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.

Private Lives is a 4.5⭐️ rounded down to 4⭐️.
Seb is finally head teacher of his secondary school, this is something he’s longed for from being young. He has a perfect job, perfect house and perfect family but not for long. Seb does something that results in everything he took for granted being taken away from him and once the opinionated parents find out half a story his life comes crashing down, labelled with horrific names that isn’t him at all. Will his family stick by him or will they turn against him like his childhood friend without all the knowledge?
This was a really good read about modern day marriage and lives and the hardships we all face while no one else has a clue, but are willing to cast assumptions that make matters worse. The characters were really well developed and made the book move forwards at a good pace. The intricacies of several couples lives and how intertwined they were and as a result suffered the hardest damage was well written. The storyline was varied and interesting. This is the second book I’ve read by this author and again doesn’t disappoint and will be another winner.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Private Lives by Emily Edwards is a striking exploration of modern domesticity and the fragile nature of privacy. This is a novel that not only tells an engrossing story but also invites readers into a labyrinth of contemporary dilemmas . The narrative centres on Seb, the local headmaster with a façade of perfection, and the ripple effects caused by a hidden liaison that propels the entire community into a maelstrom of suspicion and scandal. The way the author interweaves the intimate struggles of her characters with the larger societal commentary is both compelling and thought-provoking and I loved it!

The author expertly balances intimate character studies with broader themes of fidelity, trust, and the invasive nature of modern media. Despite its weighty subject matter, the story remains engaging and fast-paced, revealing the messy reality of private lives in a public world., this was on-the-edge-of-your-seat reading.

The story itself is brilliantly supported by layered characters whose flaws mirror the unvarnished chaos of modern life. The intimate, small-town backdrop intensifies these human dramas—where secrets are rare, one misstep can lead to swift, harsh repercussions..

For readers who crave narratives that challenge conventional assumptions while still delivering gripping storytelling, "Private Lives" stands out as a thought-provoking and engrossing read and easily rivals the author's debut novel, raising the high bar she set with her keen observations and nuanced character studies..

One of my favourite reads of 2025.

This didn’t have a good flow for me, the characters felt too flat, the intrigue was missing - the tone towards the end of the book trying to balance manipulation and sexual emancipation felt weak.

A brilliant story following the lives of Abi and her children when she moves to a village called Waverly and works as a waitress in a local restaurant hoping for a new start. All is going well until she meets Rosie and her husband Seb and Anna and Eddy one night at a party and Abi recognises Seb and that is when the story gets provoking and interesting as truths are slowly voiced.
Loved the characters all with their own secrets which makes you engrossed in the story to the end.
Would highly recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Superb! Could not put it down but then didn’t want to finish it! True to life characters, all people of today’s world; emotional, histrionic, vain glorious, hypocritical, anxious, two faced and all wonderfully human! Take two couples, good friends and close neighbours, Seb and Rosie and Eddy and Anna then add ex prostitute Abi into the mix, stir with great satisfaction, bake in a hot gossip environment for a couple of days and the outcome is definitely not to everyone’s taste! Absolutely loved it!

This is an intriguing read.
A book about hopes, dreams, relationships and expectations.
Social Media seems to have robbed everyone of a private life, and we live under constant scrutiny. Many people aspire to be how people are perceived online, but where is the truth here? People post what they want to be seen, instead of what's really happening, and I personally blame this on the rise of body dysmorphia, and eating disorders.
Similarly with relationships. Nobody knows what goes on in a marriage or behind closed doors, so they imagine and try to copy. Then someone makes a bad judgement and secrets start to come out. Everyone has skeletons in the cupboard, and once they are revealed, chaos ensues. Until we realise that a lot of the hurt and disappointment is linked to our own expectations.
What happens next is purely up to each person, and true personalities are revealed.
This book had me on the edge of my seat once I had sifted through all the characters, and I'd like to thank the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At first I thought this book was going to be anti men in general but how wrong I was!

Ms Edwards writes beautifully with the main plot featuring two married couples living in a small Sussex village. Seb is married to Rosie and their good friends are Eddy and Anna. Plenty of school gate gossip and tennis for the boys sets the scene for such events as Eddy’s indiscretion with a one-night affair, and Seb's apparent sexless marriage.

Then Abi moves into the village, working in a new restaurant (excellent location for a sub plot). She has a 'colourful' past (no spoilers) but is connected to Seb the local head teacher. Anna becomes the village moral spokesperson regarding Seb and the community takes sides with a parental petition against him and a pupil petition supporting him. All done on line, of course!

The book covers many facets of human behaviour. It has a satisfying ending, the characters are well drawn and all in all I really enjoyed it. Maybe a bit of humour next time please?

Thanks to Net Galley and Random House UK, Transworld for the chance to read and review.

I loved the herd and I loved this one. The scene is set by two couples who are close friends….lives entwined…..then a revelation and then the choice of what to do with that. I love how the author creates such vivid characters and real situations and makes you think about different decisions and actions. Excellent book I loved !

Private lives by Emuly Edwards is set in a 'perfect English town where Rosie, her husband Seb and their 3 children live. A scandal with Rosie and Seb at the center reveals maybe the town isn't as perfect as first thought. What follows shows how toxic small towns can be.

This is a well written novel with believable characters who feel real. Parts of it infuriated me but I feel like that might have been the authors intention.

If you are looking for a book with an interesting plot and is easy to read then I highly recommend this one.

This was another thought provoking novel by Ms Edwards, and told in a well balanced way. I found the moral questions posed interesting and well expressed and the claustrophobia of a small community highlighted by the believable characters. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Thank you to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.