I first discovered Elizabeth Noble when she published her brilliant debut and a gem of a read, The Reading Group, way back in 2002 which is hard to believe is over 20 years ago now. I’ll admit though it’s been quite some time since I read one of her latest books so I was interested to try out her new book, Other People’s Husbands, as there has been a great buzz around this book and I was keen to see how her writing style had changed and evolved.

Straight away I’ll say two things. First this is a long book at just under 500 pages and in my mind perhaps it could have been shorter and the same messages and themes would have come across just as well. Secondly, there are an awful lot of characters to familiarise yourself with. When I see a list of a cast of characters appear before the story has even begun, I become apprehensive that there is no way that I will be able to keep track of who is who and what their various storylines are.

Six couples which means 12 individuals and their various children all feature here and to be honest for the vast majority of the book it was just too much for me. It would have been really beneficial to have had a name appear at the start of each chapter so I could know who it was focusing on. It wasn’t until the halfway point, which at 250 pages I consider quite some time to get into a book, that I felt the book found its rhythm and settled down and the story really took off. Up until that point I felt nothing really occurred, but the second half made up for the first and I felt like I was reading a different book altogether and I found myself reading turning the pages much quicker.

Now, that I’ve gotten the two main issues I had with this read out of the way let’s focus on the story itself and the good points it has. This is a mature read which focuses on a group of men and women who forged a friendship at the school gates but that latest way beyond their children’s time in school.The group are close knit and spend special occasions and some breaks away together. They can have time away from each other but yet always come back together and pick up where they last left off. I loved how this wasn’t a young, wild and frivolous group. The couples had been married for many years and the majority of the children were now adults themselves and this helped feed into the overall plot. The story details how one act of selfishness can cause severe repercussions not just for those closely involved but also for those in the extended friendship circle. Lives are destroyed and everything you knew about people is called into question. How can trust be restablished or is it too late and love and devotion lost forever? Loyalties and actions are questioned and dissected, and an overall balanced viewpoint is presented as to how individual people cope when the dramatic revelations come out into the open.

The six couples that feature are Phil and Gemma, Kit and Natalie, Ross and Vanessa, Andrew and Flick, Dom and Sarah and Rupert and Annie. They all have different numbers of children whose names I won’t detail because to be honest only one or two of them needed to feature in detail to show how the actions of two people impacted on their children’s lives. This was cleverly done as I thought the adult children in question were finding happiness but potentially it could be up scuttled. Again here this is where the selfishness of a minority impacted the majority. I felt two couples could have been left out of the equation as they didn’t feature much and for some of the book I questioned the necessity of the inclusion of one or two others but on reflection they were needed as they helped tie certain mini strands of the story together with the overall plot. Some of the characters were under utilised and I would have liked to have seen more of them and then in the later half some of the characters I had viewed as being meek or subsequent to requirements shone through for me in a surprising way showing their strength and tenacity and willingness to face things head on.

As mentioned in the blurb it’s an affair that allows cracks to open within the group. These fissures widen the more details are slowly revealed. Who are the two culprits? Well, that’s for you to read to discover. Suffice to say I didn’t like or admire either of the pair because of their actions and the resulting impact it had on everyone else’s lives. As a question in the blurb asks ‘Could one betrayal really destroy it all?’. Well, that’s what the book explores. How do the dynamics of the group change? How do various individuals close ranks and support the person in need yet they feel a slight disloyalty to the person engaged in said affair? Both the women and the men are caught between a rock and a hard place as they battle with their own emotions in dealing with the situation. It’s a fascinating insight into a group that appeared rock solid but this cataclysmic situation has caused huge fissures to appear that may not be repairable.

Actions have consequences and there are many people involved in the rash and lustful actions of just two people. A wide range of emotions are found on every page - anger, hurt, humiliation, lack of understanding, loss, devastation, sadness and fury to name but a few and I could see that all these feelings were very much valid and needed to be felt by all the characters in particular by the women. As you read through the book you wonder will the groups friendship and love be able to withstand the ultimate no go act as so many boundaries were crossed and vows were broken? But as I have mentioned the author, in the later half did a very good job of presenting all viewpoints so that I as a reader swayed back and forth in my opinion as to the overall situation. I had never thought this possible given the premise and how I feel about such a thing but that’s testament to the way she wrote the book that I really got to thinking about things. The characters are not perfect by any means and all have their flaws and imperfections most notably the two whose deeds have shattered lives. They become emotionally battered and bruised and the various other couples become dragged into the mess and stuck in the middle of a situation they would have more than likely kept out of if they had not been such a tight group whose friendship has sustained them for many years.

Persist with the first half of Other People’s Husbands as it is slow going and time is needed to get to know the individual characters and then you will be rewarded as there is a very good story waiting to be read here. It’s a well written account of how infidelity can collide with others rather than just the two who paid no heed to the emotionally and physical consequences of their actions. The power of female friendship and solidarity is illustrated very well. The ending was not perhaps what I was expecting but the book was all the better for it. It’s definitely a good choice for a book club as it provides plenty of food for thought and discussion points and not everyone will be of the same opinion

I really enjoyed this book. It presented life as it can hurl itself at us. When you think it’s obvious it’s not and it kept me gripped thanks for access

It was really lovely to change genre and read a book about love and friendship (after so many psychological thrillers!)

I enjoyed The Reading Group by this author so I was excited to read this.
I wasn't disappointed. This was a heart warming, emotional book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The story took me a little while to become involved which was mainly because it was about 6 couples (and their children) so there were a lot of names to get used to but once I did I was captivated!

It follows a group of close friends in their late 40s and 50s who originally met via the school gates and have shared each others lives ever since. Twenty years later one of them has an affair. Could this betrayl destroy everything?

I became so invested in the lives of the characters in this book. It was also interesting to read a book from the perspective of slightly older parents (whose children were young adults.) There were some really sad parts as well as some amazing uplifting bits.

I enjoyed the exploration of the strong female friendships though the story and how the dynamic changed so catastrophically with the affair. The pain and heartache caused to so many people through the affair felt very real and it was so easy to emphasise with all the characters. I couldn't stop reading to find out the outcome by the end of the story. A very emotional read which I loved!

Great book with likeable characters, the introduction was fab and all was rosy with a group of friends, husbands and their children - I loved how everyone had a place and how easy the friendships were… until the in inevitable… the affair! Disaster was approaching and there didn’t seem any way to stop this juggernaut. Incredibly well written, tactful and tastefully covered - I felt sorry for the four people caught up in this - and felt the ending was very fair and necessary. I loved the nod to new romance too

A group of six couples in their 40s and 50s have been friends since their children were young, But when two of their members embark on an affair, the fallout is far-reaching, for marriages, for children and for their friendship, which surely cannot survive such betrayal.
This was such a good story. Very character-led. It opened at the school gates, and I expected one of those toxic friendship storylines, but all the characters are warm and empathetic - they're a group of people you'd like to be friends with yourself, and you feel their pain and distress at their betrayal by two of their members.
The plot is well-paced and very believable, and I loved the writing, too. Elizabeth Noble employs a lovely rhythm of prose which brings characters and settings to life on the page.
A strong, believable and life-affirming story of family and friendship with all its strengths and flaws.

Golly this was an uncomfortable read- what a situation to be in and to have created for their friendship group that had survived decades of life together only to be splintered by Natalie and Dom. I thought this was brilliantly written and all the characters absolutely and totally believable. I felt absorbed into the fabric of their lives and genuinely felt touched by Sarah’s pain and the heartache her and Mia and Dylan experienced at Dom’s unfaithfulness.
I really enjoyed becoming part of their lives for the duration of the book and I felt the ending was very appropriate. Would definitely recommend

Six couples have been friends for years. Their children have grown up together. But what happens when two of the group act in a way guaranteed to explode years of harmony?
At first, the couples and their wealthy lifestyle seemed unbearably smug. But this novel grew on me and it was soon easy to differentiate between each couple and believe in them.
The test of their friendship was at times comic and at times unbearably sad, but it always felt real.
I think a lot of readers will see uncomfortable parallels to their own lives.
All in all, an absorbing and well-observed novel - fast-paced with plenty of domestic intrigue. Recommended.

This was a gripping read from the start. It’s the story of six couples who have been friends for over two decades - that all changes when the affair tears everything apart for the couples and their families. . Admittedly it’s a bit of a challenge to remember who was married to who and who their children were -so maybe take some notes so you don’t have to keep referring back!! Once you figure the families out, it grips you with its beautiful and emotionally compelling storyline - a total must read.
Thank you netgalley, the publisher and author for the advance copy.

Thank you for my copy of this book to review.

I will admit it took me quite a while to get into this story and it felt like hard work to start with. It had so many characters and each chapter was narrated by a different person.

However, once I’d got my head around who was who, I couldn’t put it down. Each chapter left me wanting to read just one more. So glad I stuck with it.

A definite 5 star read!

Other People's Husbands is an excellent observation on what happens when a group of friends know each other almost too well. The novel is very much character driven, and based around the inevitable affair which takes place. For me, the pacing was a little too slow. The story seemed to meander for quite a while before it got going, but I was still hooked. I wanted to find out how their lives and relationships would unravel and be pieced back together. I thought the ending was a little bit out of place, but I can see why the author would want to end on a lighter note.

Enjoyed the read, as was not expecting the story to unfold as our did. It was written at a good pace and enjoyed it all.

It’s been a long time since I read a book in one sitting, I was completely invested in these people’s lives and the outcome. An incredibly well written observation on the effect infidelity has on more than those directly involved

This is the first Elizabeth Noble book I have read and I was instantly engrossed in this story of love, friendship and betrayal. The characters were believable and it was easy to empathise with them all. A fabulous novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A close group of friends. Six wives. Six husbands. But what happens when two of the friends become even closer? As sides are taken, can they keep the friendship intact or will it fracture forever?

Well written and compelling. This was an enjoyable read.

This had a slow start until about 1/3 of the way in and then really took off and captured my attention unforgivingly.

An interesting portrayal of friend dynamics, and how actions have a ripple effect in a friendship group. Whilst this is centred around one particular action, other external and family events occur around it, to make it even more complicated, and the lines even blurrier.

Clever writing.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’ve read all of Elizabeth Nobles books and I thoroughly enjoyed this one which looks a so beautifully at love, betrayal and friendship. A great read.

Beautifully insightful on long term relationships and friendships and the fractures a betrayal...
Characters are very well written, and I raced through this book. Gripping from the start and everything that a great read should be. Dont take my word for it.......read it ! You wont be disappointed

Being completely honest, it took me alittle while to get into this book. There was so many characters and names to try and remember that it wasn't flowing for me. I found myself having to go back and re read to remember who was who.

Having said that, as the story continued I found myself completed captivated by this group of friends. The devastation of the affair was written with so much emotion, I actually felt myself getting teary eyed. The author did a great job of showing just how much one little act of selfishness destroys lives.

One thing I would have liked was if the chapters had been titled with which friend the author was focusing on at the time. When you have a book that focuses on 6 women, plus their husbands *AND* their kids, it can all be alittle confusing!

All in all, this book about Friendships, relationships, grief and heartbreak was an emotional roller coaster that I throughly enjoyed once I really got into it. 3.5/☆☆☆☆☆

Another brilliant book from a really decent writer. From Happy to sad, all the emotions covered in this book. Friendships lots of us create at the school gate. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy.

Wow a fantastic read that truly looks at relationships and friendships in depth! Totally relatable, true to life and believable!
Six couples who have known each other for over 20 years, friendships formed when they were much younger but developed over the years as they celebrated children, milestones, holidays, birthdays etc until suddenly it all changed when an affair happened between two of them! The whole group dynamic changed with far reaching repercussions for all involved affecting the males, females and children!
The devastation, guilt, unhappiness and soul searching that followed the excitement, thrill and sex with a new person changed/altered the couple involved, their wronged spouses, their children and their friendship group, could they recover from this? Move on? Learn? The grass isn’t always greener on the other side!
The power/legacy of female friendship is illustrated so well highlighting strength,tenacity and forgiveness!
Would highly recommend
Thank you netgalley for this early read.