Queen Bee: The hilarious novel from the author of FAKING FRIENDS

Really enjoyed this book about relationships and status symbols in society. Started it and sat up till early hours of the morning to finish it, as I wanted to see how it ended. The main characters, Laura and Stella were so far apart in many areas, but also prepared to bend the rules in others. Showed that life has so many shades of grey in it. Recommended and will look for more by this author.

Oh, how the other half live! If you've ever been jealous of the shallow lives of the super-rich, this should sort you right out! When Laura moves temporarily into a flat in the house of an uber-rich area, all she wants is a quiet life. However, Stella, the 'Queen Bee' decided that Laura has her eye on her fiance and soon spreads the word to the other residents. Eager to clear her name, Laura does a bit of digging and discover some information on the man that her sense of fair play makes her share with Stella. Disbelieving at first, Stella soon begins to lean on Laura, but should Laura accept everything Stella tells her? This is a fun read which really shows the author's sharp wit throughout. If you've ever poked fun at the 'barbie-doll' type women, then this is right up your street. Laura has her feet firmly on the ground but, more than that, she is a decent person. Her observations of the other women in The Close, and their homes, is side-splitting and extremely entertaining. All characters are superbly drawn; the story is funny but with more than a grain of truth. I loved Laura, she has standards and class. A novel to sink into, giggle and enjoy - all of which I did with relish. If you've ever watched any of the 'Real Housewives' franchise, you will love this. Definitely worth 4.5*.

This was definitely one of those page-turner books, I had to keep reading to find out what happened in the end! Laura has recently been divorced and shares a daughter, 8 year old Betsy, with her husband. Her new house sale fell through so currently her husband looks after her daughter most of the time, while Laura manages to find an apartment to rent above a garage in a very expensive/posh Close until she finds a new house for her and Betsy. The Close is full of snobby, plastic-surgery enhanced women who don't work, and their (usually) older rich husbands, all apart from Gail & Ben (lovely couple) who have rented Laura the apartment. Laura runs her own cleaning company and works very hard, so is nothing like all these other women. Unfortunately she gets caught up in the crossfire when one of the guys, Al, makes out that Laura sent him a signed book, just as a friend, trying to throw his wife, Stella, off the scent of his affair. His company is one of the large jobs that Laura has on her books so she initially goes along with it, even though she has nothing to do with it at all, as she doesn't want to lose the contract. Of course Laura is ostracised by most of the women in the Close then as the wife, Stella, is the one they all revolve aorund, i.e the 'Queen Bee' of the title. But Laura, determined to clear things up, finds out some not so nice information about Al and feels she has to eventually come clean with Stella, which is when the fun and games start! There's lots of deceit and going behind backs going on, but it's just a really funny, engrossing read. Nothing is quite as it seems and just as you think you've figured it out another secret comes out. Laura was a great character, although I don't think I would have been quite as forgiving/helpful as she was towards Stella! A really enjoyable bit of escapism that I thorough enjoyed. I do love a Jane Fallon book!