Thoroughly enjoyed "Imperfect Women" and will be reflecting on it for some time. Araminta Hall's story of female friendship, relationships, love, lust, secrets, lies, guilt and shame follows three friends from university through to their forties. At its heart is sudden death - deliberate or accidental? Who is really responsible? However the novel is not centred on this nor on mundane domesticity but rather on the role of women, motherhood, patriarchy, expectation, oppression, ageing, fantasy and freedom. This is no light romance nor is it a psychological thriller or a whodunnit. It's a thoughtful feminist novel.

I absolutely adored Our Kind of Cruelty so was very excited to see Araminta Hall had a new standalone psychological thriller out and when I was offered the opportunity to read it alongside 80+ THE Book Club members over a 3 week period I jumped at the chance.

The story revolves around 3 central characters and is split into 3 parts - Eleanor, Nancy and Mary - so the reader gets to follow the story via 3 completely different personalities and opinions.

These 3 "imperfect" women have been best friends since University and whilst each of their lives have taken completely different journeys they have remained close throughout their adulthood.

When one of the women gets murdered, their lives are sent spiralling. Each part of the book delves deeper into the background and personalities of the 3 women, and honestly, none of them are particularly endearing or likeable which made me feel slightly disconnected to the story as it unfolded.

Both of the 2 male characters were flawed, unlikeable, controlling and really got up my nose which their behaviour.

Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of reading this book over 3 parts with a group of readers and discussing the plot and characters and our own little conspiracy theories, the book fell a little flat for me as I just couldn't warm to any of the characters.

It is going to be hard to review this without spoilers but I'll give it a go!

The book follows three women who became friends at university; Eleanor, Nancy and Mary. They are now in their late 40s.

Each of their lives have taken a different path. Eleanor never married nor had children, Nancy was married to Robert and had one daughter called Zara and Mary who was the "other woman" to Howard, a man 20 years her senior, whom she ending up marrying and having three children with.

The story is split into three parts, each told from the perspective of each of the women. We find out that Nancy is having an affair and she dies following a meeting with the man she is seeing. But who killed her?

These women, as the book title says, are far from perfect. Eleanor is in love with her best friend's husband, Nancy is having an affair and Mary is living with a husband who treats her horribly.

I struggled with this one. Although it is in three parts, Eleanor's is first and takes up almost 50% of the whole book. I wasn't drawn in by her story but luckily, I'm not the type to leave a book so I persevered. I was glad I did. Nancy and Mary's chapters are wonderful. We hear about Nancy's postnatal depression after Zara was born and the backstory of Howard and Mary and how their relationship progressed over the years.

The last half of the book definitely had me hooked so although it's a slow burner, it is worth powering through.

‘You’d do anything for your friends. But would you tell them the truth?’

Imperfect Women is psychological thriller, centring around three women (Nancy, Eleanor and Mary) and the secrets they keep. The book is separated into 3 sections, and through each we explore the women’s lives including their loves, losses marriages, and lies!

The book certainly lives up to its name - these women are far from perfect and
at times they are not very likeable at all! We see their insecurities and self righteousness laid bare and I found it very hard to relate to them. The men in the story are no better, and I found it extremely frustrating to see how they treated the women and how the women accepted it!

That being said, I was so intrigued as to how the story would turn out and see who would get their comeuppance! There is something about the story that makes you want to continue reading, despite the unsavoury and unliveable characters. I liked how the author split the book into the stories of the three women, and found Nancy’s story the most pacy. Araminta Hall has definitely nailed these imperfect women and for that a commend her. Just not as thrilling and exciting as I would have hoped for!

The title certainly fitted the 3 main female characters in this dark story of friendship and betrayal. How flawed they were despite their outward personas. But for some reason I couldn't warm to any of them - Mary was perhaps the one that got some sympathy although her son Marcus was the only person I truly felt sorry for. Affairs left right and centre and of course there is always fall out and other people are hurt (or even killed) Howards illness puzzled me I have to say. I liked that each part of the book was from a different character - and that certainly fitted perfectly with our readalong over on Facebook.
More than a kitchen sink drama of a story - far darker than that.
Will certainly read more by this author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - more as it got juicy in the middle! The characters were engaging, it kept me on my toes and I couldn't put it down as I wanted to find out what happened. definitely recommend!

Three women, three very different lives, all connected through friendship over many years. There were marriages, births and finally a death, the murder of Nancy, beautiful, wealthy, the one who seemingly had it all.

Yet, did she or was it all smoke and mirrors, a gilded outer life that hid, boredom, unfulfillment and a lack of self worth. For her friends Eleanor and Mary, her murder was the catalyst that opened up the veritable can of worms, as they examined their own lives and indeed that of Nancy’s.

Hall skillfully stripped away their layers as she delved into their past, but also their present, as they searched for answers to Nancy’s murder and where their future might lie.

I don’t think the novel would have worked if Hall hadn’t used each of the women’s voices to tell their individual stories. Each had their own perspective of the other but most importantly of themselves and in my opinion represented the main differences in our modern society, the career woman, the stay at home Mum, and the wealthy polished poised woman who floated seemingly effortlessly through life.

Eleanor, seemed the most competent, the one who had it all worked out, successful in her profession, single, happy with her own company, but is that really what she was all about. I don’t think she regretted her childlessness, but I do think she craved that special other half, to be loved and cared for.

Mary, was the stay at home Mum, a real earth mother, her life about her children, supporting her husband, Howard no matter how awful or selfish he appeared. Hall made me feel so much empathy for Mary, conjured up images of someone slightly disheveled, weighed down by domesticity and a marriage that appeared null and void yet you wanted to yell at her, to wake her up and do something about it.

Nancy, the only one with a well heeled background, destined to marry well, to appear to have it all, the handsome successful lawyer husband, the beautiful clever child, the town house and the country house and a gilded luxurious lifestyle. But Hall showed a woman who was bored, dissatisfied, life an empty shell lacking in substance, a husband who couldn’t understand why she needed more. You knew that she would be the one to risk it all, as she leapt into something that had an edge, excitement, a guilty secret, that took away the boredom until it all became too much, the way out blocked, destined to end badly.

As Hall stripped away those layers, you read as the three women’s lives became more intertwined than even they imagined, their relationship with each other picked apart, the what if’s agonised over before the astonishing realisation that what they sought lay closer to home than any of them could have envisaged. You waited as it prepared to rip them apart, but instead, solidarity, a renewed closeness between Mary and Eleanor saw them close ranks, push out the old and embrace the new.

We had the story, the resolution, and the wonderful characters but Hall gave us more. She made us really think about what really makes us perfect, is there a woman out there that really is the ‘perfect’ woman who can successfully navigate relationships and children with ease. What about those other factors, men’s expectations to be the homemaker, to care and nurture children yet still have time for them, to love them, forgive them their indiscretions. Should women accept it, do we even deserve more or should we push until we get what we want even if that meant going against the perceived norm. And that I think was the crux of the novel, the perceptions we hold of other women, the need to believe that perfection really does exist and that if we just work hard enough it could be achievable. Maybe some form of perfection is achievable, but we have to accept that our perception of perfection is different for every individual, someone else’s circumsances and life not necessarily the one suitable for ourselves. The outward appearance of life on the outside is never what happens on the inside, the grass never greener on the otherside.

A myriad of thoughts, questions whose answers were never straight forward all brilliantly examined entwined with a compelling story made for one happy reader who was in awe of Araminta Hall’s wonderful Imperfect Women.

Hard to get through I found and not as thrilling as the blurb made out. Fine for lounging around the pool as an easy read

There is a lot about this book to enjoy - there are little secrets that I genuinely didn't see coming, complex relationships and friendships, and narration from three different perspectives.

The narration from three different perspectives was well executed because, as each new character takes over the telling of events from their perspective, we are led deeper and deeper into the story. It also serves to hold back information which is revealed later. Very clever.

However, I did not like a single character. Often I can not like characters but still like the book as I appreciate that such a strong reaction is the sign of great writing and characterisation. However, I found these characters generally shallow, irritating and selfish. Their friendships are a shambles and their marriages not much better. Yes, this can be realistic in life but it just meant that I had no sympathy for any of them and wasn't too bothered about how they ended up.

It was enjoyable but I have read so many excellent books recently that this one was just ok for me.

Thanks to Orion and Netgalley for this ARC.

This is a story of love, emotion and betrayal within relationships . It covers brilliantly the torment and bullying that can happen in a marriage and the power that one person has over another. Ultimately though it’s a story about friendship and how that overcomes all. I enjoyed this well written book although I did get a bit lost in the middle and lost interest for a while. The ending though is totally satisfying so well worth a read.

Loved this! Was taken in from the beginning and loved the real relationship between the women. I guessed the twist before it occured but I don't think that's much of an issue because I was so intrigued to see how it came about (and make sure I was right). I loved how the perspective changed between characters too.

This is the story of Nancy, Eleanor and Mary who have been friends since university. They live very different lives and have different careers and choices. One night Nancy goes missing after supposedly meeting her secret lover. The book moves backwards and forwards through time until we finally discover what happened to Nancy. A tense and involving book - recommended.

I really enjoyed this book which centres around three women and their lives, families, jobs, marriages. Nancy, Mary and Eleanor.
There are many twists in this book. The lives of each of the women who are best friends having met at university are entwined.
There is tragedy, sadness and thought provoking events during the book.
It reflects on women and how each can lead a different life to the next. How some settle for this and others don’t and won’t.
It is a good read.

The Nonexistence Of Perfection.....
On face a murder mystery, a psychological suspense but at its’ very heart a tale of friendship and bonds. Three women with a tale to tell but one of the three is murdered there is also a killer to be found. A dark, emotional and often unsettling read which is both well written and engaging.

Imperfect Women is my first novel by Araminta Hall and I really liked this dark exploration into the lives of three women who met at university.

Nancy Hennessy, Eleanor Meakins, and Mary Smithson get together in fresher's week and instantly forge a close friendship with each other, despite their different personality traits. Although there are resentments, jealousies, rivalries, guilt and betrayals, and they embark on different career paths, they remain good friends. When Nancy doesn't return home after a night out, Eleanor, a single woman with a flourishing career as a charity organiser, rushes to Nancy's husband, Robert's aid. The ensuing police investigation reveals that Nancy was murdered, and Eleanor informs Robert that after their dinner together, Nancy had gone meet her lover, David, with whom she had been having an affair. What follows is a compelling observation of friendship and love between three imperfect women, as the reader discovers what befell Nancy.

Araminta Hall really knows how to make her characters shine! I was totally engaged throughout, enthusiastically following the lives of Mary, Eleanor, and Nancy. Each woman had her own history, challenges, ethics, morals and hypocrisies. They lose direction, their ambition, suffer from poor self esteem, and struggle with parenting and their respective families. Narrated by each of the women, the story shifted smoothly from the past to present, as the reader learned the effect that Nancy's death had on everyone as their thoughts, feelings and secrets were gradually exposed. I particularly liked the parts of the story where Eleanor and Mary sought or offered solace and support to each other. The delightful telling of this complex story and the in-depth characterisation by the author meant Imperfect Women wasn't, in any way, boring. A very highly recommended read, worth five shiny gold stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Orion via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Imperfect Women is brilliant!

Exciting, and full of surprises. This is the sort of book I love reading and reviewing! I am surprised it’s considered a thriller / mystery though? I would place in chick literature personally! There’s a strong feeling of empowerment.

Again not what I was expecting when I picked up this book but I can highly recommend this one! 4/5

Three friends from college,secrets and lies follow them over the years.Characters are well portrayed, but not very likeable. Surprising twists.

I like the premise of this novel. Three women met at university and have maintained a close friendship ever since, despite their different lifestyles. When one of the women, Nancy, is murdered we find ourselves following the lives of the other two women in trying to make sense of what happened, with surprising results. I love a thriller but this didn't quite hit the mark for me and I guessed the ending about halfway through.

Thanks to netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the free ARC in exchange for a free copy.

The imperfect women - Nancy, Eleanor and Mary - first met at university and became friends 25 years ago, but as life goes, it has taken them all down very different paths. Eleanor runs a charity, Nancy a house wife and translator, Mary a stay-at-home mother of three. However, tonight Nancy has gone missing and Eleanor is left to tell Robert that his wife had been having an affair and was trying to end it with her secret lover.

This story follows the narrative of each women through flashbacks woven into the year after Nancy's death, questioning who was her lover and who murdered her?

I found the story quite predictable at times, which was disappointing. As a thriller it wasn't terrible, there are definitely twists and turns, but the chapters felt so long at parts, I struggled to push through them. There was so much sadness in this book that it takes over the story, it also felt like the women were missing any real warmth for each other, that they weren't really that connected from the beginning.

However, the authors comments on women and the expectations of men, other women and society stood out for me, as this seems to be such a strong theme throughout the book and even in the title. It was more a social commentary than a mystery novel/thriller!

Some examples:

"You can be many things in this life, but a dissatisfied women is not one of them."

"Women, Eleanor thought, carry guilt and responsibility like a second skin, so much so it weighs them down and stops them ever achieving quite everything the should."

Overall, although I struggled in parts, it's a quick read and I quite liked the ending, it felt like it suited the story.

Would recommend finding a quiet place or a long journey to really enjoy this book its told from 3 different angles so sometimes I found myself getting lost with the forwarding and backwards but overall I enjoyed this book