Title: My Sweet Revenge
Author: Jane Fallon
Publisher: Penguin, Michael Joseph
Date: January 12th, 2017
Pages: 416
Format: Paperback
Source: from Publisher for review
Synopsis (from Goodreads): I want to make my husband fall back in love with me.
Let me explain. This isn’t an exercise in 1950s wifeydom. I haven’t been reading articles in old women’s magazines. ‘Twenty ways to keep your man’. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
I want him to fall back in love with me so that when I tell him to get the hell out of my life he’ll care. He won’t just think, ‘Oh good’.
I want it to hurt.
Paula has had Robert’s back since they got together as drama students. She gave up her dreams so he could make it. Now he’s one of the nation’s most popular actors. And Paula’s just discovered he’s having an affair.
She’s going to remind Robert just what he’s sacrificing. And then she’s going to break his heart like he broke hers. It will be her greatest acting role ever.
Revenge is sweet. Isn’t it?
Review:
It has been two weeks since I finished My Sweet Revenge, and I still don’t know how to write my review without possibly offending some people.
Not reviewing it would easy and, in a way, right decision, but after a while I decided to do it anyway.
My opinions are my own, and I do apologise to everyone who might be offended by them.
My Sweet Revenge follows the story of Paula, who found out her husband was cheating on her for a while. Instead of confronting him, she decides to keep a secret that she knows what he’s doing, and to make him fall in love with her all over again. Once he’d realize he doesn’t want to lose her, she’ll leave him.
The reason why this story was on my most anticipated books in 2017 list is because I was so curious how Paula is going to make her husband fall in love again with her.
I also didn’t know where the story is going to go, and I was eager to find out.
The one thing I should emphasise is the novel’s unpredictability. No matter how hard I tried, I just could not imagine what was going to happened next, and I wanted to read as fast as I could to find out.
Paula was a character so much different from me, with many different opinions, making decisions I would never make.
Because of that, I wanted to follow her story, trying to understand her decisions with an open mind.
However, it was so hard for me to connect with her or like her in general.
Paula’s husband was cheating on her, and it is a terrible thing to happen’ to anyone.
She felt betrayed (as she should have), blaming her husband for everything, stating over and over how self centered he was, but not once did she ask herself what made him do it.
You see, Paula gained a lot of weight (which SHOULDN’T be a reason to be cheated on, but sometimes it is) while her husband was working out every single day, making sure he looks right.
She also can’t remember when was the last time they slept together, and one time in the story when he wanted some action, she refused.
People have needs, and having sex is one of them. If a person does not get it from his/her spouse, it’s natural that with time he/she will want to find someone else to get it from.
It’s like being thirsty and not getting a glass of water from the one person you’re sharing your life with.
So yeah, I don’t justify cheating, but in this case, I understand why Robert did what he did.
Also one more thing I didn’t like is how Paula (and one more character in the book) stated more then few times how young girls dating older men is gross.
I get why some women think that way, but young girls dated (or married) older men always, in the past and today, and it is not gross, it is natural. To each their own!
The book is written in first person, following Paula’s and Robert’s mistress POVs.
I really liked Part 2 because the story became more interesting from there.
There were some laugh out loud moments, some “OmG moments”, and then, there were some dull moments.
The writing style is good. The book reads pretty easily.
I was happy with the end. It all concluded very well and I am glad how every character got an ending that was the best for him/her, even though not all of them were aware of that.
All in all, I am glad I read this book because it showed me perspectives different from my own.
Book Dust Magic 
You don’t think young girls and older men are gross? But what is the age difference that you are okay with it? 10 years apart is okay for me, but more than that, it’s just not right. Unless they start dating at an older age like 30 dating 45 might be okay but not 15 dating 30. Or 10 dating 20, not cool either. That cover just makes me hungry 😂
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Ok, 10 dating 20 is pedophilia and it’s sick. I think any 20+ woman should be allowed dating men of any age. Like, even 50+. There’s a great chance that relationship wouldn’t work, but I wouldn’t call it gross.
I think that the age difference of 14 years in absolutely normal. Of course, I’m talking about 20+ woman, not teenagers.
I don’t think that every time you see a woman dating older man it’s because of his money, there’s so much more to it. But yeah, I do think that young woman can make older guys happy in a way older can’t, because they can make them feel young again. But I know many people wouldn’t agree with me, I’m subjective when it comes to that theme.
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men will like you then.. since you are so open minded 🙂 If I’m 20, I will not be open minded to dating a 50 year old man, even for his money.. hehe.. Great review too by the way. Sounds like an interesting read. I do hope his reason for cheating is good because I don’t tolerate cheating either. Did she get the pay back she wanted?
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Yes and no. She didn’t succeed in making him fall in love with her again, but she managed to break things up between hkm and his mistress. And she found herself a new guy. Happy end for everyone! Rober was miserable with Paula so it’s better for him to be single and find herself someone who will suit him better.
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I do like a happy ending haha.. 🙂
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I love your honest review ! I this character a bit naive then and/or judgemental in other ways? I don’t have a problem with people with 20 years of difference between them as long as it’s real love ;-). Is it the character or the author who’s talking like this. If it’s the character I don’t mind, if it’s the author who is so opinionated I don’t like it very much. I guess it’s not easy to know though. As for your first remark, I think it’s strange that she doesn’t question herself, it would certainly be something that I would do, ask myself where I went wrong, even if it wasn’t my fault. I’m looking at this book with a whole new set of eyes now ;-).
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Thanks Inge! I can’t say for sure if it was just characters or author too, but more then one character told it was disqusting, so that is where I found myself offended in a way.
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Sounds like there are a lot of thought provoking discussions for a book club here!
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You’re totally right! This book would be a perfect choice to read in a book club!
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Food and revenge make a great couple! I love that cover 😀
I understand your remark about the character not questioning herself, I liked the thirsty comparison by the way :), but I wish there were more depth to this, maybe there is in the book, because it takes two to make a marriage work and it sounds like she did not try that much but I don’t know, it seems a bit too harsh for me. Not getting what you want from a relationship? Talk? Divorce? That’s the rational me talking 🙂
Loved your honest review 🙂 I’ll be reading this in late Feb or March and I’d love to discuss it more with you!
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I would love to discuss it more with you, once you read it.
I honestly don’t know what to tell you, maybe it’s really me, understanding her husband before Paula, but I honestly felt like we only got to see Paula’s perspective on this (in which she was cheated wife who gave up her cereer to be with an actor) and I was like “why can’t you see it’s not only him?”.
I feel like this book is the one people could argue about, almost perfect for book club.
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I’ll definitely let you know when I’m done with it! I’m even more curious about the story now that I know there’s a lot to discuss! 🙂
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I remember when you got this book and I was intrigued by the blurb. It sounds really good, especially to see how different people would deal with a situation. Were the revenge ideas good? You did a great job of reviewing tactfully but honestly. I saw that Donna is going to read it too. It will be interesting to hear her thoughts alongside yours.
Amanda
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I don’t know actually what to tell you. Her revenge ideas were ones I wasn’t even sure what to think about them. I mean, I really didn’t understand why would she give herself a year or so to make him fall in love with her and then she could leave him, it was in my opinion waste of her and his time, even though she developed as a person because of that.
This is a book that could argue about a lot. I’ve seen many ppl on goodreads saying how they understand Paula complitely, and how real and relatable she is.
I am also curios about what will Donna think about this book.
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It makes me want to read to have the discussion! I think I will add to my tbr list. 😉
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