Bitter Orange

By: Claire Fuller

Narrated by: Bianca Amato

Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

A most anticipated book at Time Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Vulture, Elle, Bust, HuffPost, Nylon, Southern Living, Parade, and more.

From the author of Our Endless Numbered Days and Swimming Lessons, Bitter Orange is a seductive psychological portrait, a keyhole into the dangers of longing and how far a woman might go to escape her past.

From the attic of Lyntons, a dilapidated English country mansion, Frances Jellico sees them - Cara first - dark and beautiful - then Peter - striking and serious. The couple is spending the summer of 1969 in the rooms below hers while Frances is researching the architecture in the surrounding gardens. But she's distracted. Beneath a floorboard in her bathroom, she finds a peephole that gives her access to her neighbors’ private lives.

To Frances' surprise, Cara and Peter are keen to get to know her. It is the first occasion she has had anybody to call a friend, and before long, they are spending every day together: eating lavish dinners, drinking bottle after bottle of wine, and smoking cigarettes until the ash piles up on the crumbling furniture. Frances is dazzled.

But as the hot summer rolls lazily on, it becomes clear not everything is right between Cara and Peter. The stories Cara tells don’t quite add up, and as Frances becomes increasingly entangled in the lives of the glamorous, hedonistic couple, the boundaries between truth and lies, right and wrong, begin to blur.

Amid the decadence, a small crime brings on a bigger one: a crime so terrible that it will brand their lives forever.

©2018 Claire Fuller (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

well done

I loved everything about this story and style. will read more Claire Fuller for sure.

it was ok

struggle to finish but did. i wouldnt recommended it. Read for yourself and decide.

4.15 stars..........perfect title

This audiobook is difficult to review because it starts slow, and I almost decided to try something else. But, something kept me listening. Maybe it was the wonderful voice of Bianca Amato, the narrator. The author spends a lot of time developing the characters and the setting, which pays off in the end. There's a lot to like about this book, but many readers will not like the characters. I don't have to like the characters to like a book, though some people do. The protagonist of the story reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant at times, though this book is not humorous or quirky like Eleanor Oliphant. Bitter Orange starts off with the protagonist on her death bed, reflecting on memories that seem innocent enough, but these memories get incrementally darker as the story progresses.

Overall rating: 4.15 stars

Beautiful

The descriptions were gorgeous and I fell into the world entirely. The story line is a bit melancholy. I was expecting much much more in the end and the climax was brief. If you're in less for storyline and more for a beautiful world then this is the story for you.

A Good Beach Listen

Bitter Orange has above average character development and the plot line is twisty enough to keep you involved.

It's basically about a triangulated friendship that keeps you guessing which way it's heading. A married couple and a single, spinsterish woman find themselves hired to document an old estate's furnishings and architecture. They meet there and develop a friendship. What happens next is part psychological drama and part romantic-attractions intrigue.

Overall, pretty good, with an ending that ties things up nicely.

The beautiful imagery of the author’s words and the artful way in which she weaves her tale are magical!!

This enchanting, enrapturing book is one that I was both delighted and transfixed to listen to every spare moment until its end. The way the author paints her words draws you in and gives such strong visual stimulation. I honestly have not been so happy to read/listen to an audiobook of this stature in a long time. The narrator was absolutely perfect in her telling it, causing you to feel as though it really is the main character speaking her words to you. I loved it so much!

surprisingly engaging

I had no idea where this story was going but the characters and scenery kept me intrigued the entire time. The narrator definitely added to the quality of the experience.

bit of a bore.

loved the author's ability to conjure images, scenery, and characters, but the overall story came across a bit boring- like the main character herself. might have been better as a slow read vs listen?

very entertaining

this book was very entertaining. Bianca amato is my favorite narrator. the story is dark which I like. love getting glimpses in others minds. recommend.

Good english broken down mansion -

I liked this. It jumps back iand forth between the present with an old woman, and one particular summer in her youth. Great character development.

I would have liked to have read this in a book club if I was in one, to discuss many parts and their deeper meanings I may even read it again as there was actually a lot right beneath the surface that I think needed to be pondered more as one read instead of just reading straight through.

Any one else read this and feel the same way?