Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Penguin (2005), Edition: Re-issue, 656 pages
Description
Jojo Harvey is a literary agent whose star is on the rise. In love with both her married boss and her burgeoning career, not much distracts her. Until she finds herself representing two women who used to be best friends. One of them, Gemma, has suddenly found herself from a broken home - at the age of thirty-two. Meanwhile, Lily - the woman Gemma has always blamed for stealing her one chance of happiness - is enjoying the overnight success of her debut novel. Set in the world of publishing, The other side of the story is about love, loyalty, glass ceilings and survival tactic - and what to do when you get your chance for revenge.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AdonisGuilfoyle
I seem to have come of (a certain) age early - this was my first foray into the fluffy pink world of chick lit, all 600+ pages, and I enjoyed it! Marian Keyes is a witty, insightful writer, and her characters really come to life. Pure escapism, but not overly romantic or ridiculous.
The lives of
A very funny and engaging read from start to finish. I might have to read more from this author, now that my prejudiced opinion of chick lit has been challenged!
The lives of
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three women are connected by books - Gemma and Lily, once best friends, are writing their first novels, and Jojo, a glamorous yet approachable literary agent, helps them to get their work published. The separate threads of the story are neatly woven together, with no trite happy endings or impossible coincidences. Life for all three does eventually work out for the best, but the reader is happy for good things to come to them. Gemma and Lily's narratives are given individual 'voices', whereas Jojo - perhaps because she would be too intimidating in first person - is presented via quick-fire dialogue and her interaction with the other characters. I loved them all - Gemma's fantasies and high-maintenance mother, Lily's distinctive appearance and wonderful boyfriend, and Jojo's spirit.A very funny and engaging read from start to finish. I might have to read more from this author, now that my prejudiced opinion of chick lit has been challenged!
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LibraryThing member kikilon
I love her books for the sheer volume, but this one also wasn't as depressing as a lot of her others were (which isn't to say that this one was light and happy, not at all). I especially enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look of the publishing world. As always, MK weaves story threads so beautifully
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tightly together, you can't help but mmarvel how it all falls into place after a 648-page tour de force. Show Less
LibraryThing member Phuong_Susu
Jojo Harvey is a literary agent whose star is on the rise. In love with both her married boss and her burgeoning career, not much distracts her. Until she finds herself representing two women who used to be best friends. One of them, Gemma, has suddenly found herself from a broken home - at the age
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of thirty-two. Meanwhile, Lily - the woman Gemma has always blamed for stealing her one chance of happiness - is enjoying the overnight success of her debut novel. Set in the world of publishing, 'The Other Side of the Story' is about love, loyalty, glass ceilings and survival tactics - and what to do when you get your chance for revenge. Show Less
LibraryThing member starless_
The first Marian Keyes book I read, was hoping to pass idle time blissfully and remain worry-free. so it's nice to read about a couple of women going through little trials in their lives now and then. A little longer than necessary, but Marian has good style and doesn't fail to bore you even when
I'll be searching for more Marian Keyes books! Let's just hope they aren't as long-winded as this one.
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the story drags. A good afternoon/tea-time read.I'll be searching for more Marian Keyes books! Let's just hope they aren't as long-winded as this one.
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LibraryThing member BigNess
This is the first Marian Keyes book I read. It was loaned to me by a girlfriend, at a time when, as a new mum, I had little time to read and had been immersed in the world of pregnancy and baby- raising titles. My friend gently introduced me back to the world of fiction, and it was the first chick
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lit book I had read. Before parenthood I was a die hard psycho thriller reader. I would never have entertained the thought of reading such a book! Luckily, Marian Keyes and I got on like a house on fire, and I still fondly remember this book dragging me into a world I never inhabited, but used to aspire to! Show Less
LibraryThing member emhromp2
I love Marian Keyes, she is my favourite authoress! This story is full of wisdom. She makes you sympathise completely with the revenge story of one woman, only to introduce the other side of the story immediately after. It teaches you to hear both sides of each story. Loved it!
LibraryThing member gogglemiss
This is the first book I have read, from Marian Keyes, and I thoroughly enjoyd it, despite the fat volume of it.
Each of the three characters lives touched me deeply in some way. While it was absolutely hilairious throughout, it was achingly poignant inbetween and I'm glad that this is an excellent
Each of the three characters lives touched me deeply in some way. While it was absolutely hilairious throughout, it was achingly poignant inbetween and I'm glad that this is an excellent
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first read for me, from MK. Show Less
LibraryThing member Summermoonstone
I love Marian Keyes and this book doesn't disappoint, funny and poignant.
LibraryThing member kikianika
I love her books for the sheer volume, but this one also wasn't as depressing as a lot of her others were (which isn't to say that this one was light and happy, not at all). I especially enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look of the publishing world. As always, MK weaves story threads so beautifully
Show More
tightly together, you can't help but mmarvel how it all falls into place after a 648-page tour de force. Show Less
LibraryThing member JenJ.
Adultery/boyfriend stealing and the publishing world meet head on in The Other Side of the Story. Jojo is a fantastic literary agent, but she's sleeping with a married co-worker. Gemma is obsessed with the fact that her former best friend, Lily not only stole her boyfriend (sort of - he'd already
I've enjoyed all three of Keyes' novels that I've read so far, but I always, undeservedly, seem to expect them to be lighter fare than they are. Not everyone ends up paired off happily and as expected. There's also usually a serious look at depression - in this case in the form of Gemma's mom who hits rock bottom when her husband leaves. I'd put these more in a category with Jennifer Weiner than Sophie Kinsella, let's say, for sure.
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broken up with Gemma before he even met Lily) but that Lily has had a book published. Gemma is also distracted by that fact that her father appears to have left her mother for that old cliche - his much younger secretary. Lily is convinced that having stolen Gemma's not-quite boyfriend and being ridiculously happy with him means that some sort of terrible karma is due to occur for her - especially when her book (agented by Jojo) hits the bestseller lists. When Gemma's e-mails to a friend about the happy ending she's imagined for her mother, sans father, land on Jojo's desk as a possible manuscript, the fun really begins.I've enjoyed all three of Keyes' novels that I've read so far, but I always, undeservedly, seem to expect them to be lighter fare than they are. Not everyone ends up paired off happily and as expected. There's also usually a serious look at depression - in this case in the form of Gemma's mom who hits rock bottom when her husband leaves. I'd put these more in a category with Jennifer Weiner than Sophie Kinsella, let's say, for sure.
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LibraryThing member lberriman
This book is light and bubbly. It is very addictive reading.
LibraryThing member love2laf
Typical summer beach read. Enjoyable, fairly light, but not completely vapid. I've always had a soft spot for this author after reading her first book Watermelon, which was hilarious fun, and though no other book may measure up to that one in my mind, it's still perfect escapist reading.
LibraryThing member lhaines56
marian keyes tends to write off center and this is no exception. took me awhile to get into it story of three women--two writers and one writers rep. all of their lives converge towards the end. page turner...
LibraryThing member ElizabethCromb
Lightweight, enjoyable read about relationships new and old.
LibraryThing member melorem
This book is about three different women who are connected to each other, but are not necessarily friends. Gemma's father has left her mother and she has to be the one to pick up the pieces. She keeps her friend in Seattle updated via emails that are part venting and part escapism. Her friend sends
By telling the story through the three women, the author is able to create sympathy for one at the same time she is telling us a lighthearted scene in the life of one of the other women. Marian Keyes never disappoints.
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them to a literary agent because she thinks they are good enough to be a book. Jojo is the literary agent who is tough and dedicated to her career. While working hard to further her career she falls in love with one of the partners of the firm. Problem is he is married. The last woman in the story is Lily. She WAS a friend of Gemma's but ended up falling for Gemma's old boyfriend. This causes a rift between her and Gemma. She writes a book which has a huge following but has difficulty coming up with a follow up that is successful. As she enjoys the relationship she has with Anton she can't help feeling all the bad things that occur to her are because of her stealing Gemma's boyfriend.By telling the story through the three women, the author is able to create sympathy for one at the same time she is telling us a lighthearted scene in the life of one of the other women. Marian Keyes never disappoints.
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LibraryThing member ryn_books
**possibly spoilerish to some**
The setting of Marian Keyes "The other side of the story" is the world of contemporary London publishing, with the viewpoints of both agents and authors presented in the characters.
The storylines revolve around relationships, marriage and affairs. Both from the view
Unfortunately, I really didn't like this book as much as her other books. (And I've absolutely loved some of the others). I just had difficulty empathising with any of the characters.
This is a shame as there's some really good moments in the novel, but other parts felt extremely forced. The parts of the story that I felt flowed naturally were the competitive politics at the publishing house and the feelings of an author as she becomes well-known and feels pressured to write a book her readers expect.
What didn't work for me was another major storyline and the anger felt by one character to another. The refusal of that character to (from my view) 'grow up', lessened my enjoyment in reading anything involving her. This was disappointing as there's an interesting subplot of how she as an adult woman had to deal with looking after her mother in the aftermath of her parent's marriage breakup. That's a theme not frequently covered in contemporary novels but something becoming all too familiar in our non-fiction world. I wish it was handled with more subtlety in this novel.
The setting of Marian Keyes "The other side of the story" is the world of contemporary London publishing, with the viewpoints of both agents and authors presented in the characters.
The storylines revolve around relationships, marriage and affairs. Both from the view
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of characters in an affair and others impacted or feeling betrayed by one. Unfortunately, I really didn't like this book as much as her other books. (And I've absolutely loved some of the others). I just had difficulty empathising with any of the characters.
This is a shame as there's some really good moments in the novel, but other parts felt extremely forced. The parts of the story that I felt flowed naturally were the competitive politics at the publishing house and the feelings of an author as she becomes well-known and feels pressured to write a book her readers expect.
What didn't work for me was another major storyline and the anger felt by one character to another. The refusal of that character to (from my view) 'grow up', lessened my enjoyment in reading anything involving her. This was disappointing as there's an interesting subplot of how she as an adult woman had to deal with looking after her mother in the aftermath of her parent's marriage breakup. That's a theme not frequently covered in contemporary novels but something becoming all too familiar in our non-fiction world. I wish it was handled with more subtlety in this novel.
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LibraryThing member m.belljackson
Too goofy.
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2004-05-20
Physical description
656 p.; 5.08 inches
ISBN
0140295992 / 9780140295993