Book Review

“A Secret Affair” by Barbara Taylor Bradford

Rating: Four Stars

Like every great page-turning romance novel, Barbara Taylor Bradford’s “A Secret Affair” kept me hungry to know how the book would end. Will he propose to his mistress? And will she accept? Usually I’m good at picking up clues and guessing the ending, but questions swam through my head pretty much right up to the climactic ending of this classic effort by the New York Times bestselling author.

I expected everything to end just like a fairy tale — you know, the guy finally gets the girl he was dreaming about, and they live happily ever after. But I was in for a shock. The twists at the end of the story made it far better than most romance novels I’ve read.

The story follows the life of a handsome war correspondent who risks everything to keep his audience glued to the TV for the hidden stories in war-torn Iraq and Bosnia. On a break with his old buddies in Venice, he meets a dark American beauty who appears to be the woman of his dreams — except that she’s married. But it’s an unhappy marriage, and the couple begins a secret affair, meeting in Venice whenever they can. She finally gets a divorce, but on what should be a fateful reunion, her lover does not show up.

Want to know what happens to him? Then you need to read this book. I couldn’t take my eyes off the pages; I even got in trouble for reading it in class one day. I was caught up in their love and passion for each other, and it made me wonder if such love can exist in real life.

I recommend this book to both girls and guys. As long as you aren’t afraid of a little romance and adventure, “A Secret Affair” should be on your to-read list.

Ayan Hussein / VOX Staff