IquitNewYork forthesuburbs andfoundnew worldtosatirise
Novelist talks about the pressure of following up a hit and how work-life balance challenges all mums
another, not just their relationships, families or careers.
“It was the first time I’d written about women really taking care of each other and being loyal to one another and banding together to take revenge on a man who has behaved badly.”
The Wives was inspired by her own move from New York to smalltown Connecticut with her family, playwright and screenwriter husband Mike Cohen, and their two children, aged six and seven.
She said: “We had been living in the city for years and thought we would never leave.
“Then the second kid came along – and we fled. But I was nervous about moving to the suburbs after so many years in the city.
“I subscribed to the stereotypes that we all have of the suburbs, mostly negative.
“There’s this preconceived notion that the suburbs is where fun goes to die, that it’s going to be dull, there’s not going to be any culture or exciting restaurants and no interesting people.
“I was surprised to find really interesting, engaged people and a small contingent of complete crazies who did the most outrageous things. I just felt I had a whole new world to satirise.”
She found a contingent of women in her well-to-do suburb with a lot of time and money – and unconventional practices.
Weisberger said: “There were some outrageous, over-the-top parties and I write all about it in the book.
“I’ve heard stories about crazy designer plastic surgeries [there’s an hilarious chapter about a high-end sex toy party]. A lot of this I’ve heard first-hand.
“I was shocked. Like Emily, I thought I’d been in the city a long time and had seen it all.”
She said there has been interest from film-makers in the book, but is remaining tight-lipped about it for now.
“If it were up to me, Emily Blunt would play Emily again That would be my choice in a heartbeat. She was brilliant.”
Weisberger has never regretted swapping the city for the suburbs.
She said: “There’s so much more space and sunshine, and it’s much easier living and much more family-orientated.
“It wasn’t a hard transition. In the city, we had two adults, two children, two dogs and a two-bedroomed apartment. Now we have an actual house.”
Work-life balance is a theme she continues to explore.
Weisberger said: “I’m incredibly lucky to have a flexible career. I’m lucky enough to have help and it’s still difficult.
“I still feel as though I’m not giving 100 per cent to my work or 100 per cent to my children. I feel guilty quite often, which is common among working and non-working mums.”
In the US, the book is titled When Life Gives You Lululemons but she says none of her friends are in it. She said: “It’s an amalgamation of different characters and different anecdotes. People will read it and realise these are things that could happen. Antics go on in so many places.”
The Wives, by Lauren Weisberger, is published by HarperCollins. £12.99. Satin camisole dress, zara.com