Getting Rid of Matthew

By: Jane Fallon

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

For once, a novel that isn’t about the heroine getting the guy. It’s about getting rid of the guy, and in the process, finding herself. Helen is nearly 40, and has, for far too long, had an affair with Matthew, a high-powered, much older, attractive, married man who was once, of course, her boss.

After years of being disappointed by missed dates, out-of-the-way restaurants, broken promises, and hushed phone calls, at last Helen realizes it’s time to dump Matthew and get on with her life. This, of course, is the exact moment when Matthew decides to leave his wife for her. He appears on her doorstep and proceeds to move in. Helen then discovers how much she can’t bear him. But she can’t just throw him out - after all, she’s been begging him to do exactly this for years.

The only thing to do, she decides, is to convince his wife, Sophie, to take him back. So after a “chance” meeting in the park, Helen befriends Sophie and hears all about her lying, cheating husband. But then, the unexpected happens - Helen really starts to like Sophie. And then there’s the other small problem of Matthew’s handsome, charming son....

Jane Fallon turns the conventional love story on its head in this irresistibly delicious, ironic debut.

©2007 Jane Fallon (P)2007 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Brit TV producer Fallon takes 'careful what you wish for' to hilarious heights in her debut novel....The surprising and rewarding treat is a bright, grown-up story of two women who discover friendship and trust in one another." (Publishers Weekly)

loved it!

I just kept wanting to read it every minute I could! it was a long book but I enjoyed every minute of it!

Fresh twist on the romance gone wrong genre

A good reminder to be careful what you wish for. Liked that it focused on the "other woman's" point of view. Maybe not the best read if you've been the jilted wife, though. The narrator was fine, but I did have to speed it up a smidge. I enjoy books with an omniscient point of view, but this one was a tad hard to follow whose view we were hearing at times. Not terrible though. Found myself invested in the characters and genuinely not knowing who was going to wind up with whom until the very end.

She Jane; She Good!

Jane Fallon entered my life with "The Ugly Sister", another excellent story, and I enjoyed this story even more. Plumbing female emotions and lending the sometimes comedic twists of life is a strength that Ms. Fallon demonstrates well I'm her writing. Of course, I wanted to strangle Matthew who was a legend in his own mind. My only quibble was the voice the narrator employed for Matthew -- it sounded implausible.

Page Turner

You won't want to put this down and get to work! How Helen manages to pull this off is incredible.

Really a good one

I could not put this one down! Very interesting and entertaining.

Very easy fun book to ready - soon a movie!

To quote the movie storyline - A hard-charging publicist's lusty affair with a married man is ruined by his decision to leave his wife and two children for her. She invents a new persona, befriends the spurned wife and attempts to patch up the marriage up so she can be rid of him. In the process, she develops a thing for his oldest son.

Its a fun book - gets you straight into the story but keeps you wanting to find out what happens. Highly recommended

A fun chick lit story

Funny, witty and engaging. A new version of the cheating husband story. Helen, Matthew’s mistress finally gets what she wants. But that happens just at the time when she begins to question what she really wants. She discovers being mistress does prepare you for the day to day living with someone.

Once she becomes emotionally detangled from Matthew, she opens herself to finding love. As usual that does not come without problems. Before she can find her love she must get Matthew’s wife to take him back.

The story stars a little slow but it does pickup.

intriguing

I really enjoy this story, the author is fairly new for me I discovered my sweet revenge and I was hooked with her stile and story telling, so far all her books I have enjoyed. This story is as good as the others on my perspective.
it was funny and entertaining I recommend it.

great chick lit

Although I read a lot of history and try to keep up with the current bestsellers, sometimes I just want a little "chick lit". This was perfect! The story was pretty funny, and Rosalyn Landor, the narrator, does English girls better than anyone I've heard. The previous reviewer mentioned a lot of cursing, and yes, the "f" word is used frequently, but it's a story about a frustrated 40something and her cheating boss/boyfriend. Of course the main character is going to cuss! It's a funny, easy to listen to read!

Delightful!

What did you love best about Getting Rid of Matthew?

The story was engaging, and I loved every moment of it.

What about Rosalyn Landor’s performance did you like?

She is always amazing.