Product Description

Jojo Harvey is a dead ringer for Jessica Rabbit and the most ferocious literary agent in town. A former NYPD cop, she now lives in London making million-dollar book deals while trying to make partner at her firm . . . all the while sleeping with the boss man.

Lily Wright is an author who believes in karma, and is waiting for the sky to fall after stealing her former best friend's man. Though her first book failed to sell, her life turns upside down when her most recent book becomes a huge bestseller.

Gemma Hogan is an event designer extraordinaire, but her personal life is nonexistent after losing the love of her life and her best friend in one fell swoop. To make matters worse, her father has just left her mother. While taking care of her mother, she e-mails a close colleague about her frustrations, who in turn forwards the hilarious e-mails to a famous literary agent named Jojo Harvey, who just happens to represent her former friend, now enemy, Lily Wright. . . .

Written in the charming and chatty voice that has become Marian Keyes's signature style, this hilarious and heartwarming novel proves there are three sides to every story . . . especially in the world of publishing!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #269729 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-01
• Released on: 2006-04-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 528 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Ever wondered what the Other Woman was thinking as she stole your man? Couldn't bear to ask an old best friend if she'd ever forgiven you for absconding with her boyfriend? Itched to be a fly on your agent's office wall as she ignored your calls? Here's voyeurism at its playful, charming finest in Keyes's latest (after Sushi for Beginners; Under the Duvet; etc.). Gemma Hogan is living a lovely carefree life in Dublin when her father walks out on her mother, and she is summoned to play mom to her mom. But the magic of e-mail allows her to vent her woes to a friend in Seattle, who finds them hilarious enough to send to a top London agent, JoJo Harvey. JoJo, who is half Jessica Rabbit and half corporate powerhouse, likes Gemma's work but has bigger fish to fry-she is having a tormented affair with her married boss; her slimy co-worker is trying to beat her out for a coveted partner position; and her famed client Lily Wright, who wrote a gorgeous little cheerful fable that sold hundreds of thousands of copies, can't seem to get it together to write another book. Lily, in turn, is struggling with young motherhood, catastrophic finances and the paralyzing guilt of stealing her now-husband Anton from her former best friend, one Gemma Hogan. Keyes skillfully ties her interlocking plots together with grace and humor, and explores three disparate but gloriously real women's lives. It's a credit to Keyes that although she never exactly breaks new ground, she always serves up funny, heartwarming, believable fiction.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From AudioFile
Jojo is a literary agent. Two of her clients have written novels that are poised to break records on the bestseller lists. Gemma has written a journal of her parents' broken marriage, and Lily Wright has moved to London--with Gemma's boyfriend. Terry Donnelly deserves much praise for her delivery of the action in the book, which sweeps from Ireland to London to New York. Donnelly allows no lapses of interest as the listener follows the varying story lines. She is a good reader. Marian Keyes writes a good story. Yet this novel is studded with bad grammar, which cheapens the writing. It hurts the eye when read and the ear when listened to. J.P. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Booklist
The impressively prolific Irish novelist is back with yet another delightful tale featuring three clever, totally mad women. Gemma Hogan is going through a bit of a rough patch, and it all starts with her haircut. Although she thinks she looks like Liza Minnelli in Cabaret, her friends keep greeting her with the words, "Live long and prosper." In addition, her dad has run away from home. She must tend to her incredibly needy mom while juggling her job and trying to recover from losing the love of her life, Anton, to her friend Lily "Every Man for Myself" Wright. Gemma has serious vengeance issues. Meanwhile, Lily, feeling terribly guilty about Gemma's unrequited love for Anton, has written a runaway best-seller and embarked on a home renovation spree with the profits, all of which is threatened when her second novel tanks. Her literary agent, ambitious Jojo Harvey, has done the previously unthinkable--become involved with her married boss. Packing every page with her trademark one-liners, the insightful Keyes has the ability to examine life, love, and work issues with great wit and aplomb. Sex and the City junkies will find a suitable replacement here--one with considerably more warmth and without the ugly clothes. Joanne Wilkinson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

regarding page 562
Four stars for a great read but no stars for the line on page 562...."Like taking flying lessons from Osama Bin Laden"

I love this book but I must pass some disappointment at this bad attempt at a joke. No matter how much time passes or on what continent you live, this is never funny. There will never be a time or a place to make jokes about 9/11.

My Favorite Keyes Book
I've read most of Marian Keyes' books, and while I've enjoyed most of them, this one stands out as one of my favorites.

The interconnected story of three thirty-something women in Great Britain as they search for love, fulfillment, and successful careers, was spot-on in so many aspects. Yes, there were enough happy endings to go around, and yes, this could be called "chick lit," but it was far from cookie-cutter. Jojo, Lily and Gemma were all sympathetic characters in their own way, and I found myself rooting for all of them, even as their successes seemed to be mutually exclusive.

Lots of laughs and clever writing, "The Other Side of the Story" will keep you up at night as you read page after page, just to see how it all turns out.

Pulled me in and made me read!
At first, I had to put the book down and wait a while to read it. I felt like at first it was slow but then about 200 pages in I couldn't put the book down. I loved it. I am a new reader of her books and I have all of them now and I can't wait to read them all. Up next Rachel's Holiday!