Bianca (GR, we want notifications, pls! )'s Reviews > Lioness

3.5
This was an interesting novel, albeit imperfect.
It's about Therese Thorne, a fifty-something-year-old, the owner of a small chain of luxury homewares/decor. She's been married for thirty years to a property developer, two decades her senior. He came with baggage - four children and some lovely properties. ;-)
Therese came from a modest family, but she's had no problems getting used to a life of luxury - as if it's hard. She thinks her life is pretty sweet, she's content in her marriage. When her husband's property development affairs start being investigated by authorities, Therese is left to question her life, her role and her choices, including who she really is and what she wants. She's spurred on a journey of discovery by her somewhat unhinged neighbour, Claire.

There were many things I liked about the novel as it looks at affluence, career, having children, ageing, and female rage. While Claire was an interesting catalyst, an in-your-face kind of character, I found her unbelievable, and I questioned a few other situations that felt over-dramatised and incredulous, e.g. in what universe do people just let some strangers live in their home, rent-free and are so blase about it? I also found the author's choice to have an impromptu orgy peculiar, to say the least, not on moral grounds, just on logistical and probability grounds.

This had good bones, some parts were well done, so I'm keen to read more by this author.