The Girlfriend

By: Michelle Frances

Narrated by: Henrietta Meire

Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

A chilling domestic thriller, The Girlfriend brilliantly renders the relationships between a fiercely protective mother, a charming son, and the young woman who will stop at nothing to come between them.

Laura Cavendish can't wait to meet the woman who's won her son's affection. Despite a successful career in television and a long, prosperous marriage, Laura's world revolves around kind, talented Daniel. She pictures his new girlfriend, Cherry, becoming a close friend and confidante ...one day, even a daughter-in-law. But although Cherry is beautiful and amiable, Laura can't warm to her. There's something about the possessive way she touches Daniel, the little lies Laura detects. Cherry seems to resent Laura, driving a wedge between mother and son - until one day Daniel is injured in a terrible accident.

Six months later, with Daniel still in a coma and facing death, Laura makes a fateful decision - and carries out an astonishing deceit. A handsome doctor for a husband, with a trust fund and a family villa in Saint-Tropez - it was all supposed to be Cherry's. Now, instead of living with Daniel in his impeccable home, she's jobless and broke. And then Cherry discovers Laura's stunning deception. But Cherry is too clever, too ambitious to let her get away with it. She has already transformed herself into Daniel's dream woman. Now she'll become Laura's worst nightmare.

Author Michelle Frances masterfully weaves both women's perspectives into this gripping, artfully plotted psychological thriller, propelling the listener through one dark twist after another toward a shocking, unforgettable finale.

©2018 Michelle Frances (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

I don't understand all the low reviews

This book was a wonderful listen! It was a fun thriller with lots of twists, a compelling story line, and exciting, complex, characters. I almost didn't give it a chance because so many people on here complained about the narrator's voice and about the characters being "cliche" crazy women. To be honest I thought the relationship/tension between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were extremely realistic, though of course for the sake of it being a thriller, pretty extreme. Their motivations and perspectives were compelling and totally relatable. Yes this book is about somewhat delusional decision making leading to horrible consequences that get further and further out of hand, but it is totally understandable and relatable how each character gets to where they are and why they make the decisions they make. I also thought the narrator did a great job. Personally I had no issue understanding which character was speaking. The book is written so that every few chapters you switch characters and get to listen to the story from their point of view. I had no problem telling the difference between her voices for each character and could tell whose perspective a chapter was in just by the tone of her voice before the book confirmed it through the dialoge. The reviews I read seem so harsh and silly, I am glad I ignored them!

If you like LIFETIME you will love this book

Two strong women are central characters, and the men are moving parts. The performance was well done by the narrator which can be difficult when you have several female voices especially with an accent. She did great. It was easy to follow. The story took a minute to pick up. It was a strong climax and page turning ending. I was making lots of faces on the train as I listened. Yup, that good. I would have ended the book a little different, so that was a slight surprise, but I wouldnt say disappoiniting. Pick this up.

Girlfriend is Cra'Cra

" Spectacular "..... When your girlfriend & your moma crazy at the same dam time.....

DeAnn DeVille Review

Menace of "The Girlfriend" Greatly Exaggerated

My sympathies were with Cherry, whose whole life had been upended and ultimately destroyed by the passive, self-pitying mother--who actually WAS evil. Laura lied, committed identity theft, invaded Cherry's privacy, caused her to be fired, and smothered her son to a sickening extent...not to mention her ultimate crime at the end. I was left unfulfilled and angry, really wishing that at last, a smart but poor woman could escape the horrific British class boundaries and learn real unconditional love. Sad and disappointing.

Great read

Keeps you on the edge of your seat. I couldn’t stop listening as I needed to know what happens next. This is a very good story that certainly held me captive. The narrator did a lovely job as well.

Good story, horrible narration

The story held my attention and was entertaining which is what I look for in a book. Something to distract me from normal life. But the narrator speaks unnaturally fast. Almost like someone accidentally sped up the recording when it was posted. I finally found that if I put the recording speed on .8, she sounded natural. Took me longer to listen, but didn't make my brain itch at that pace haha. Will try another book by this author, but not by this narrator.

A bit long and tiresome

I would start by saying that the narrator speaks way too fast. I actually had to double check that my setting was not on x1.5 when I started the book. She was also very robotic.

Anyway, on to the story itself. It’s ok I guess. The characters are all pretty annoying. I found myself not really caring if the “villain” won and ruined the life of the “good person” because honestly everyone was just crapy.
Also this book was unnecessarily long. It really repeats itself.

I got this book for free but I would be pretty annoyed if I had paid a credit for it

Animal cruelty warning. Paranoia alert

I wasn’t prepared for it but killing a puppy abruptly occurs almost 2/3 of the way through the book. I had to immediately pause, then skip forward 90 seconds.

Otherwise it was truly incredible how twisted people are or can become when pushed. Perhaps Laura reminds you a bit, just a little of your MIL. Maybe Daniel is your momma’s boy boyfriend. The main character may be your DIL. Meanwhile your dad’s out golfing at the club, having a tiny affair that spans decades too (a la Charles & Camilla *so gross*).

Though I loved the decadence of “he’s dead!” “She’s psycho!” “She’s paranoid and her creepy almost Oedipal obsession is going too far”, the book could have cut massive sections from about chapter 38-54 and it would be a better story.

Regardless of any complaints, I thoroughly enjoyed the soap/novella chaos of it all.

WOW

I really enjoyed this book. WOW. not saying it was the best. book ever but it was definitely a good listen. I knew there was going to be some craziness but this girlfriend was off her rocker.

OMG! Spectacular.

I was so entranced by this book. I couldn't put it down. Completely loved it.