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Review: Getting Rid of Matthew


Jane Fallon is an award-winning television producer in England. Her first book, the bestselling 'Getting Rid of Matthew' was published in 2007. Her second novel 'Got You back' was published by Penguin in August 2008 and reached number 5 in the bestseller list.

In an article from the Daily Mail, Fallon mentions that Jennifer Aniston has purchased the movie rights. Personally, having just read the book, I would love to see this novel made into a movie. Click here for an author Q&A.

I have wanted to read this book for a few months and it was worth the wait. I often read books too fast, having to remind myself to slow down and enjoy the story. This is exactly what I did with ‘Getting Rid of Matthew’.

This is Helen’s story (the mistress), told from her voice. One day Matthew knocks on her door and explains he just left his wife, for her! There is one problem, Helen doesn’t want to be with Matthew. As the story develops you will be entertained and hoping for Helen’s idea of a "perfect ending".

Book clubs will love this story – there is so much to discuss and the characters are well developed. This is a good example of 'be careful what you wish for.'

Type: Fiction, 322 pages, trade paperback

Synopsis:
A sparkling, sophisticated, witty story about what happens when he finally leaves his wife for you . . . and you realize you don't want him after all.

Helen is nearly forty, and has, for far too long, had an affair with Matthew, a high-powered, much older, attractive, married man who was once, of course, her boss. After years of being disappointed by missed dates, out-of-the-way restaurants where there's no chance of them being caught, broken promises, and hushed phone calls, at last Helen realizes enough is enough-it's time to dump Matthew and get on with her life.

This, of course, is the exact moment when Matthew decides to leave his wife for her. He appears on her doorstep, announcing, "I've done it! I've left her! I'm yours!" and proceeds to move in. Helen then discovers how much she can't bear him. But she can't just throw him out-after all, she's been begging him to do exactly this for years. The only thing to do, she decides, is to convince his wife, Sophie, to take him back.

Reviews:
“Helen and Sophie are so alive, you’ll find yourself wishing you could ring them for lunch.” – The Cleveland Plain Dealer

“A Hugely satisfying novel of tables being turned.” - Elizabeth Buchan, author of Revenge of the Middle Aged Woman