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Satisfaction
Who hasn’t occasionally looked at a friend and wished to swap lives—to leave behind the normal routine of their own for the excitement and intrigue of all they don’t have? Is anyone ever really satisfied with his or her life?
Is Amy, who married James and built a life and a family with him, satisfied by the house and the children? Or does she lie awake at night wishing she was young and glamorous like her sister Grace, or free and unfettered like her twin, Thea? And James? Is he happy? He loves Amy—of course he does—but what if he had a chance with someone else, someone sexy and fresh? Would he be able to pass it up in favor of the comfort and stability of his life? Or would he trade it all for the freedom Archie has?
Archie has always been satisfied with his life—why not? With success, money, good looks, and a series of girlfriends, one prettier than the next, how could he be otherwise? But now a doctor has taken away his confidence with one terrible word, leaving him more vulnerable and alone than he ever has been before. He can’t help looking at James, his best friend, and envying his life with Amy.
After an affair with Archie, Amy’s twin, Thea, moved to L.A. to find herself. She wanted to stake out her own territory as far away from her sister and all the complications of being a twin as possible. Back in London now, she finds herself once again longing for and terrified by all that Amy has. Even Grace, who is standing on the cusp of the success she has worked so hard for, seems to be looking for something else. Her role on a popular nighttime soap opera is limiting; she wants to move on to something bigger. And although she likes the handsome movie star she’s dating, she can’t quite get over an ongoing girlhood crush.
Then one week each of them comes closer to reaching true satisfaction than they ever thought possible. But as all the pieces fall into place, a terrible tragedy alters the bedrock of their friendships forever, making them take stock of what they have, what they thought they wanted, and all that they have lost. A perfect mix of love, betrayal, tragedy, and redemption, Satisfaction leads us through the lives and loves, painful failures, and uncommon successes of this close-knit group of friends.
Is Amy, who married James and built a life and a family with him, satisfied by the house and the children? Or does she lie awake at night wishing she was young and glamorous like her sister Grace, or free and unfettered like her twin, Thea? And James? Is he happy? He loves Amy—of course he does—but what if he had a chance with someone else, someone sexy and fresh? Would he be able to pass it up in favor of the comfort and stability of his life? Or would he trade it all for the freedom Archie has?
Archie has always been satisfied with his life—why not? With success, money, good looks, and a series of girlfriends, one prettier than the next, how could he be otherwise? But now a doctor has taken away his confidence with one terrible word, leaving him more vulnerable and alone than he ever has been before. He can’t help looking at James, his best friend, and envying his life with Amy.
After an affair with Archie, Amy’s twin, Thea, moved to L.A. to find herself. She wanted to stake out her own territory as far away from her sister and all the complications of being a twin as possible. Back in London now, she finds herself once again longing for and terrified by all that Amy has. Even Grace, who is standing on the cusp of the success she has worked so hard for, seems to be looking for something else. Her role on a popular nighttime soap opera is limiting; she wants to move on to something bigger. And although she likes the handsome movie star she’s dating, she can’t quite get over an ongoing girlhood crush.
Then one week each of them comes closer to reaching true satisfaction than they ever thought possible. But as all the pieces fall into place, a terrible tragedy alters the bedrock of their friendships forever, making them take stock of what they have, what they thought they wanted, and all that they have lost. A perfect mix of love, betrayal, tragedy, and redemption, Satisfaction leads us through the lives and loves, painful failures, and uncommon successes of this close-knit group of friends.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
2 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 5, 2017
It just pottered along with no real storyline. The author tried to build up suspense for what was really nothing
December 24, 2012
The author builds up suspense, but after a while it all becomes extremely repetitive. When she finally wraps everything up (in the last 20 pages or so) it is rushed and doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Don't waste your precious reading time with this book!
March 20, 2014
The author has definite writing skill but the book got too confusing and didn't get anywhere quick enough. Lost me.
June 16, 2021
I enjoyed this book! It was a mix of complicated characters' lives and thoughts--at a point in their 30s when many decisions had been made, but each was still searching for and questioning whether they had each found happiness. For me, it wasn't wholy polished with an overall message or anything, but I enjoyed the complexities and ongoing journeys between the characters. If it had had a little more of a central idea or if the ending had come more full-circle, I probably would have given it 5 stars. Some things happened at the end that weren't fully explained. Still a well-written, good book!
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January 24, 2008Oiy! It's only the third week of 2008 and already I've had three books I couldn't finish. I don't think my batting average has been this low for a long time. Usually I finish every book I start. I don't know what's happened.
This book showed such promise too. It just took soooooo long to go anywhere. I even gave it 150 pages.
The book follows the lives of about six characters through one torturous week. It flits back and forth between the now where Amy is telling all to her therapist and "the" week as seen from each of the other characters.
For starters, it's hard to follow. Secondly, it's a bit (read: a lot) wordy. If all of our weeks read like this, no one would ever complain of being bored. Lastly, it's boring and high schoolish. I just don't think people interact like that. And if they do, I don't know any that interact like that, so I can't tell if it's normal or not.
I probably would've stuck this one out if I didn't have a goal of reading a book a week and a "classic" a month. Seeing as it's nearing the end of the month, I'd rather concentrate on the "classic" I'm reading.
This book showed such promise too. It just took soooooo long to go anywhere. I even gave it 150 pages.
The book follows the lives of about six characters through one torturous week. It flits back and forth between the now where Amy is telling all to her therapist and "the" week as seen from each of the other characters.
For starters, it's hard to follow. Secondly, it's a bit (read: a lot) wordy. If all of our weeks read like this, no one would ever complain of being bored. Lastly, it's boring and high schoolish. I just don't think people interact like that. And if they do, I don't know any that interact like that, so I can't tell if it's normal or not.
I probably would've stuck this one out if I didn't have a goal of reading a book a week and a "classic" a month. Seeing as it's nearing the end of the month, I'd rather concentrate on the "classic" I'm reading.
March 31, 2010
Blah blah blah blah blah. There you have it, this book in a nutshell. It doesn't get one star because it was not horribly written, but unless you enjoy watching paint dry, this book is not for you. I'm not really sure why I kept trying to read it, but I did persevere and made it through. There are SO MANY other great books out there, I'm just kicking myself for wasting time with this one.
September 5, 2010
The chop & change from past to present was quite confusing.
3\4 through I just felt like I was still waiting for something to happen, it just took too long to bring the story all together.
Bit of an exhausting read to be honest. :(
3\4 through I just felt like I was still waiting for something to happen, it just took too long to bring the story all together.
Bit of an exhausting read to be honest. :(
March 10, 2015
A generally tiresome tale of some tedious characters whose trials and tribulations fail to generate much interest. After the initial set up it just seems to go round in circles covering the same ground. I made it to the end refusing to be defeated.
Want to read
February 22, 2010close knit friends london
May 24, 2012
This book took ages to get started, and then it turned out to be quite boring. I had trouble keeping the characters apart, and none of them seemed very interesting.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews