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  • Camberwell Beauty

  • By: Jenny Eclair
  • Narrated by: Jenny Eclair
  • Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (54 ratings)

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Camberwell Beauty

By: Jenny Eclair
Narrated by: Jenny Eclair
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Summary

Welcome to one of the nicest streets in one of London's vilest boroughs: a determined middle-class oasis of skips and bay trees, where Volvos sniff each others' bumpers and men called Giles live with women called Samantha.

This is a satellite-dish-free zone of tall houses, standing shoulder to shoulder with big front doors, five floors apiece. Come inside, shut the door and smell the coffee: you could almost be in Kensington. This is where the actors, writers and media types live, where small children wearing smart uniforms and shoes in the shape of lightbulbs get ferried every day to schools that are not local.

Some people are luckier than others; fortune smiles on some and gobs on the rest. Jo Metcalf (no. 95) smokes and spies on the smug Cunninghams down the street as they play their bile-inducing game of happy families. Why is the grass greener on the other side of the fence? But happiness is a fragile thing and hairline cracks in a perfect world can become craters of misery....

Full of comic insight and realistic observation of contemporary British life, this is the debut novel from Sunday Times bestseller Jenny Eclair.

©2020 Jenny Eclair (P)2020 Hachette Audio UK
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Critic reviews

"Wonderfully written, insightful and riveting." (Daily Mail)

"Both heart-rending and compelling." (Clare Mackintosh)

"So immersive, atmospheric and compelling." (Marian Keyes)

What listeners say about Camberwell Beauty

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Mostly enjoyable but overly crude in places

Definitely laugh out loud on more than one occasion but completely implausible in others. Very glad that I was listening with ear buds on more than one occasion as some of the most implausible sections were also unnecessarily crude and added nothing to the storyline or the development of the individual’s character.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

More please Jenny

Yet another enjoyable and well narrated book Jenny , would love a series of these please

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous

Another brilliant book from Jenny, personally I love her narration, she brings the story to life. I have listened to every single book she's written and I really hope there are more to follow.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Hilarious & crude

Love Jenny’s books, I was crying with laughter at this book, my sense of humour. Definitely will recommend to my like minded friends

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not easy listening

Not easy listening for nighttime insomnia. Jenny is quite shouty and this was not my favourite story.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Language shocking story good

Started so funny but lost its way as so did one of the Warning⚠️The characters.and language was almost Pornographic at. times, but what to expect from Jenny. I loved the book.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Compelling

I found this compelling, although a bit disturbing. Not very nice characters, funny in parts.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Must read

Bloody brilliant!Ghastly characters and told so well. An oldie but a goodie, thank you Jenny

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Camber well beauty

Not my favourite, Jenny excellent as usual was bit confused by the end I’m guessing it was what Anna created by her actions. Bit depressed started well.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

I love Jenny eclair and I loved this book. Made me laugh. If you don’t like swearing you probably won’t enjoy this much but it didn’t bother me. Jenny’s characters are believable and she brought them to life. Story telling just great. You really feel like part of their lives. Can’t wait for the next read of hers !!! I’d recommend if you like Jenny’s voice and strong characters , well worth the hours I put in avidly listening!!!!!

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