I have been told by my online book club that this was not the Trapido to begin with. The sentiment has been echoed by reviews on goodreads. I enjoyed the complex characters. But admit it didn't leave me gushing. Yet given I accidentally plunged into the author's work which assumed previous tastes, I am going to read (or try to get a hold of) another Trapido.

A cross between a Shakespearean comedy and a Nancy Meyers rom-com, this book is a lot of fun. Its flaw, in my view, is its ending that borders on farcical. I am, however, happy to report that the ridiculous ending did not at all diminish my enjoyment because as with other Barbara Trapido books, I read this most of all for the eccentric characters who are deliciously steeped in art, music, and literature.

One of those fun, quick reads that allow us to follow separate strands as they're woven together. I didn't even mind that I found some of the outcome predictable: I enjoyed the characters and their disparate circumstances enough to be happy with the completed tapestry as it came into view.

See my review here:

https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2016/01/04/day-828-sex-and-stravinsky/

I settled into this one with high hopes after recently completing this author's wonderful first novel, 'Brother of the More Famous Jack'. The first few chapters were promising, albeit lacking in the flourishes, wonderful dialogue and wholly original whimsy of the predecessor.

Trapido creates very satisfying characters, and she does that again with the highly competent and beautiful Caroline, who marries the slightly nerdish Josh, a Professor of Drama (again, University themes gently woven in). Their life together, and the paradoxes within the marriage, are examined closely, but fissures settle even when Caroline's awful Mother arrives from Australia to stay with them.

From this mildly promising beginning the plot becomes convoluted and head spinningly silly. The ending of star crossed lovers, angsty teenagers, swapped identities, birth mixups and madcap antics late at night were all just too much for this reader.

I will read Trapido again as I have faith that s&s was the anomaly for me.

Totally different to the type of book i'd usually read but did enjoy it all the same,especially the way the characters were written.I've never read a book in my life where the mother-in-law was quite so utterly awful!!!!Definitely worth a look.

This wasn't a bad book but I didn't really like any of the characters. Some of the narrative I felt was not really believable. If your daughter is on a school trip, for instance. you would have contact details for teachers etc - the whole "oh i can't get hold of Zoe" was just false and this is simply one example.

I have always loved Barbara Trapido, but this reads less like a novel and more like a recitation of what is happening in the plot. The narration is so far removed from the characters. It's very much as if the eye of god is slightly sociopathic. For me, this is especially obvious in the race relations elements and the tying up of Gertrude as a loose end on the epilogue made me furious (and remove a star).