The Other Woman

This is a story about a woman who was originally the other woman. She believes she has a happy, healthy, strong marriage. Then at a company picnic a woman, Nicole, who is at least 10 years younger and very beautiful approaches her and tells her that she is going to marry David, her husband. Jill goes through the typical scenarios of an abused woman. She blames herself. Everything is her fault. She gives up her traveling for her job and eventually takes a teaching position at a local university all for her husband, David. She seems to always apologize for things. Some how he turns things around and makes her feel like it's her fault. Her pride is totally gone. She believes she is ugly and that everyone else feels that way too. She thinks her hair is too curly, frizzy, kinky . . . And wishes that she had the straight lovely hair of others. She thinks her body is lacking, etc. etc. etc. She is losing her common sense. It's almost as though her whole identity is getting lost. Pieces of her are dropping off and she will soon just be an empty shell looking for someone or something else to feel her up. If she is not careful soon her soul will be dead! This story uses the tragedy of a physically abused woman and her ultimate choice to open Jill's eyes to what is slowly happening to her. Although her abuse is emotional it is still there and very real however she never noticed. She was willing to give up so much for David: her dream job, her dreams of having a family, letting David control what her work hours, to live with his children, his ex-wife, and all she asks in return is that David give up the other woman. Jill has to ask herself what she wants? Is he asking too much of her? She needed to stop living in limbo, waiting for her husband to give up his mistress and make a decision and move on with her life. It was that simple. She knew what she didn't want. She didn't want to live in bitterness as David's ex-wife did, she didn't want to be driven beyond endurance, she didn't want to destroy what good there had been in her marriage . . . She wanted herself back!

Wow, you order the book one day and the very next day, the book is sitting in your mailbox. Prompt and speedy service - I like it. I look forward to doing business with you again.

As an "other" woman herself, Jill Plumley should know only too well, the lies and excuses given by errant husbands to their wives and mistresses and taken heed of her mothers' warning that if a man cheats on one woman, he'll cheat on another. As a nationally famous tv journalist, Jill meets and is swept off her feet by an incredibly handsome lawyer who leaves his wife and children to marry her. Subjugating herself to his wishes, she gives up her formerly glamorous life to settle for teaching, falling in with her husbands' wishes that she devote herself to him and his career. As so often happens, once the glamour and novelty surrounding her has subsided into mere wifely duties, husband is lured by the latest model of feminine charm, and starts the old pattern over again. It takes the killing of her husbands' boss by his wife to give Jill the shake up she needs to put her back on track. It's an old story but one which is played out by even the smartest of women. It's a very quick read but an enjoyable one.

This is a short book and although it's not as deep as some of Ms. Fielding's books, it's highly entertaining. I mean, not everything has to have deep meaning, right? If you want a great beach book this is it. You like the protaganist, Jill, from the first page. I have never found a Joy Fielding protaganist I did not like or identify with yet. The story grabs you right off as a woman walks up to Jill at a company picnic and tells her she plans on stealing her husband. It is very bold and different and you hate this young, sexy woman with a passion! You want Jill to beat the stuffing out of her! It is a witty, endearing book and since I have read it twice, like many of this author's books, I highly recommend it. It won't take long to read through and it is a great escape!

Bright, independent Jill found the perfect catch in handsome, rich--and married--lawyer David Plumley. Four years after Jill gets him to the altar, she finds her own position in David's life threatened by a young law intern at his office. Of course, Jill knows firsthand that David is susceptible to the attentions of other women. He'd been cheating on his wife before she met him. But she'd always thought, "well, I'm the only one he left Elaine to marry. So I'm safe." But the adversary here is powerful. Jill has big decisions to make here--and not just about whether or not she still wants David badly enough to fight for him. This crisis forces her to look at everything she's believed, and to re-evaluate it all. Great reading. There's a murder in this book, but unlike other Fielding books, it's solved early on. Later events in the book are influenced by what happens there, however. Enjoy this earlier work by Joy Fielding, now reissued for your reading pleasure!