In the sleepy town of Waverly, Rosie and /seb Kent are happily married. Now that Seb has achieved his dream of becoming headmaster of the local school, their lives couldn't get any better. Then Abi arrives. A young, single mother, has come to Waverly for a fresh start. She plans to reinvent herself and give her children a fresh life. Then she sees Seb and their complicated hidden past threatens to destroy them both, and they try their hardest to keep it contained. But in a small town, secrets don't stay hidden for long and soon, what should be their private business becomes a very public scandal.

Secrets don't always remain secrets, and when Seb Kent, newly appointed headmaster, meets Abi, a woman from his past, thier hidden past threatens to destroy them. Seb is happily married to Rosie. Seb decides to reveal a secret, and now it's fast becoming a public scandal.

I couldn't make up my mind whose side I was on. The characters are well-developed, but they are all flawed. I was quickly drawn into this story. This is a thought provoking read. The pace is steady as the tension builds and the story unfolds.

Published 19th June 2025

What happens when your private life becomes public?
Head teacher Deb visits a sex worker as his marriage has lost all intimacy. Craving human contact and sexual release.
Single mum Abi relocates from London to Waverley for a fresh start for herself and her two daughters.
The two world's collide.
Friendship groups explode, marriages explode with mortality and ethical questions explored.
Human nature at it's worst and best.
An interesting and thought provoking book

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Uk, Transworld Publishers for an advanced copy to enjoy. Emily Edwards writes books that make you really think. The topics she picks like her previous book The Herd was fantastic and so is this! Mistakes can and are made and everybody is human. Her characters are likeable and when Seb confesses a secret, that's when the proverbial hits the fan!
The story is engaging and very real and makes a perfect read for a book club.
Wild picks subjects that are taboo and for this I applaud her. I wish they would dramatise her books on TV!
Fantastic read!

Book club fiction done right! Each chapter left me wanting more.

It's a domestic drama but also makes you think!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

I quite enjoyed The Herd but this book was really not to my taste, especially at the end. It is an Issues book about dinner party people and would certainly provoke discussion in a book club or if read, for example, in a educational setting for young adults.

Seb is a selfish, blinkered, entitled worm of a man and the author has done an excellent job of portraying him. I do not know which version of him I disliked most - the whining, entitled sexual pest towards his wife or the cringing creep he became after he was found out. I also did not like his references to the beauty of his godson and his strong body - i thought that was rather disturbing.

As it says in the book, Seb is a man who browsed women on the internet like he was looking for a new pair of shoes and made an appointment, on at least 2 occasions, to abuse a woman. Abi does not consider that she was in any way abused but Seb could not have known that when he made his appointments so Abi's viewpoint cannot justify or minimise his actions.

I cannot accept the modern view that sex work empowers women. The women are buying into the male narrative that women exist only for the sexual gratification of men and, and they are dismissing the plight of vulnerable women who do not feel "empowered" by sex work but who are trafficked or pimped..

Anyway, rant over. I applaud the book for making me so mad and don't get me started on the "rights" of wet behind the ears children to choose who teaches them.

Back to the plot rather than the Issues. Would any responsible public sector employer allow a person to use their work equipment for personal purposes? What about viruses and security? Any competent IT person could have retrieved Seb's history even after it was deleted. and this alone would have been grounds for dismissal. Wasn't it lucky that Rosie has a friend in Australia? Too pat an ending for me.

So, not a book for me but 3 stars for it making me mad and for being an excellent basis for discussion.

Private Lives follows a group of characters in a small town where one of them, the local school’s headmaster, is revealed to have done something in his private life that upsets many people. Questions surrounding loyalty, morality, faithfulness, friendship and privacy are all covered from many angles in a way to challenge readers and are sure to inspire heated conversations in book clubs.

It's a very well written book, easy to read and raises many interesting questions but I found it difficult to warm to the characters. Some of their behaviours felt unrealistically extreme given their histories together, despite all the backstories they are given, and it felt as though much of it was designed to provoke a reaction rather than tell us anything about the people involved or make them feel realistic.

3.5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

A great read and one I couldn't put down. The joys of living in a small community where everyone knows your business and has an opinion on what should happen next. It did challenge what you would think if you were in the situation and how much isn't anyone's business.

Private Lives by Emily Edwards is set to be published by Bantam on the 19th June 2025.

3.5 Stars

Private Lives follows the interlinked residents of Waverly, a village in the South of England, following the arrival of a new resident, Abi, who unwittingly shakes the fragile happiness of her neighbours when she arrives with her two daughters to start her dream career at PLATE, a new restaurant.

We follow Rosie, a former architect and young mum to three children, in a sexual rut with husband Seb, the new headteacher at Waverly Secondary, as well as Seb’s lifelong best friend Eddy and his wife Anna. The close bond between the four is rocked when Seb admits to Eddy that he had an affair with Abi a few months prior. He thinks that his transgression is comparable to Eddy’s drunken one night stand on a work trip a few years prior, but when Anna finds out that he planned the tryst, all hell breaks loose. PLATE’s opening night gets derailed by the group's argument, and it is soon revealed that Abi is an ex-sex worker.

Will Abi get the fresh start she needs? Will Anna’s crusade against Seb lead to him losing his dream job? How will the boys’ friendship fare in the face of all the drama, and, for that matter, Rosie and Seb’s relationship? And will the many kids involved end up caught in the crossfire? Will Waverly ever know peace again?

This is an intriguing book, and Edwards does a good job of hooking the reader and keeping them hooked. I did find some of the character descriptions overwritten in places, such as when Seb’s mum Eva is first introduced. As well as this, the initial scenes feature a dinner party with lots of characters and it was very hard to keep track of them all, especially for an opening chapter. I would say, however, that there are some great sections of prose, such as the description of nearby village Ruston when Anna takes Eddy there around halfway through the novel, which is brilliantly drawn.

I was incredibly worried that the book would be more SWERF-y (Sex Worker-Exclusionary Radical Feminist) than it was. Yes, it makes sense that some characters would be viciously anti-sex worker, but the moral judgements and criticisms of Abi as a person filter into much of the novel, not just the sections focussing on Anna. The radio scene and the small character of Lucy were very welcome additions because of this.

Overall, a solid book with a host of complex characters (some much more likeable than others), although sometimes I think the book goes out of its way to forgive Anna when it doesn't need to. Aside from Abi’s gay Latine friend Diego, the characters aren't exactly diverse either.

By the time I started reading this book, I had forgotten the blurb on the cover and I’m glad that I had. You will, by this point, have read the blurb and don’t need me to précis the book for you. Suffice to say that when Mr Seb Kent the local headmaster first realised that a part of his past he hoped would never be discovered appeared in his village, he was horrified. So was I! I was trying to think of all the possible wrong doings a headmaster could have committed that would potentially destroy his life. When I discovered what it was it wasn’t nearly as bad as the things I had imagined and yet rock his world it definitely did.

This is a well written book and quite suspenseful. An original (to me anyway) storyline, that pulled me in and kept me page turning. It demonstrates beautifully, the hypocrisy and ‘pack mentality’ of small minded parochial communities, while delighting with the open-minded, respectful, ‘live and let live’ attitude of the Gen Z kids who get a lot of bad press these days. Well not in this book, my heart swelled at the maturity of these kids and the immaturity of heir parents.

It opened my mind to the plight of those who do jobs that aren’t of their choosing and the impact that has on their lives. It also reinforced my beief that Karma always comes to those who deserve it. I had already recommended this book to friends before I’d even finished it. A great book club read, in my opinion.

My thanks, as always go to the author Emily Edwards, (whose books I will definitely watch out for!) to the publishers and to NetGalley for an advanced e.copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in my review are 100% my own.

LOVED this! Fastest I've read a book in ages. We all know I go into books without reading the blurb so I had zero expectation for this when I started, and while I've got a copy of The Herd, it's still on my. TBR so I'm not even familiar with the authors work.

This felt like a really unique premise - it focuses primarily on Rosie and Seb with a reasonably strong supporting cast in Anna, Eddy and of course Abi. Rosie and Seb's relationship isn't in the greatest state - although they're pretending that everything is fine. Until they can't pretend anymore and dirty laundry is aired like it's never been aired before.

It was well written and had me gripped. I really cared about the characters in this story - despite their many many flaws. It was complex and showed how the world isn't as black and white as we sometimes like to see it.

Loved. Highly recommend ❤️

Wow! this is a stupendous read.
All life's emotions are here and fabulously portrayed in this compelling read. A bunch of characters that one might call flawed or might indeed call representative of all of us.
When does your private life become public?
When does gossip become a witch hunt?
Where lies the lines that you can't cross?
I genuinely could not put this one down and found myself finishing it at 1am on a school night! A tale that will stay with me for sometime and no doubt induce a reading hangover.

ARC - Releases June 19th
Thank you Penguin Random House & Transworld for the Early Copy

In the quiet seaside town of Waverly, Rosie and Seb Kent are living their dream until Abi, a single mother seeking a fresh start, arrives. When her hidden past with Seb, the local headteacher resurfaces, their secret threatens to unravel everything. In a town where nothing stays hidden for long, how far will they - and the community - go to protect what matters most?

I think I was expecting this to have more thriller vibes, but it was very domestic-literary-drama over thriller. I found it a little slow going in the beginning, but I think part of the point of the book was this snowball effect from one decision that just kept getting bigger and bigger.

The characters in this are really interesting, there are people who you initially trust who turn out to be abhorrent, and people you think you won’t like who slowly win you round.

I thought the writing was good - and I’m now interested to read the Herd.

You can only ever do what is right or best for you at any given time. How you will be judged for those actions is another matter. Abi does what is best for her to improve her life, to create a fresh start, but what goes around comes around – and there are always those ready to stand in judgement and be delighted that your sins have found you out. And my, how superior and correct they will feel.
Thank goodness for loyal friends and those with a sense of fair play.
The description of a mother losing her sense of self and sovereignty over her body, amongst the demands as wife, mother, daughter, neighbour, friend, is a treat to read – so many women will identify with the resentment described, the fatigue, and the desire to be autonomous, without giving up these roles!
When events best kept secret escape, Emily Edwards describes the fall-out with clarity and empathy. A most enjoyable read!

A cleverly written thought provoking story.

The characters were perfectly created and I felt all were strong and relatable.

I had difficulty having any empathy with Anna which I guess is exactly what the author intended.

A disturbing tale of how life can change at the flick of a switch!

A well written story of trust, betrayal and hope.

There are not enough superlatives for this novel. It revolves around Rosie and her husband, Seb Kent who has achieved his lifetime ambition of becoming a head teacher. Abi is a new mum in town and it quickly transpires that Seb and Abi have met before. Needless to say, this compulsive tale of moral transgression and judgemental parents quickly rip up any sense of normality with potentially deadly consequences. Edwards has written what could have been a run of the mill story into a thoughtful, emotionally intelligent read whilst addressing the stark some social issues seen in every community. This book will move you profoundly and leave a lasting impression.

This book is worth every one of the five stars I've awarded it and I would have given more if I could
Seb and Rosie and their family live in the small community of Waverly and are part of a core group of friends. They regularly meet up for dinner and drinks, sporting events and even go on holiday together.

When Abi and her daughters move to the area they are met with interest and speculation about their past lives
One day, the actions of one person who speaks out about another person's private life has unexpected consequences and repercussions. The effects are extensive and extremely destructive, tearing apart family, friends relationships and everything Seb and Rosie hold dear.

A brilliantly written, thought provoking book. Shown thoughtfully from a sex worker and a former client’s point of view. As well as the wife and friends. Thoroughly enjoyed it and will read this author again

Brilliantly written. The author, Emily Edwards tackled several issues while delving into the lives of three families within the community of Waverley. A secret is exposed and blown up, exaggerated and misconstrued and repercussions are felt. Totally engrossed in reading this well constructed, character led , thought provoking book. Will definitely look out for more works by Emily Edwards. Highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley and the Publishers, Random House, for this ARC.

This book isn’t was you expect it to be in such a GOID way!! The plot could have easily turned into some anti-men trip but this is far cleverer. The scene being set by two couples who are close friends….lives entwined……secrets that aren’t so secret…….secrets being used against each other…..a revelation and then the choice of what to do.

The author made everyone human, fallible, wanting to be good, avoiding truths until you can’t, it makes you think and it was very clever! Excellent book.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Transworld Digital for my copy of Private Lives by Emily Edwards.
This is one heck of a read. No one knows what goes on behind their neighbours doors, everyone has their own little world to worry about.
But when something happens people rush to take sides, to gossip, to decry, to forget that it could be them.
A very powerful novel. A very emotive subject, that was very hard to read in parts.