The Accidental Wife

Written by Rowan Coleman

Narrated by Jilly Bond

Alison James thinks she might be living the wrong life. She loves her husband Marc and their children but somehow, in the process of building a perfect life for her family, she seems to have lost herself. And sometimes she worries that she's being punished for running away with her best friend's boyfriend. Catherine Ashley knows she's living the wrong life. She adores her two daughters, but all too often her mind still flicks back to the love of her life: Marc. Alison and Catherine have been living separate lives, a hundred miles apart, for fifteen years. But now Alison's moving back to Farmington, the town where they both grew up. And they're about to find out just how different both their lives could still be...

• Language: English
• Publisher: W. F. Howes Ltd
• Release date: Oct 1, 2009
• ISBN: 9781407450759

Rowan Coleman

Rowan Coleman worked in bookselling and publishing for seven years during which time she won the Company magazine Young Writer of the Year award. She is the author of twelve novels, including Runaway Wife, The Accidental Mother, The Home for Broken Hearts, and We Are All Made of Stars. She lives with her husband, daughter, and sons in England.

Reviews for The Accidental Wife

[sugarcreekranch · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another Mother's Life hits the sweet spot. It has way more depth than a typical chick-lit beach read, but is lighter than the choices of a serious literary book club. It's a great read that you can get lost in.I found the storyline to be completely plausible and relatable. Haven't we all wondered how our lives would've turned out, "if only"? Or wondered what happened to that one-time BFF that we've parted from?I really enjoyed the female characters - I thought they were well-developed and believable. The male characters didn't ring quite as true, as I don't know many introspective men who talk freely about their past and current emotions.

[foreigncircus · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When Alison and Catherine were 17, their friendship was torn apart by Marc, who wooed Catherine only to elope with Alison. 15 years later, Alison and Marc move back to the scene of their crimes to discover Catherine now separated from Jimmy, Alison's teenage crush. As their children become friends, Alison and Catherine each face the question of whether or not they are living the another mother's life. As with Coleman's other book, The Accidental Mother, Another Mother's Life skirts the lmore serious edge of chick-lit. At the beginning of the book, it is difficult to like any of the characters, but as the story unfolds and the reasons for some of their foibles are revealed, they all (except maybe Marc) become more understandable and more human. I was content with the ending, and felt Coleman remained true to her characters rather than imposing the deus-ex-machine happily ever after that dooms so much of the genre.

[mckait · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a British novel. I tend to enjoy books these books because there is a subtle difference between them and the books written by Americans. In fact, that difference may be subtlety itself. I often find the stories to be more charming than those by Americans. The same reason I enjoy British films, I think?In any case, this was a good story of two friends and a life circumstance ( read: man) that came between them. Most of the story of these two woman as youngsters, and then young women is told in flashbacks. The lives that they are living today, years after that final, crushing separation are compared. Such different paths they have traveled to bring them to the same crossroads. When they are both young mothers, they are both taken aback when they meet at this crossroad of their lives. It is the last thing either has ever expected to happen. Their children, daughters are becoming friends in much the same way that they did so many years ago. This is the story of the possibility of renewing their friendship. Can it ever be as good as it once was? It is a story of families, and frailties and the ability to trust. Is it possible to go home again is a question we often come across, because it is really a question with no answer. Or perhaps a question with too many asnwers. I read this in one afternoon, as I was drawn in and wanted to find out what happened to Catherine and Alison. Many of us have had a good friend from childhood lost to time, or circumstance. That is what drew me in...I am glad I read it and will pick up The Accidental Mother by the same author. This was a good read that I will recommend to friends.