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Just Between Us
From internationally bestselling author Cathy Kelly comes a heartwarming story of three sisters who are about to discover that—even within a close-knit Irish family—looks can be deceiving.
Look at them go!
In the Irish Country town of Kinvarra, the Miller girls are generally perceived to have it all. Single mother and brilliant attorney Stella looks like a Renaissance Madonna and is about to get a second chance at love. TV soap opera writer Tara has just married the love of her life—the charming Finn—after a whirlwind six-month romance. And shy, beautiful Holly is living an enviable bohemian life, with artistic friends and a beautiful apartment where her creative talents find an outlet. Have there ever lived three more fabulous sisters?
Now look more closely.
The Miller girls' mother, Rose—calm, elegant, and unchanging—is about to celebrate her fortieth wedding anniversary. But as plans for the party of the decade take shape, it's revealed that nothing in the lives of Rose and her daughters is as it seems. And as the secret heartaches the four women have kept hidden from each other begin to emerge, they're set to discover whether they're strong enough to handle the truth—and whether greater happiness awaits them still.
Look at them go!
In the Irish Country town of Kinvarra, the Miller girls are generally perceived to have it all. Single mother and brilliant attorney Stella looks like a Renaissance Madonna and is about to get a second chance at love. TV soap opera writer Tara has just married the love of her life—the charming Finn—after a whirlwind six-month romance. And shy, beautiful Holly is living an enviable bohemian life, with artistic friends and a beautiful apartment where her creative talents find an outlet. Have there ever lived three more fabulous sisters?
Now look more closely.
The Miller girls' mother, Rose—calm, elegant, and unchanging—is about to celebrate her fortieth wedding anniversary. But as plans for the party of the decade take shape, it's revealed that nothing in the lives of Rose and her daughters is as it seems. And as the secret heartaches the four women have kept hidden from each other begin to emerge, they're set to discover whether they're strong enough to handle the truth—and whether greater happiness awaits them still.
544 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2002
205 people are currently reading
1731 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Kelly
116 books1,092 followersBorn in Belfast but raised in Dublin, Cathy initially worked for thirteen years as a newspaper journalist with a national Irish Sunday newspaper, where she worked in news, features, along with spending time as an agony aunt and the paper’s film critic. However, her overwhelming love was always fiction and she published her first international bestseller, Woman To Woman, in 1997. She did not become a full-time writer until she had written another two books (She’s The One and Never Too Late) and finally decided to leave the world of journalism in 2001, moving to HarperCollins Publishers at the same time.
Someone Like You and What She Wants followed in successive years. Her sixth novel, Just Between Us, was her first Sunday Times number one bestseller, while her eighth novel, Always and Forever, topped the UK bestseller lists in October 2005, displacing Dan Brown and J. K. Rowling. In 2007, Past Secrets in was also a number one paperback bestseller.
Lessons in Heartbreak was shortlisted for the Eason Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards in April 2009. In September 2009, Once in a Lifetime topped the UK bestseller lists for three weeks. In March 2011, Homecoming achieved the same feat. Her latest novel is It Started With Paris, published by Orion in 2014.
In Autumn 2011, Cathy headlined a search for a new writer on ITV’s The Alan Titchmarsh Show.
Cathy’s trademark is warm story-telling and she consistently tops the bestseller lists around the world with books which deal with themes ranging from relationships and marriage to depression and loss, but always with an uplifting message and strong female characters at the heart.
Cathy also has a passionate interest in children’s rights and is an ambassador for UNICEF Ireland. Her role for UNICEF is a Global Parent, which means raising funds and awareness for children orphaned by or living with HIV/AIDs.
She lives with her husband, John, their twin sons, Dylan and Murray, and their three dogs in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.
To contact Cathy email info@cathykelly.com
Someone Like You and What She Wants followed in successive years. Her sixth novel, Just Between Us, was her first Sunday Times number one bestseller, while her eighth novel, Always and Forever, topped the UK bestseller lists in October 2005, displacing Dan Brown and J. K. Rowling. In 2007, Past Secrets in was also a number one paperback bestseller.
Lessons in Heartbreak was shortlisted for the Eason Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards in April 2009. In September 2009, Once in a Lifetime topped the UK bestseller lists for three weeks. In March 2011, Homecoming achieved the same feat. Her latest novel is It Started With Paris, published by Orion in 2014.
In Autumn 2011, Cathy headlined a search for a new writer on ITV’s The Alan Titchmarsh Show.
Cathy’s trademark is warm story-telling and she consistently tops the bestseller lists around the world with books which deal with themes ranging from relationships and marriage to depression and loss, but always with an uplifting message and strong female characters at the heart.
Cathy also has a passionate interest in children’s rights and is an ambassador for UNICEF Ireland. Her role for UNICEF is a Global Parent, which means raising funds and awareness for children orphaned by or living with HIV/AIDs.
She lives with her husband, John, their twin sons, Dylan and Murray, and their three dogs in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.
To contact Cathy email info@cathykelly.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
May 10, 2013
Keti je divna irska autorka koja se može smatrati naslednicom Mev Binči... Tople životne, ljubavne i porodične priče... Ono što ja zovem A klasom komercijalne književnosti za žensku populaciju...
May 19, 2014
I felt like I was reading the first draft of this book. It needed serious editing - there was way too much unnecessary detail (the book is over 500 pages) & so many spelling & grammar mistakes that at times made it very difficult to read. The characters didn't have enough dimensions & the story was very predictable. I would not recommend this book to a friend (unless I wanted to punish them)!
July 7, 2009
Irish author Cathy Kelly is my summer palate-cleanser this year, just the thing to clear your head after a dense or demanding read elsewhere. Her novels have something of the same comfortable, low-stress quality as Maeve Binchy and Rosamund Pilcher’s, so they don’t require a lot of effort in the reading, but her voice is hipper and funnier, and that contemporary energy keeps her stories from sinking into the treacle of sentimentality that can so easily plague this kind of essentially cozy “chick-lit” writing. Usually set in small, beautiful Irish towns where everyone knows everyone else, her books always focus on a group of three or four women, all grappling with the expected sorts of things: children, marriage, career, parents, and how to balance all those responsibilities with their sense of their own individuality. Her characters are endearing and likable, subject to the usual array of human flaws and failings, and though their journeys are sometimes challenging – and Kelly isn’t afraid to introduce some pretty significant potholes – there’s never any serious doubt that everything will end more or less happily for them. It’s relaxing once in a while not to have to worry too much about how things are going to turn out! I have found that the later novels are stronger than the early ones, she’s more confident of her plotting and structure and livelier and more relaxed with her dialogue. Escapist reading for sure, good for a hot day with a glass of lemonade and some biscuits at hand.
June 7, 2009
I really hope this shelf stays small because I try very hard to finish every book I start.
I just could not finish Just Between Us. It was very poorly written, childish almost. It tried very hard to be descriptive but the amount of detail was so overwhelming it would make me feel dizzy at times. It would have been fine with so much less detail. Every character was introduced in one big run on paragraph rather than Kelly slowly introducing them throughout the book. There was so much time spent describing each and every character, I felt like I got their whole life story and that includes most of the very minor characters. The book tried to be witty and funny but it fell flat. When a character would respond sarcastically (and it was obvious) Kelly would write "she said sarcastically". It was just painful to read and I felt like there were so many better books out there so I just put this one down.
I just could not finish Just Between Us. It was very poorly written, childish almost. It tried very hard to be descriptive but the amount of detail was so overwhelming it would make me feel dizzy at times. It would have been fine with so much less detail. Every character was introduced in one big run on paragraph rather than Kelly slowly introducing them throughout the book. There was so much time spent describing each and every character, I felt like I got their whole life story and that includes most of the very minor characters. The book tried to be witty and funny but it fell flat. When a character would respond sarcastically (and it was obvious) Kelly would write "she said sarcastically". It was just painful to read and I felt like there were so many better books out there so I just put this one down.
January 28, 2018
The story itself was quite good but it went on too long and got a bit boring in places.
June 18, 2014
I kept thinking something was going to happen in this book, but after getting halfway through and still feeling as if there was no actual crisis or problem to solve, I gave up. Each of the four women in the story have challenges, it is true, but they are so gently dealt with and so padded up with mildly amusing though not captivating conversations that they scarcely seemed to count. For a novel to be gripping, there must be a constant threat of things falling apart. When the reader has to really strain to remember what the main issues are, it's time to put the book down and start something more entertaining!
October 24, 2017
Really good plot and many aspects i could really relate to but i found it dragged a little bit!!
November 24, 2018
Ich mochte es von Anfang an nicht. Der Schreibstil ist nicht so meins, die Charaktere flach oder einfach nur ekelhaft. Die Story ist auch ein bisschen ausgelutscht. Schade.
June 22, 2022
4 sterren- Nederlandse paperback
Hè, heerlijk, zo'n feelgoodboek op zijn tijd. Dit soort boeken betekenen zo een heerlijke tijd. In de zomer in de tuin met een ijsje en/of chardonnay en in de winter openhaardje, dekentje, spinnende kat die boek probeert weg te duwen, en een warme chocolademelk met slagroom.
En Cathy Kelly verstaat de kunst om dit soort boeken heel leesbaar en herkenbaar te schrijven.
Wel veel drama waarin zowel de moeder als alle drie de zussen de nodige liefdesproblemen krijgen te verwerken, maar toch op een invoelbare manier gebracht. Maar dat maakt het ook een feelgood voor mij omdat het meestal goed eindigd.
Lekker lezen als je, zoals ik nu, een tijdje te druk bent geweest of wanneer je behoefte hebt aan heerlijk pretentieloos, gemakkelijk vermaak met toch net genoeg diepgang.
Hè, heerlijk, zo'n feelgoodboek op zijn tijd. Dit soort boeken betekenen zo een heerlijke tijd. In de zomer in de tuin met een ijsje en/of chardonnay en in de winter openhaardje, dekentje, spinnende kat die boek probeert weg te duwen, en een warme chocolademelk met slagroom.
En Cathy Kelly verstaat de kunst om dit soort boeken heel leesbaar en herkenbaar te schrijven.
Wel veel drama waarin zowel de moeder als alle drie de zussen de nodige liefdesproblemen krijgen te verwerken, maar toch op een invoelbare manier gebracht. Maar dat maakt het ook een feelgood voor mij omdat het meestal goed eindigd.
Lekker lezen als je, zoals ik nu, een tijdje te druk bent geweest of wanneer je behoefte hebt aan heerlijk pretentieloos, gemakkelijk vermaak met toch net genoeg diepgang.
May 24, 2020
An Irish family saga. A very long book, felt it could have been heavily edited as the story started in the middle.
July 9, 2023
Not quite up my street- far too many feeble women pretending to be independent but are ultimately valued by their ridiculously selfish partners.
June 13, 2025
Great book!!!!!!!!!
I love Cathy Kelly's books!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ireland is one of my bucket list places to visit and she makes it sound so cosy & beautiful
I love Cathy Kelly's books!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ireland is one of my bucket list places to visit and she makes it sound so cosy & beautiful
September 25, 2013
Why I decided to read this book: I decided to read this book because just recently I had for the first time experienced the wonders of Cathy Kelly in the form of her book, Best of friends, and was eager to discover if her other books were as good as her first. I was not disappointed.
The categories this book fills are 'a book with a female main character' and "Diaries".
Everyone is jealous of the Miller girls, successful lawyer and single mom, Stella, witty TV writer, Tara, dreamy artistic Holly and their calm, elegant mother, Rose. But they aren't really perfect they each hold pain and secrets in their hearts that they have never shared with anyone.
My favourite character would definitely have to be Holly, the youngest of the Miller girls. She has no amount of self confidence and is painfully shy and increasingly awkward at times. Despite all this she is sweet and kind and so selfless that the reader desperately finds herself (or himself) hoping and pleading that she will find her happy ending. When Holly was born her mother had prenatal depression or something and this had a huge, dramatic impact on Holly's personality and esteem. She grew up blaming herself for her mothers unhappiness, thus drowning herself in comfort food to help herself recover. All through her highschool years, she is bullied over her weight and becomes more and more shut in. Now as an adult we discover, not from Holly but through other points of view that in actuality, Holly is beautiful and not at all on the larger side as she still believes herself to be. I really admire what a lovely person Holly grows up to be, despite the constant neglect and bullying she faced and love how she never blames her mother for neglecting and abusing her like she did. She is ever willing to forget and forgive.
My favourite quote is "She might be stick thin and gorgeous, she might be a damn supermodel, but she will never have what you have, Holly Miller. Her heart is just as thin as she is and she will never give or receive what you can. True Love." Okay, you can call me a cheese but I'm a sucker for this quote! Towards the end of the book, Holly meets her future soulmate in Tom Harris, a famous musician whom she believes she is not worthy enough for. I just found this quote so poignant and touching and enough of the big words- CA-UUUUUTTTTTTEEEE!!!!!It also made me extremely happy that Holly finally found the happiness and affection she deserved.
Something I learnt from this book was that you mustn't be a grudge holder like I am. It is a waste of time to hate people when you could be using it to love. Despite what Holly told me, I seriously doubt I am gonna change my grudging ways (Yes, pidgeon who pooped on me two years ago! THIS MEANS YOU!!!!!) but everytime I reread this book I hope it will remind me to work at this negative quality of mine and that one day, I too can be as selfless and caring a person as Holly Miller.
The categories this book fills are 'a book with a female main character' and "Diaries".
Everyone is jealous of the Miller girls, successful lawyer and single mom, Stella, witty TV writer, Tara, dreamy artistic Holly and their calm, elegant mother, Rose. But they aren't really perfect they each hold pain and secrets in their hearts that they have never shared with anyone.
My favourite character would definitely have to be Holly, the youngest of the Miller girls. She has no amount of self confidence and is painfully shy and increasingly awkward at times. Despite all this she is sweet and kind and so selfless that the reader desperately finds herself (or himself) hoping and pleading that she will find her happy ending. When Holly was born her mother had prenatal depression or something and this had a huge, dramatic impact on Holly's personality and esteem. She grew up blaming herself for her mothers unhappiness, thus drowning herself in comfort food to help herself recover. All through her highschool years, she is bullied over her weight and becomes more and more shut in. Now as an adult we discover, not from Holly but through other points of view that in actuality, Holly is beautiful and not at all on the larger side as she still believes herself to be. I really admire what a lovely person Holly grows up to be, despite the constant neglect and bullying she faced and love how she never blames her mother for neglecting and abusing her like she did. She is ever willing to forget and forgive.
My favourite quote is "She might be stick thin and gorgeous, she might be a damn supermodel, but she will never have what you have, Holly Miller. Her heart is just as thin as she is and she will never give or receive what you can. True Love." Okay, you can call me a cheese but I'm a sucker for this quote! Towards the end of the book, Holly meets her future soulmate in Tom Harris, a famous musician whom she believes she is not worthy enough for. I just found this quote so poignant and touching and enough of the big words- CA-UUUUUTTTTTTEEEE!!!!!It also made me extremely happy that Holly finally found the happiness and affection she deserved.
Something I learnt from this book was that you mustn't be a grudge holder like I am. It is a waste of time to hate people when you could be using it to love. Despite what Holly told me, I seriously doubt I am gonna change my grudging ways (Yes, pidgeon who pooped on me two years ago! THIS MEANS YOU!!!!!) but everytime I reread this book I hope it will remind me to work at this negative quality of mine and that one day, I too can be as selfless and caring a person as Holly Miller.
March 1, 2024
🚨 SPOILER ALERT 🚨
So. I feel bad about giving reviews like this. I really want to uplift authors by saying positive things about the stories they put a lot of work in to tell.
But - and I feel so bad for saying this - this is a big ol' shitshow. It's a product of its time, and it absolutely shows. From the women literally constantly talking about getting fat and going on diets and getting annoyed at other women for being thin, to gender stereotyping bullshit - this did not vibe with me. And maybe part of the reason is that I was like 11 when this came out, and the generation being written about was socialised totally differently from mine, making their concerns and opinions sound honestly foreign, ridiculous, and backwards to me. 🤷♀️
The basic plot: three grown women and their mother - the darling of their small Irish town - tell their stories. It becomes clear that each of them has their own secrets and that their lives aren't as amazing as they seem to be on the surface.
I had to keep a list of shit that annoyed me while I was reading, because there was just. So. Much of it. Here's just the stuff that is probably due to its being written ages ago:
🖕 The internalised misogyny is real, and the fact that it crosses over with some pretty lazy characterisation does not make it better. Caroline gets called a "bimbo" simply because she's petite, pretty, and vivacious. Then Holly and her friends decide that she's... idk hypocritical or evil because she's tough beneath her pixie like beauty and cute demeanour? That she "used her femininity as a weapon and if she aims it at you you better watch out", according to one friend. How, exactly? Where is the actual proof of that being Caroline's motivation? We're actually not given any. (And what, exactly, was she meant to be - giggly and dumb to comply with society's expectations of her petite body type, so that she doesn't surprise anyone (read: isn't too intimidating for men)? Fuck right off with that misogynistic horse crap. 🖕)
Then the guy Holly's casually seeing snipes at Caroline for being excited about her own engagement. "Spare me from women like that. What is it about women and weddings, anyhow?" Uh...try centuries of patriarchy telling women that getting married is what they exist for, but simultaneously telling guys to be hard to marry, maybe...? 🤷♀️ This privileged white guy has the nerve to shame Caroline for a culture he actively contributes to. Miss me with that misogyny too.
The thing is: it's shoved in our faces over and over again that we should hate Caroline, but...why? They all describe Caroline as fake, accuse her of only being friends in order to use them - but - wait for it - there's *no. actual. proof of it*. 🤯 Literally none. The characters say Caroline's a bitch, ascribe various nefarious motivations to her, and we're just supposed to believe it. I literally do not see why Holly and her friends hate this girl.
Caroline ends up yelling at Holly because her fiance leaves her for Holly. I mean, not mature, but it's literally the only *actual* not-nice thing she does, and it's right at the end. And why wouldn't she be upset about the guy she was in a serious long term relationship dumping her for another woman?
🖕 Gender stereotype bullshit everywhere. Only women do this, only men want that. Men don't know that cheating on their partner is going to hurt them that much, apparently, because they've got dicks or whatever. Women just sadly accepting that. Saying that "modern psychology" says it's true. Yeah nah, sis. Miss me with that. (And as someone with an actual psych degree? Not even true.)
🖕 I'm sure it was very progressive in the early 00s to feature a gay character. But the gay character's whole entire personality...is literally Being Gay. In the most stereotypical way, too: fussy about his clothes, big on labels, etc. And all the other gay men are all portrayed the exact. Same. Way.
Not cool. If your straight characters' personalities don't revolve around Being Very Straight, neither should your gay characters'.
🖕 Wtf is up with books from that era name dropping brand labels? 🤷♀️🤷♀️ I don't know what the fuck a fucking Burberry coat looks like, or what LK Bennett shoes look like, unless I google them. Did everyone back then know these brands? If you want me to know about a coat, tell me what it looks and feels like. Don't just drop a name brand and expect me to know.
Some other things that pissed me off, unrelated (probably) to the book being over 20 years old:
• Another reviewer mentioned Stella being spoilt. I didn't see it until she meets her boyfriend's teenage daughter, and then I really did. She actually is a spoilt 38 year old tantrum-throwing princess, and despite being described as having "a brilliant lawyer's mind", does not come off as very smart at all.
Her level of entitlement and privilege is insane. She never got bullied like her youngest sister, she's never really had it tough - she even describes the divorce she went through as not all that difficult and fairly amicable. She's never had a mean word directed at her for her 38 years of life, ever. Others tell her explicitly "everyone likes you".
And then - AND THEN - she's all 😲 *shocked Pikachu face* when her new bf's teenage daughter doesn't instantly like her and doesn't want to hang out with her 7 year old kid. Stella is all offended by it and wants to throw a tantrum because teenager isn't interested in her, or her precious shnookums. Ffs you're a lawyer, you're nearly 40 years old and you expect the 15 year old to soothe YOUR feelings and impress YOU and be more adult than you are? Grow the fuck up. 😠 I'd initially liked Stella but I lost all respect for her after that.
• Everyone wanting Rose and Hugh back together. But why?! Why, after the shocking news Rose drops in front of most of the town at the big 40th anniversary half the book leads up to: that he's been cheating on her the entirety of their relationship. But no, it's important that they stay together to preserve their kids' and the town's delusions.
Wtf. A woman in her 60s who's been quietly cheated on for FORTY FUCKING YEARS has NO obligation whatsoever to crawl back to her husband so that everyone can be go back to being comfortable.
Rose's story arc after very publically shattering the town's illusion of her perfect life should have been realising that her whole life has revolved around keeping up appearances and looking after everyone but herself, and discovering an independent life with the things she discovers fulfills her. But instead she spends all this time feeling guilty and like she's let her daughters down (for fuck's sake, the youngest is 27).
And the wise, free spirited old aunt she stays with - who I'd initially liked up until this point - tells Rose sternly that Hugh might have been a Cheater McCheatypants, but she let her youngest daughter down by having post partum depression. 😳😳😳
What. The. Fuck. There is no comparison - literally NONE - between a cheating partner and a partner who can't fully attend to life because she has post partum hormonal imbalances. 🤬
In the end she thinks it's all her fault and crawls back to her husband. Who of course promises to never ever ever ever cheat again. Bullshit. He's done it for 40 years without remorse, thinking she didn't know about it. Leave the piece of shit.
• There were spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes everywhere. There were floating words that needed to have been deleted. The entire book was far too long for what it was.
Honestly? I don't know what even kept me reading about these abysmally privileged, not all that bright, straight white people.
Maybe it's that it was a low stakes read. A good palate cleanser in between the high-stakes, save-the-world fantasy romance drama I normally go for. Fairly cosy, and while *I'm* not happy with the ending, the characters all get their HEA.
2 stars, because I'm too soft to 1 star it.
So. I feel bad about giving reviews like this. I really want to uplift authors by saying positive things about the stories they put a lot of work in to tell.
But - and I feel so bad for saying this - this is a big ol' shitshow. It's a product of its time, and it absolutely shows. From the women literally constantly talking about getting fat and going on diets and getting annoyed at other women for being thin, to gender stereotyping bullshit - this did not vibe with me. And maybe part of the reason is that I was like 11 when this came out, and the generation being written about was socialised totally differently from mine, making their concerns and opinions sound honestly foreign, ridiculous, and backwards to me. 🤷♀️
The basic plot: three grown women and their mother - the darling of their small Irish town - tell their stories. It becomes clear that each of them has their own secrets and that their lives aren't as amazing as they seem to be on the surface.
I had to keep a list of shit that annoyed me while I was reading, because there was just. So. Much of it. Here's just the stuff that is probably due to its being written ages ago:
🖕 The internalised misogyny is real, and the fact that it crosses over with some pretty lazy characterisation does not make it better. Caroline gets called a "bimbo" simply because she's petite, pretty, and vivacious. Then Holly and her friends decide that she's... idk hypocritical or evil because she's tough beneath her pixie like beauty and cute demeanour? That she "used her femininity as a weapon and if she aims it at you you better watch out", according to one friend. How, exactly? Where is the actual proof of that being Caroline's motivation? We're actually not given any. (And what, exactly, was she meant to be - giggly and dumb to comply with society's expectations of her petite body type, so that she doesn't surprise anyone (read: isn't too intimidating for men)? Fuck right off with that misogynistic horse crap. 🖕)
Then the guy Holly's casually seeing snipes at Caroline for being excited about her own engagement. "Spare me from women like that. What is it about women and weddings, anyhow?" Uh...try centuries of patriarchy telling women that getting married is what they exist for, but simultaneously telling guys to be hard to marry, maybe...? 🤷♀️ This privileged white guy has the nerve to shame Caroline for a culture he actively contributes to. Miss me with that misogyny too.
The thing is: it's shoved in our faces over and over again that we should hate Caroline, but...why? They all describe Caroline as fake, accuse her of only being friends in order to use them - but - wait for it - there's *no. actual. proof of it*. 🤯 Literally none. The characters say Caroline's a bitch, ascribe various nefarious motivations to her, and we're just supposed to believe it. I literally do not see why Holly and her friends hate this girl.
Caroline ends up yelling at Holly because her fiance leaves her for Holly. I mean, not mature, but it's literally the only *actual* not-nice thing she does, and it's right at the end. And why wouldn't she be upset about the guy she was in a serious long term relationship dumping her for another woman?
🖕 Gender stereotype bullshit everywhere. Only women do this, only men want that. Men don't know that cheating on their partner is going to hurt them that much, apparently, because they've got dicks or whatever. Women just sadly accepting that. Saying that "modern psychology" says it's true. Yeah nah, sis. Miss me with that. (And as someone with an actual psych degree? Not even true.)
🖕 I'm sure it was very progressive in the early 00s to feature a gay character. But the gay character's whole entire personality...is literally Being Gay. In the most stereotypical way, too: fussy about his clothes, big on labels, etc. And all the other gay men are all portrayed the exact. Same. Way.
Not cool. If your straight characters' personalities don't revolve around Being Very Straight, neither should your gay characters'.
🖕 Wtf is up with books from that era name dropping brand labels? 🤷♀️🤷♀️ I don't know what the fuck a fucking Burberry coat looks like, or what LK Bennett shoes look like, unless I google them. Did everyone back then know these brands? If you want me to know about a coat, tell me what it looks and feels like. Don't just drop a name brand and expect me to know.
Some other things that pissed me off, unrelated (probably) to the book being over 20 years old:
• Another reviewer mentioned Stella being spoilt. I didn't see it until she meets her boyfriend's teenage daughter, and then I really did. She actually is a spoilt 38 year old tantrum-throwing princess, and despite being described as having "a brilliant lawyer's mind", does not come off as very smart at all.
Her level of entitlement and privilege is insane. She never got bullied like her youngest sister, she's never really had it tough - she even describes the divorce she went through as not all that difficult and fairly amicable. She's never had a mean word directed at her for her 38 years of life, ever. Others tell her explicitly "everyone likes you".
And then - AND THEN - she's all 😲 *shocked Pikachu face* when her new bf's teenage daughter doesn't instantly like her and doesn't want to hang out with her 7 year old kid. Stella is all offended by it and wants to throw a tantrum because teenager isn't interested in her, or her precious shnookums. Ffs you're a lawyer, you're nearly 40 years old and you expect the 15 year old to soothe YOUR feelings and impress YOU and be more adult than you are? Grow the fuck up. 😠 I'd initially liked Stella but I lost all respect for her after that.
• Everyone wanting Rose and Hugh back together. But why?! Why, after the shocking news Rose drops in front of most of the town at the big 40th anniversary half the book leads up to: that he's been cheating on her the entirety of their relationship. But no, it's important that they stay together to preserve their kids' and the town's delusions.
Wtf. A woman in her 60s who's been quietly cheated on for FORTY FUCKING YEARS has NO obligation whatsoever to crawl back to her husband so that everyone can be go back to being comfortable.
Rose's story arc after very publically shattering the town's illusion of her perfect life should have been realising that her whole life has revolved around keeping up appearances and looking after everyone but herself, and discovering an independent life with the things she discovers fulfills her. But instead she spends all this time feeling guilty and like she's let her daughters down (for fuck's sake, the youngest is 27).
And the wise, free spirited old aunt she stays with - who I'd initially liked up until this point - tells Rose sternly that Hugh might have been a Cheater McCheatypants, but she let her youngest daughter down by having post partum depression. 😳😳😳
What. The. Fuck. There is no comparison - literally NONE - between a cheating partner and a partner who can't fully attend to life because she has post partum hormonal imbalances. 🤬
In the end she thinks it's all her fault and crawls back to her husband. Who of course promises to never ever ever ever cheat again. Bullshit. He's done it for 40 years without remorse, thinking she didn't know about it. Leave the piece of shit.
• There were spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes everywhere. There were floating words that needed to have been deleted. The entire book was far too long for what it was.
Honestly? I don't know what even kept me reading about these abysmally privileged, not all that bright, straight white people.
Maybe it's that it was a low stakes read. A good palate cleanser in between the high-stakes, save-the-world fantasy romance drama I normally go for. Fairly cosy, and while *I'm* not happy with the ending, the characters all get their HEA.
2 stars, because I'm too soft to 1 star it.
November 17, 2009
I have no idea what it is about this book. I just simply love it. I feel the emotions that the girls are going through. I felt for them at certain times. I am fairly certain I have read this book before but rereading it was such a great thing I am glad I did it.
The alcoholic husband was just something I couldn't imagine. It's so hard to believe that you wouldn't notice your significant other drinking in excess like that. But, it happens!! So many convenient excuses. I'm sure it's like that with any sort of addiction. I am quite lucky I don't have to worry about that problem.
I was so happy that Holly finally got with Tom. Swoon :D Even though you could sooo predict that was going to happen - when it finally did - EEEEEK! I swooned! I liked the fact that she finally gained some self confidence. It's such a hard thing to get when you have lost it. I really loved watching her character come out and her awesomeness start to shine through! Although, for one novel, I would love for an ugly person to love themselves, not everyone else thinks she is a knock-out but she hates herself. I mean, really!? Lots of pretty women have low self esteem -but it's the less desirable ones who actually have any reason to be concerned. Just saying . . . .
The mom and the other daughter were a bit - whiny. Woe is me -- the pain I bring myself and then SHOCKING! the pain comes! While the road you choose might not be the correct path, you can't spend the rest of your life regretting that bad choice or the choice of others. That guarantees that you will take the next wrong path instead of choosing wisely at the next crossroads.
So would love to reread this yet again once I get caught up on my other books.
The alcoholic husband was just something I couldn't imagine. It's so hard to believe that you wouldn't notice your significant other drinking in excess like that. But, it happens!! So many convenient excuses. I'm sure it's like that with any sort of addiction. I am quite lucky I don't have to worry about that problem.
I was so happy that Holly finally got with Tom. Swoon :D Even though you could sooo predict that was going to happen - when it finally did - EEEEEK! I swooned! I liked the fact that she finally gained some self confidence. It's such a hard thing to get when you have lost it. I really loved watching her character come out and her awesomeness start to shine through! Although, for one novel, I would love for an ugly person to love themselves, not everyone else thinks she is a knock-out but she hates herself. I mean, really!? Lots of pretty women have low self esteem -but it's the less desirable ones who actually have any reason to be concerned. Just saying . . . .
The mom and the other daughter were a bit - whiny. Woe is me -- the pain I bring myself and then SHOCKING! the pain comes! While the road you choose might not be the correct path, you can't spend the rest of your life regretting that bad choice or the choice of others. That guarantees that you will take the next wrong path instead of choosing wisely at the next crossroads.
So would love to reread this yet again once I get caught up on my other books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2010
Cathy Kelly's "Just Between Us" is a richly textured tale of a "perfect" family that begins to slowly reveal itself as one with all the ordinary flaws and foibles that plague most people; it is this probing beneath the surface that yields a peek into the intriguing aspects of each of the primary characters.
As the story begins, Rose and Hugh Miller are approaching their fortieth anniversary, and as the celebratory moment nears, we learn more about the two of them; Rose uncovers a secret, and while she's planning the party, she is also considering how to deal with it.
Meanwhile, the three adult daughters are each struggling with their own issues. Stella, the eldest, has a successful career as an attorney, and as the single mother to Amelia, believes that her life is just the way it will stay. She expects no romance or any surprises at all.
Tara, the middle child, writes for a successful soap opera, and as a newly-wed with a dream husband, she believes that all is just the way it should be.
While Holly, the youngest, is plagued by insecurities and longs for a love that seems to never arrive, the other two begin to find that their lives are not what they thought they were.
This is the heart of the story, but what sets it apart are the rich details that give us more than a peek into their lives--we almost feel as if we are walking alongside them. As if they are our friends and neighbors, with their struggles part of us. We root for them, and sometimes want to yell at them for making foolish choices or mistakes.
A rather long book (530 pages), I kept reading, because I truly wanted to partake of every eventful moment in the lives of the characters.
Definitely five stars!
As the story begins, Rose and Hugh Miller are approaching their fortieth anniversary, and as the celebratory moment nears, we learn more about the two of them; Rose uncovers a secret, and while she's planning the party, she is also considering how to deal with it.
Meanwhile, the three adult daughters are each struggling with their own issues. Stella, the eldest, has a successful career as an attorney, and as the single mother to Amelia, believes that her life is just the way it will stay. She expects no romance or any surprises at all.
Tara, the middle child, writes for a successful soap opera, and as a newly-wed with a dream husband, she believes that all is just the way it should be.
While Holly, the youngest, is plagued by insecurities and longs for a love that seems to never arrive, the other two begin to find that their lives are not what they thought they were.
This is the heart of the story, but what sets it apart are the rich details that give us more than a peek into their lives--we almost feel as if we are walking alongside them. As if they are our friends and neighbors, with their struggles part of us. We root for them, and sometimes want to yell at them for making foolish choices or mistakes.
A rather long book (530 pages), I kept reading, because I truly wanted to partake of every eventful moment in the lives of the characters.
Definitely five stars!
July 9, 2016
There are so many things not to like about this book, that if I hadn't been reading it for book group I would have given up after only a few chapters.
It's overly long, with an abundance of useless, inconsequential detail.
All of the daughters are thoroughly unlikeable, especially Stella, who is a spoiled, immature excuse for a woman, and for a professional female seems to be seriously lacking in the intelligence department.
There are multiple typos, and continuity errors.
The only character I slightly warmed to was Rose, and even then, she disappointed by going back to her husband in the end.
One to avoid, in my opinion.
It's overly long, with an abundance of useless, inconsequential detail.
All of the daughters are thoroughly unlikeable, especially Stella, who is a spoiled, immature excuse for a woman, and for a professional female seems to be seriously lacking in the intelligence department.
There are multiple typos, and continuity errors.
The only character I slightly warmed to was Rose, and even then, she disappointed by going back to her husband in the end.
One to avoid, in my opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2008
I am a little torn about how I feel about this book. I was very drawn into each character's story, but at the same time, some of the emotions and dilemmas did not seem like they had enough support--others seemed to be left hanging. One of the the major conflicts for a character did not even seem to be nearly as big of a deal as some of the others, which bothered me, and there was a backstory that seemed to come and go as needed. Again, I really did enjoy this book, and had difficulty putting it down, but I am torn.
August 19, 2019
Well I made it thru to p 87 but it was a very tough go. The characters are nice but nothing was happening, no plot to speak of. I didn't feel compelled to finish over 500 pages of this book. Very disappointing. I may try another Cathy Kelly, if she has written anything shorter and with a more engaging plot ...
October 11, 2012
Story of three adult sisters, and their mother, who appear at first to be leading perfect lives but ultimately confide their problems with one another. Anyone who likes Maeve Binchy would like this one. Not quite as good as her’s, but certainly a pleasant enough read.
April 18, 2014
I enjoyed the stories of the three sisters. I was very disappointed that Rose went back to her husband though. After numerous affairs...it just doesn't set a good example for her daughters or her granddaughter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2015
Didn't finish it, was so hard to get trough for some reason..
Read
September 17, 2015A comfortable read about mother and daughters. Surprising turn of plot and evidence of mature resilience. Enjoyable.
April 1, 2024
From internationally bestselling author Cathy Kelly comes a heartwarming story of three sisters who are about to discover that—even within a close-knit Irish family—looks can be deceiving.
Look at them go!
In the Irish Country town of Kinvarra, the Miller girls are generally perceived to have it all. Single mother and brilliant attorney Stella looks like a Renaissance Madonna and is about to get a second chance at love. TV soap opera writer Tara has just married the love of her life—the charming Finn—after a whirlwind six-month romance. And shy, beautiful Holly is living an enviable bohemian life, with artistic friends and a beautiful apartment where her creative talents find an outlet. Have there ever lived three more fabulous sisters?
Now look more closely.
The Miller girls' mother, Rose—calm, elegant, and unchanging—is about to celebrate her fortieth wedding anniversary. But as plans for the party of the decade take shape, it's revealed that nothing in the lives of Rose and her daughters is as it seems. And as the secret heartaches the four women have kept hidden from each other begin to emerge, they're set to discover whether they're strong enough to handle the truth—and whether greater happiness awaits them still.
Look at them go!
In the Irish Country town of Kinvarra, the Miller girls are generally perceived to have it all. Single mother and brilliant attorney Stella looks like a Renaissance Madonna and is about to get a second chance at love. TV soap opera writer Tara has just married the love of her life—the charming Finn—after a whirlwind six-month romance. And shy, beautiful Holly is living an enviable bohemian life, with artistic friends and a beautiful apartment where her creative talents find an outlet. Have there ever lived three more fabulous sisters?
Now look more closely.
The Miller girls' mother, Rose—calm, elegant, and unchanging—is about to celebrate her fortieth wedding anniversary. But as plans for the party of the decade take shape, it's revealed that nothing in the lives of Rose and her daughters is as it seems. And as the secret heartaches the four women have kept hidden from each other begin to emerge, they're set to discover whether they're strong enough to handle the truth—and whether greater happiness awaits them still.
December 16, 2023
Rose and Huge Miller celebrated their Ruby Wedding Anniversary, with a large party.
A successful moderately wealthy couple with three grown up daughters also living successful happy lives or are they?????
But as plans for the party of the decade takes shape, its revealed that nothing in the lives of Rose and her daughters is as it seems.
And as the secret, heartache the four women have kept hidden from each other begin to emerge they are set to discover whether they are strong enough to handle the truth and whether greater happiness awaits them still.
The storyline takes us in the lives of the three daughters, Stella , Tara , and Holly and the rest of the Millers .
Stella a single mother and her attempt at a new relationship.
Tara the newly married, talented scriptwriter who discovers her husband has a hidden problem.
Holly is self conscious, beautiful suffering from unrequited love and low self belief.
Just Between Us draws us into their lives through their conflicts and their resolutions.
A successful moderately wealthy couple with three grown up daughters also living successful happy lives or are they?????
But as plans for the party of the decade takes shape, its revealed that nothing in the lives of Rose and her daughters is as it seems.
And as the secret, heartache the four women have kept hidden from each other begin to emerge they are set to discover whether they are strong enough to handle the truth and whether greater happiness awaits them still.
The storyline takes us in the lives of the three daughters, Stella , Tara , and Holly and the rest of the Millers .
Stella a single mother and her attempt at a new relationship.
Tara the newly married, talented scriptwriter who discovers her husband has a hidden problem.
Holly is self conscious, beautiful suffering from unrequited love and low self belief.
Just Between Us draws us into their lives through their conflicts and their resolutions.
July 6, 2018
Cathy Kelly weaves an interesting tale about the Miller family where appearances are everything. Apparently, Hugh and Rose Miller have had a wonderful marriage, the envy of the little town of Kinvarra. Their 3 beautiful daughters, Stella, Tara and Holly have equally enviable lives but nothing is what it seems. Each of the Miller women harbour secrets that they dare not voice.
Kelly asks valid questions: Is this what family ties are all about? How transparent can one be? And if you can't turn to your family for help, then is yours even a family?
While we could complain about the length of the novel, the storyline is easy to follow, and a bit predictable in places. However, I do wish the author could be a tad bit more realistic than just tying up loose ends with a rosy happy-ever-after. But don't we all love fairy-tale weddings?
Not a bad summer read at all!
Kelly asks valid questions: Is this what family ties are all about? How transparent can one be? And if you can't turn to your family for help, then is yours even a family?
While we could complain about the length of the novel, the storyline is easy to follow, and a bit predictable in places. However, I do wish the author could be a tad bit more realistic than just tying up loose ends with a rosy happy-ever-after. But don't we all love fairy-tale weddings?
Not a bad summer read at all!
March 30, 2021
Just Between Us by Cathy Kelly
I have read a few of Cathy Kelly's novels & have generally really liked them. I enjoyed this story. The premise is good. There were quite a few characters with some complicated but real life problems so it was a challenge to tell each character's story well & do it justice.
Rose who'd almost been married 40 years never let on in all that time to anyone that her marriage was less than perfect. Stella is a single mom with a sweet young daughter. She is a successful lawyer & as her ex-husband works overseas she rarely needs to deal with him but she is lonely . . .
Tara is a writer for a day time soap & recently & quickly married. Holly is shy, introverted & has trouble with self confidence. All of them need each other in different ways to help each other figure out life & get through challenges.
I have read a few of Cathy Kelly's novels & have generally really liked them. I enjoyed this story. The premise is good. There were quite a few characters with some complicated but real life problems so it was a challenge to tell each character's story well & do it justice.
Rose who'd almost been married 40 years never let on in all that time to anyone that her marriage was less than perfect. Stella is a single mom with a sweet young daughter. She is a successful lawyer & as her ex-husband works overseas she rarely needs to deal with him but she is lonely . . .
Tara is a writer for a day time soap & recently & quickly married. Holly is shy, introverted & has trouble with self confidence. All of them need each other in different ways to help each other figure out life & get through challenges.
Read
December 18, 2022This surprisingly hefty book has been sitting on my shelf for a while. Given the current sleet and ice I am not moving far from home, so I figured this was a good time to tackle a book I would only have to carry up and down stairs.
Ironically I just began watching the BBC series "Life" and found there were similarities in emotion and tone (minus the ghost).
Here most of the characters are somewhat older to old, and that is always refreshing. The question of whether a betrayal can be forgiven or not is examined from different perspectives. Alcoholism is also a component of the story, as is the ability to move on or not, from previous relationships.
An interesting read that kept me up far too late at night.
Ironically I just began watching the BBC series "Life" and found there were similarities in emotion and tone (minus the ghost).
Here most of the characters are somewhat older to old, and that is always refreshing. The question of whether a betrayal can be forgiven or not is examined from different perspectives. Alcoholism is also a component of the story, as is the ability to move on or not, from previous relationships.
An interesting read that kept me up far too late at night.
February 20, 2018
This book follows four women.
Rose and her three daughters Stella, Tara and Holly each have their own problems in life, but are always able to rely on each other.
The book follows each woman over several months as they all try to deal with their problems and live a happy life.
I really enjoyed this book.
It was quite a long book, which gave me time to get to know each main character well and so it was easy to become involved in the various storylines.
Rose and her three daughters Stella, Tara and Holly each have their own problems in life, but are always able to rely on each other.
The book follows each woman over several months as they all try to deal with their problems and live a happy life.
I really enjoyed this book.
It was quite a long book, which gave me time to get to know each main character well and so it was easy to become involved in the various storylines.
Read
February 14, 2020Sorry guys, I tried and tried, but I could not get past the first chapter …. even skimming over the 600+ pages to the end, I still could not get the jist of this novel and I have a couple more of her titles on my book shelf … family, brother, sister (one in particular who has a much too familiar 'like' of her brother) .. unfortunately that is as far as I got … oh well on to the next time I encounter Cathy Kelly!
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