Guest Review | My Sweet Revenge ~ Jane Fallon

My Sweet Revenge

Jane Fallon

Penguin UK - Michael Joseph

January 2017

Rated 5/5

               

I want to make my husband fall back in love with me.

Let me explain. This isn't an exercise in 1950s wifeydom. I haven't been reading articles in old women's magazines. 'Twenty ways to keep your man'. That couldn't be further from the truth.

I want him to fall back in love with me so that when I tell him to get the hell out of my life he'll care. He won't just think, 'Oh good'.

I want it to hurt.

Paula has had Robert's back since they got together as drama students. She gave up her dreams so he could make it. Now he's one of the nation's most popular actors. And Paula's just discovered he's having an affair.

She's going to remind Robert just what he's sacrificing. And then she's going to break his heart like he broke hers. It will be her greatest acting role ever.

Revenge is sweet. Isn't it?

             

I am a big Jane Fallon fan, so when I found out that she was releasing a new book, I knew I had to read it immediately. After Laura’s request on NetGalley was accepted (thanks to Michael Joseph, Penguin UK), I was thrilled to be able to delve into the book straight away - it definitely didn’t disappoint.

My Sweet Revenge centres around Paula, who finds out that her husband Robert is having an affair. Instead of confronting him about it, she decides to take revenge on him instead. The book follows her journey as she plots her sweet revenge. Not only does she befriend Saskia, Robert’s lover, but she also undergoes a physical transformation.

Immediately you find yourself rooting for Paula, who at the beginning is overweight and lacks confidence. As the plot thickens, you see Paula develop into a strong woman and you hope to yourself that she can pull off her revenge. I’m not sure how many women would be able to keep their cool as well as Paula did throughout, especially when things didn’t always go to plan. However, the character transformation is brilliant, and it’s great to see Paula regaining her confidence.

Jane Fallon is great at developing characters that we either despise or empathise with. The characters of Robert and Saskia are horrid - Robert is portrayed as a lying, pathetic weasel, and Saskia is the ultimate bitch, which is emphasised in the second part of the book as it is partly in her narrative. It’s pretty easy to hate both characters. There are plenty of minor characters throughout the book too, all of whom add a little something to the main plot.

My Sweet Revenge is full of quick wit and laugh-out-loud moments, as well as some shocking turns. As with a lot of Jane’s books, just when you think you know how everything will pan out, she throws in a plot twist. The second part of the book is full of them and I was kept guessing until the very end.

Jane Fallon is the queen of chick lit with an edge, and My Sweet Revenge stands tall as one of her best books. I devoured the book over two nights, and whilst I’m a sucker for chick lit in general, what I love the most about Jane’s work is the sass throughout. There’s no soppy love story here, just a feisty and witty tale of betrayal and the ultimate revenge. I would definitely recommend My Sweet Revenge to anyone who wants a different take on your standard chick lit - prepare to be hooked!