The Secret Life of Evie Hamilton: When a woman's charmed life falls to pieces, can she accept that perfection isn't always best?

Written by Catherine Alliott

Narrated by Caroline Doughty

Evie Hamilton’s biggest worry is when to book her next manicure. Happily married with an accomplished teenage daughter, she loves her privileged English country lifestyle. But when a mysterious letter exposes a crushing family secret, her Oxfordshire life falls to pieces.

Forced to confront the truth, a wave of gossip slams right into her picture-perfect household. To keep her close-knit family together, she'll have to find something completely unfamiliar: limitless inner strength.

Can Evie lean into the scandal or will her refusal to change rip her family apart?

The Secret Life of Evie Hamilton is an engaging story of family challenge. If you like emotional ups and downs, page-turning conflicts, and melt-in-your-heart moments, then you'll love Catherine Alliott's captivating novel. Read less

• Language: English
• Publisher: No Shooz Publishing
• Release date: Sep 4, 2018
• ISBN: 9781948224352

Catherine Alliott

'People often ask me if I always had a burning desire to be an author, and the honest answer is no, in fact, it almost happened by accident. I was working as a copywriter in an ad agency and tired of writing blurb for soap powder, began writing a novel under the desk. I had no thought of publication, was just doing it to relieve the boredom, but I must say it was a bit of a shock when my boss walked in one day and said we're not sure you're entirely committed and gave me the sack! Actually, I think that galvanized me and I was determined to finish it. I did, but it took a while: I was working freelance, and then pregnant with my first child so it wasn't at the forefront of my mind. When my son was born I discovered babies slept for great chunks of the day, so I revisited it, tapping it onto a computer my brother gave me. (The first draft was in long hand, I'm a complete Luddite by nature, and actually, still write my first draft into note books.) My husband persuaded me to send it to an agent who took it - amazingly and then a few weeks later I had a publisher too. The Old Girl Network came out about a year later and the first time I saw it in a shop, I was so startled I ran out again! I'm convinced it was easier back then to get published, these days it's far more competitive because there are so many girls doing it I'm glad I started early! I've written a few more since then, but some things don't change: I still get a thrill when I see them around. I hope you enjoy the books, I certainly have a lot of fun writing them.' ​

Reviews for The Secret Life of Evie Hamilton

[Sarah · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The narrator’s voice sounded really dull! Love Catherine Alliot but couldn’t listen

[pokarekareana · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book touched me more than I expected; I’d anticipated frothy chick-lit in the vein of Sophie Kinsella, but found the plot to be unexpectedly complex. Evie Hamilton lives an idyllic life as the wife of an Oxford don, but her world is turned upside down when a slight mishap from her husband’s past comes back to haunt him. It has plenty of juicy twists and turns along the way, but ultimately arriving at a palatable ending. Evie herself borders on the irrational at times, but I’m prepared to forgive her because she works in a bookshop. Irrational? Moi? Never!

[kazimiera_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

i really enjoyed this a nice light read that made me laugh