make him anymore camp Martine?
The other threads in the story include a storyline where her sister Olivia's husband is having an affair too, so she whines a little bit about that, but doesn't really change her mind about her affair with a married man, even when her sister tries to commit suicide.
I hated the ending - all the way through the book we are told repeatedly what a strong, career minded, 21st century chick Mandy is; then why the hell does she allow Jake to go back and live with his wife (who doesn't want him anyway), when she finally has him? As far as I'm concerned the last two chapters are totally unneccessary. She should have just ended the book with the birth scene, which was sickly and perfect, but a bit more believable than the actual ending.
All in all, as you can tell, I was hugely disappointed, as I've read Martine's autobiography and know she could have drawn on some of her life experience to write a better book than this. Martine, if you feel like writing another book in the future, please do yourself a favour and get some writing lessons, and shame on you Curtis Brown for representing this drivel!!
First of all Mandy the main character is so sickly sweet, she is far too perfect to be believeable. It would seem her only flaw is falling in love with a married man.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2010
I really enjoyed reading this book. I felt that Mandy's character reflected me a little, because of her bubbly, outgoing yet concerned personality.
The ending was surprising to me, it vwas not what i expected. But after finishing the book i was thankful that McCutcheon hadn't just left the story as a big happy ending, with them living together as a family.
It portrys that life is your own and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. As long as it suits you and your happy living it, it doesn't matter.
The ending was surprising to me, it vwas not what i expected. But after finishing the book i was thankful that McCutcheon hadn't just left the story as a big happy ending, with them living together as a family.
It portrys that life is your own and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. As long as it suits you and your happy living it, it doesn't matter.
March 22, 2020
I loved the book. I don’t understand the negative feedback it has got around here but hey, if you have ever ever ever been in mandy’s shoes you’ll know that all her feeling to the very core detailing is so true. How she wants to let go one minute but hold on so selfishly, how she feels so insecure about his wife is so real. I couldn’t put the book down and kept up reading because it’s so close to my heart. I love the detailing about his shirt to his perfume to the way he wears his tie. It’s one the books that will always be so close to my heart.
October 29, 2019
i have given this book all stars because it has talked about my own encounters and my rules that i have broken. at some point i feel like this book is talking to me. thank you for this and every time i want to judge my life this book gives me that feeling of its not a crime to fall in love with whoever we fall for and life goes on. "it ain't a mistake to fall for a married man, the heart wants what it wants".
December 20, 2009
Suprisingly good stuff! fantastic for a celeb debut, quite entertaining by general chick lit standards. Felt the ending could've been explored a bit more fully, can only assume a publishing deadline was looming! Well worth a read though!
July 17, 2017
So this book is pretty fluffy - there's no real substance to it, it's not the next Jane Eyre, etc. but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be enjoyable. Although it isn't, really.
The character of Mandy is very two dimensional. She's just. Too. Perfect. All the time. About everything. She's a lovely person who also happens to be amazingly successful, stunningly good looking, brilliant at her job, a wonderful, wonderful human being that puts all other human beings to shame. Which is probably why you cannot relate to her and don't really care about the outcome (although you get a strong sense from the start that it will all work out fine - because that's the kind of charmed life she leads).
As you can gather from the title, she becomes the mistress to someone - but it's not in a seedy way. It's in a very classy "they can't help themselves, because they love each other too much to stay away from each other and the relationship he has with his wife has never been like this" way. You could almost read this as propaganda for men about why they cheat on their partners - because Jake (our male lead) can't help himself, even though he knows it's wrong.
All in all, it's an easy read - mostly as it's very light (even the "challenges" the couple face lack a sense of realness, besides you already KNOW things will work out in the end) and the characters are so undeveloped that you don't really care what happens to them. If you're looking for something meaty, to keep you enthralled and leave you pondering your very existence, this is NOT the book for you. If you want something to read while you're on holiday and giving your brain a well deserved vacation, this is perfect - no thought required.
The character of Mandy is very two dimensional. She's just. Too. Perfect. All the time. About everything. She's a lovely person who also happens to be amazingly successful, stunningly good looking, brilliant at her job, a wonderful, wonderful human being that puts all other human beings to shame. Which is probably why you cannot relate to her and don't really care about the outcome (although you get a strong sense from the start that it will all work out fine - because that's the kind of charmed life she leads).
As you can gather from the title, she becomes the mistress to someone - but it's not in a seedy way. It's in a very classy "they can't help themselves, because they love each other too much to stay away from each other and the relationship he has with his wife has never been like this" way. You could almost read this as propaganda for men about why they cheat on their partners - because Jake (our male lead) can't help himself, even though he knows it's wrong.
All in all, it's an easy read - mostly as it's very light (even the "challenges" the couple face lack a sense of realness, besides you already KNOW things will work out in the end) and the characters are so undeveloped that you don't really care what happens to them. If you're looking for something meaty, to keep you enthralled and leave you pondering your very existence, this is NOT the book for you. If you want something to read while you're on holiday and giving your brain a well deserved vacation, this is perfect - no thought required.
April 2, 2024
The worst book I’ve ever read. It was so bad that I made all my friends… and those who thought they were my friends… read this so that we could all discuss how utterly bad it was. It is literally cult status bad.
The ‘heroine’ Mandy is vile.
The ‘hero’ Jake is vile.
The plot in which *cough* nice girl Mandy drops all her morals (and a lot else) for a good looking guy who also happens to be a millionaire, is a car crash and indeed you hope they both die horribly in a car crash. Spoiler… they don’t.
Please read this, because you deserve it ;)
The ‘heroine’ Mandy is vile.
The ‘hero’ Jake is vile.
The plot in which *cough* nice girl Mandy drops all her morals (and a lot else) for a good looking guy who also happens to be a millionaire, is a car crash and indeed you hope they both die horribly in a car crash. Spoiler… they don’t.
Please read this, because you deserve it ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2022
I enjoyed the book and I really liked Mandy. This is one of the few books I've read lately where the main character actually cares about a secondary character, but I wish she would have been there for all of her friends, not just her sister.
As for the main love interest, he's a douche. Not just for cheating on his wife, but also for the way he treated Mandy when things got rough. I dislike that, in the end, he got "the best of both worlds".
As for the main love interest, he's a douche. Not just for cheating on his wife, but also for the way he treated Mandy when things got rough. I dislike that, in the end, he got "the best of both worlds".
October 22, 2018
This book was ok, I didn't like the characters very much. I also found the ending a bit far fetched. I'm sure the mistress wouldn't have liked her lover going back to live with his wife while still being involved with her, and I'm sure his wife wouldn't be stupid enough to put up with that either!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 13, 2019The head hopping left me dizzy.
I do have a problem with the moral attitude of the book, the mistress is portrayed as the heroine and the victim when in actual fact she is the villain and the homewrecker. McCutcheon even went so far as to portray the wife in a negative light to bring sympathy around for the mistress, well no.
I do have a problem with the moral attitude of the book, the mistress is portrayed as the heroine and the victim when in actual fact she is the villain and the homewrecker. McCutcheon even went so far as to portray the wife in a negative light to bring sympathy around for the mistress, well no.
July 8, 2022
Will re-read in the fall or winter. I remember hearing that some of the bits of the characters personalities are based on Martine's friends, some that I can recognize in the book. I'd say give it a chance, we can draw our own conclusions.
October 6, 2025
This book kept me reading until the end and it was interesting as it touched on real life emotions in relationships that did ring true, however for me personally it was a bit too far fetched in places and a bit too over the top. But a fun read all the same.
October 21, 2018
I actually really liked this book, wasn't sure what to expect considering the author but I was quite impressed. An quick read.
December 15, 2019
Wauw wat een interessant, opwindend en spannend verhaal
March 12, 2020
boring.
May 2, 2020
Meh. Standard gushy chick lit, clunky prose and mediocre storyline.
November 22, 2021
For a by the pool, don’t have to think, kind of book . Very easy read
April 8, 2022
I wanted something light to read and this fit the bill perfectly. I actually really enjoyed it. It's a shame Martine hasn't written any other fiction books. She has a talent.
March 2, 2025
Love this story love Mandy and how chic she is love all her friends feel sad for what happens to her sister love the ending with the baby it's just so cute love her time in Paris
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2025
Got better as it went on.
September 26, 2015
I picked up this novel thinking - and hoping - it would interesting. The synopsis outlined a reasonable plot that had a lot of potential, however, I just couldn't get into this book.
It's fairly obvious that McCutcheon is a new author, just learning to spread her wings. There is a lot of clumsy phrasing and, overall, the writing falls flat - every character calls each other 'darling', which grows irritating after the second use of the word. The characters are too dense and unrealistic for me to find common ground with. I couldn't get into the mind-set of Mandy, the protagonist, at all. She appeared ditzy, fake and just about as thrifty as a toilet brush. I was glad to see the POV shift to Jake - I think this was a really good move, even if his characterisation was poorly developed.
I actually gave up on this novel after the first sex scene between Mandy and Jake. It was the final nail in the coffin - no pun intended. I have read other reviews which outline the rest of the story and, from what I can gather, it's an empty plot with totally unrealistic outcomes. In McCutcheon had have taken the story down a different route, instead of adding in surplus events, this could have been a great debut novel.
A part of me wants McCutcheon to try again and work more on her writing. I would try another novel of hers, as I do think that this is just the beginning and it takes time to nurture your skills. Really work on the characters, flesh them out a little more, and stop using 'darling'.
It's fairly obvious that McCutcheon is a new author, just learning to spread her wings. There is a lot of clumsy phrasing and, overall, the writing falls flat - every character calls each other 'darling', which grows irritating after the second use of the word. The characters are too dense and unrealistic for me to find common ground with. I couldn't get into the mind-set of Mandy, the protagonist, at all. She appeared ditzy, fake and just about as thrifty as a toilet brush. I was glad to see the POV shift to Jake - I think this was a really good move, even if his characterisation was poorly developed.
I actually gave up on this novel after the first sex scene between Mandy and Jake. It was the final nail in the coffin - no pun intended. I have read other reviews which outline the rest of the story and, from what I can gather, it's an empty plot with totally unrealistic outcomes. In McCutcheon had have taken the story down a different route, instead of adding in surplus events, this could have been a great debut novel.
A part of me wants McCutcheon to try again and work more on her writing. I would try another novel of hers, as I do think that this is just the beginning and it takes time to nurture your skills. Really work on the characters, flesh them out a little more, and stop using 'darling'.
July 18, 2013
Deliciously cliché.
I mostly agree with the previous review - the writing is confused, locations and times change randomly, some sections look like written by a machine. But let's be honest. These things are not about style. They are about being kitsch enough to have fun.
This is definitely the case for "The Mistress"! This book was a great procrastination break. Sex scenes were almost as ridiculous as "50 shades of Grey". All people are beautiful and well dressed, and a careful reader can enjoy some brand-dropping masturbation. Also, there is a substantial innovation to the genre, in person of the complex, multi-dimensional Sassy Gayfriend. Not bad! Finally, I loved how the author modestly portraits herself in the central character. This piece of prose is as substantial and honest as the breasts of Martine M. Bravo!
I mostly agree with the previous review - the writing is confused, locations and times change randomly, some sections look like written by a machine. But let's be honest. These things are not about style. They are about being kitsch enough to have fun.
This is definitely the case for "The Mistress"! This book was a great procrastination break. Sex scenes were almost as ridiculous as "50 shades of Grey". All people are beautiful and well dressed, and a careful reader can enjoy some brand-dropping masturbation. Also, there is a substantial innovation to the genre, in person of the complex, multi-dimensional Sassy Gayfriend. Not bad! Finally, I loved how the author modestly portraits herself in the central character. This piece of prose is as substantial and honest as the breasts of Martine M. Bravo!
August 29, 2017
It was different from the lot, a one of its kind love tale that showed extra marital affairs in a perspective different than the usual. All though it lacked the zeal and enthusiasm to keep me engaged, i loved few portions of the book.
I liked Mandy's character but found her to be too messed up at times and impractical at others. She surely did break the stereotype one attaches with the word 'Mistress', however, Jake still remain the typical man.
I felt pity for the couple, allegedly so much in love but failing to live in the same apartment in a 24/7 relationship. Well thier love had 'Terms & Conditions' with it which was a let down.
However, no relation is perfect and nor was Mandy's and Jake's.
I liked the plot and the chemistry between the two, but was not convinced with the practicality of the whole situation. At the end of the day, it still remained a fiction.
I liked Mandy's character but found her to be too messed up at times and impractical at others. She surely did break the stereotype one attaches with the word 'Mistress', however, Jake still remain the typical man.
I felt pity for the couple, allegedly so much in love but failing to live in the same apartment in a 24/7 relationship. Well thier love had 'Terms & Conditions' with it which was a let down.
However, no relation is perfect and nor was Mandy's and Jake's.
I liked the plot and the chemistry between the two, but was not convinced with the practicality of the whole situation. At the end of the day, it still remained a fiction.
March 12, 2016
!!!CONTAINS SMALL SPOILER!!!
It was okay. The first half annoyed me because the writing style was annoying, Mandy spoke like a common east ender which didn't fit her image and lifestyle so was hard to put the character together. The second half got better but the ending should have been left at the birth of their baby. The chapters after that ruin the whole story. I don't think I'd recommended this but some parts were good which is why I gave 3 stars.
It was okay. The first half annoyed me because the writing style was annoying, Mandy spoke like a common east ender which didn't fit her image and lifestyle so was hard to put the character together. The second half got better but the ending should have been left at the birth of their baby. The chapters after that ruin the whole story. I don't think I'd recommended this but some parts were good which is why I gave 3 stars.
December 6, 2009
Mandy meets a married man at her 30th birthday meal with her group of friends. She fights her inner conscience all the way through the book, especially when her sister's husband leaves her for another woman. It was an enjoyable enough read.
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