As per Emily Edwards brilliant debut novel The Herd, this latest book will also have you thinking. Its not such a moral dilemma this time but a "there but for the Grace of God"
Despite having 3 children and little time, Headmaster Seb and wife Rosie seemingly have a steady marriage. Yes, there are a few problems but every long marriage has those, but when Seb recognises Rosie's new friend, and a new mum from school Abi, his stable life explodes.
His personal life suddenly becomes the talk of the town and long standing friendships and his job are at risk.
I really felt for Seb and Rosie, their marriage issues were realistic and probably very common. I think most women of a certain age could empathise with Rosie's feelings.
I didn't particularly like Anna's character but the way she enlisted her friends i could imagine being true in many close knit towns I felt she projected her own experience onto others with telling results.
As with The Herd I feel this novel will give many talking points and discussions in book clubs. There are no easy answers or conclusion to form with the storyline, it's a personal opinion for everyone.
I loved the novel, a real page turner.
I have posted my review on Goodreads, Bookmory, Storygraph, Fable, Waterstones and Amazon

Seb Kent has just achieved his dream of becoming headmaster at his local high school in the seaside town of Waverly, he is happily married to Rosie and they have three children. Their lives are fairly simple, they have good friends, their closest being Eddy and Anna, in fact Eddie and Seb are more like brothers, always there for each other. Rosie has made friends with newcomer, single mother Abi who has recently moved to the town looking for a fresh start with her two children but it soon becomes evident when Rosie introduces Abi to her family and friends, that this isn't the first time she and Seb have met and, in a small town like Waverly, it's not long before tongues start to wag and their past explodes into a huge public scandal with some very dire consequences within the community.

Private Lives is the latest domestic drama by Edwards and, after reading her debut The Herd, I was really looking forward to this one. As before, this new one is a fast paced read which centres on a fairly controversial topic for some but, what should have remained private between Seb and Rosie, was soon leaked out into the community and turned into a witch hunt! I really felt for Rosie and the predicament she was in, an issue that can be common in long term relationships and, even though what Seb did was wrong, it was nobody else's business and certainly didn't warrant the backlash it received. There were some really decent characters in this story including Abi who was just doing what she felt was best for her girls at the time, others I didn't like at all and I certainly wouldn't welcome a friend like Anna! This was an interesting story that I can imagine would raise some split opinions in a book club discussion and, as with The Herd, it was one I couldn't put down.

I'd like to thank Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Netgalley for inviting me to read this, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

My thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Private Lives’ written by Emily Edwards in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Seb Kent is the local headmaster and lives with his wife Rosie and their children in the seaside town of Waverly where they socialise with a group of friends. Young single mum Abi moves from London to Waverly hoping for a fresh start and is as intrigued with Rosie as she is with her, but their budding friendship comes to a halt when Abi meets Seb. It’s clear to Rosie that this isn’t the first time they’ve met and that something has happened between them in the past.

‘Private Lives’ is a thought-provoking drama that takes place in a small seaside town where secrets don’t stay hidden for long especially when they’re confided to so-called ‘best friends’, and when they’re spread around the community they threaten to destroy more than just those closely involved. All of the characters were very well-described especially the children of the families who had to grow up quickly. I felt sorry for Seb even though he hadn’t treated Rosie as well as he should have, and Rosie who bore the brunt of the scandal that was erupting around her. The moral from this story is that everyone deserves to make one mistake without them and their family being vilified and Emily Edwards did a good job of allowing this mistake to run its course and lessons learnt. I enjoyed this story that made me stop and think and will look forward to reading more by this author.

A super book with really well drawn characters that draw you in and you don’t know who’s side to take. Exploring the difficulties people can face in relationships and the very quick way we can jump to conclusions the story takes you through the different sides of people’s perspectives. What is right might be another’s wrong and vice versa. Whose side will you choose?

Very twisty and tense, full of secrets. Small town, big drama it was a seriously intense read all the way through.

I really loved The Herd when I read it a while back so I was very excited to get my hands on this, the author's latest offering as it has been a fair while. And I was equally impressed, reading it start to finish in just one day.
We start with Seb who has just been promoted to headmaster of the local school. He is married to Rosie and the two spend a lot of time with Seb's best mate, Eddy, and his wife, Anna. Things tick over well enough initially, with Rosie starting a new friendship, taking newbie to the town, single mum Abi, under her wing and becoming friends. Until that is, Abi "meets" Seb and it becomes clear that the two already know each other. Seb confides in Eddy and Rosie confides in Anna, not the whole truth but when Eddy talks to Anna, things get realised. Shocking (to Anna) things. Things that Anna thinks and feels that not only Rosie should know, but, the whole town, especially given Seb's job. And so things escalate and much debate is forthcoming. From adults and children alike. As Seb's world implodes, shockwaves are sent throughout the town, affecting everyone and polarising opinion.
I blooming loved this book. I obviously have my own thoughts and opinions about the "hot topic" of conversation contained herein but this is not my platform. That said, it does mean that this book will make for an excellent book club read as it will engender much discussion. I think I said similar about The Herd when I reviewed that book.
Actually I will just say that, tbh, what I thought was the connection between Seb and Abi was way much worse than what it actually was!
Characters were excellent - well drawn, developed nicely as the story progressed, and all played their parts very well indeed. As well as the main topic, we also saw how certain characters reacted to various things along the way, all showing, eventually, their true colours. Also ignoring the main topic, it will be interesting, and indeed key, to work out exactly how much of ones private life is entitled to remain so when you are become a figure of authority. Surely everyone is entitled to make mistakes, bad decisions? It's how to deal with them that counts towards your character, surely?
All in all, a cracking read that, along with The Herd, I thoroughly recommend. Please just don't leave it so long for the next one! My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Private Lives by Emily Edwards is a contemporary novel about Seb a happily married man with great friends and a job that makes him a pillar of the community,

Until Abi who has secrets of her own especially about Seb.

So how will friends and the community react when these revelations come out and should they be made public.

Even though Private Lives is a 21st century novel there were times that you could imagine it being written in the 19th century as the main focus is the Lead character Seb’s fall in the opinion of his friends, colleagues and the general public.

What made Private Lives such an intelligent novel is that Emily Edwards told the story in such a way that it was possible to see both sides of the story and form an opinion one way or another,

This was done by having the scales tilt from one side of the social opinion to the other added to this the prejudice that each character brought a fascinating point of view to the story.

This as a reader felt to be the real success of the novel, in that as a reader you may or may not agree with the stance of each character but the writer does such a good job in developing them that their stance seemed totally with what you would expect.

Except for one character but this was done in such a way that there was more to the person's back story than meets the eye.

All this means that Private Lives by Emily Edwards is a great read no matter if you read it on your own or as part of a book club.

3.5 stars.

I feel I should start my review with a bit of a disclaimer - I don’t think I chose wisely selecting this book; I feel this genre really isn’t for me anymore and perhaps that’s why I can’t award it higher marks. I just didn’t find the subject matter thrilling - secrets, lies, infidelity etc - I could say more but I’m avoiding spoilers! Despite being entirely readable, I just didn’t particularly care about the majority of characters (Abi and the teens were the only ones I had much respect for). I was definitely expecting deeper characterisation and more family dynamics than the domineering topic of sensational drama - but saying that, it’s not that I’ve exactly missed the point - this book does have some very acute moral lessons about being human, the dangers of slanderous gossip, along with society’s demands to know everything about our private lives and if we can/ should forgive one another, especially when one comes clean. Ultimately it’s a novel about the consequential far reaching damage of human mistakes and for that, I admired its success.

‘Private Lives’ would make an excellent tv drama, most likely to appear on channel 5 and be a huge success within its realm - but it’s not a piece of fiction that I’d personally rave about, or look to read any more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

“ Chaos often precedes change. That’s the way of things.”


Seb and Rosie appear to have the perfect life: a long-standing marriage, three lovely children, and financial security. From the outside, everything seems ideal. But behind closed doors, their relationship is faltering—particularly in the bedroom—and emotional distance has quietly taken root.

Then comes Abi, a single mother of two, seeking a fresh start in the quiet town of Waverley. But no matter how far she moves, her past isn’t far behind.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Seb and Abi share a hidden history. When Seb turns to his best friend, Eddy, for advice and solace, the secrets begin to unravel. Gossip spreads, the town starts to pry, and soon, everyone’s entangled in a web of secrets and moral judgments. But in a place where privacy is an illusion, who gets to decide what’s right and what’s unforgivable?

“ Promises are absurd. They cannot stay the same as everything else changes. They too, in turn, must become dust and blow away. Making them free to choose, if they wish, try again.”

This book is going to set the internet on fire. 🔥
Sharp, fearless, and absolutely unputdownable—from page one to the last.

It dives headfirst into the mess: marriage, sex, betrayal, brutal honesty, and the savage theater of social media. No sugarcoating. No moral hand-holding.

Told through multiple POVs, we watch the fallout from Seb’s scandal—a school headmaster with a carefully curated life that unravels in public. Everyone has something to say: his family, his students, the whole damn town. And none of it stays private for long.

It’s raw, uncomfortable, and full of questions that linger. What happens when your worst moments become entertainment? What does the crowd really want—justice or blood?

A bold, brilliant read. Perfect for book clubs ready to go deep—and maybe get a little heated.
Highly recommend picking it up the moment it drops. 💣📚

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of #PrivateLives in exchange for my honest review.

Xoxo😘

#BookLover #BOOKSTAGRAM #bookrecommendation #BookishLove #bookcovers #BookReview #bookish #bookcommunity #booksbooksbooks

Enjoyed reading this book on NetGalley. It explores interesting themes as the core of the story …. should a person in a position of trust be held to account for private indiscretions, what is in the public interest to be known, are parents the best people to have a say about the moral fibre of those who teach their children or should the children themselves be allowed to express their opinions and stand up for what they believe? These are just some of the things explored, friendship, marriage, love and forgiveness are also covered. During the course of the book relationships of all sorts are tested, found wanting, broken and even strengthened. There is peer pressure, dishonesty, honesty, strength and weakness, bravery and cowardice. This novel asks difficult questions of the reader, where would we have sat in this community? Would we have judged according to our prejudices or would we have been brave and spoken out in defence or support of those who may not have a voice?
For me, this took a little time to get going, a little too long to get to the crux of the tale. But once it did, it didn’t pull any punches and was excellent. I would definitely recommend it as a solid four star read.

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 ❤️