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Worst Idea Ever
Best friends tell each other everything.
Or do they?
Georgia and Lydia are so close, they're practically sisters.
So when Lydia starts an online business that struggles, Georgia wants to help her - but Lydia's not the kind to accept a handout. Setting up a fake Twitter account, Georgia hopes to give her friend some anonymous moral support by posing as a potential customer.
But then Lydia starts confiding in her new internet buddy and Georgia discovers she doesn't know her quite as well as she thought. Georgia knows she should reveal the truth - especially when Lydia starts talking about her - but she just can't help herself.
Until Lydia reveals a secret that could not only end their friendship, but also blow-up Georgia's marriage . . .
Georgia's in too deep.
But what can she save?
Her marriage, her friendship - or just herself?
Georgia and Lydia are so close, they're practically sisters.
So when Lydia starts an online business that struggles, Georgia wants to help her - but Lydia's not the kind to accept a handout. Setting up a fake Twitter account, Georgia hopes to give her friend some anonymous moral support by posing as a potential customer.
But then Lydia starts confiding in her new internet buddy and Georgia discovers she doesn't know her quite as well as she thought. Georgia knows she should reveal the truth - especially when Lydia starts talking about her - but she just can't help herself.
Until Lydia reveals a secret that could not only end their friendship, but also blow-up Georgia's marriage . . .
Georgia's in too deep.
But what can she save?
Her marriage, her friendship - or just herself?
400 pages, Hardcover
First published April 29, 2021
About the author
Jane Fallon
22 books1,415 followersJane Fallon is an English producer and novelist, most famous for her work on popular series Teachers, 20 Things To Do Before You're 30, Eastenders and This Life. She is author of ten novels on the Sunday Times Bestseller List — Getting Rid of Matthew, Got You Back, Foursome, The Ugly Sister, Skeletons, Strictly Between Us, My Sweet Revenge, Faking Friends, Tell Me A Secret, and Queen Bee. In 2011, Foursome was nominated for the Melissa Nathan Award for Romantic Comedy Fiction, and in 2018, Faking Friends was nominated in the popular fiction category of the National Book Awards and in 2019 was long listed for the Comedy Women In Print prize.
Fallon has been in a relationship with popular comedian Ricky Gervais since 1982, after they met while studying together at the University College London. The couple has lived together since 1984 and are based in North London.
Fallon has been in a relationship with popular comedian Ricky Gervais since 1982, after they met while studying together at the University College London. The couple has lived together since 1984 and are based in North London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 847 reviews
May 23, 2021
This book sure had a good hook. A woman sets up a fake Twitter account to give her struggling artist friend some apparently-exogenous support, and ends up finding out a deep dark secret about herself by the same route. The problem with the book doesn’t lie in the idea, which is solid, but with the execution, which is … not.
Even at its best (i.e. passable), the prose in the book is never more than workmanlike. The dialogue is best left unsaid. But it’s when it comes to explication of character that the book really falls flat.
The book hinges on the fact that main character Georgia is categorically unable to have a sensible adult conversation with any of the people in her life. Her long-time BFF Lydia is the struggling artist in this scenario. Georgia is a not-struggling artist with what seems to me to be an unlikely success story, although to be fair I’m by no means au fait with the world of children’s publishing. Lydia is also single at forty-five, which is presented as both the worst possible outcome in this history of the world and the reason Lydia is so pathetic, mean, and ultimately bunny-boiling. Thanks. Thanks for that. Lydia cleans her house because she has nothing better to do than tidy up. WOW. FUCK YOU.
The plot runs as follows.
Which brings me to the other big flaw in the book: the ages of the protagonists. They act and think like people in their mid-twenties. I have no idea why they’re the age they are, except I guess it lets Fallon off the hook of describing Georgia’s day-to-day life with small kids, instead of her frankly unlikely existence of faffing about in sweatpants doing one drawing a week.
Georgia was a divine idiot, Lydia was unbelievable, and the rest of the cast were interchangeable. A good premise wasted.
Even at its best (i.e. passable), the prose in the book is never more than workmanlike. The dialogue is best left unsaid. But it’s when it comes to explication of character that the book really falls flat.
The book hinges on the fact that main character Georgia is categorically unable to have a sensible adult conversation with any of the people in her life. Her long-time BFF Lydia is the struggling artist in this scenario. Georgia is a not-struggling artist with what seems to me to be an unlikely success story, although to be fair I’m by no means au fait with the world of children’s publishing. Lydia is also single at forty-five, which is presented as both the worst possible outcome in this history of the world and the reason Lydia is so pathetic, mean, and ultimately bunny-boiling. Thanks. Thanks for that. Lydia cleans her house because she has nothing better to do than tidy up. WOW. FUCK YOU.
The plot runs as follows.
Which brings me to the other big flaw in the book: the ages of the protagonists. They act and think like people in their mid-twenties. I have no idea why they’re the age they are, except I guess it lets Fallon off the hook of describing Georgia’s day-to-day life with small kids, instead of her frankly unlikely existence of faffing about in sweatpants doing one drawing a week.
Georgia was a divine idiot, Lydia was unbelievable, and the rest of the cast were interchangeable. A good premise wasted.
August 26, 2021
This was so good! Better than I expected!
Full review to come.
Buddy reading this with Amanda.
Full review to come.
Buddy reading this with Amanda.
April 29, 2021
I must begin by saying that Worst Idea Ever is actually Fallon's best idea ever and brings a tumultuous friendship between Georgia Shepherd and Lydia Somers to a head. It isn't long before their friendship sours and platonic love turns into a fixation on revenge and an all-encompassing and extremely unhealthy obsession. When Lydia starts up an online business that then begins to struggle financially, Georgia just wants to do all she can to help and doesn't want to see her friend in that much distress. However, she knows the type of person Lydia is and she wouldn't be seen dead accepting handouts or charity even from a long-term best friend. This leads to Georgia masquerading as a stranger behind a newly created, anonymous Twitter account and offers her friend the support she wishes she would have accepted from her as her friend.
Posing as a potential customer, Georgia and Lydia become close, and Lydia begins to confide in her. But what doesn't go down well is that she tells her secrets that Georgia didn't even know about her bestie and this makes her more and more resentful. Georgia realises Lydia keeps many things from her and that she may not know her at all based on the facade she's hidden behind since they first began their friendship. This is one of Jane Fallon’s most compulsive and enthralling books to date; she really can be relied upon to deliver a wickedly twisty and unsettlingly believable story from beginning to end. It'll have you heart-pumping, your nails bitten into the wicks and you desperately flying through the pages to discover what might happen. A riveting and rollicking good read. Highly recommended.
Posing as a potential customer, Georgia and Lydia become close, and Lydia begins to confide in her. But what doesn't go down well is that she tells her secrets that Georgia didn't even know about her bestie and this makes her more and more resentful. Georgia realises Lydia keeps many things from her and that she may not know her at all based on the facade she's hidden behind since they first began their friendship. This is one of Jane Fallon’s most compulsive and enthralling books to date; she really can be relied upon to deliver a wickedly twisty and unsettlingly believable story from beginning to end. It'll have you heart-pumping, your nails bitten into the wicks and you desperately flying through the pages to discover what might happen. A riveting and rollicking good read. Highly recommended.
June 18, 2021
A good premise, badly handled. Couldn't stand any of the insufferable characters. Reading this book was the worst idea ever.
August 12, 2021
I really enjoyed this one!
This was a fast, fun read and just what I needed alongside the intensity of my current thriller!
It showed just how easy things spiral when you're trying to do the right thing and help a friend.
The book is secrets galore and I never could have predicted the path the story takes you on when I first started reading!
I can't say this was 'mind-blowing' but I would say it ticked the criteria I needed when I started. I was engaged throughout, never bored, and I would definitely recommend it for lovers of women's fiction.
This was a fast, fun read and just what I needed alongside the intensity of my current thriller!
It showed just how easy things spiral when you're trying to do the right thing and help a friend.
The book is secrets galore and I never could have predicted the path the story takes you on when I first started reading!
I can't say this was 'mind-blowing' but I would say it ticked the criteria I needed when I started. I was engaged throughout, never bored, and I would definitely recommend it for lovers of women's fiction.
May 23, 2021
Yet another dull and tedious story about bored rich white people who are low key alcoholics. Initially, the plot appeared to have an interesting concept, however, this was quickly lost and I spent the rest of the book hoping it would actually lift off the ground. Clearly, the author didn't know where to go with this story and it soon spiralled into another predictable and lazy plot where nothing really happens. Two stars for the two days of my life I'll never have back.
Shelved as 'abandoned'
March 20, 2022I’m not wasting any more time on this. I picked it up because it’s billed as a comedy and I needed an antidote to the nerve-toxin that was my previous read, but by page 75 there hasn’t been a single snort, snigger or even chuckle, just two unpleasantly neurotic jealous middle-aged women - and it was painfully obvious what was going on, so I skipped to the end to confirm it, and can now move on.
September 17, 2021
Middle-aged women behaving like immature teenagers. Repetitive and dull, and I couldn't care less about either of the whiny, narcissistic characters. Abandoned at 11%.
December 29, 2021
The vibe of this book is "why talk like real adults when we can have drama."
The writing for this book is basic, which is suitable for this type of book I suppose. The characters are rather simple and lacking in grace, and despite my feeling was that the author wanted to write two persons whom we can both sympathize with, I failed to feel for either. The premise is good but the pacing/ setup was off for me. I felt my brain melting off from frustrations when I reached the 50% mark and I was so close to abandoning this story.
Nonetheless, I did find myself wanting to know what would happen in the end so I kept turning the pages (and skimmed through the parts when it dragged on). The book is a fair fictional tale for people who like to watch train wrecks. That being said, I would not recommend this book if you are to read only one book per month.
Some spoilers reaction as below:
The writing for this book is basic, which is suitable for this type of book I suppose. The characters are rather simple and lacking in grace, and despite my feeling was that the author wanted to write two persons whom we can both sympathize with, I failed to feel for either. The premise is good but the pacing/ setup was off for me. I felt my brain melting off from frustrations when I reached the 50% mark and I was so close to abandoning this story.
Nonetheless, I did find myself wanting to know what would happen in the end so I kept turning the pages (and skimmed through the parts when it dragged on). The book is a fair fictional tale for people who like to watch train wrecks. That being said, I would not recommend this book if you are to read only one book per month.
Some spoilers reaction as below:
November 16, 2021
Would be 5 but it made me stressed 😂
June 3, 2021
Worst Idea Ever is Jane Fallon's latest novel and centres on the friendship between Georgia Shepherd and Lydia Somers. Lydia starts up an online business as an illustrator that then begins to struggle financially, and Georgia is desperate to help however she can. Knowing that Lydia wouldn't accept handouts or charity even from a long-term best friend, Georgia masquerades as a stranger behind a newly created, Twitter account, calling herself Patricia and offers her friend the support she wishes Lydia would have accepted from her as her BFF.
Patricia and Lydia become close, and Lydia confides in Patricia, telling her secrets that Georgia doesn't even know as her bestie of 20 years+ and this makes her resentful. Georgia realises Lydia keeps many things from her and concludes that she may not know Lydia at all. This sours their friendship and platonic love turns into revenge and an unhealthy obsession. A compulsive and enthralling tale, Jane Fallon's tale is wickedly twisty and believable. From beginning to end it was an exceptional read.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Penguin Books (UK) via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Patricia and Lydia become close, and Lydia confides in Patricia, telling her secrets that Georgia doesn't even know as her bestie of 20 years+ and this makes her resentful. Georgia realises Lydia keeps many things from her and concludes that she may not know Lydia at all. This sours their friendship and platonic love turns into revenge and an unhealthy obsession. A compulsive and enthralling tale, Jane Fallon's tale is wickedly twisty and believable. From beginning to end it was an exceptional read.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Penguin Books (UK) via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
November 5, 2021
2.5 STARS - I'm really surprised this has so many 5 star reviews! It was ok, nothing more. Maybe this type of chicklit shallow writing just isn't for me!
I had to keep reminding myself that Georgia and Lydia were grown women in their mid 40's, not teenagers. Georgia's grown up twins were more mature!
The plot was ok but it was so shallow. It could have been so much better! I found it a bit drawn out and repetitive. I hated Lydia with a passion. The whole posting selfies on Instagram with lots of Hashtags was ridiculous. Please don't tell me grown women do this in real life! 🙈
I felt that the author didn't know where to go with the story at the end. I was expecting some bombshell.... some fabulous ending that made me go WOW, I didn't see that coming, I'm so glad I finished it... but it fizzled out like a damp firework.
On the plus side it's not the worst I've read, it passed time while waiting for my pre-ordered book and it was only 99p.
Probably won't bother reading any more if this is the style.
I had to keep reminding myself that Georgia and Lydia were grown women in their mid 40's, not teenagers. Georgia's grown up twins were more mature!
The plot was ok but it was so shallow. It could have been so much better! I found it a bit drawn out and repetitive. I hated Lydia with a passion. The whole posting selfies on Instagram with lots of Hashtags was ridiculous. Please don't tell me grown women do this in real life! 🙈
I felt that the author didn't know where to go with the story at the end. I was expecting some bombshell.... some fabulous ending that made me go WOW, I didn't see that coming, I'm so glad I finished it... but it fizzled out like a damp firework.
On the plus side it's not the worst I've read, it passed time while waiting for my pre-ordered book and it was only 99p.
Probably won't bother reading any more if this is the style.
November 7, 2021
Avoid if you are single at all costs. Very much for smug marrieds only and those who secretly feat their single friends are plotting to steal their husbands. The single characters are written as pathetic and borderline sociopathic, aswell as living in sad flats and trying to pretend life is tolerable on-line. I flicked through quickly, hoping it would redeem its self and it didn't. Borderline offensive.
April 29, 2021
Georgia Shepherd is a successful author of children’s picture books that feature Wilbur, the shopping – obsessed wallaby. Her best friend Lydia Somers, who is also an illustrator, is working in publishing, yes, but as the one who commissions the authors, not being commissioned herself. So Georgia, with the best of intentions, decides to set up a fake social media account to boost Lydia’s confidence – Lydia’s illustrations are brilliant but no one seems to be interested in them. So the invented Patricia starts to like everything Lydia’s has posted on her Twitter. What Georgia didn’t expect is Lydia so quickly starting to confide in her new friend Patricia. What’s worse, she starts to imply things about Georgia and her family – things that are going to turn Georgia’s life upside down.
Having read many Fallon’s books before, I kind of knew what to expect from this novel and I’ve been all the time waiting for the story to change the perspective and tell us the tale from Lydia’s point of view. I also relatively quickly guessed what is happening but it didn’t spoil the reading for me, oh no, in typical Jane Fallon’s way she writes a story that will make your blood boil, with lots of intrigue and suspicion. Even though this time I was not wondering who is lying, I was wondering how far the characters will go to achieve what they want – and there were many secrets, lies and tons of untangling and unpeeling and well, yes, there were many moments that made me feel unsecure about how the story is going to end and I was thinking, „no way“. Brilliant!
The characters were so well developed and portrayed and actually, now, when I think about this, even if my sympathy was for specific characters, no one in this story was completely innocent, don’t you think? Though I also know where Georgia was coming from when she wanted to help Lydia, and personally I wouldn’t take it as personally as Lydia. I think. Because Georgia genuinely wanted to support her friend. I loved her, she was so laid – back, that is, until the moment when the claws come out, and I loved to see this lioness – side of her. She was not the person to simply sit back and watch, even though I think there were moments that she felt tired and wanted to give up, well, who wouldn’t, right. Lydia… Well, there was something in Lydia, from the very beginning, that didn’t sit well with me, as if she was holding something back, as if she was not completely honest – but those are only my feelings. There came a moment that I started to fear about her mental health, to be honest, because instagramming the hell out of her life is one thing, but the way she was behaving made me really wonder. Nevertheless, I liked how the author didn’t actually judge her characters, showing that things are not only black and white, that there is grey somewhere in between, making us think.
But not only the main characters were so great, also the background ones, like Anne Marie and Harry, Lydia and Nick’s children or even Nick’t best friend who actually – I think – has never entered a scene but was still there – they were all living and breathing characters. And let’s not forget Igor! I was as invested in their subplots as I was in the main ones.
Jane Fallon is a brilliant observer and writes in a sharp and sarcastic way – my favourite kind! The writing flies smoothly and is filled with funny and more serious moments. It was thought out well and it took us on a roller – coaster journey full of mixed feelings and emotions.
This book is another winner from Jane Fallon, filled with close friendship, betrayal, intrigue and suspicion but this all written in a light, chatty way – this all makes this book so readable and not so easy to put down, you simply want to read and read to see what��s going to happen.
I found the beginning to be a little slow, to be honest, but the more you read the more involved you become in the story and the intrigue and then, later on, with this typical Jane Fallon's skilfulness, she starts to deliver twist after twist and different points of view. Those are things that can really happen in real life, which only made the story this little bit more thrilling and exciting and captivating. You simply can’t miss this great story about trust and honesty and who’s having your back! „Worst. Idea. Ever“ has lived up to my expectations and the author delivered a sharp, genuine and brilliantly funny story. Highly recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Having read many Fallon’s books before, I kind of knew what to expect from this novel and I’ve been all the time waiting for the story to change the perspective and tell us the tale from Lydia’s point of view. I also relatively quickly guessed what is happening but it didn’t spoil the reading for me, oh no, in typical Jane Fallon’s way she writes a story that will make your blood boil, with lots of intrigue and suspicion. Even though this time I was not wondering who is lying, I was wondering how far the characters will go to achieve what they want – and there were many secrets, lies and tons of untangling and unpeeling and well, yes, there were many moments that made me feel unsecure about how the story is going to end and I was thinking, „no way“. Brilliant!
The characters were so well developed and portrayed and actually, now, when I think about this, even if my sympathy was for specific characters, no one in this story was completely innocent, don’t you think? Though I also know where Georgia was coming from when she wanted to help Lydia, and personally I wouldn’t take it as personally as Lydia. I think. Because Georgia genuinely wanted to support her friend. I loved her, she was so laid – back, that is, until the moment when the claws come out, and I loved to see this lioness – side of her. She was not the person to simply sit back and watch, even though I think there were moments that she felt tired and wanted to give up, well, who wouldn’t, right. Lydia… Well, there was something in Lydia, from the very beginning, that didn’t sit well with me, as if she was holding something back, as if she was not completely honest – but those are only my feelings. There came a moment that I started to fear about her mental health, to be honest, because instagramming the hell out of her life is one thing, but the way she was behaving made me really wonder. Nevertheless, I liked how the author didn’t actually judge her characters, showing that things are not only black and white, that there is grey somewhere in between, making us think.
But not only the main characters were so great, also the background ones, like Anne Marie and Harry, Lydia and Nick’s children or even Nick’t best friend who actually – I think – has never entered a scene but was still there – they were all living and breathing characters. And let’s not forget Igor! I was as invested in their subplots as I was in the main ones.
Jane Fallon is a brilliant observer and writes in a sharp and sarcastic way – my favourite kind! The writing flies smoothly and is filled with funny and more serious moments. It was thought out well and it took us on a roller – coaster journey full of mixed feelings and emotions.
This book is another winner from Jane Fallon, filled with close friendship, betrayal, intrigue and suspicion but this all written in a light, chatty way – this all makes this book so readable and not so easy to put down, you simply want to read and read to see what��s going to happen.
I found the beginning to be a little slow, to be honest, but the more you read the more involved you become in the story and the intrigue and then, later on, with this typical Jane Fallon's skilfulness, she starts to deliver twist after twist and different points of view. Those are things that can really happen in real life, which only made the story this little bit more thrilling and exciting and captivating. You simply can’t miss this great story about trust and honesty and who’s having your back! „Worst. Idea. Ever“ has lived up to my expectations and the author delivered a sharp, genuine and brilliantly funny story. Highly recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
June 23, 2022
Thank you Penguin for sending us a copy to read and review.
The revenge dramedy never looked so sweeter, a fantastic read that’s very hard to walk away from.
Georgia and Lydia are best friends.
Lydia has an online business that begins to struggle, so being the great friend she is Georgia sets up a fake Twitter account and starts to complement Lydia on her wonderful designs but it backfires spectacularly.
Lydia opens up and confides in her new social media pal including some information about Georgia.
Georgia believes she should tell Lydia the truth until a secret is revealed and then everything escalates and the scandal comes out.
Jane Fallon has always been on my reading radar and as always, given fans a fabulous engaging and totally hooking read.
An interesting premise, a entertaining plot and characters to love and hate all will have you glued to the pages.
I couldn’t get enough having all the perfect Jane ingredients that I love from her stories.
Jealously, betrayal, envy and revenge are the ideal elements to escalate this funny, clever and thoroughly addictive tale.
Picking up a Jane book, I know I’m getting quality storytelling and after I’ve finished I’m left feeling elated, thankful and content.
Friendships and relationships are never the same when Jane gets a hold of them, writing about the complexities of these and leaving the reader wanting more.
April 25, 2024
جریان از این قراره که «جورجیا» نویسنده و تصویرساز کتابهای خیلی موفق کودکانه ولی دوست صمیمیش «لیدیا» که اندازهی اون استعداد داره، تا حالا کتابی چاپ نکرده و چپ و راست هم از ناشرهای مختلف جواب نه میشنوه. اینه که جورجیا میآد یه اکانت الکی یوتیوب میزنه و خودشو پاتریشیا معرفی میکنه و هی از آنلاینشاپ دوستش تعریف میکنه و این وسط متوجه میشه لیدیا یه چیزایی راجع به زندگیش میدونه که میتونه همه چیو از هم بپاشه.
تا اینجا ایدهی خوبی به نظر میآد، نه؟ به نظر من که بله. ولی انقدر نویسنده داستانو کِش میده و انقدر جزئیات الکی توی داستان داره که حوصلهی آدمو سر میبره.
در طول داستان هم هرکس میفهمه جورجیا چیکار کرده و اکانت الکی درست کرده و باعث این همه دردسر شده، یکبار هم سرزنشش نمیکنه. چه کنیم با این همه منطق در سرتاسر داستان؟
در ضمن شخصیت این سگه -ایگور- خیلی اضافه بود و جزئیات اضافهای به داستان اضافه میکرد.
کلاً خداقوت به هرکس -از جمله خودم- که تا آخر اینو خونده و یا بخونه.
تا اینجا ایدهی خوبی به نظر میآد، نه؟ به نظر من که بله. ولی انقدر نویسنده داستانو کِش میده و انقدر جزئیات الکی توی داستان داره که حوصلهی آدمو سر میبره.
در طول داستان هم هرکس میفهمه جورجیا چیکار کرده و اکانت الکی درست کرده و باعث این همه دردسر شده، یکبار هم سرزنشش نمیکنه. چه کنیم با این همه منطق در سرتاسر داستان؟
در ضمن شخصیت این سگه -ایگور- خیلی اضافه بود و جزئیات اضافهای به داستان اضافه میکرد.
کلاً خداقوت به هرکس -از جمله خودم- که تا آخر اینو خونده و یا بخونه.
June 1, 2024
Wasn’t amazing but equally wasn’t terrible. I found it hard to like either of the main two woman, as they are supposed to be adults yet act like teenagers it was so strange.
Georgia’s character was so insecure and jealous it was weird, plus Lydia was a terrible friend!
It was an easy read, and I did enjoy some of the story but I felt like the last part of the book was kinda unnecessary could have been around 100 pages shorter tbh.
the twist was good, did see it coming in a way but I still enjoyed it
Georgia’s character was so insecure and jealous it was weird, plus Lydia was a terrible friend!
It was an easy read, and I did enjoy some of the story but I felt like the last part of the book was kinda unnecessary could have been around 100 pages shorter tbh.
the twist was good, did see it coming in a way but I still enjoyed it
June 30, 2022
3,5 ⭐️
Recensie volgt nog...
Recensie volgt nog...
August 7, 2023
Me picking this book up for a holiday really was the worst. idea. ever.
February 8, 2022
Jane Fallon is fast becoming one of my favourite authors to listen to. This is my third novel of hers and probably my favourite, I absolutely loved it! She really is the best at revenge comedies.
July 19, 2022
I guess 3,5 ster of zo eigenlijk, duurde een beetje te lang aan het einde maar verder prima boekje hoor, hoop drama maar hé
October 30, 2021
I would definitely recommend this one. It’s a twisty, fun read which definitely is a real page turner. I didn’t find it predictable at all. Great for a holiday read. I’ve read other books by this author and this one didn’t disappoint.
March 1, 2024
Georgia and Lydia are so close they are practically sisters. They meet at art college and bond immediately. However, Georgia becomes a successful author and Lydia doesn’t. Georgia decides to support Lydia by creating a fake Instagram account, using the name Patricia, and liking her illustrations. However, things take a dark turn when Lydia starts to confide in Patricia that Georgia’s husband is having an affair. Fabulous tale of friendship, jealousy and the human condition. Loved it 🥰
September 9, 2021
Having read a number of Jane's novels before I found myself second-guessing nearly everything to try and anticipate the twists! The main one I had guessed but still a few surprises along the way. I thought her style would wear thin but it really hasn't and I raced through this as such an easy read.
December 29, 2021
A nice easy read to end the year with - an exploration of complicated friendships.
June 29, 2024
I listened to this one and I thought the narration made a huge difference. It was read in a hugely engaging way.
A fun, modern, easy listen.
A fun, modern, easy listen.
May 28, 2021
I really, really enjoyed this novel. Jane Fallon pretty much specialises in fiction about toxic friendships and, I'll be honest, no author does it better than she does. I've read close to all of her books (bar the odd one or two that I still have on my shelf to read) although it has been a while since I've read one of her novels.
Anyway, this novel tells the story of Georgia and Lydia, two best friends who (unfortunately) both have the same dream: to become published illustrators. Lydia has worked her bum off to get her drawings out there, but it just doesn't happen for her and she ends up stuck in a publishing job that's getting her nowhere career-wise. Whereas Georgia has everything Lydia wants, the husband, the dream job as a kids author, the perfect life. So when Lydia decides to start her own Etsy business selling her illustrations, Georgia does what any best friend would do - and starts a secret Twitter account as 'Patricia' to try and build Lydia up. But the more Lydia confides in 'Patricia', the less Georgia can handle it as it reveals secrets that will impact her life completely.
I thoroughly enjoyed Worst Idea Ever - Georgia narrates the majority of the novel and I loved her narrative, I loved her as a character and, I'll be honest, I don't think she did anything wrong in regards to what she did to help Lydia. It was done with pure intentions rather than condescension and while it was underhand to do it secretly, I could understand why, because Lydia was so bloody sensitive about it all. However things take a turn when Lydia starts confiding in Patricia about Georgia's life and that's when things really start to get interesting.
To be completely honest, Lydia is just the worst. Her envy of her so-called best friend is embarrassing; they may have been best friends once upon a time, but really, Lydia seems to have always been jealous of Georgia, and I just don't understand why she would want to get ahead in her career of becoming a published author/illustrator due to her connection to Georgia rather than her talent. Because even if Georgia had managed to get Lydia in with her publishers, Lydia would then want something else, something more, because it wouldn't be enough and honestly, she needed to grow up.
I flew through this novel and I was always excited to get back to it. I'm now even more excited to go back and read the Jane Fallon novels that I've missed because I've realised just how good a writer she really is.
Anyway, this novel tells the story of Georgia and Lydia, two best friends who (unfortunately) both have the same dream: to become published illustrators. Lydia has worked her bum off to get her drawings out there, but it just doesn't happen for her and she ends up stuck in a publishing job that's getting her nowhere career-wise. Whereas Georgia has everything Lydia wants, the husband, the dream job as a kids author, the perfect life. So when Lydia decides to start her own Etsy business selling her illustrations, Georgia does what any best friend would do - and starts a secret Twitter account as 'Patricia' to try and build Lydia up. But the more Lydia confides in 'Patricia', the less Georgia can handle it as it reveals secrets that will impact her life completely.
I thoroughly enjoyed Worst Idea Ever - Georgia narrates the majority of the novel and I loved her narrative, I loved her as a character and, I'll be honest, I don't think she did anything wrong in regards to what she did to help Lydia. It was done with pure intentions rather than condescension and while it was underhand to do it secretly, I could understand why, because Lydia was so bloody sensitive about it all. However things take a turn when Lydia starts confiding in Patricia about Georgia's life and that's when things really start to get interesting.
To be completely honest, Lydia is just the worst. Her envy of her so-called best friend is embarrassing; they may have been best friends once upon a time, but really, Lydia seems to have always been jealous of Georgia, and I just don't understand why she would want to get ahead in her career of becoming a published author/illustrator due to her connection to Georgia rather than her talent. Because even if Georgia had managed to get Lydia in with her publishers, Lydia would then want something else, something more, because it wouldn't be enough and honestly, she needed to grow up.
I flew through this novel and I was always excited to get back to it. I'm now even more excited to go back and read the Jane Fallon novels that I've missed because I've realised just how good a writer she really is.
May 8, 2021
Amazing book. Read from start to finish in one day and was completely enthralled with the story.
Georgia and Lydia have been friends since childhood and when Lydia’s parents die in a car accident they become closer, almost like sisters. Both are artists and as life goes on Georgia marries and has children and becomes a published author. Lydia snaps her life and portrays it as Instagram bliss.
Georgia feels sorry that Lydia does not have the commercial success that she does and decides to follow her on Twitter as a fake profile that loves her work. Lydia responds and the fake profile, Patricia and Lydia become so close that Lydia confides in Patricia that she knows her BFF Georgia’s hubby is cheating.
This is a great twist and the headache becomes real when Georgia’s husband is accused and leaves their home. A twist is then revealed and now Lydia is in the spotlight.
Fabulous plot, great characters and super face pace. I can’t recommend this highly enough.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Georgia and Lydia have been friends since childhood and when Lydia’s parents die in a car accident they become closer, almost like sisters. Both are artists and as life goes on Georgia marries and has children and becomes a published author. Lydia snaps her life and portrays it as Instagram bliss.
Georgia feels sorry that Lydia does not have the commercial success that she does and decides to follow her on Twitter as a fake profile that loves her work. Lydia responds and the fake profile, Patricia and Lydia become so close that Lydia confides in Patricia that she knows her BFF Georgia’s hubby is cheating.
This is a great twist and the headache becomes real when Georgia’s husband is accused and leaves their home. A twist is then revealed and now Lydia is in the spotlight.
Fabulous plot, great characters and super face pace. I can’t recommend this highly enough.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2022
I’m always gutted when I finish a book and haven’t enjoyed it. I don’t relish in criticising things, I usually like to focus on the positives. But for some reason I just really did not enjoy this book, I found myself desperate for it to end and when I finished I was actually annoyed I’d wasted my time with reading it. Again I’m not trying to be unkind I just don’t understand the good ratings for this book.
I agree with a lot of the reviews that the premise was good but the content was just unbearable and it was not believable at all that the main characters were in their mid 40’s. As others have mentioned- plot very much involves them acting like jealous teenagers. A particular plot point towards the end where friends actually actively hope that the other won’t succeed is so upsetting to see in a world that tries to make women rivals and act in exactly this way. It felt like all the work women have done to root for each other and raise each other up was sorely lacking here and while I appreciate that was probably the point of this book, it’s something I will never enjoy reading.
I agree with a lot of the reviews that the premise was good but the content was just unbearable and it was not believable at all that the main characters were in their mid 40’s. As others have mentioned- plot very much involves them acting like jealous teenagers. A particular plot point towards the end where friends actually actively hope that the other won’t succeed is so upsetting to see in a world that tries to make women rivals and act in exactly this way. It felt like all the work women have done to root for each other and raise each other up was sorely lacking here and while I appreciate that was probably the point of this book, it’s something I will never enjoy reading.
June 29, 2022
Jane Fallon does it again! I enjoyed this one a lot, the pacing and the humour was good and as always her writing grabs you straight away.
I did find that the plot was entirely predictable and there were no surprises at all throughout. Also there were no likeable characters in this story apart from the dog Igor.
However none of this ruined my enjoyment and I found that I actually quite liked it.
I did find that the plot was entirely predictable and there were no surprises at all throughout. Also there were no likeable characters in this story apart from the dog Igor.
However none of this ruined my enjoyment and I found that I actually quite liked it.
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