Headline Review Private Lives: Behind the lies a world of secrets

great

I loved this book what a great story as soon as I had finished I sent for more books from this author

Easy read from a author that will keep me e engaged in the subject

No, that's not an oxymoron in my title: this manages to straddle the divide between trashy beach-read and something a little more grown-up very well. For one, our heroine is not some dumb wannabe starlet or a ditzy, charming girl running a flower shop or doing another suitably `feminine' job which she can give up as soon as she finds a (rich) man... she's a tough, bright and driven lawyer, admittedly in the `glamorous' area of media law, and perfectly capable of supporting herself. Our heroes, too, (this is an ensemble novel so there are, arguably, more than one) might be good-looking but they also have a moral centre usually noticeably lacking in this kind of book and choose to use it within the world of the novel. Perry manages to keep various plot-strands bubbling very well and handles them with detail rather than simply skimming the surface. These lawyers don't just flit around London in taxis and designer suits, they stay up all night working on cases before going to court. That said, the book also has a deliciously shallow side with Hollywood actresses, models, call girls, the paparazzi and private jets; and is fairly topical with various plots concerning super-injunctions and the quest of celebrities to keep their private lives out of the papers. So this certainly won't be winning any literary prizes, but for a surprisingly intelligent read that is still glamorous and full of deliciously scandalous goings-on this is perfect.

I've read most of Tasmina Perry's books and loved them all. I used to class them as a lightweight beach read but with each book they seem to be getting more complex and intelligent. I think Private Lives is her best yet - a real page-turner with a really great heroine Anna who you are always rooting for. The book is set in a media law firm (the author used to be a lawyer and I think it shows - that or it has been incredibly well researched). It feels very authentic and very juicy. I always wondered what went on behind those super injunction cases we read (or don't read about) in the papers. It's not quite a thriller, not quite a relationship drama - but I think that's why I liked it so much - it combines two of my favourite sort of books. I'm in two minds whether Anna ended up with the right man - but hopefully there might be a sequel to keep the Anna's love triangle going