Payday: A Richard and Judy Book Club Pick for Autumn 2022

I forgot I’d preordered this book so it was a surprise gift from myself when it arrived. I didn’t have any real expectations and if I’m honest I wondered what Piers Morgan’s “wife” would have to say and how well would she be able to write. I was completely hooked from the very first chapter and after a couple of chapters I wondered how Piers Morgan was going to cope being Celia Waldens “husband” ill eat my hat if this isn’t picked up to become a movie. It was the type of book you can’t enter your real life until you’ve discovered what happens to the characters it was my quickest read for a long time and I didn’t want it to end. Well done Celia this is a kick ass book!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼

Rating: 2.2/5The marketing blurb supporting Celia Walden's latest book described it as her first thriller. That description is somewhat misleading. "Payday" is largely devoid of anything particularly thrilling and is more of a (domestic) drama that focusses heavily on feminist issues and attitudes.I found this hard going, but I hate giving up on a book without seeing it through to the end, so I stuck with it. Ultimately, that perseverance was rewarded, as the final third of the novel is far more engaging than events prior to that point.Unfortunately, the pace of the narrative is too far off the mark for too long. Although the writing is intelligent and there are good and valid observations being made by the writer, it too often feels like the same ground is being retrodden and very similar themes being unnecessarily reiterated: Yes, I got that Jamie Lawrence was a nasty piece of work, who deserved everything that came his way. - I didn't need it underlining time and time again. And I understood the points being made about the challenges and prejudices that women have to overcome in the workplace and life in general. - I didn't need to be repeatedly told - then reminded - before being told again. The author clearly had certain messages that she wanted to communicate in this book and I have no issue with that, but if done to excess, it not only disrupts the flow and balance of the novel as a whole, but it can also become counterproductive and undermine the argument you are trying to get across.The latter sections of the novel are markedly better. The pace of the narrative is much improved and the tone is more balanced. Consequently, the protagonists become more engaging and you are actually able to empathise with them. Sadly, for me, this was a case of too little, too late and I wish the approach taken in these later stages had been more evident throughout.

Don’t start reading this if you have things to do - once you start it you won’t be able to put it down! I loved this book! A fantastic plot, which builds brilliantly with lots of twists and turns, and an extremely satisfying final twist. It’s really well written, with cleverly drawn characters and situations. A must read for fans of taut, intelligent thrillers.

This book wasn’t as good as I expected it to be given all of the hype. I struggled to keep going with it at times. The actual storyline wasn’t that interesting nor original. However it was well written and didn’t see the ending coming.

One of those books that you claw every spare moment of the day and night to read.It had so many twists and turns and shocks, it kept me Interested from the first page to the very lastOnly little niggle is at the end I’d have liked more on how Alex fared after not just a line or two