The bright and vibrant cover of Would You Rather was the first thing that attracted me to this interesting and heartwarming read.

The writing style was warm and witty, making it a relaxing summer read. Whilst dealing with some difficult topics of conflict, loss and grief, the overall messages were of hope. I really liked the way that the characters approached interpersonal difficulties with maturity and compassion.

The romance, mystery and drama are all rather slow burn, but the writing style, characters, and charming small town setting make the journey all the richer. I look forward to picking up more of Maggie Alderson’s books in the future.

Thank you HarperCollins Publishers Australia for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Written in typical Maggie Anderson fashion, there’s heartbreak aplenty, and heartwarming moments. This is the romantic comedy version of what happens when life does not go as planned!

This is the perfect Summer read!

When Matt walks out on his wife of 30 years, Sophie and dies later that day, everything changes.

This story unfolds from two perspectives: Sophie the widow and Juliet the mistress. Both women must navigate their lives after Matt’s death turns everything upside down.

The key question is would you rather hate or love. Through friendship, community, second chances and fresh starts this heartwarming romantic comedy beautifully illustrates how women can heal. With a few unexpected twists along the way, it’s a journey you won’t want to miss.

A huge thanks to @maggiealderson @netgalley and @harpercollinsaustralia for an advance copy in exchange for this review.

#wouldyourather #maggiealderson #netgalley #harpercollinsaustralia #lifeasabooklover #booklover #bibliophile #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #avidreader #bookworm #romanticcomedy #romcom

A light and easy read - but still thoughtful. Set in Britain and closed door, romance is one part of the novel, along with ruminations on grief, and what it is to be a family.

We start at the funeral of Sophie's husband Matt. He tells her he’s leaving her to start a new life with Juliet and then, an hour later, he gets hit by a lorry. Literally. His funeral introduces us to Matt's family, and his apparent mistress, Juliet. There's also Beau, one of Matt's sons, who is more like his father than he'd imagined.

Juliet ups stumps and moves to Hastings on the coast where she’s folded into the local community with old lady neighbours Olive and Agata, and Charlie, a rather delicious friend of a friend.

There's plenty of variety and texture in the side characters, too many to mention, but all likeable and interesting. Author Maggie is careful not to judge and while there's some shabby behaviour, nobody is demonised. The encounters with Matt's brothers are hilarious and there's plenty of humour to balance their grief.

Beau takes a break from the one-night-stand life after some unpleasantness and goes to the Hastings house to get away from London. There he meets Tamar who is working on a cookbook with his mum. Juliet as the other woman is perhaps the most complicated in that she genuinely wants to be a single parent. She never wanted to be in a relationship with Matt. It’s fade to black and some of the connections feel understated, even undercooked, but my strongest impression is how lovely everybody is and how I want them all to find a way to happiness.

The town of Hastings was wonderful! Between the cluttered English homes, the seaside, the friendly locals, and Charlie's winery, it was just so picturesque and heartwarming. It's pretty tidy by the end with charming coincidences and everyone adulting, and overall, it worked for me!

Thank you Maggie Anderson, Harper Collins Australia and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

*3.5 stars

What a story about grief, heartbreak and finding yourself.

Sophie's life is thrown upside down with the death of her husband, the father of her older children. But not only is she a grieving widow, she is also angry... angry that her husband just revealed to her that he was leaving her for another woman just hours before his death.
Sophie is then thrown into deciding to keep this to herself, does she tell her children?

This story is told in multiple POV's - Sophies, her sons and also the woman her husband was leaving her for. It is a story with lots of banter, and new beginnings, and overcoming loss.

This was also the first book I have read by Maggie Alderson, and I was pleasantly surprised. Although I did find parts to be a little long/overstretched, it was a lovely story overall.

Would you rather finish a book that wasn’t in a style you preferred, or would you rather only read books in your favourite genre, and why?
I was intrigued by the title of this book. I was ready for moments of whether things would be different if events happened differently, or is secrets were uncovered at different points in time. However, it became more of a story where I didn’t have to think too hard about what was happening to get the general idea, and when it concluded, I wished it was edited down further.

The mystery around Sophie’s husband seemed to drag out through the immersion into all of her other relationships, and the relationship of her husband with his mistress, Juliet, after his funeral. Many of the conversations ad events seemed long winded and didn’t really add value to the yearning of Sophie’s to find answers about her adulterous husband. The drama was not intense, it was a little unrealistic at times and just seemed all too easy to fall into place. This is where I wondered whether it was more about the style of story that didn’t gel wot me than the sorry itself. I know there are many people that love this kind of drama, and once I was well into this one, I realised it’s not my jam. I like to think about a story when I read it, and this one left me with a lot of thinking room.
The characters seemed like great ideas in theory but practically, I’m not sure if I was able to fathom how they were all so creatively successful with their niche careers and not a want for anything apart from answers to the obvious. I ploughed on to see if there was going to be new drama that would arise and found it didn’t. Many of the smaller characters were more interesting and added colour and vibrance to this story; exploring more of these characters who were in their older years of life could have been a great way to play on the title more. And if the idea was for the reader to work out whether Sophie should be grieving a dead husband or an adulterous lech, I’m just not sure where my coin toss would land. And I know it wouldn’t have been with Juliet either.

Sophie should be a grieving widow but she’s actually overwrought with anger. On the eve of their sea change move to Hastings, Matt announces he’s leaving her and then unexpectedly dies. Awash with conflicting emotions, Sophie struggles with the memories of a loving husband, father of their children, and yet the reality of his devastating betrayal and a separate family. Slowly rebuilding a new life in a new community, Sophie supports a young woman through her own trauma and helps her charismatic son navigate the fallout out of a negative social media campaign. As a new romance develops, Sophie’s life intersects with Matt’s new family, and the story falls neatly into place, an easy read.

Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Australia for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Maggie Alderson has a way with words throughout this book which I have thoroughly enjoyed while reading.

We get introduced to three characters:

Sophie - a wife who on the day after that she and her husband sold their old house, finds out that her husband wants to leave her for someone else.

Beau - Sophie and Matt's oldest son, who is known to ladies as the ring man, turns a new leaf and kicks old habits out the door to start a new life and advance his career ventures.

Juliet - the mistress who didn't want to create a problem by having an affair with Matt and who only wanted to become a mother while thriving at her career and having a loving family.

Sophie is reading a eulogy at a funeral for her husband Matt when she see's her husbands mistress standing at the back of the room, after the funeral everything starts to unravel as Sophie moves to a new town, meets new people and tries to find her feet while also trying to come to terms of what Matt had done.

While reading, I loved how I saw character growth, new loves starting to flourish, friendships forming and also seeing second chances happening while the characters are going through grief and the effects of adultery that Matt had done.

Thank you Harper Collins and Netgalley for letting me read this wonderful story ❤️

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia for giving me this book for an honest review. Sophie has her life thrown upside down when her husband tells he’s leaving her on the same day they’re settling on selling their family home and buying a new one. The next day he dies. Then the woman he’s been seeing turns up at his funeral. She moves to the new house and the story continues bringing with it one of her sons and a range of new friends who enter her life. I’m not sure the title and blurb really fitted as it says “grieving widow or wronged wife…which would you choose?” and is called Would you Rather. It wasn’t the sliding doors type story you imagined it would be. However, the characters were mostly pleasant and the story quite enjoyable. This book is being released on December 4, 2024.

I was really looking forward to reading my first Magggie Alderson book, and it certainly was an entertaining read.

Straight up we meet Sophie, who is about to give a eulogy for her husband. But as well as grieving, she is also looking at her husband’s mistress. The rest of the story revolves around Sophie moving to a new town, making new friends while dealing with her grief, and keeping a big secret to herself. We also get to know one of her sons, Beau. We watch him grow and become a better person while also uncovering the truth about his father.

Adultery is not a topic I usually enjoy reading about, but I was very intrigued how this novel was going to continue and end. There were some really likable characters, which made the story more enjoyable and some beautiful friendships which made it a heart warming story.

Some parts are a little unrealistic, which is ok. Once you move on from them there’s a lot of things up in the air which makes you invested in finding out what happens in the end.

Thank you so much @harpercollinsaustralia and @netgalley for sending me an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the fastest read in a while and I loved it.

Many thanks to the Author, HarperCollins Publishers Australia and netgalley for the arc in exchange of my honest review! All opinions are my own.

Would You Rather is a compelling and emotionally rich novel that explores the complexities of relationships, grief, and forgiveness. The story revolves around Sophie Crommelin, whose apparent life of privilege takes a dramatic turn upon discovering her husband's infidelity just as she faces his untimely death. The comparison of her outward composure at the eulogy, while internally fighting with shock, sets a powerful tone that captures the complexities of human emotion.

Her journey of navigating her feelings after her husband's death while also dealing with the revelation of his affair adds depth to her character, making her relatable and sympathetic. The dual perspectives of Sophie and Juliet provide a nuanced view of the impact of betrayal, love and loss, allowing readers to understand both sides of the story.

As Sophie embarks on a new chapter in Hastings, the characterization of her son, Beau, adds depth to their shared experience of loss. His journey from being the admired "golden boy" to facing familial scandal invites readers to ponder the impact of family dynamics on personal growth.

The inclusion of secondary characters like Sophie’s quirky neighbors, Olive and Agata, seems to introduce a delightful balance of humor and warmth, which is essential in a story dealing with heavy themes.

Maggie Alderson’s ability to infuse humor into such a sensitive subject matter stands out, making the narrative both heartwarming and uplifting. The theme of starting over and the idea of second chances are beautifully interwoven.

The premise of infidelity and the resultant emotional turmoil might feel too familiar or cliche for some readers however, this relatability can enhance the reading experience and foster a strong emotional connection to the characters. Overall it’s a delightful read that leaves one hopeful ray about life’s new beginnings, making it a worthwhile addition to anyone's bookshelf!

Excellent book, love it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

Would you rather - Maggie Alderson

An interesting story looking at the lives of two women, Sophie and Juliet. One the widower and the other the mistress. They meet at Matt’s funeral, Sophie believing her marriage of 30 years was solid only to have Matt tell her he is leaving her before he died. Juliet, is not the typical mistress, she didn’t want Matt, she wanted to be a mother. The story follows along their journey, as they navigate the hurt and betrayal and the love of their family.

Would You Rather, looks at death of loved ones, how people react and how to reclaim yourself from the ashes of heartbreak and disappointment.

Would You Rather is a very interesting read and the plot twists make it very enjoyable to read. The message from the story is great, would you rather hate or love? Reclaiming your life back and accepting forgiveness and love is something that I would rather have in life.

Maggie Alderson’s writing style is easy to read, she is able to paint pictures with her words and her characters are likeable, if not loveable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#WouldYouRather #NetGalley #bookgram #romance #booktok #books #fyp

I love Alderson’s non fiction articles, so I thought I’d give her fiction a go.
This is a well written, easy read. Nothing groundbreaking and I won’t remember it in a month, but it fulfils its brief. Characters a bit two dimensional. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

This is yet another book and another story about women but with a bit of a twist. It is a fairly easy to read book and I got through it rather quickly. Is it all about family, drama and even has a bit of humour among the pages. I did like some of the characters in this book and the writing is good but I can say it is not one of my favourite books.

A good read, interesting, but at times not at all believable to me. It is just one of those quick easy reads you don't really have to think much about.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Would You Rather is a fascinating story looking at the lives of two women, Sophie and Juliet, after the death of Sophie’s husband Matt, who was also Juliet’s lover. Sophie believed she had a solid marriage after 30 years with Matt and was looking forward to moving to Hastings with him to start the next phase of their lives together when he drops the bombshell that he is leaving her to start a new life with Juliet. Juliet, meanwhile, has enjoyed both friendship and a sexual relationship with Matt but has never wanted him to be part of her day to day life, nor involved with their daughter Cassady. Both Sophie and Juliet are successful professional women but each is badly affected in different ways by Matts death. In addition to the revelations about Matt’s infatuation with Juliet there are the efforts by Sophie’s son Beau to protect her from finding out about the affair and her anger at Matt and Juliet. The secondary characters in this story are also intriguing, particularly Sophie’s new neighbours Olive and Agata, both of whom are an absolute hoot. I loved the way that author Maggie Alderson carries readers through the story by balancing deep emotions like grief and anger against joy and the peace that comes with forgiveness. This book was an absolute delight to read.

An engaging family saga that started with what could have been a tragedy. Maggie Alderson captures modern times perfectly with this gentle and caring exploration of grief and the whole damn thing. Starting from the tragic death of the husband just an hour after he has told his loving wife he’s leaving her. Would you rather indeed. We are then introduced to a fabulous range of characters -all of whome have their own stories to progress.
A very warm and satisfying read.

“Would You Rather” is a warm and engaging family drama which covers a fair bit of ground in the areas of love, grief, secrets, and family.

Sophie Crommelin is very happy with her life: a handsome and successful husband of thirty years, two grown sons, a successful career. Now their sons have moved on, she and Matt are about to sell their house in London and move to Hastings.

But the day after their house is sold, Matt tells Sophie that he’s leaving her for another woman. An hour later he’s dead in a dreadful accident. (This is no spoiler, it happens within the first few pages.) Sophie is left to start her new chapter as a grieving widow. This is complicated by the fact that no-one knows Matt was about to leave her – and Sophie can’t decide how she’s supposed to feel about his death in light of that.
Of course, secrets are rarely as closely held as we think, and complications emerge.

Alderson has a long career as an author, writing family dramas with a strong focus on women. She is a perceptive writer, who handles complicated feelings with deftness and sophistication. There are no easy answers to the way Sophie feels about her husband and her life, and Alderson doesn’t try to supply them. Sophie is a vivid character and we quickly not only empathise with her but begin to care about her.

Matt’s large family, children, and lover are all important characters. Matt himself is perhaps a little shadowy, but it’s interesting that the glimpses we get of him – through the eyes of the characters left behind – paint him as an appealing man with some truly atrocious character traits.

Still, Alderson doesn’t seem to want to attribute blame per se, which helps to make this novel surprisingly upbeat, despite the themes.
I enjoyed all the characters, and found them all realistic and well rounded. No-one’s perfect, but most are pretty decent people trying to live decent lives, and in some cases overcome past mistakes.

I keep coming back to the word “warm”. This is a really lovely novel to read, despite some tough themes. It’s well written and easily digestible, and despite being thought provoking and sad in places, the overall feeling is of warmth and a quiet happiness.

You can probably tell that I enjoyed this novel a great deal. I’ve read many of Alderson’s novels, and this might be my favorite yet. It touches on similar themes as her earlier novels, and those too tend to move her central characters to better places emotionally. But this one just seemed to have a little extra depth, a little extra kick, that made me feel particularly satisfied when I closed it. Highly recommended.

Sophie Crommelin is a food stylist and she’s married to Matt an artist, they have just sold their London home and plan on moving to Hastings for a sea change. The night before settlement Matt drops a bombshell, one that Sophie doesn’t see coming and he leaves. Sophie feels numb, shocked and it gets worse and luckily she has her adult sons Beau and Jack and four brother-in-law’s for support.

Beau takes after his father Matt, he has dark curly hair and is good-looking and he’s works part-time as a waiter and has ambitions to be a jewellery designer. Beau is a ladies man, he likes to love 'em and leave 'em and with no strings attached, until one of his conquests is unhappy and thinks he’s treated her badly and outs him publicly.

Sophie decides to still move to Hastings, here she meets her next door neighbours Olive and Agata and a winemaker Charlie and new client Tamar and her best friend Rey visits and so does Beau to escape the wrath of social media and she has her good and bad days.

I received a copy of Would You Rather by Maggie Alderson from HarperCollins Australia and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The narrative is about a woman finding out her husband of thirty years betrayed her, how she feels about him and dealing with the emotions and hurt.

At one stage I felt Beau was heading in the same direction as his father, but he had his own “light bulb” moment, and changes. A warm and humorous story about life and love, heartache and relationships, old and new friendships, second chances and fresh starts and you never know what the future holds.

A quick, a funny and thought provoking read, for those who enjoy romantic comedy fiction and with a hidden meaning and four stars from me and I'm keen to read other novels by Ms. Alderson.

A story of grief and moving on is always a difficult one specially after the passing of someone. this story explores the aftermath of a person passing away and their secrets coming to the forefront. Alderson’s latest novel explores this through the grief of our protagonist Sophie, the mistress Juliet, and one of the sons Beau.

Just before the passing of the husband Sophie discovers the affair and is devastated. Stories of infidelity usually end with the relationship breaking apart and both parties walking off in separate directions. This one, however, explorers what happens after. From moving to places getting back into work to discovering the truth about mistress and coming to terms with grief, loss, void, betrayal, and everything else that comes with being human in that situation. From bad decisions to feelings to just being in a state of limbo to try to move on.

Their son, Beau, also going through his own predicament and a scandal that causes him to take a backseat in his life and reassess his ways. Alderson’s writing starts off putting us right in the middle of the tragedy and the after effects of it, form the story. It is a mindful exploration of grief of both mother and son. I wish the other, the other son, would also be explored in terms of grief while living geographically much further away from his mother because we never know much about him except for a few scenes.

The other woman is usually villainised in the situations, however Alderson does not judge her for her choices nor does she endorses it. What she does is tell the story of this independent woman who wanted kids, and then had them. The writing flows and the plot moves attached slowly in the beginning but once things start moving the three pronged story between Sophie, Beau and Juliet shuttles between each other and how they cross each other’s spot as well as learn about each other.

The end seems a bit rushed, but it is satisfying without any over-the-top histrionics nor unnecessary drama. What it does is, allows the characters to be human , focusing on things that matter. It also showcases how a small community rallies behind you.

We all process grief in different ways, and it sometimes makes us make bad decisions with a mix of feelings that we don’t know what to do with. A definite read that that explores what happens after a major loss, a major betrayal, and how to cope with life and move on.

Grab your copy which is out this December for a cozy relaxed weekend

Thank you Net Galley and Harper Collins Australia for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

P.S. i love the Cover