One-hit Wonder: 'A compelling story packed with intriguing characters' THE TIMES

by Lisa Jewell

An emotional, uplifting story about sisters, secrets, and second chances, from No. 1 bestselling author of Richard & Judy pick THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS

Bee Beahorn had it all - a successful music career, fabulous friends, and a glamorous celebrity lifestyle.

At least, that's what her estranged sister, Ana, had always believed.

Their lives were worlds apart. Bea was beautiful, extravagant and full of life. Ana was awkward, shy, and destined to live in Bea's shadow.

But when Bea is found dead in her flat, Ana realises that everything she knew about her sister had been a lie.

Ana is determined to find out the truth about her sister - and she might just find herself along the way . . .
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'A compelling story packed with intriguing characters' The Times

'Written with intelligence, verve and wit . . . a triumph' Hello

'Inventive and moving, with definite charms and a real sense of poignancy' Sunday Times

• ISBN10: 0140295968
• ISBN13: 9780140295962
• Publish Date: 27 September 2001 (first published 24 September 2001)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 464
• Language: English

Reviews

[Leah]

This Lisa Jewell novel was definitely darker than the previous novels I’ve read of hers. It took me a hundred or so pages to get into it but once I did I really wanted to know exactly what happened to Bee and what everyone knew of her. It is marketed as chick-lit but it isn’t really, or if it is it is much less fluffier. How many chick-lit novels deal with aids and suicide?

It was good yet sad to read how much Ana found out about her sister after she had died. Not only that but there’s Bee’s mysterious cottage which introduces us to Zander, a disabled boy, who is probably one of the best child characters I’ve read; there’s also Amy, Bee’s next door neighbour as well as Flint & Lol. The whole story twists and turns right up until we find out exactly why Bee killed herself.

I think there’s a morality issue: because Bee wasn’t paying attention she killed 4 people and left a boy disabled and orphaned and while Bee did help make it up to Zander and was deeply regretful and that is ultimately what killed her, she never faced legal action. However that’s a minor issue and doesn’t detract from such a great book.

The ending was incredibly sad with the wake and the revelation of what drove Bee to kill herself. It was incredibly sad when everyone was making the speeches at the second funeral (if that’s what I can call it).

The best part about the book was Ana coming out of her shell and accepting herself for who she is, height and ganglyness and all. I loved Ana and Flint together, too. There’s a potential sequel in there somewhere and maybe after Lisa finishes her Ralph’s Party sequel she can do one for Ana, Flint, Lol and the gang.

It was a very enjoyable book and I’m looking forward to Lisa’s next book: The Truth About Melody Browne.

Rating: 3/5