Sleeping Arrangements: A Novel

by Madeleine Wickham Narrated by Katherine Kellgren

Overview

New York Times bestselling author of the Shopaholic series Sophia Kinsella delivers another fabulously fun tale writing under Madeleine Wickham. Sleeping Arrangements tells the story of two families who are "accidentally" double-booked at the same lavish Spanish villa of a mutual friend.

Chloe needs a holiday. She's sick of making wedding dresses, her partner Philip has troubles at work, and the whole family wants a break. Her wealthy friend Gerard has offered the loan of his luxury villa in Spain--perfect.

Hugh is not a happy man. His immaculate wife Amanda seems more interested in her new kitchen than in him, and he works so hard to pay for it, he barely has time for his children. Maybe he'll have a chance to bond with them on holiday. His old friend Gerard has lent them a luxury villa in Spain--perfect.

Both families arrive at the villa and realize the awful truth--Gerard has double-booked. What no one else realizes is that Chloe and Hugh have a history; and as tensions rise within the two families, old passions resurface. It seems that Gerard's 'accidental' double booking may not be an accident after all...

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Wickham (The Gatecrasher; also, the Shopaholic series as Sophie Kinsella) spins a delightful story of British families forced to spend their vacation together after a mutual friend promises them the same week in his Spanish villa. Chloe Harding hopes that a holiday will soothe the strain between her and longtime partner Philip Murray, who is worried that a recent takeover of his company may cost him his job. Their hopes are dashed when they arrive and find another family already settled at the villa. To Chloe's disappointment, she'll be sharing the space with Hugh Stratton, the beau who broke her heart 15 years ago. Now married to high-maintenance Amanda and with two children, Hugh apologizes, and though Chloe initially expresses nothing but hurt and disdain (all the while keeping their past a secret from Philip), she eventually considers beginning life anew with Hugh. Wickham does a bangup job of creating believable characters-even Amanda is less vapid than she at first seems. Surprises abound as the plot unfolds, and the families begin to wonder whether their mutual friend made an innocent mistake in getting them together. (July)

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Library Journal

Wickham is the pen name of Sophie Kinsella, author of the popular "Shopaholic" series. In Kinsella's latest novel written under that pen name (following Cocktails for Three and The Gatecrasher), Amanda and Hugh Stratton, their two daughters, and their free-spirited nanny, Jenna, fly to Spain to stay at a stunning villa belonging to Hugh's old schoolmate Gerard. At the same time, Chloe, a lively dressmaker, her partner, Philip, and the couple's two sons are taking a well-deserved break as Philip's company prepares for a merger that might mean the end of his career. When the two families arrive at the villa and realize they have been double-booked, they appear to be the victims of a scheduling error. As the story unfolds, however, it turns out there's much more to their shared history. The occasional sexual situations and references to drug use make this more of an adult read than the "Shopaholic" series, but this should not deter readers from picking up what is essentially a fun and charming read. Recommended for all public library collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/08; library marketing campaign planned.-Ed.]
—Anastasia Diamond-Ortiz

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169457070
Publisher:	Macmillan Audio
Publication date:	07/08/2008
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

"What's going on?" said Chloe to Philip. "Is this the right place?"

"It's the right place," said Philip, "but Gerard's cocked up the arrangements. Double-booked all of us. We're just going to phone him now. We won't be long."

"I see," said Chloe. "Well...OK."

There was silence as Philip and Amanda began to walk towards the villa, leaving Hugh still staring at Chloe's averted face. Only when they had disappeared through the door did she turn her head to meet his gaze. Hugh stared back, unable to speak, his heart thumping inside his chest. Rays of afternoon sun were falling through the trees, dappling shadows on her face, making her expression unreadable.

"Hello," she said at last.

"Hello," said Hugh, and cleared hus throat apprehensively. "It's...it's been a long time."

—An Excerpt from Sleeping Arrangements

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