SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES by Jojo Moyes. This is the author's latest book. She is a popular author in the women's fiction genre and I've heard good things. Having bought a couple of chunky paperbacks of earlier books I am yet to read them; however, when I saw this one available as an e-copy I grabbed my chance. The paperbacks are still sitting pretty on the shelf, soon to be read though, fingers crossed. 

I would give the writing style a solid 3.5 given this is my 1st read by the author. The characters were engaging and the story had enough to keep me turning pages even though a little slow in the beginning. This book is the story of 2 middle-aged women, Sam and Nisha, who are given a rude awakening from their married life of almost 2 decades, give or take a few years. 

Their lives are entertained in such an innocent almost hilarious way that it gives the seriousness of their situations a thrilling, even fun look. Sam and Nisha accidentally change their gym bags, at a gym where they aren't even regulars, you can call it a flashy, unreliable sort of gym, spa etc.

While Sam's kitbag has a regular non-branded gym, Nisha's is stuffed with big brand names and things her husband preferred for her not to lose at any cost. What follows is, Nisha paying for losing the seemingly innocent-looking, though expensive shoes while Sam gains an unexpected boost and a hefty dose of confidence wearing those very shoes. Will Nisha get them back or Sam get to keep her newfound self via the shoes? Pick up a copy now to find out. 

First off, the book is set in London, at a hotel where the central characters are introduced. Nisha, an American housewife is in the UK occupying the penthouse suite at Hotel Bentley, with her businessman husband. Her future ally turned bestie Jasmine works housekeeping at the hotel. Sam, is a working, married woman, whose paths cross with Nisha leading to the whole in SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES situation. 

The start of the story up to almost the middle where the characters tell their story separately starts slow and honestly their situations sound sad and a tad pathetic in places. This is how it carries on towards the middle of the work until Nisha and Sam finally meet, more than halfway in the story. 

Sad in the sense of pure human selfishness and things simply out of our control. Pathetic because we are unable to get ourselves out of situations because it's life throwing difficult people and situations at us nonstop. 

The story though picks up once Sam and Nisha meet up, things move pretty fast from there on and it feels like being part of a fast-paced police chase. This is how the whole sad, happy, regular life stuff of the characters are bound together and moved forward very well. Like you are living a boring, rarely exciting life, going about it with monotony or just trying to stay alive; and suddenly it's all HD, rock music blaring in the background and you are the centre stage with all the focus on you and how you solve your difficult situations LIVE.

This is what I enjoyed reading, seeing the characters individually making the best of it all and how when they are pushed together they shine and take what they deserve and desire. There's strength of friendship, innocent attraction, simple pleasures, stretching a drop of confidence to the most and taking the bull by the horns when nothing else works. So for a leisurely read by the pool or maybe a buddy read pick up a copy of SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES for some female bonding, bitching and more. Happy Reading.