Rose Lloyd was the last to suspect that Nathan, her husband of over twenty years, was having an affair, and that he was planning to leave her. But the greatest shock was yet to come: for his mistress was Rose's colleague and friend, Minty. Then Rose started thinking about the man she married. Twenty years ago she had to make the choice between two very different lives. Could she recapture what she nearly chose back then, and bring new meaning to her life now?

Agnes Campion is 30 when she inherits Flagge House. Struggling with its upkeep while looking after her elderly aunts, juggling her work and nursing a bruised heart, she doesn't bank on falling for property developer Julian, whose job is everything she despises

Fanny Savage was once dutiful, clever, vulnerable and dreamy. Now, as a policitian's wife, she is a position that requires her to look good and remain silent. Is she happy coping with the transition from eager bride to politician's wife? Has she been the good wife?

The Rules currently governing my life are these. Rule Number one: there is no justice. Rule Number two: contrary to a husband's hopes, a second wife does not have the Karma Sutra tucked into her handbag. It is more likely to be aspirin. Rule number three: never complain, particularly if you have been instrumental in demonstrating Rule number one. Rule number four: never serve liver or tofu. It is not clever. So says Minty Lloyd as she struggles to make her life work as Nathan's second wife. Mother to six year-old twins, sidelined at family gatherings by Nathan's hostile family, ostracised by his friends, she is haunted by the shadow of the glowing, successful Rose Nathan's first wife. The trouble is, 'she concludes, everything I do is second hand.' Yet, such is curious nature of fate, Minty finds herself united in loss with an unexpected ally the woman she once betrayed. Buchan's signature gift for capturing women's daily joys and struggles is beautifully deployed in "The Second Wife", an irresistible story of love, grief and renewal that explores that nature of friendship and the bonds that grow strongest when stretched to breaking

На дворе 1959 год, и у восемнадцатилетней Софи только начинается взрослая жизнь. Унылое существование в прибрежной английской деревушке со строгими приемными родителями сводит ее с ума. Софи понимает, что если хочет жить по-настоящему, то должна взять дело в свои руки. «Великое предприятие» – так она называет свою будущую прекрасную жизнь. Софи мечтает уехать в Париж, в город, где ее мама познакомилась с отцом и откуда сбежала еще до рождения дочери. Чтобы попасть туда, потребуются сила духа и изобретательность, но зато она сможет больше узнать о своей семье и, возможно, обрести счастье. Ради этого стоит рискнуть

Минти украла Натана, мужа своей лучшей подруги Роуз и вышла за него замуж. Но, получив все, чего она желала — мужа, детей, большой дом — она столкнулась с неожиданными сторонами своего брака: неприязнь со стороны старших детей Натана, растущее отчуждение мужа… и необходимость признать, что первая жена не исчезла из его жизни

Роуз Ллойд даже не подозревала, что после двадцати пяти лет счастливого супружества ее муж Натан завел любовницу и подумывает о разводе. Но главное потрясение ждало впереди: любовницей Натана оказалась лучшая подруга Роуз и ее коллега по работе Минти…