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Anyone but Him
Andie and her sister Jin have never seen eye to eye. Andie doesn't envy Jin her marriage to a wealthy businessman, while Jin can't believe Andie's happy with her man-free existence (if only she knew!). But when their widowed mother Cora comes back from a Caribbean cruise with more than just a suntan, Andie and Jin are united in horror. Who is this gorgeous young man who's swept their mother off her feet? What the women really need is a friend to set the world to rights with - but can they be friends with each other?
640 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
110 people are currently reading
564 people want to read
About the author
Sheila O'Flanagan
95 books1,200 followersAs you can see, a Dubliner all my life. My parents owned a grocery shop in the Iveagh Markets, in the Liberties area of the city and I guess city blood runs through my veins.
As a child I enjoyed reading and telling stories and everyone thought that I end up in a job which had something to do with books and literature. But though I applied for a job in the library all of the job offers I got were in commerce.
I turned down lots of them before my mother accepted one for me (I was on holiday at the time). It was in the Central Bank of Ireland and that’s how my career in financial services began.
I started out in administration and then moved jobs until finally I was working as a dealer in a commercial bank. Eventually I was promoted to Chief Dealer (the first female CD in the country). I traded lots of different things – foreign exchange, swaps, options, bonds…all of the kind of things you read about in the papers and that sound very technical and difficult. Of course once you’re doing it, it’s not half as technical as it sounds.
But I still loved reading and writing (which I did in my spare time) and I desperately wanted to write my own book. I guess I never quite got over the fact that I was never offered the library job! In my thirties I decided that it was now or never and I sat down, stuck Chapter 1 on a page, and started. I wrote the whole thing before sending it off.
I was offered a publishing deal (with no advance) by an Irish company but only if I wrote a different book! So back to the drawing board, I started again. It was another two years before it was published. It wasn’t until I’d written a few books and was offered a contract (this time with an advance!) from another publisher that I felt able to give up my trading job and write full time. So, even though it took a long time, I eventually realised my dream of being a full-time writer.
And now I also write a business column for the Irish Times.
When I’m writing a book I want to do three things:
* Tell a good story
* Make the reader feel like they know the characters
* Make each book better than the last
I don’t write for any particular audience but I suppose I must have people like me in mind – people who have busy lives and who like to escape into someone else’s for a while.
I love writing books. I hope you enjoy reading them.
As a child I enjoyed reading and telling stories and everyone thought that I end up in a job which had something to do with books and literature. But though I applied for a job in the library all of the job offers I got were in commerce.
I turned down lots of them before my mother accepted one for me (I was on holiday at the time). It was in the Central Bank of Ireland and that’s how my career in financial services began.
I started out in administration and then moved jobs until finally I was working as a dealer in a commercial bank. Eventually I was promoted to Chief Dealer (the first female CD in the country). I traded lots of different things – foreign exchange, swaps, options, bonds…all of the kind of things you read about in the papers and that sound very technical and difficult. Of course once you’re doing it, it’s not half as technical as it sounds.
But I still loved reading and writing (which I did in my spare time) and I desperately wanted to write my own book. I guess I never quite got over the fact that I was never offered the library job! In my thirties I decided that it was now or never and I sat down, stuck Chapter 1 on a page, and started. I wrote the whole thing before sending it off.
I was offered a publishing deal (with no advance) by an Irish company but only if I wrote a different book! So back to the drawing board, I started again. It was another two years before it was published. It wasn’t until I’d written a few books and was offered a contract (this time with an advance!) from another publisher that I felt able to give up my trading job and write full time. So, even though it took a long time, I eventually realised my dream of being a full-time writer.
And now I also write a business column for the Irish Times.
When I’m writing a book I want to do three things:
* Tell a good story
* Make the reader feel like they know the characters
* Make each book better than the last
I don’t write for any particular audience but I suppose I must have people like me in mind – people who have busy lives and who like to escape into someone else’s for a while.
I love writing books. I hope you enjoy reading them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
December 12, 2013
If I had to spend any time with these characters for real, I probably would kill myself. Cora and Jack are the only two who seem even remotely okay. The other four are nutcases. One is shallow and bonkers, one has ideals most likely comparable to a neanderthal, one is a selfish dog and one is completely fine with being stepped on all the time. No, don't waste any time reading this book.
July 31, 2025
Jack was the only interesting thing about this book… I’d even say Cora too. The rest made me want to poke my eyes out….
March 12, 2018
Een leuk verhaal om te lezen. Maar niet heel speciaal vergeleken met de boeken die ik de laatste tijd heb gelezen. Daarom heb ik het drie sterren gegeven. Toen ik aan dit boek begon, was ik op zoek naar een luchtig verhaal en dat is dit boek zeker. Het boek is ook anders dan ik had verwacht op basis van sommige recensies, en dan in positieve zin. Door de slechte recensies was ik bang dat het boek me zou tegenvallen, maar dat is niet gebeurd. Wat ik goed vindt aan dit boek is dat het niet alleen gaat het om het vinden van Mr. Right, zoals in veel chicklits. In dat opzicht is het verhaal wel verfrissend.
January 20, 2019
Easy read, but really annoying characters.
May 30, 2007
In the beginning, I love this book. I was looking forward to read another chapter. The story about Jin, Andie and Cora is very interesting, and the writer's words was very easy to digest.
Unfortunately... she closed this story with 'strange ending'...
Jin was love Kevin to death... but why suddenly she changed her mind?
Jin was only think about baby for weeks, why did she become so obsessed about it??? Sheila should have written more about this conflict!
Why was Cora so calm about the fact that Jack was an escort? How could she cope with the death of his husband and then fell in the feet of a guy who half of her age?
And the most awkward moment was when Jin was so upset and Kevin was so angry... but suddenly all of them could sit together and interviewed Jack!
And then suddenly Jin decided to leave kevin.
soooooo strange. but that was my opinion, so... what do you think???
Unfortunately... she closed this story with 'strange ending'...
Jin was love Kevin to death... but why suddenly she changed her mind?
Jin was only think about baby for weeks, why did she become so obsessed about it??? Sheila should have written more about this conflict!
Why was Cora so calm about the fact that Jack was an escort? How could she cope with the death of his husband and then fell in the feet of a guy who half of her age?
And the most awkward moment was when Jin was so upset and Kevin was so angry... but suddenly all of them could sit together and interviewed Jack!
And then suddenly Jin decided to leave kevin.
soooooo strange. but that was my opinion, so... what do you think???
October 28, 2019
When I first saw the rating this book had, I was surprised. Now, I'm just disappointed. I knew I wasn't going to get anything grand from this book but... Yikes. The characters are infuriatingly uptight. Jin and Kevin are too out of touch, and don't even get me started on Tom and Andie. They're unbearable and Andie comes off as incredibly selfish. Being generous I think only Cora and Jack were alright. This book is bland and boring. I wouldn't bother reading it if I were you.
January 29, 2015
Honestly, I did not like this book. It isn't a one star because I rate really deplorable books one stars. I didn't want to banish this book out of existence but I didn't come away with a good feeling after having read it. The reason, I didn't like any of the characters. I thought they were disgusting and I found it hard to sympathize. The worst would be that they don't know how disgusting they are. They dispense advices left and right as if they are an authority to a life well lived. I just wanted them to face their own hypocrisy. The closest one was Andie's turn around in attitude when she was being a raging bitch to Jack and then promptly turning worried when she found out Jack told Cora about Andie making moves on him. I think the book ended abruptly. I wanted to find out what happens after their chaos. I felt cheated out of a resolution since the book ended when Jin decided to get a divorce and Andie ended it with Tom. I thought it was a cheap ploy to a resolution, leaving it to the imagination. I just felt cheated because after reading about Jin's shallow marriage and Andie's homewrecking disguised as love, I was left with chapter one of their resolution. They were just beginning on resolving those issues and it ended. It did not leave me feeling great about this book because I thought the conflicts weren't really resolved. Even when the book was nearing its end, I am reading about Andie dropping by Tom's bar.
I thought Tom was a manipulator using love as an excuse to have his cake and eat it too. Tom has his marriage with Elizabeth and waxes on and off about how he was going to leave. I thought he was just a big piece of shit and couldn't stand it when Andie talked about how great he is. No, Andie, you have a severely skewed view of him and it only cemented the fact that she should not be throwing stones against Jack when she is complicit in the affair. Dress up the adultery as much as you want with pronouncements of love, but the reality is, he goes home with his wife, he does not take you out, he comes when it is convenient for him, and he doesn't really care about your issues. Even when Andie was breaking it with him, all he could talk about is his relationship with Elizabeth. He was such a piece of shit expecting the affair to continue even when his wife was pregnant. She was complicit in the matter and she bought his bullshit. It was painful to read because I thought they were the biggest assholes. If you want to cheat, leave the marriage. If you are with a cheater, break it off and wait until he's free. If he really loves you and his marriage is as fractured as he says it is, then he will come.
I didn't like Jin either. She was demeaning to Jack throughout the book. Even if he is a prostitute, he is human too. What has she done to earn her superiority. She is a trophy wife and there isn't that much difference. She is with her husband because of his money. She wouldn't have given him the time of day had it not been for that. She talks about love often but at the end of the day, if her husband was destitute, her love will fade. It is conditional. I thought she was absolutely disgusting when she expected him to father her child and he will leave. That is somebody's child. If she really wanted a child, she should divorce her husband since it is obviously a deal breaker for him. I didn't buy her change of heart. I thought it was a bit convenient that she had a turn around just when she discovered he is an heir to a billion dollar company.
Her husband was also a piece of shit. He is condescending and patronizing to people. He should just take his business and marry it. It's fine it if makes him happy but don't act like your way is the be-all and end-all of a good life.
Jack and Cora's relationship is a bit disturbing to me. I keep hoping that it was all a big joke that they are perpetuating. Honestly, she is almost 60 and he is in his early thirties. It was a bit gross. Even if it was an older man and a younger woman, the age difference is really gross to me. I'm just thinking of all the wrinkles of the other party juxtaposed to someone at the height of their youth is a bit off-putting.
Overall, the story didn't leave me feeling great after having read it. However, it was already a deal-breaker for me when the subject of adultery came up. It was the main focus of Andie and Tom's relationship. It wasn't Andie realizing she should have a better life, 90 percent of the book is her having an affair. It would have been alright if they realized what assholes they really were. However, they keep saying love to each other, which was really annoying since their actions were far from loving. I thought it was really disturbing that this manipulator kept getting his way. It just wasn't a good story to me. The characters were awful people in my opinion.
This book is probably 1.5
I thought Tom was a manipulator using love as an excuse to have his cake and eat it too. Tom has his marriage with Elizabeth and waxes on and off about how he was going to leave. I thought he was just a big piece of shit and couldn't stand it when Andie talked about how great he is. No, Andie, you have a severely skewed view of him and it only cemented the fact that she should not be throwing stones against Jack when she is complicit in the affair. Dress up the adultery as much as you want with pronouncements of love, but the reality is, he goes home with his wife, he does not take you out, he comes when it is convenient for him, and he doesn't really care about your issues. Even when Andie was breaking it with him, all he could talk about is his relationship with Elizabeth. He was such a piece of shit expecting the affair to continue even when his wife was pregnant. She was complicit in the matter and she bought his bullshit. It was painful to read because I thought they were the biggest assholes. If you want to cheat, leave the marriage. If you are with a cheater, break it off and wait until he's free. If he really loves you and his marriage is as fractured as he says it is, then he will come.
I didn't like Jin either. She was demeaning to Jack throughout the book. Even if he is a prostitute, he is human too. What has she done to earn her superiority. She is a trophy wife and there isn't that much difference. She is with her husband because of his money. She wouldn't have given him the time of day had it not been for that. She talks about love often but at the end of the day, if her husband was destitute, her love will fade. It is conditional. I thought she was absolutely disgusting when she expected him to father her child and he will leave. That is somebody's child. If she really wanted a child, she should divorce her husband since it is obviously a deal breaker for him. I didn't buy her change of heart. I thought it was a bit convenient that she had a turn around just when she discovered he is an heir to a billion dollar company.
Her husband was also a piece of shit. He is condescending and patronizing to people. He should just take his business and marry it. It's fine it if makes him happy but don't act like your way is the be-all and end-all of a good life.
Jack and Cora's relationship is a bit disturbing to me. I keep hoping that it was all a big joke that they are perpetuating. Honestly, she is almost 60 and he is in his early thirties. It was a bit gross. Even if it was an older man and a younger woman, the age difference is really gross to me. I'm just thinking of all the wrinkles of the other party juxtaposed to someone at the height of their youth is a bit off-putting.
Overall, the story didn't leave me feeling great after having read it. However, it was already a deal-breaker for me when the subject of adultery came up. It was the main focus of Andie and Tom's relationship. It wasn't Andie realizing she should have a better life, 90 percent of the book is her having an affair. It would have been alright if they realized what assholes they really were. However, they keep saying love to each other, which was really annoying since their actions were far from loving. I thought it was really disturbing that this manipulator kept getting his way. It just wasn't a good story to me. The characters were awful people in my opinion.
This book is probably 1.5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2008
I'm sorry, but sex honestly is not the be-all and end-all of a relationship! There I'm as conservative as to quote Leonard Woolf and agree with him: "Man survives earthquakes, epidemics, the horrors of disease, and all the agonies of the soul, but for all time his most tormenting tragedy, has been, is, and always will be - the tragedy of the bedroom" (Glendinning 2006: 473).
December 3, 2013
Another great read by Sheila O'Flanagan, easy to read and a meaningful story. Some laugh out loud moments!
July 18, 2015
I read it a long time ago but I remember giggling and laughing and being really happy when I read this book. I should read other books by this author
January 17, 2012
It was an easy, typical chick-lit read. No undue surprises, twists or turns. Great beach reading.
September 27, 2015
Fun read.
September 16, 2020
Vet inte vad jag tycker om boken. Jag vet inte om jag gillar storyn och jag vet inte om jag gillar karaktärerna.
De enda som var vettiga var väl egentligen Cora och Jack. Andie hade några vettiga sidor, som att hon körde sitt eget race och inte var så prylgalen och snobbig som sin syster. Men hon var alldeles för ilsken av sig för småsaker och jag tyckte att hon borde ha begripit från början att Tom aldrig skulle lämna sin fru, oavsett hur många gånger han lovade det. Hon var för naiv men jag tyckte ändå synd om henne som slösade bort fyra år på den där strulputten.
Jin tyckte jag inte om för hon var alldeles för besatt av rikedom och saker och skulle alltid vara bäst och perfekt på allt. Verkade mest glida runt utan att göra nåt vettigt. Tyckte kanske att det var lite synd för henne för att hon senare ville ha barn men inte kunde få dem med Kevin, men å andra sidan har hon vetat hela tiden att det inte var möjligt så jag förstår inte riktigt hennes problem där.
Kevin är ett svin och jag tyckte inte alls om honom. Han gnällde på att Jin var bortskämd och bortklemad och allt sånt, men det är ju han som har skämt bort henne! Han verkar riktigt osympatisk och känslokall. Och han la sig i vad Andie och Cora gjorde bara för sin egen skull för han ville inte att det skulle skvallras om Cora på stan för att det i så fall skulle framställa HONOM i dålig dager. Han brydde sig ju egentligen inte om hur det var för DEM. jag hade gärna velat att han hade fått sig en ordentlig näsbränna i boken men det fick han ju inte.
De enda som var vettiga var väl egentligen Cora och Jack. Andie hade några vettiga sidor, som att hon körde sitt eget race och inte var så prylgalen och snobbig som sin syster. Men hon var alldeles för ilsken av sig för småsaker och jag tyckte att hon borde ha begripit från början att Tom aldrig skulle lämna sin fru, oavsett hur många gånger han lovade det. Hon var för naiv men jag tyckte ändå synd om henne som slösade bort fyra år på den där strulputten.
Jin tyckte jag inte om för hon var alldeles för besatt av rikedom och saker och skulle alltid vara bäst och perfekt på allt. Verkade mest glida runt utan att göra nåt vettigt. Tyckte kanske att det var lite synd för henne för att hon senare ville ha barn men inte kunde få dem med Kevin, men å andra sidan har hon vetat hela tiden att det inte var möjligt så jag förstår inte riktigt hennes problem där.
Kevin är ett svin och jag tyckte inte alls om honom. Han gnällde på att Jin var bortskämd och bortklemad och allt sånt, men det är ju han som har skämt bort henne! Han verkar riktigt osympatisk och känslokall. Och han la sig i vad Andie och Cora gjorde bara för sin egen skull för han ville inte att det skulle skvallras om Cora på stan för att det i så fall skulle framställa HONOM i dålig dager. Han brydde sig ju egentligen inte om hur det var för DEM. jag hade gärna velat att han hade fått sig en ordentlig näsbränna i boken men det fick han ju inte.
August 8, 2018
Anyone but him, was a good enjoyable read, l could not put it down.
This is a story of two sisters Jin who is married, who was a model now married to a rich businessman, and Andie who is having an affair with a man for the last four years, happy with the simple life and her career as a music 🎵 teacher.
Jin and Andie think they are happy but they both have unresolved issues in their lives.
These come to the fore when their mother returns from a cruise with a much younger man and looks of a Hollywood 🌟 Star, and moves in with her.
While trying to protect their mother ( we’ll interfere in her life, because they have decided, what is good for her), their own lives are challenged.
This is a good enjoyable read, the characters and their situations are complex enough to make this book, which looks at relationships in more than a superficial way. You are challenged to thick about how you might behave in similar circumstances and what your opinion is about the issues raised.
The way the issues are resolved is not instantly obvious from the beginning, you don’t know what will happen anymore than the characters do.
Sheila O Flanagan, is a brilliant writer, love her wit, and challenging issues, rolled into one.
Anyone but him is enjoyable, you cry a bit, laugh a bit, and make you think of certain issues.
This a must read.
Throughly enjoyed it.
This is a story of two sisters Jin who is married, who was a model now married to a rich businessman, and Andie who is having an affair with a man for the last four years, happy with the simple life and her career as a music 🎵 teacher.
Jin and Andie think they are happy but they both have unresolved issues in their lives.
These come to the fore when their mother returns from a cruise with a much younger man and looks of a Hollywood 🌟 Star, and moves in with her.
While trying to protect their mother ( we’ll interfere in her life, because they have decided, what is good for her), their own lives are challenged.
This is a good enjoyable read, the characters and their situations are complex enough to make this book, which looks at relationships in more than a superficial way. You are challenged to thick about how you might behave in similar circumstances and what your opinion is about the issues raised.
The way the issues are resolved is not instantly obvious from the beginning, you don’t know what will happen anymore than the characters do.
Sheila O Flanagan, is a brilliant writer, love her wit, and challenging issues, rolled into one.
Anyone but him is enjoyable, you cry a bit, laugh a bit, and make you think of certain issues.
This a must read.
Throughly enjoyed it.
July 30, 2023
A nice easy read from an author I enjoy - her earlier works in any case. When I picked this up at a free table I didn’t realise how old it was, and as I read through I was surprised at how much I liked it, as I haven’t enjoyed her more recent books. Despite none of the characters being particularly likeable it kept me interested and I will at some point read the shorter sequel. I’ve really been on a dry spell with reading this year so this one was good to sit down and spend a few hours with.
September 21, 2019
An unusual book which kept me guessing! A fun and relaxing read, very entertaining. Sheila O'Flanagan's stories are so witty and unpredictable. It is easy to recognise elements of ourselves and people we know within the pages. I can't wait to read another book from this clever author.
November 26, 2017
It took a bit to get into but I realized this was exactly the type of read I was looking for. Something light, fun and full of misunderstandings.
January 10, 2018
Good story - atypical chic-lit and unpredictable :) An enjoyable read!
January 21, 2018
couldn't wait to finish the book.. there were many interesting twists.. but the ending was too simple..
March 30, 2018
A romp of a read!
October 23, 2018
A bit long for what it was, however I did get through the whole thing...so that says something.
January 28, 2019
A good read
I really liked this book for easy reading. I would recommend as a good beach read. I enjoyed it. 😃
I really liked this book for easy reading. I would recommend as a good beach read. I enjoyed it. 😃
May 19, 2020
What can I say except I just love this lady's books.
May 30, 2020
Great read
I was gripped from the first page. Talk about dark horses!! This is a must read so go buy it....
I was gripped from the first page. Talk about dark horses!! This is a must read so go buy it....
December 31, 2020
What a huge mix-up of bad choices and unfounded assumptions. Kept me totally engrossed.
April 7, 2021
Ok i sin genre. Lämnar inga bestående spår.
June 6, 2021
Great story telling in the style of Maeve Binchy.
July 9, 2021
Anyone but him.
God they were annoying, everyone but Jack and Cora. I kept going because I really enjoy Sheila O’Flanagan. It turned out ok. But not my favorite .
God they were annoying, everyone but Jack and Cora. I kept going because I really enjoy Sheila O’Flanagan. It turned out ok. But not my favorite .
August 7, 2022
Good story as always
Sheila always has a lot of twists and turns in her stories. She also has interesting story backgrounds. That, with her imagination makes for an engaging read.
Sheila always has a lot of twists and turns in her stories. She also has interesting story backgrounds. That, with her imagination makes for an engaging read.
August 12, 2022
brilliant read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews