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The Best of Friends cover art

The Best of Friends

By: Joanna Trollope
Narrated by: Clare Higgins
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Summary

Gina and Laurence had been the best of friends ever since they were teenagers. They had never been in love - just friends.

Now, Gina is married to the exquisitely tasteful Fergus and lives in stylish perfection at High Place. Laurence is married to down-to-earth Hilary and they have spent their married life turning The Bee House into both home and hotel.

Then, with elegant disdain, Fergus announces he is leaving Gina and their teenage daughter. As Gina's misery ricochets through the two homes, she turns for emotional support to Laurence, her dearest friend. And as Laurence gives comfort, so his own marriage, and the stability of his children, edges towards destruction.

©1995 Joanna Trollope (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: Romance

What listeners say about The Best of Friends

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When's her next book?

Would you listen to The Best of Friends again? Why?

Yes, in a year or so. Because I find the more you enjoy a book, the more you remember it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved them all, each different bringing personalities to the story.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not that extreme, but happy & sad for them.

Any additional comments?

Joanna Trollope has to be my favourite author, having read all her books & always on the lookout for her next one. I feel she writes for the 40 year plus women.

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8 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Disappointing

I didn’t think this was as good as previous Joanna Trollope stories. They usually rattle along at a good pace but this one dragged and was rather dreary with no very likeable characters. I was glad to have got to the end but that was quite predictable.

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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This has become a period piece

Having read this author's novels over decades and also read her more recent novels, I was surprised that I found this novel quite dated, from the point of view of the female characters. It added an unexpected and unintended slant to this middle class story of its time. I would recommend and thoroughly enjoyed but would urge new readers to bear in mind the period in which it is written.

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1 person found this helpful

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Absorbing

An excellent read with interesting and detailed ,descriptive use of language. Beautifully performed by the narrator . Convincing characters and a very satisfactory ending.

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Very enjoyable

All Trollope books are brilliant. Lovely rich writing with characters that come alive. A curl up on the sofa read.

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Meandering

I had to give up after giving it a good go. Really could not feel where the story line was going. As this was my first foray into Aga/saga land I was very disappointed. However, appreciate that many readers are dedicated devotees.

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Classic Trollope

I think this is one of the better ones I have read. Engaging characters and I minded very much what happened to them. Complexity and foibles of human relationships explored with compassion and humour.

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