Kathy Lette

Lucy’s life was supposed to be idyllic once she and her family moved to sun-soaked Oz – but it couldn’t be more of a mess.

For twin sisters Isabel and Verity, the sisterhood rules were shattered when Verity had an affair with Izzy’s husband. Devastated by her sister’s betrayal, Izzy casts Verity into social Siberia. But when their mother goes missing, they are forced to come together again to find her.

“Query: would it be a serious breach of etiquette to run out on my own wedding?” This is the question Becky Steele finds herself asking, on the morning of her very own wedding. Yes, she loves Julian, but is she quite ready to become a proper grown-up, and give up on the joys of the single life?

Washed up in London and trying her best to raise her new-born son alone, Madeleine Wolfe is looking forward to taking her mind off things with some retail therapy – even if her budget stretches to prunes rather than Prada.

Since Merlin’s father left them in the lurch, Lucy has made Merlin the centre of her world. Struggling with the joys and tribulations of raising her adorable yet challenging child (if only Merlin came with operating instructions), Lucy doesn’t have room for any other man in her life.

Matilda, Jo, Penny and Cressy are all women at the top of their game; so imagine their surprise when they start to be personally overlooked and professionally pushed aside by less-qualified men.

Ruby has always been the generous mediator among her friends, family and colleagues, which is why they’ve all turned up to celebrate her 50th birthday. But after too many glasses of champers, Ruby takes her moment in the spotlight to reveal what she really thinks of every one of them.

When she hears a man has been killed by a Great White shark, Gwen races to the beach only to find that all that remains of her husband is his swimming cap and a piece of torn, blood-stained wetsuit.