What Caz Read

Grieving widow or wronged wife … which would you choose?

Preparing for the next chapter in their lives Sophie and her husband Matt are selling their London home to move to the seaside town of Hastings. On the day the sale is finalised Matt tells Sophie he’s not going with her as he’s starting a new life with someone else.

While Sophie is still reeling from Matt’s bombshell he goes for a bike ride and is killed (not a spoiler it’s on the back of the book). Sophie now has to decide whether to keep Matt’s secret and be the grieving widow or tell her sons about their father’s indiscretion and be seen as the wronged wife.

Sophie chooses to shield her sons and keep Matt’s betrayal a secret. She moves to Hastings where she needs to make new friends and rebuild her life while still grieving.

Also central to the story is Sophie’s son Beau, who re-evaluates his life after being caught up in a scandal, and Juliet, a single parent with secrets of her own.

Told from multiple perspectives Would You Rather is a story about family secrets, second chances and starting over. There is an abundance of secondary characters, great locations and short concise chapters which move the story along at a good pace.

This is an easy read with a hint of intrigue to keep you engaged. There is a warmth to the novel that makes it feel relatable, and it is perfect for anyone who likes to read about new beginnings following loss and betrayal.

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Publisher: Harper Collins
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978 1 4607 5206 7

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Here’s the synopsis

Grieving widow or wronged wife … which would you choose?

Sophie blinked and looked down again, relieved that everyone would think she was overcome with devastation at the prospect of reading her husband’s eulogy, not that she was in shock, having just looked right into the eyes of his mistress.

Food stylist Sophie Crommelin has a beautiful life. Now that their two boys are grown up, she and her husband Matt – an acclaimed artist – are leaving London for a new start on England’s fashionably boho south coast. But the day after the house is sold, a series of shocks leave Sophie reeling – and suddenly she’s heading off to Hastings on her own.

Beau Crommelin has always been very much his father’s son. Charming, beautiful and creative, he gets on with everyone and is building a name as a jewellery designer. But after Matt’s sudden death, Beau finds himself on the wrong end of a scandal and everything he thought he knew about himself is called into question.

As Sophie and Beau try to find their feet, new friends and opportunities appear. But the biggest revelation is still to come …

A deliciously warm, witty and moving story of love, family, second chances and starting over.