March 2010 Good Housekeeping selection.

Slummy Mummy Fiona Neill’s second novel, Friends, Lovers and Other Indiscretions, sees six friends reunite as they approach 40.

Synopsis

It's early 2008 and the credit crunch is starting to bite. Sam and Laura Diamond - and their friends - are circling forty and all feeling a lot less certain about life than when they first met in their twenties. Laura wants to work part-time and have a third child - an appalling prospect for her husband Sam, whose secret ambition is to give up his job as a struggling scriptwriter and have a vasectomy. Life's no more straightforward for wild child turned corporate lawyer Janey Dart. Having finally given up on Patrick, the love of her life, she finds herself unexpectedly pregnant and hastily married to a wealthy hedge fund manager who loathes her friends. And Sam's oldest friend, trendy restaurant owner Jonathan Sleet, is about to hit the big time with a TV series and cookbook, but can't control his roving eye. So it's no surprise that back on their organic farm in Suffolk, his once glamorous wife Hannah is finding distractions of her own. Determined to reunite the group, Jonathan brings everyone together for a holiday to celebrate his fortieth birthday. But six friends, two decades of tangled fortunes and an explosive secret from the past make for an unforgettable week.

Reviews

'This is a high-end chick lit at its best: so well-written, with such believable and engaging characters, it was an absolute joy to read.' Daily Mail

'Neill had a huge hit with The Secret Life of a Slummy Mummy, her hilarious take on modern motherhood. This is every bit as funny, and packed with observations of wince-making accuracy ... Superb entertainment.' The Times

'You'll be desperate to know who's after who, who's had who and who's actually telling the truth. Without any frills or need for tall tales, Fiona's cracking new novel gives the feeling that it's all real enough to be happening right under your own nose in your own circle of friends.' Heat

'Her turn of phrase is clever and perceptive ... this book was my devoted pal. Can't wait for the next one!' Now Magazine

'This witty comedy of manners is a thoroughly entertaining read ... extremely observant and insightful' No. 1 Magazine

About the Author

Fiona Neill is a features writer for The Times Magazine and author and creator of its hugely popular ‘Slummy Mummy’ column. After working abroad for six years, as a foreign correspondent in Latin America, she returned to the UK to become assistant editor at Marie Claire and then The Times Magazine. Brought up in Norfolk, she now lives in London with her husband and three children. More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation