Book Reviews of The Other Woman

Ellie's found her Mr. Right—too bad his mom's got him all wrapped up in her apron strings. Bestseller Green (Bookends; Jemima J; etc.) saddles her heroine with the mother-in-law from hell in her latest bit of comic frippery. Ellie's mom was an alcoholic who died when Ellie was 13, so it's understandable that at first she's "over the moon" about being embraced by Dan's entire family. But poor Ellie never saw the meddlesome Mrs. Cooper coming. Mrs. Cooper calls her three times a day at work, plays devoted son against desperate daughter-in-law, takes control of the wedding plans and then, after the wedding and then birth of Ellie's son, Tom, seems to forget that Ellie even exists ("Hello, my gorgeous boys," she croons into the answering machine). More and more significant troubles loom: having a baby is hard! Marriage is hard! Green offers scenes of real pathos. ("We've become one of those couples that I used to dread becoming: the couples that sit in restaurants all night and don't say a word to each other"). The setup is solid, but the prose is flat: Ellie narrates with all the energy and élan of a bored, middle-aged housewife. She perks up, though, at the requisite happy ending.

A lot of married women can relate to this book. It has humor, heartbreak and rage. It takes twists and turns that makes you keep turning the page and makes you want to keep reading!

I LOVED this book!! It was such a great read. I couldn't put it down!

Very fun, compelling British chick lit. As soon as Dan proposes, Ellie discovers more and more how close-knit his family is. At first she loves it, then it begins to work against her as she and Dan start a family and his mother becomes far too involved. Lots of humor but plenty of heart-rending struggles, too -- like real life.

This was such a good read. Jane Green is one of my favorites.

Ellie starts out in her relationship with Linda Cooper as friends, and is so excited that she is finally having a mother figure in her life. However, the more she gets to know Linda, the worse things get. Linda is a very controlling woman, and this becomes very apparent during the wedding preparations. And if that wasn't bad enough, things get worse when Ellie becomes pregnant with her first child. Ellie feels that if only Dan supported her, she could deal with his mother, but Dan in fact thinks that Ellie is being childish and is overreacting.

While the book starts off on a very humorous note, as things get worse for Ellie and Dan, the tone turns quite different. Ellie and Dan's marriage is now on the rocks and it doesn't look like anything can save their marriage.

I really loved this book, as I have with most of the books by Jane Green. With the exception of BOOKENDS, I think Jane Green's novels are worth reading and will make fan out of anyone.

For anyone with an interfering mother in law, this is for you! Fun!

It is a thirty-something coming of age story. It is a light and easy read. At times it was hard to read through the dysfunction, jealousy, and other aspects of the unhealthy relationships, but some of the characters remind you of people in your own life. I was never so frustrated that I wanted to stop reading, but if it had continued with self-pity and human interactions that seemed so selfish and unkind, I am unsure I could have continued reading.

Great beach read!!!

I found this to be a quick easy read. I could totally understand Ellie's feelings in dealing with a monster mother in law. At first Ellie tries to please her MIL, since her own mother has died. But then her MIL starts controlling everything in her life & things get way out of hand.

This book was a great fast read...it really makes you think about how to treat your MIL. I loved this book and highly suggest it.

Great book, lovely story, light easy read.

Great story that anyone with a mother in law can relate to. This book kept me up many nights. I just couldn't put it down!

This book took some unexpected turns, but it's still classic chic lit by Jane Green, and an excellent read.

Couldn't put it down. The ending was a bit abrupt - a sequel would be very welcomed - maybe about Emma, the sister-in-law???????

Great, amusing read!

This is a funny book about a newly married couple with a young baby, and an overbearing mother-in-law, who really does mean well. My only complaint is the ending - suddenly there was an epilogue that explained away 5 years...

Another cute book by Jane Green, the other woman being her mother--in -law and how little things grew to great big fights between the two and the rest of her family.

Makes for a good read. As the cover indicates "What can a bride do when her mother-in-law becomes...the other woman"

Ellie finds the man of her dreams, has a beautiful son and is learning to cope with her mother-in-law's too-close-for-comfort relationship. Tragedy strikes and Ellie thinks she's better off alone, without family. A heart-warming book that reminds us that we should try to walk in someone else's shoes before making judgments.

"This look at mothers-in-law and what they teach us about ourselves is "un-put-down-able" - Cosmopolitan
"Unexpectedly honest" - Entertainment Weekly
"Warm, convincing and eminently readable" - Booklist

Great book, I couldn't put it down. Classic Jane Green.

Ellie's found her Mr. Right—too bad his mom's got him all wrapped up in her apron strings. Bestseller Green (Bookends; Jemima J; etc.) saddles her heroine with the mother-in-law from hell in her latest bit of comic frippery. Ellie's mom was an alcoholic who died when Ellie was 13, so it's understandable that at first she's "over the moon" about being embraced by Dan's entire family. But poor Ellie never saw the meddlesome Mrs. Cooper coming. Mrs. Cooper calls her three times a day at work, plays devoted son against desperate daughter-in-law, takes control of the wedding plans and then, after the wedding and then birth of Ellie's son, Tom, seems to forget that Ellie even exists ("Hello, my gorgeous boys," she croons into the answering machine). More and more significant troubles loom: having a baby is hard! Marriage is hard! Green offers scenes of real pathos. ("We've become one of those couples that I used to dread becoming: the couples that sit in restaurants all night and don't say a word to each other").

The charactes are very real and funny. Read it on sitting as it was so funny I couldn't put it down.

Very Funny!

I relly enjoyed this book. The mother-n-law is so terrible it makes you want to yell at her yourself.

Great read - I enjoyed the depth of the characters.

Very enjoyable, true to life story about relationships with the in-laws.

delicious read!

The best book yet by this wonderful author. Jane Green has gone beyond being funny and topical into a book that is highly entertaining and yet also qualifies as a novel as it comments upon and exposes truths about the contemporary human condition.

In Jane Green's delicious novel, the Other Woman is the motherinlaw. Ellie things shes found the perfect man in Dan, and she loves being accepted as part of his close knit family. Until she begins to realize that Dan's mom, Linda, is a little too involved. Dan and Linda talk on the phone every day, twice a day. And then as Dad and Ellie's intimate civil wedding ceremony gets transformed into a black tie affair, Ellie begins to wonder if its possible to marry the man without marrying the mother.

In Jane Green's delicious novel, the Other Woman is the mother-in-law. Ellie thinks she's found the perfect man in Dan, and she loves being accepted as part of his close-knit family. Until she begins to realize that Dan's mom, Linda, is a little too involved. Dan and Linda talk on the phone every day. Twice a day. and then, as Dan and Ellie's intimate civil wedding ceremony gets transformed into a black-tie affair, Ellie begins to wonder if it's possible to marry the man without marrying his mother.

As troubles mount, Ellie turns to her friends -- glamorous Lisa and wonderfully frazzled Trish -- and tries to rediscover the independence she once had, and the man she still loves. But it seems that having a child and saving a marriage means growing up in ways she'd never imagined . . .

A great book by Jane Green.

In Jane Green's delicious novel, the Other Woman is the mother-in-law. Ellie thinks she's found the perfect man in Dan, and she loves being accepted as part of his close-knit family. Until she begins to realize that Dan's mom, Linda, is a little too involved. Dan and Linda talk on the phone every day. Twice a day. And then, as Dan and Ellie's intimate civil wedding ceremony gets transformed into a black-tie affair. Ellie begins to wonder if it's possible to marry the man without marrying his mother.

As troubles mount. Ellie turns to her friends--glamorous Lisa and wonderfully frazzled Trish--and tries to rediscover the independence she once had, and the man she still loves. But it seems that having a child and saving a marriage means growing up in ways she'd never imagined...

Very funny book !!!

Good read.

Not my favorite Jane Green, but it was an excellent read, especially if you have a mother-in-law from you know where. :)

<< Back to Book Details of " The Other Woman"