Emily Edwards’ previous novel, The Herd, explored the topic of childhood vaccination and I had my doubts whether there were really two sides to this story or if it was just normal people versus eccentrics (to put it kindly)! This new book is on slightly safer ground and, as the title suggests, is fundamentally about whether you can have a private life and a public post.

Sebastian, Seb, is a local Head Teacher married to Rosie but experiencing marital difficulties or at least that is his excuse for a brief fling with a sex worker. The problems arise when Abi, the sex worker, moves to the small town of Waverly which is where Seb teaches.

There are rumours, then innuendos, then indignation and rage. Everyone takes sides and events slowly unfold against the background of a middle-class community whose favourite refrain is surely it couldn’t happen here!

The wife of Serbs best friend, Eddy, becomes obsessively involved in the witchhunt which follows Seb and one of the themes of the book is the strain which these events place on friendship and relationships.

The strength of the book is the way that the story develops a life of its own so that all of the characters lose control of their own lives as the Internet and local media become involved. The book manages to explore some key issues about privacy, exploitation and morality without taking too many sides!

In the end, everything sort of works out, sometimes in quite unexpected ways, but it has been a serious lesson for everyone and there’s plenty to think about and discuss.

This is going to be a great read for the local book club because there are genuine issues to tease out. Are the comfortable middle-class residents really that bothered about the sexual exploitation of impoverished women or is it that they just don’t want it on their doorsteps? Is Abi, the sex worker, entitled to a voice in all of this and why does it sometimes seem that the children talk more sense than the adults?

It’s very readable and there’s enough there for you to draw your own conclusions about all of this.

The storyline about a middle aged couple Rosie and Seb and Rosie's new friend Abi who it transpires knows Seb. Focusing on infidelity and betrayal this an enjoyable read.

This is Emily's second novel. If you loved The Herd, then you will absolutely love this.
Set in a Waverley, this comes across as like a village with ladies who like to do coffee after the school run in the morning, very cliquey.
There are only a few characters, and these are the ones we concentrate on.
Seb has become a headteacher at the local secondary school. A job he has always dreamed of doing. Married to Rosie, they have 2 children.
When someone from Seb's past turns up in Waverley, his life starts to unravel.
Their best friends, Anna and Eddy, have their own issues, but when Anna hears something about Seb, it's like a runaway train, and there is no stopping Anna!
This was compulsive reading, unputdownable.
It is definitely thought-provoking .I found myself swaying one way, then another.
I'm looking forward to my friends reading it so we can have a good discussion.
This is my favourite book so far this year.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House uk for the ARC in return for an honest review.

This was another brilliant book from the author of 'The Herd', who does not shy away from difficult topics, presented as a domestic drama.

Seb and Rosie seem to have it all. He's just landed his dream job as head teacher of his local secondary school, and Rosie has just made friends with a mum who is new to their area, Abi.

But Seb has been concealing something, and when he finally meets Abi, he realises that their paths have crossed before.

As events unfold in the story, Seb and Rosie's closest friends become involved in the drama and a close knit community is ripped apart.

The characters are well rounded, the story telling compelling. Really enjoyed this story of betrayal and drama. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review- definitely another discussion creator for book club!

A thoughtful look at the effects of infidelity on a marriage and in particular using a sex worker. In this case the Abi was (she thought anyway) in control and doing it to make money. Secrets are asked to be kept but they leak out and lives are imploded. The characters are well drawn and there is no black and white here.

Settled in the small seaside town of Waverly Seb has his dream job as headmaster of the local secondary school, he and Rosie are happily married though not without some problems.
Abi a single mother of two girls has had a hard life which is now settled as she has recently moved to Waverley and has a good job. She makes friends with Rosie and when invited to Rosie’s house she and Seb are shocked to meet as they have a secret from the past.
When Seb confides in his best friend Eddy about his past with Abi he asks him not to tell his wife Anna, unfortunately Eddy does tell his wife Sebs secret and all hell breaks loose. Anna takes the moral high ground determined to destroy Sebs life, despite the fact of the support both Seb and Rosie gave her when Eddy confessed to a one night stand.
As the rumours take hold Seb and Abi’s life start to implode all brought about by the viciousness of Anna.
With a cast of well rounded characters from the adults to young children/teens this is a good if at times tense read with good and bad being well balanced and an excellent finale.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

A novel which perfectly illustrates how hard it is to keep anything secret and how one transgression, one tug at a loose thread, can cause several lives to unravel forever. Not a relaxing read but a great one!

The plot centers around two married couples, Eddy / Anna and Rosie /Seb. They have been friends from eternity. Seb is Godfather to Eddy and Anna’s son Blake. However, things are not a happy as it would appear on the surface. Anna and Eddy seem to need constant reassurance. Perhaps because of Eddy’s indiscretion with a one-night affair. While their friends rallied round to support them, the same is not reciprocated when Seb is confronted by his past through the arrival of Abi.

What happens is that Anna becomes judge and jury as she becomes hell bent on destroying Seb’s career as Head teacher on moral grounds. As secrets and lies spill, we see a community split by dilemmas over what constitutes as exploitation.

This book challenges many taboo subjects such as infidelity, sex work and marriage breakdowns. Each character is fully developed, and we genuinely hear each voice. Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication.

Private lives covers about betrayal, and how it affects not only the people involved but their family and friends. It shows how secrets cannot be hidden, and in the end it can causes hurt.

Excellent writing, I feel this book will be talked about a lot.

Engaging read for the Summer. Tale of families who both the men suffered from infidelity at some stage. The fallout of the two families and the destruction of their lives as the tale unfolds.

Childhood friendship , will be tested to the limits.

Would make an excellent book club read.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

I was very keen to read this book having really enjoyed the issues raised in “The Herd” and so thank you Netgalley for giving me the chance to review the book. I am aware that talking about the issues in the book would be “a spoiler” as it takes a while for the reader to find out how Headmaster Seb knows and fears newcomer to the town, Abi. The author is brilliant at depicting characters with all their flaws. I ended up understanding all the points of view put across. Friendships and relationships are challenged. I couldn’t put this book down and feel that the ending is realistic.

This is an absolute cracker. I loved the cover which is just a bit off kilter and hints at the content. Emily Edward’s takes a simple situation and turns it into a compulsive page turner filled with moral ambiguity. A small middle class community welcomes a new resident. She seems to fit in well and is befriended by Rosie and Seb. Seb is headmaster, the job of his dreams, but cracks soon start to appear as Abi, the newcomer, casts her line. This is real curtain twitching stuff. How well do we know those around us? What goes on behind closed doors? What secrets have been kept and by whom? A hist of strong but flawed characters, all with different motivations, this is a masterclass in small town mores. Is there right and wrong? Read it and decide. I was hooked from page one and finished in a couple of sittings. Simply superb storytelling. Emily Edward’s has nailed the domestic drama.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

An exciting story told through a close knit circle of middle class friends. Highly addictive and thought provoking, it has you wanting more.

This book has to be one of my favourite books that I have read this year. So many interesting and complex moral characters to discuss and perfect for anyone who loves a TV drama focusing on the intimate lives and relationships of people in a shared community. I found the social dilemmas and points raised in this book to be really compelling and it is one that opens up interesting discussions about the choices we make as human beings. Would highly recommend to other readers and book clubs and look forward to reading more of Emily Edwards' books.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Seb is the local headmaster of a secondary school, and he is married to Rosie. Anew lady moves to their close knit area with her children called Abi, and Rosie instantly likes her and begins a new friendship. When Abi meets Seb, it's clear that they already know each other. Seb decides to confess a secret to his friend, and thats when the web unravels.

This author is brilliant at writing stories that really make you think, and which side you would be on. The characters are all written completely flawed, no one is perfect here, and that just makes the story far more engaging and completely compelling. The author always includes subjects that can be a bit taboo, and this one is no different, and we see the subject of fidelity, marriage issues, and whether a public figure should have their private lives subject to other peoples judgement and opinion. I really loved this story, and I know which camp I was in.

"The Herd" by Emily Edwards was a real page-turner and big hit with bookclubs as there was so much to discuss regarding the topics raised (should children be vaccinated). Emily Edwards has tried a similar approach here with "Private Lives" but with a prominent figurehead and what happens when his past catches up with him. For me, it wasn't as strong but it was good to see the arguments from all sides.

Rosie and Seb live in Waverly an idilyic village with a perfect marriage or so it seems! He's head of the local school. When a newcomer Abby moves into the village it seems she and Seb already know each other but how? That's when Rosie and Seb's perfect marriage begins to fall apart and secrets come tumbling out from everywhere.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this novel. Will highly recommend, would be great to see it made into a film!

In the quiet, upmarket town of Waverly live Rosie and Seb. They’re living their best lives and Seb has recently got his dream job - Head of the local school. Then Abi moves into the town and makes friends with Rosie, but Abi and Seb seem to already know each other.

That’s when secrets start to come out into the open, and perfect lives start to fall apart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Bantam for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

In the quiet town of Waverley Rosie and Seb are living the perfect life, with Seb recently promoted to Head teacher at the local school. That is until Abi arrives, who is a young mother wanting a fresh start. Soon hidden secrets are coming to light and private business becomes public scandal. Just how far will everyone go to protect what they hold dearest?

I really enjoyed the first book by this author, The Herd, so was looking forward to reading this one. I also felt drawn in by the cover. This ended up being another thought provoking read, raising many questions and debates and another perfect book club inclusion.

The story starts strongly, where you discover the characters and slowly build up an understanding of their dynamics and personalities. They are portrayed in a compelling way, however some are highly unlikeable, which created a range of emotions from anger, sadness and empathy. The story builds the tension slowly, which worked well in this instance, and ended up being a powerful, authentic novel. This was certainly another well written, at times poignant read and will suit those who enjoyed The Herd. I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

I absolutely loved The Herd so couldn’t wait to read this new release. I flew through this book and couldn’t put it down. It raises some really interesting questions and would be a great book club read. Emily’s talent for finding controversial topics which can emotionally affect the reader is what makes her books so intriguing and gripping for me.
Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to review.