Sleeping Arrangements

by Madeleine Wickham
(aka Sophie Kinsella)

   Gerald has loaned his villa in the Spanish foothills to his friends Chloe and Philip.  Chloe Harding hopes that the holiday will soothe the strain between herself and her longtime partner, Philip Murray, who is worried that the recent takeover of his company will cost him his job.

Unknown to them, Gerald has also loaned his villa to another couple already settled in there: Hugh Stratton, his wife Amanda, their two children and their nanny. Amanda is high maintenance, and always seems to find something that needs to be bought or done. Hugh labors constantly to keep her in the style she wishes.  Hugh is the beau who broke Chloe's heart 15 years ago.

The peace and solitude that Chloe hoped for is impossible.  She and Hugh reconcile their heartbreak of years ago and consider beginning a new life together.

The couples must settle their differences and make a life for themselves.  We must wonder whether their mutual friend really made an innocent mistake in getting them together.

Sleeping Arrangements is a well written romance with sharp wit and sparkling dialogue.  The characters are likeable and believable, involved in many amusing and distracting episodes.  This is a delightful, easy read.

Reviews of other titles by this author

A Desirable Residence