A complicated but very good read. Loved how the story unfolded and was gripped. Would recommend this book.

I am going to call this novel a ‘locked room’ mystery, even though it is set against the broader canvas of the open sea. This is because all the ingredients of a good ‘locked room’ mystery are there: an atmospheric but claustrophobic setting full of rumours and gossip; the “golden couple” who seem to have it all, and the newcomer who unsettles them. The novel’s title hints at what the majority of people crave – the trappings of a successful career coupled with the privilege of private lives – and triangular relationship between school master couple Rosie and Seb and young single mother Abi – are fascinating from the start. I kept turning the pages faster and faster as I raced towards the end of the novel – and wishing there had been more pages to turn in the end! My thanks go to Penguin Books and to NetGalley who let me have a much-appreciated ARC in exchange for this honest, unbiased book review.

A very powerful read that will generate strong feelings. 📖👊

Seb and Rosie Kent have a good life with their 3 children in Waverly. Seb is a new Headmaster at a local school, a dream he has had in place since he was a child.

Seb’s best friend is Eddy, who he went to school with. Eddy is married to Anna and the four have been friends for a long time. Eddy and Anna are very social and Eddy the life and soul of the party.

When Abi moves to the town, she quickly becomes friends with Rosie, but it looks like Seb and Abi know each other somehow. This is when questions arise, and the past starts to unfurl.

What happens from then on starts to escalate in unimaginable ways. A small town has very big opinions and secrets do not remain private.

Emily Edwards is very clever at finding controversial topics which can emotionally affect the reader. This book will be a great read for many book clubs and will create many heated debates.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read, very thought provoking and sadly believable in our current world. Well recommended, it had my brain working in overdrive thinking through how it would make me feel and my views on everything.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers/Bantam and Emily Edwards for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Due to be published on 19 June 2025.

Set in a Waverley, a small affluent middle class seaside town that feels more like an exclusive cliquey village where everyone knows your business and is not afraid to make that opinion be known. Think well to do professional power couples who have carved out perfect lives, beautiful homes, happy and sociable families and great friendship circles. Yummy mummy’s gossiping at the school gates and having coffee and play dates.
Meet Abi, new to Waverley and just wants, NEEDS a fresh start for her and her 2 daughters. She worries she won’t fit in due to her more liberal lifestyle, and is over the moon when she befriends Rosie at the school gates. Throw in some suppressed secrets, lies and small town gossip and watch the fallout as Rosie and Sebs perfect life unravels. Consequences of past choices, self indulgences, arrogance and hidden truths surface. Abi and Seb have history…. Dealing with the public scrutiny of personal and private lives is hard to take and begs the question how well do we really know the people closest to us?
The tension laced throughout this book was palpable and totally believable, this could be anyone of our lives in an instant.
Thanks to Emily Edwards, Penguin Random House Uk and NetGalley Uk for this ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review

When Abi, a single parent and a woman in search of a new start for herself and her children, relocates to the small coastal town of Waverly, the last thing she expects is to run into a figure from her past.

Inevitably, complications ensue. And in the fallout, the once-perfect life of Rosie and Seb Kent takes a decided hit...

An interesting story with plenty of twists, this one gets 3.5 stars. It manages to surprise despite the relative familiarity of the trope it draws upon. Well worth checking out.

The writing style was good but the book failed to deliver. I found the characters ghastly and could not identify with them. Having read The Herd, I was excited to read the author’s latest offering. The story line did not deliver and I was disappointed. Thanks to Net Galley

A very public scandal erupts at a school in a seaside town. The parents, staff and pupils are all dragged in and opinions are formed. How far will everyone go to defend their position, and who will be left standing at the end? An involving and thought provoking novel.

It’s been a long time since a book made me reflect this deeply. As both a wife and a mother, so many moments in this story struck a personal chord, stirring up “what if” questions that lingered long after I’d finished reading. It’s the kind of novel that sparks conversation—one I’ve already discussed at length with family and fellow book lovers.

Set in the quiet town of Waverley in the South of England, the story evokes the charm and claustrophobia of close-knit village life. Think upscale couples, ladies who lunch, and tennis clubs—on the surface, an idyllic, well-manicured world. But beneath that polished exterior lies tension, secrets, and characters who are far more complex than they initially appear.

Early on, we’re introduced to the inner circle—the social elite everyone else either admires or envies. Among them is Seb, the town’s head teacher, a role he’s dreamed of and finally secured. Publicly, he and his wife Rosie seem like the perfect couple, but in private, their marriage is showing deep cracks.

Everything begins to shift when a newcomer arrives in Waverley, dragging Seb’s carefully buried past into the present. From there, the unraveling is swift and relentless, and Seb’s world begins to spiral.

Although not all the characters are particularly likeable, they’re written with such clarity and presence that they feel utterly real. You can picture them vividly and sense the tension they carry, which adds to the gripping atmosphere.

The pacing was spot-on—tight, steady, and filled with escalating tension that never let up. I found myself completely immersed, flipping pages without even noticing the time pass.

What really stood out to me were the themes the novel explores. They’re compelling, sometimes uncomfortable, and they forced me to think about situations I hadn’t previously considered. It’s the kind of narrative that challenges your assumptions in subtle but powerful ways.

I won’t spoil the plot—this is definitely a book best experienced without too much foreknowledge. But if you’re looking for a story that will completely pull you in and leave you thinking long after the final page, this one is not to be missed.

This is certainly a book that made me think. How would I feel if I found out that my husband had been paying a sex worker and also that the woman was my new friend.

The book examines how a community can quickly turn against someone on the say so of one very vocal individual.

I found this a great read.

I was asked by NetGalley to review this book.

The story is good and shows if you do something wrong this has such an effect on ones whole life. This is the story of a school head Seb, whose life is about to be upturned when something is discovered which Seb had kept hidden. It is horrifying for everyone and will affect his role as head.

Coming on to the scene is Abi Sebs wife new friend and new mum from school and suddenly Sebs personal life is out there.

A good book club book to explore issues and characters - I really enjoyed the storyline and is well written.

Due for publication June 19 2025.

2* Not for me DNF

Filled with smug, bigoted and thoroughly awful people, I struggled to like anyone. There weren't even enough likeable characters to balance the vindictive scaremongers.

According to other readers the book improved dramatically, probably at the point where I stopped reading.

With thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

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.

Such a great read about love, friendship and forgiveness. One man's need for human contact leads to life shattering consequences.

I enjoyed the author’s previous novel The Herd which touched on the difficulties of ensuring children were vaccinated against measles. Once this new novel came up on NetGalley UK I requested it and it went to the top of my to be read pile
This novel looks at a group of middle class suburban English people and what happens in their interconnected lives when it is revealed that one of their friends the local headmaster has had an affair with a prostitute.
In a way this book is a thriller too the way the author builds up the tension so that I feel physically sick when I’m reading it
Some of the people’s reactions are a bit over exaggerated It’s all a little bit unbelievable you have to suspend your disbelief a bit to immerse yourself in the novel. Once I managed to do that then the novel becomes an entertaining read
The author has a clear easily read prose style making the novel easy to read . There were
certain sentences I particularly enjoyed for example
“He feels greedy for the past wants it all again and again “ haven’t we all wished at some stage that we could relive our child’s past see them as little children again?
I feel this novel might make a good telly series. I can see a Netflix series similar to the. series based on the books of Harlan Coban.
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for an unbiased review book is published on the 19th of June 2025 by random house UK Transworld publishers.

This review will appear on that Kelly UK Goodreads, StoryGraph, and my book blog bionic Sarah‘s books.wordpress.com. After publication it will also appear on Amazon/Waterstones

I really enjoyed The Herd by Emily Edwards and I was looking forward to reading Private Lives.

The story is thought-provoking and emotionally charged, asking difficult questions about loyalty, redemption, and how far we’re willing to go to preserve our version of happiness.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The writing was engaging, and the characters felt authentic and flawed in all the right ways. It’s not just a story about a love triangle or a scandal; it’s about community, judgment, and the ripple effects of the choices we make. If you enjoy stories that delve into human complexity and ethical grey areas, this one will leave you thinking long after the final page.

I was really keen to read this one after The Herd but it just didn’t work for me. The writing is good and Emily Edwards is great at building a story but I didn't connect with any of the characters, I just found them insufferable. Thank you Random House for giving me the opportunity to read it.

Seb has finally achieved his dream job of headmaster at the secondary school he attended himself as a teenager. Married with three young children, he is an important figure in the local community and has a good social life with friends and other couples. All this changes when Abi and her family arrive in town and her unexpected connection to Seb threatens to reveal secrets both would prefer to keep hidden.
Private Lives would be a great book club read because it raises so many interesting topics for discussion. Should someone with a public role be entitled to a private life and what should be their code of conduct? Just because something interests the public (ie gossip and scandal) does that mean exposure is in the public interest? In an era of social media it is so easy for public opinion to be swayed by whoever speaks first or speaks loudest and for Seb and his family, opinions expressed online cause actual harm to real people.
A thought-provoking and well written story.

A brilliant story with so many twists to it and showing the true nature of some gossips and the damage that can be done.

I absolutely loved Emily Edwards debut novel The Herd so was really looking forward to reading Private Lives. The author introduces a different moral dilemma here and I found it to be an insightful and thought provoking read.
Seb and Rosie are best friends with Anna and Eddie and Seb is godfather to their son Blake. They live in a small, close knit community in Sussex where Seb is headmaster of the local secondary school. When Abi, a new parent arrives in town, her past and connection to Seb is soon in danger of being revealed.
The novel started off slowly and it took me a while to get into it and differentiate between the characters but once I did this was a compelling read. It’s an excellent exploration of relationships between friends and partners and how rumours and judgements spread in a small community. I found the moral dilemma fascinating, topical and thought provoking and this is a novel that will stay with me. Highly recommended.
4.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Fabulous book! As per Emily Edwards’ previous novel about vaccinations, Private Lives throws up more moral dilemmas.
Seb and Rosie have a young family and the sexual side of their relationship has been in the wane.
The mistakes they make are then blown into the community gossip mongers hands and the reactions cause so much harm. The book is told from two perspectives which helps you understand the dilemma from all sides.
It is very ‘of its time’ with the dark side of social media and how we can become obsessed with someone else’s lives rather than not being judgmental. In my youth, it was just being a busybody…..now we can all legitimately become that person by sitting behind a computer. It’s not progress!
It has a satisfying ending and I really enjoyed this book. It’s very relatable and well written. It holds your interest from the first page and makes you question your own reactions to similar situations.
Highly recommended