It’s unromantic, it’s depressing – it’s life, unvarnished. Beth and Brad are good people – or at least, they aren’t bad people. You’d probably like them if you spent a long weekend in Swindon with them. Only problem is, neither of them has chosen that well when picking a spouse. Their partners aren’t bad people either – they just could have done a bit better. Beth’s husband is the life and soul of the party around other people, but goes into his shell when they’re alone. Brad’s wife is attractive, outgoing, and confident – but she’s also a bit superficial and annoying.

When Beth and Brad meet at a party, it’s basically love at first sight – in keeping with the classic romance so far, right? But when they quickly decide to have an affair, and start sneaking around, and then find their feelings getting stronger, the romance remains rather thin on the ground. There are logistics to figure out – affairs aren’t as easy to organise as they seem. Then comes the guilt, especially when it comes to Brad’s daughter, and fear of how their spouses might react if they found out. Yes, it’s certainly not like in the movies – but it is a lot like real life, where the heart’s desires often come at considerable cost, and practical concerns have a nasty habit of infringing on your plans for carefree pleasures.

Although this book is absolutely not for anyone looking for magical romantic escapism, I found it a really interesting take on a love story, ruthlessly honest in its refusal to sugar coat the experience of having an affair and risking marital break-up. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an injection of stark realism into their romantic reading.