Queen Been by Jane Fallon
by Jane FallonTHE HILARIOUS NEW SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND RICHARD & JUDY SUMMER PICK FROM THE MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF FAKING FRIENDS AND TELL ME A SECRET
‘Absolutely masterly. Bliss’ Heat
‘Had me turning the pages into the small hours’ Louise Candlish
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Welcome to The Close – a beautiful street of mansions, where gorgeous Stella is the indisputable Queen Bee . . .
It is here that Laura, seeking peace and privacy after her marriage falls apart, rents a tiny studio. Unfortunately, her arrival upsets suspicious Stella – who fears Laura has designs on her fiancé, Al.
When Laura stumbles on the big secret Al is hiding, suddenly Stella’s perfectly controlled world, and Laura’s future, are threatened.
Taking a chance on beating Al at his own twisted game, these two former strangers are fast becoming friends.
But has Laura forgotten that revenge always comes with a sting in the tail?
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My Thoughts
Jane Fallon is a new author for me but I know she has a fantastic reputation as a great writer, so I was excited to read Queen Bee.
The story is told from the point of view of just one person Laura who is newly single and hoping to make a new start for herself and her daughter. Laura rents an annexe on “The Close’, a row of mansions owned by the mega-rich. Far from being daunted by her affluent neighbours, Laura adopts a cheery and friendly approach to the botoxed and designer-clad women, only to get a frosty and downright rude reception. She sets out to find out exactly why the neighbours have turned against her and discovers some secrets which literally change everything.
I loved the writing style and detailed descriptions of the millionaires and their lifestyles. You literally feel like a fly on the wall, soaking up the opulent furnishings and indulgent lifestyles of people who have money to burn. Laura maintains her grounded ‘girl next door’ personality throughout and her wit and relatability is totally infectious. I was so pleased that Laura didn’t in any way feel intimidated by the rich neighbours, in fact, she saw straight through their shallowness. I loved the descriptions of the surgically enhanced faces, the status one-upmanship, and the total incompetence of the Barbie lookalikes. It’s a total reminder that moral values are far more important than a glitzy lifestyle.
I raced through the pages, the final section of the book had me gripped and I will miss life on ‘The Close’. This is a book to escape to, a glimpse into a mad world where nothing is actually as it seems. There are characters you will love to hate (then learn to love just a bit!), an unpredictable plot, and the start of unexpected friendships.
A refreshing and highly amusing read.
‘Sharp and hilarious. A perfect beach read’ Irish news
Why people can’t get enough of Jane Fallon’s books:
‘Hugely compelling and unpredictable’ Ruth Jones
‘She always delivers a fabaliss read’ Marian Keyes
‘Brilliant, with completely unexpected twists’ Gill Sims
‘She’s the queen of the revenge novel’ Heat
Thank you to Penguin and the author for a copy of the book, which I have reviewed honestly.
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