Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives

by Josie Brown

Book Overview

Lyssa Harper should have warned divorced DILF du jour Harry Wilder before she invited him to meet the mommies of the Paradise Heights Women's League Board. At least he brought cupcakes. Since taking... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1439173176
• Release Date: June 2010
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.9" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

"HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER" IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

Life in Paradise Heights, a prestigious gated community near the Silicon Valley, promises the happily-ever-after that many young couples want. But the fine print doesn't tell anyone to be careful, because "if something is too good to be true, it just might be." For the women of Paradise Heights, the first crack in the veneer of their perfect kingdom is the break-up of a seemingly flawless marriage. The gossip mill is alive and well in the Heights, and soon everyone is speculating about what broke up Harry and DeeDee Wilder. Popular opinion says that her husband walked in on her and her lover. DeeDee moves out, without the kids, while Harry stays behind; he works at home and occasionally at the office, but he is the primary caregiver. The two will be battling custody out in court throughout the months ahead, and the secret of just who DeeDee's lover is hovers over the storyline. When Lyssa Harper, whose husband Ted is a typical workaholic, befriends Harry and invites him to meet the other "mommies," she has no idea what will follow. Then Harry, who has become her friend, rebuffs the other women's advances, and he is exiled. And Lyssa will be, too, if she continues the friendship. Risking everything for her friend, Lyssa has no inkling of the events that will now unfold. I loved this "insider tale" of life amongst the privileged. Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives felt almost like a tabloid publication, but with the added bonus of being sensitively written, and with that hint of mystery hovering over everything. Told in Lyssa's voice, in the first person narrative, the reader is privy to her thoughts, feelings, and desires. This heightened my sense of having an up-close-and-personal view of this life. Toward the end, I began to suspect what would happen next, but I enjoyed waiting, almost holding my breath, for our characters to put the pieces together. Five stars, definitely--I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories of the privileged, who are real people with real problems; despite the life of wealth, these characters hurt and grieve, just like anyone else.

I'm in Love.

As intriguing as the synopsis is, it doesn't do the book justice. Even though it's 352 pages and I have a ten-month-old, I finished it in two days. Granted, I didn't get any dishes or laundry done- but I couldn't. Not since Twilight have I been so engrossed in a book (or so in love with the male lead) and I was unable to put it down! Certain aspects of it were predictable- but I didn't care because I wasn't just interested in the destination of the characters, but the journey as well. Oh, & spoiler alert: at the end, there's a moment where your jaw will literally drop. I actually said OUT LOUD, "Oh h*ll no." as I realized what was about to happen. & Since reading it, I haven't been able to stop daydreaming about Harry! I am definitely hoping for a sequel.

Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives

I so loved this book! A totally entertaining read. I felt as if I knew so many of these characters -- particularly the mean mommies, who you'll find in EVERY community. I think the author nailed them perfectly. AndLyssa Harper, the heroine, makes so many of the same mistakes in love and longing that we all make. Talk about someone you can relate to! Believe it or not, this is one of those books that you actually hate to see come to an end. That's saying a lot.

Insider Look at Suburbia

I fell in love with Lyssa from page one. She was our window into the startling jungle lurking under the manicured lawns of suburbia. Josie Brown has taken Wisteria Lane, Peyton Place, and swinging key parties and twisted them into a nice, twisted package called Secret Lives.

fun, emotional, chick-lit for grown-up girls

I totally *loved* this book. The antics of the mommy-clique are hilarious, but the deeply emotional friendship between SAHM Lyssa Harper and DILF-y Harry Wilder made the book a stand-out!